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Hyundai i30 N, so probably Veloster N, to get dual-clutch transmission

Hyundai's N Performance division broke out of the starting gate with the i30 N in Australia, fitted exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission. Our first taste of a South Korean blue wonder will be the Veloster N launching later this year, and it also comes with that single gearbox. Hyundai executives told Australian site Car Advice an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission is on the way, but that it won't join the party until late 2019. That means we could see it in the Veloster around then or a little later, and it might portend future developments for the go-fast lineup. The in-house unit will be all-new, not a rework of the seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch in the Veloster Turbo. It isn't clear whether the seven-speeder can handle the 279 pound-feet of torque in the top-spec N cars when on overboost. According to N Peformance boss Albert Biermann, the new eight-speed, wet-clutch, paddle-shifted gearbox has already been tested in the Kia Sorento diesel, which has 325 lb-ft of torque, and the 380-horsepower RN30 concept car. Ultimately, it will serve vehicles across Hyundai and Kia ranges. Although late introduction of a dual-clutch has been the plan all along, a Hyundai exec admitted "sales limitations" in offering a manual exclusively. Every prime rival offers dual-clutch transmissions. But Hyundai believed that it needed to appeal to the Euro hot-hatch purists first, and we can't blame it. The long delay between launch and DCT availability does raise questions and possibilities, though. Every N model unveiled so far sends all power to the front wheels because, according to Biermann, "Without a high amount of power there is no need to go to all-wheel drive." The introduction of the beefier eight-speed DCT that's ready to deal with at least 380 hp and 325 lb-ft could open up the way to even more powerful N versions and all-wheel drive, which has the potential to create real parity with segment rivals. Car Advice also reported that Hyundai Australia will cover track use in the five-year warranty on the i30 N. We'll wait to see if that line-item makes it to the U.S., but after the dual-clutch woes suffered by competitors like the Volkswagen Golf R and Ford Focus RS, such reassurance could go a long way with buyers. Eventually. Related Video:

FCA discussing tech partnership with Hyundai, but no merger

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles is in talks with South Korea's Hyundai about a technical partnership, but there are no merger talks between the two, FCA Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Saturday. FCA is often the subject of merger speculation, especially after its unsuccessful 2015 attempt to tie up with larger U.S. rival GM. Its share price jumped to record highs in August after reports of interest from China and Hyundai. "We already buy components from (Hyundai) .... let's see if we can agree on other points, especially for the development of transmissions and hydrogen," Marchionne told journalists, adding there was "nothing to announce for the moment". Asked whether this collaboration could turn into a merger, Marchionne said: "I don't believe so". (Reporting by Agnieszka Flak; editing by Alexander Smith)Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

2018 Hyundai Kona misses out on IIHS Top Safety Pick

There are many things good about the 2018 Hyundai Kona subcompact crossover SUV. The turbo engine gives it some real get-up-and-go, it handles surprisingly well, and it has a pleasant interior. But apparently it has a feature that's actually not good: the headlights. And they were bad enough that they kept the small crossover from getting the IIHS Top Safety Pick rating. IIHS gave both the standard halogen headlights and the optional LED headlights a "Poor" rating in the organization's testing, the lowest possible score. The standard lights didn't provide enough illumination, and both sets of lights produced too much glare for oncoming drivers. Headlights have been a weak point for many new vehicles despite having crash test scores that would otherwise merit a Top Safety Pick rating. The Kona is no exception in this regard, as it received a "Good" rating, the highest possible score, in all of its crash tests. Also, when equipped with optional forward collision prevention technology, it got the highest rating for crash prevention. This means it was able to stop the car before colliding with an object at speeds up to 25 mph. As such, we would say a Kona is still a good choice as a fun-to-drive, stylish crossover — if you can tolerate the headlights. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. News Source: IIHSImage Credit: IIHS Hyundai Safety Crossover SUV Economy Cars hyundai kona