2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid 2.4l 4cyl Auto 1 Owner 40 Mpg on 2040-cars

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Hyundai mulling new Lexus-fighting upscale crossover

The idea of Hyundai marketing a luxury automobile might have seemed ridiculous a decade ago, but that was before the Genesis sedan, Genesis coupe and Equus came along. Now that buyers seem more accustomed to the notion of an upscale Hyundai, the Korean automaker is said to be considering launching a luxury crossover to take on the likes of the Lexus RX and Cadillac SRX.
The report comes from our compatriots at Edmunds, who spoke to Dave Zuchowski, head of Hyundai's North American unit, who said that the project is not yet part of the company's plan, but that "it is something under consideration."
The last time Hyundai entered that territory was with the Veracruz (pictured above), a model that was sometimes compared to but ultimately failed to compete with the Lexus RX when it was sold between 2006 and 2011. The Veracruz was effectively replaced by the seven-passenger Santa Fe with which it shared its underpinnings. This new project being considered would similarly be based on the latest Santa Fe, and the challenge Hyundai is facing once again would be to position it as a sufficiently upscale product to warrant a premium sticker price.

Hyundai may be working on Theta III power for a mid-engine car

Hyundai's been showing off mid-engine concepts and flogging mid-engine prototypes for at least four years. The fanciful 2014 Passo Corto gave way to a Veloster Midship concept just a few months later, the following years bringing the RM15 N and RM16 N. The "RM" stands for Racing Midship, and spy photographers caught the RM16 N painting a new racing line at the Nurburgring. Korean outlet Motorgraph reports that Hyundai is currently developing its Theta III engine for release late this year or in 2019 in the next-generation Genesis G80, but the four-cylinder will be engineered to suit front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and mid-engine applications. In the interests of more power, displacement in the Theta III will increase to 2.5 liters from the 2.0- and 2.4-liter displacements of the Theta II. Naturally aspirated and turbocharged versions are in development, both maintaining Hyundai's GDi direct injection. Front-wheel drive, turbocharged applications are predicted to output 280 horsepower, rear-wheel-drive turbo vehicles would get 300 horsepower. The turbocharged 2.0-liter Theta II in the current Sonata tops out at 245 hp, the same engine previously offered in the Santa Fe took that up to 264 hp. The mid-engine turbo Theta III would shrink to 2.3 liters, but rock a max output of 350 horsepower. That would put a mid-engine Veloster at the award-winning end of the competitive set, alongside the 350-hp Ford Focus RS and well in front of the 292-hp Volkswagen Golf R. Admittedly, it's early days for such talk, but with a motor in the middle and ex- BMW M boss Albert Biermann helming the chassis department, Hyundai might even aim for dynamic comparisons to the 350-hp Porsche 718 Cayman S. A potential super sporty offering from the N division needn't be a Veloster, either; that hatch might merely be an engine testbed. The Korean carmaker didn't poach two ex- Bentley, Bugatti, and Lamborghini designers so that it could think small. Related Video:

2018 Hyundai Kona pricing announced: Compact SUV starts at $20,385

We've already had a brief first drive in the 2018 Hyundai Kona, and although associate editor Reese Counts didn't get a lot of time behind the wheel, he walked away generally impressed. The surprisingly sharp driving dynamics and interior quality were especially noteworthy. Here's everything we know about the U.S.-spec Kona. We still need a far more thorough drive of Hyundai's new sub-compact SUV, but at least we know how much one will set you back. Pricing starts at $20,385, including $885 destination, for the base front-wheel-drive SE trim level. That trim, along with the SEL, come with a 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic. The Limited and Ultimate get a 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and a seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual. Pricing for the entire lineup is below. The 2018 Hyundai Kona goes on sale in March. All prices include $885 destination charge. SE FWD: $20,385 SEL FWD: $22,035 SEL FWD w/ Contrast Roof: $22,185 Limited FWD: $25,585 Ultimate FWD: $29,585 Adding all-wheel drive adds $1,300 to each price. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2018 Hyundai Kona - U.S. Spec View 34 Photos Hyundai SUV hyundai kona