2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai built an awesome Santa Fe to cross the Antarctic

Remember those amazing Arctic Trucks Toyota Hiluxes Top Gear used to go to the North Pole? Well Hyundai created a Santa Fe in a similar way for a trip across Antarctica. To do so required some significant alterations, all of which turned the Santa Fe Sport into a wicked off-roader. For added ground clearance, Hyundai fitted portal gears to the ends of the axles, a la Mercedes-Benz G550 4x42. Big tires also help with ground clearance, and the 38-inch examples used on the Santa Fe Sport are in fact enormous. They can even be deflated down to just 2 psi for maximum traction. And since the trip would be both long and cold, a huge 60.75-gallon fuel tank and an engine heater were installed. To sweeten the Antarctic trip, Hyundai brought along the great-grandson of Sir Ernest Shackleton. For those unfamiliar, the elder Shackleton made an attempt to cross the Antarctic in 1916. Unfortunately, as the video explains, his ship became trapped in the ice during the journey. Shackleton and the crew abandoned their goal of crossing Antarctica, and instead worked to survive, which they did. So for the centennial of Shackleton's attempt, Hyundai invited the great-grandson along to finish the trip. Hyundai also carved the names of Sir Shackleton's crew into the Santa Fe Sport's sheet metal to symbolically bring them along, too. You can see it all in the video above, along with more details on the trip at this website. Related Video:

Next-gen Hyundai Equus spotted horsing around in desert

The last time we showed you the next-generation Hyundai Equus, the northern hemisphere was in the depths of winter and the big luxury sedan was testing above the Arctic Circle. Now, as we're approaching the end of summer, the South Korean company is rather fittingly conducting hot weather testing in the American southwest. As with our last look at the Equus, today's images show a heavily camouflaged car. Said camo, which includes both coverings and more form-fitting stickers, can't hide the overall size of this vehicle. It's a big'un, especially behind the B-pillar. From what we can see through the front camouflage, the Equus should draw some inspiration from the Vision G concept. In short, expect a sportier, more assertive look than what's currently offered on Hyundai's flagship. This particular car is allegedly fitted with a version of the company's Tau 5.0-liter V8, which serves in both the current Equus and the smaller Genesis sedan. It's paired with a ten-speed automatic – yes, ten forward gears... on a car – while our spies reiterated previous reports that a new turbocharged V6 would also be on offer. Importantly, this latest gallery of spy photos gives us our first look at the new Equus' cabin. Again, there's heavy camouflage here, but we can get a look at the handsome leatherwork on the two-tone steering wheel and the stylish silver hue of the HVAC buttons. It also looks like Hyundai will retain a knob-and-button-style controller for the infotainment system, which will be housed in an expansive display at the tip top of the dash. Look for the next-generation Equus to make its debut some time in 2016 as a 2017 model. Related Video:

Teacher gets free car for his role stopping Indiana school shooting

Jason Seaman, the seventh-grade science teacher who was shot three times but was credited for helping avert a worse tragedy in a school shooting last month in Indiana is the recipient of a new 2018 Hyundai Elantra, courtesy of a local dealership. The Ed Napoleon Automotive Group is also donating money to the 13-year-old girl who was shot seven times in the May 25 shooting, saying it plans to donate $25 for every car sold between Memorial Day and Father's Day at its four Indianapolis-area dealerships to Ella Whistler's medical expenses and therapy. "As I read more and more about Jason, I heard him say he didn't think what he did was that heroic because it was the only acceptable action to take," Brian Napoleon, director of Midwest operations at the dealer group, told TV station Fox 59. "In my mind that way of thinking is what makes him a hero to me." The shooting took place on May 25 at a middle school in Noblesville, Ind., when a student asked for permission to leave the classroom and then returned armed with two handguns and opened fire. Students in the classroom said Seaman, a 29-year-old seventh-grade science teacher, tackled the boy to the ground and yelled for students to call 911. Whistler remains hospitalized in stable condition and reportedly faces a long recovery. Seaman underwent surgery after being shot through the abdomen, in the hip and forearm but was released the next day. Seaman was in court earlier this week to attend the hearing for the accused shooter, one of his students, whose name is not being released because he is not being charged as an adult. The boy, who is 13, faces 11 charges. "People just want to say thank you and be nice," Seaman told the Indianapolis Star. "I don't like the attention. It's not that I'm not receptive to it. I'd rather be the guy who just moves around and nobody notices. But it's just people being nice, so I think I can be OK with that." He said he's visited Whistler in the hospital every week since the shooting. Several other organizations are organizing fundraisers to assist in her recovery. Related Video: Image Credit: Fox59 Auto News Hyundai Sedan shooting