2014 Hyundai Sonata Limited 2.0t on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Auto sales in March and first quarter down nearly across the board

Nearly every major automaker reported weak U.S. sales for March and the first quarter of 2019, citing a rough start to the year, but said a robust economy and strong labor market should encourage consumers to buy more vehicles as 2019 rolls on. GM, which no longer releases monthly sales figures, saw first-quarter sales fall 7 percent, with declines across all brands. Sales of Silverado pickup trucks fell nearly 16 percent and the high-margin Chevy Suburban large SUV dropped 25 percent. Ford also no longer releases monthly sales numbers, but is due to release its first-quarter sales figures on Thursday. According to industry data, Ford's sales fell 2 percent in the quarter and 5 percent in March. Ford representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FCA reported a 7 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and a 3 percent drop for the first quarter. All of FCA's brands dropped in March, except for Ram, which saw a 15 percent increase in pickup truck sales. "The industry had a tough first quarter, but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators ... we are confident that new vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. head of sales, Reid Bigland, said in a statement. Toyota reported a 3.5 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and 5 percent for the first quarter, hurt by declining demand for its Corolla sedans and Camry vehicles. "While some of our competitors are abandoning sedans, we remain optimistic about the future of the segment," Toyota said in a statement. Nissan posted a 5.3 percent drop in sales in March, and its first-quarter sales were down 11.6 percent. Honda and Hyundai bucked the trend. Honda's U.S. sales rose 4.3 percent in March and 2 percent in the quarter, while Hyundai's were up 1.7 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Passenger-car sales suffered throughout the January-March quarter compared with the same period in 2018 as Americans continued to abandon them in favor of larger, more comfortable pickup trucks and SUVs, which are far more profitable for automakers. The battle for market share in the particularly lucrative large-pickup truck market intensified in the quarter, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram brand outsold the U.S.' No. 1 automaker General Motors' Chevrolet-brand trucks. The two automakers have both launched redesigned pickup trucks.

Ford, Toyota clean up in Best Car For The Money Awards

The U.S. News Best Cars for the Money Awards picks winners by looking at the average transaction price, five-year total cost of ownership, the regard a car has from the automotive press, reliability figures from J.D. Power and Associates and safety data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The result, according to the magazine, is "the best combination of critical acclaim and long-term value."
Ford nabbed six of the 21 categories that received awards this year, the Focus, Fusion, Fusion Hybrid, Taurus, Escape and Edge getting trophies. Toyota and its Lexus and Scion sub-brands took another five, the Tacoma and Tundra owning the two categories given to pickup trucks. The other ten awards were split between Honda with three, Buick with two, and one each for Subaru, BMW, Hyundai, Chevrolet and Mazda.
Follow the link to see all the winners and read about why they were chosen.

Hyundai previews Ioniq with choice of electric powertrains

Hyundai is giving us our first glimpse at its upcoming dedicated electrified model. Called the Ioniq, it's set to debut next month in South Korea, and offer a choice of three powertrain options with varying levels of dependence on electric and gasoline power. All the while, Hyundai promises it will deliver an "entertaining drive alongside class-leading fuel economy and appealing design." Depicted in the teaser image above and detailed in the press release below, the Hyundai Ioniq will be offered as a gasoline/electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or pure EV. It will compete against hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt as well as all-EV models like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. The Ioniq is being built on a new platform, designed to deliver sporty handling and efficient propulsion – something which Hyundai characterizes as lacking in the segment. Further details have yet to be announced, but the Ioniq is set to debut in Korea come January. Subsequent motor show debuts are scheduled for Geneva and New York in March. By that time we hope to have more details on the Korean automaker's first dedicated hybrid/EV. Related Video: HYUNDAI MOTOR INTRODUCES IONIQ, THE FIRST CAR TO OFFER A CHOICE OF THREE ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAINS - A world first - electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid powertrains available in a single body - The IONIQ breaks hybrid stereotype by delivering entertaining drive alongside class-leading fuel economy and appealing design - Global launch set for January 2016 in Korea, followed by Geneva and New York auto shows, an important step as Hyundai Motor works to be global green car market leader High Wycombe, 7 December 2015 – Hyundai Motor has announced the name of its advanced, alternative-fuel compact vehicle due for launch in 2016: the Hyundai IONIQ. The car will be available with electric, plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid, or gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain – the first car from any manufacturer to offer customers these three powertrain options in a single body type. As part of Hyundai Motor's ambition to chart the direction of future mobility, the IONIQ responds to rapidly changing customer lifestyles by breaking the mold for hybrid vehicles. As the world's first model to offer customers the choice of three powertrain options, the IONIQ combines class-leading fuel efficiency with a fun, responsive drive and attractive design - a unique mix not yet achieved by a hybrid vehicle.