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Hyundai pickup gets glimmer of hope, Equus may go turbo

While it still doesn't technically have a green light for production from headquarters yet, rumors over the last few weeks suggest that the Hyundai Santa Cruz is all but certain to arrive in showrooms eventually. Now, we might be getting a hint about which of the company's models that the unibody truck might share underpinnings with. According to Auto World News, the platform from the 2016 Tucson and upcoming 2017 Elantra is a potential choice for the pickup. "We're always looking for efficiencies," said an unnamed Hyundai product planner to the website. "If you look at how well the Santa Cruz was received, it certainly helps make the case." An earlier rumor also hinted the truck might be the automaker's first diesel-powered model in the US. Meanwhile at the top of the brand's lineup, the next-generation Equus may see some significant changes. "Like much of that segment, it's fair to say you can expect the Equus will expand," the product planner said. Underneath the larger hood, a turbocharged powerplant is reportedly being considered. Given the development of a twin-turbo V6 from Hyundai with around 420 horsepower, that part of the rumor certainly makes some sense. A 10-speed automatic might also be offered eventually. Related Video:

Woman drove her Hyundai Elantra 1 million miles in five years

Imagine driving 200,000 miles in a year. That's about 14 times more than the average American driver logs in a year, according to federal government statistics, and it adds up to almost 548 miles per day — if you literally drive every day. Now, imagine doing it for five straight years. Not behind the wheel of a semi truck, but a gray 2013 Hyundai Elantra. All on the original powertrain. That's the story of Farrah Haines, of Olathe, Kan., who managed to log 1 million miles on her Elantra — inexplicably fitted with some kind of grille guard — from her job delivering auto parts and products. Her feat is the equivalent of driving from her home outside Kansas City to Milwaukee ... Every. Single. Day. "I figured I love to drive, so I might as well turn it into a career," she says in a video Hyundai made about her. Since the odometer would simply roll back to zero after hitting 999,999 miles, Hyundai replaced it and forged its first-ever 1 Million Mile Emblem to display in the instrument panel. It's now an official Hyundai part. Haines also got a commemorative license-plate frame announcing her membership in the 1 Million Mile Club. But the bigger prize came later, when the automaker surprised her with a brand-new 2019 Elantra, this one in red. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hyundai says it ran a number of tests to validate the odometer reading on her 2013 Elantra, with engineers poring over engine casting numbers, service records, wire harnesses and motor mounts — even her mileage records for her two jobs, plus Carfax and VIN reports. It determined the achievement is legit. "The key is to prioritize regular maintenance and to have a quality vehicle," Haines says in a statement. According to the above video, she gets her oil changed every two weeks. We admittedly don't know much about Haines or her jobs, but in the video, she says matter-of-factly that she drives 24/7. That's obviously an exaggeration, but still. With two jobs, and the staggering driving requirements outlined above, we can't help but wonder whether this is a cautionary tale about the gig economy buried in a feel-good story. So, Farrah — congrats on the new car? Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

EPA says it will more closely monitor fuel economy claims from automakers

The unintended acceleration brouhaha at Toyota led to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration tightening the vise on recall procedures. Likewise, the fuel economy kerfuffle that blew up with Hyundai and Kia's admission of overstated fuel mileage claims could lead to the Environmental Protection Agency policing automaker assertions by performing more audits.
At least, that's what a senior engineer with the government agency said while in Michigan giving a talk, according to a report in Automotive News. What that actually means, however, is still in question. Just ten to 15 percent of new vehicles - something like 150 to 200 cars per year - are rested by the EPA to verify automaker numbers. The EPA's own tests include a "fudge factor" to adjust lab mileage for real-world mileage, and the agency still relies on automakers to submit data for tests that it doesn't have the facilities to perform. How much more auditing can the EPA really expect to do, or perhaps a more relevant question would be how much more accurate could the EPA's audits become?
The price of gasoline, the psychological importance of 40 miles per gallon to a frugal car buyer, an automaker wanting to further justify the price premium of a hybrid, all of these things contribute to fuel economy numbers that insist on creeping upward. Perhaps the senior engineer encapsulated the whole situation best when he said, "Everybody wants a label that tells you exactly what you're going to get, but obviously that's not possible. A good general rule of thumb is that real-world fuel economy is about 20 percent lower than the lab numbers." If the lesson isn't exactly 'buyer beware,' it's at least 'buyer be wary.'