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Hyundai recalls 10k Genesis Coupes for detached driveshafts

Hyundai has issued a recall for 10,800 examples of the Genesis Coupe. The problem with vehicles affected rests with the differential, which may have been misaligned with the crossmember of the rear suspension. In such a case, the bolts securing the differential may loosen, and could lead to the driveshaft disconnecting entirely, resulting in the complete loss of propulsion. The recall specifically affects certain models manufactured between December 28, 2011, and April 6, 2015. The problem is only with those units fitted with the six-speed manual transmission and not the eight-speed automatic. To address the problem, owners will be asked to bring their Genesis Coupes in to their local dealer to "verify the proper assembly of the differential." The Genesis Coupe was first introduced in its home market back in 2008, and arrived in North America the following year as a 2010 model. The most recent revision happened in 2013 – the model year with which this recall begins. A completely new model is expected to arrive soon as part of the new Genesis luxury sub-brand's lineup. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Rear Suspension Bolts may be Loose Report Receipt Date: NOV 16, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V756000 Component(s): POWER TRAIN , SUSPENSION Potential Number of Units Affected: 10,800 Manufacturer: Hyundai Motor America SUMMARY: Hyundai Motor America (Hyundai) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Genesis Coupe vehicles manufactured December 28, 2011, to April 6, 2015, equipped with manual transmissions. In the affected vehicles, if the differential and the suspension rear crossmember were not properly aligned during vehicle assembly, the bolts that secure the differential may loosen. CONSEQUENCE: If the rear differential loosens from its mounting position, the driveshaft may disconnect from the differential, resulting in a loss of propulsion and an increased risk of a crash. REMEDY: Hyundai will notify owners, and dealers will verify the proper assembly of the differential, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on January 11, 2016. Owners may contact Hyundai's customer service at 1-855-671-3059. Hyundai's number for this recall is 135. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Hyundai puts its hydrogen development program on hiatus

UPDATE: According to Pulse news in South Korea, Hyundai denies that it has paused development of hydrogen fuel cells. Instead, the report suggests the team was reshuffled as technological hurdles have slowed down progress. Time will tell which version of the report is factual. Hydrogen technology has reportedly lost one of its biggest and most vocal proponents, at least for now. Citing a long list of hurdles, Hyundai has allegedly stopped developing the hydrogen-electric powertrain it planned to put in several of its cars (including Genesis models) in the coming years. Anonymous sources told South Korean publication Chosunbiz that executives pulled the emergency brake after analyzing the results of a feasibility study. Nothing is official at this point, and the report stresses that the pause is temporary. However, the issues reportedly found are relatively serious: they include unspecified technical problems and a lack of marketability due in part to cost-related concerns. The news comes as a surprise because Hyundai has invested a tremendous amount of resources into making hydrogen a viable alternative to gasoline without many of the inconveniences associated with EVs, like long charging times and limited driving range. It's one of the few carmakers in the world that sells a hydrogen-electric car (the Nexo; pictured), and it announced plans to build about 130,000 hydrogen-powered cars annually by 2025. And yet, the Nexo is a tough sell, even in hydrogen-friendly markets like South Korea; 8,206 units were sold there through November 2021. The 671-horsepower Vision FK concept unveiled earlier in 2021 will seemingly remain at the prototype stage. Interestingly, a separate unverified report claims that Hyundai has also shuttered its engine development division. If both are accurate, it means that the Hyundai group (which includes Kia and Genesis) will exclusively develop electric powertrains starting in the near future. Several car companies have tried to pelt hydrogen-powered cars into the mainstream over the past decade and most have failed. Some of the issues facing the technology include the lack of a charging infrastructure and governments with a single-minded focus on EVs. There are 48 hydrogen charging stations in America, according to the United States Department of Energy, and 47 of those are located in California. While that's great news for Californians, it makes the Nexo completely useless for someone driving from Salt Lake City to Seattle.

This Hyundai commercial may be the weirdest of Super Bowl 50

It happens every year at the Super Bowl. For every headline-making, Twitter-breaking commercial, there's an ad like this one, simply titled "Better," from Hyundai. An ad that's so odd, people will focus not on its message, but the overarching weirdness of the spot. The ad in question follows the life of a man born with an exposed V8 engine where his heart should be (it's actually a little high, but we're nitpicking). Yes, it's as strange as it sounds. According to Hyundai, the man "strives to make the world a better place," but the only time we see anything approaching that is when he opens a jammed umbrella for a woman. For most of the ad, it's hard to tell you're even seeing a car commercial. It's not until the end, where the man is shown working in a Hyundai design studio alongside people with similar anatomical features, that the ad begins to make sense. Perhaps part of our disappointment with Hyundai's latest Super Bowl spot is that the NFL's official automotive sponsor has done so well otherwise. The brand has become a fixture during the big game over the years, and will likely see some success in 2016 with spots featuring both Ryan Reynolds and Kevin Hart. Those successes aside, though, we'll be surprised if there's a great response to this particular Super Bowl 50 commercial from Hyundai.