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Hyundai Sante Fe gets zombie survival machine treatment for NY Comic-Con

Surviving a zombie invasion isn't easy, and Hyundai takes life-or-undead situations pretty seriously, as made clear by its devotion to creating zombie-annihilating vehicles. Earlier this year, Robert Kirkman, creator of The Walking Dead comic series that gave birth to the hit television series of the same name, designed a Zombie Survival Machine around a Hyundai Veloster hatchback.
This year, TWD fan Anson Kuo has conjured up a Santa Fe sports utility vehicle capable of mowing down hoards of zombies with extra room for passengers and supplies. Hyundai says Kuo's design was built by Galpin Auto Sports and will be unveiled at New York Comic-Con on October 10.
"We love Anson Kuo's take on this Santa Fe Zombie Survival Machine - it's creative... and deadly," says Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing for Hyundai Motor America.

Hyundai's electric car strategy takes shape under the radar

Green car fans are frothing over the Tesla Model 3. The Chevy Bolt may turn out to be the better car, and it will be available sooner. But don't overlook another electric car that's also due next year: the Hyundai Ioniq. With far less attention, Hyundai is launching an EV that is expected to be competitively priced and will spearhead the Ioniq lineup, which also has hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions. They share the same platform and look similar, but the Ioniq EV could prove to be a game-changer for Hyundai when it arrives at the end of the year, bringing new customers and casting the company as one with proficiency in the electric arena. Built in South Korea, the Ioniq line will be available at every Hyundai dealership that wants to sell the cars, already giving it a leg up on Teslas that often have long waiting periods for buyers. With a range of 124 miles on a single charge, it won't compete with the Model 3, which will travel at least 215 miles on a charge, or the Bolt, which has a range of 238 miles. Rather, it will face off against humbler products like the Nissan Leaf (107 miles) and the Volkswagen E-Golf (83 miles). Hyundai has not announced pricing, but is mindful the Ioniq trails Chevy and Tesla in range. An executive also indicated it could be working on an Ioniq with a longer distance capability, but declined to discuss specifics. Hyundai argues its found a sweet spot with the Ioniq EV, whose range is well within the distance most Americans drive in a day. It can recharge in about four hours and 25 minutes, which is faster than the six-hour charge time for the Leaf but slightly longer than the four-hour E-Golf. In quick charge mode, the Ioniq can juice up to 80 percent in 23 minutes. Critically, Hyundai is also offering a lifetime warranty on all of its hybrid and electric battery packs (it has since 2012), which could sway consumers still wary of the technology. It's a lot of numbers, and Hyundai will need considerable marketing muscle to make buyers consider Ioniqs in the face of a growing field of electrified competitors. But it's part of a broader play to reach an audience of younger consumers, who expect electrification to be baked into their cars. Millennials will account for 40 percent of new car purchases by 2020, and Hyundai says the generation is more likely to consider alternative powertrains than older ones.

Recharge Wrap-up: Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell logs moon-worthy mileage, Kolle makes Renault Kangoo ZE pickup

A French company called Kolle has made a pickup truck version of the Renault Kangoo ZE. The converted version of the electric van retains the same battery and drivetrain, offering a range of 106 miles, plus a bit more utility without the restraints of a roof over the cargo area. The tailgate is separated into two hinged doors, which swing open to the side for loading and unloading. Payload is about 1,433 pounds. The price is about $16,400, which includes incentives, but not the price of the battery. Read more at Inside EVs, and get more details at the Kolle website. Drivers in southern California have put enough cumulative miles on the Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell to reach the moon. The hydrogen-powered crossover recently surpassed a combined 238,900 miles, which is the average distance from Earth to the moon. Mileage and other helpful information is gathered from participating owners periodically. "Surpassing this fundamental stellar threshold gives us a glimpse into the unlimited zero-emissions potential for Hyundai fuel cells," says Hyundai's Mike O'Brien. "If a small fleet of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles can accumulate this kind of mileage in just a few short months, one can only imagine the potential for a zero-emissions hydrogen vehicle future." Read more in the press release below. A cross-country trip in a pickup running on chicken fat is scheduled for March 8. Cliff Ricketts, an agribusiness and agriscience professor at Tennessee State University, originally began the trip in November, running on biodiesel made from chicken fat. The 1981 Volkswagen Rabbit pickup's transmission broke near Kansas City, cutting short the trip between Key West, Florida and Seattle, Washington. With the truck repaired, he hopes to make the 3,550-mile trip next month. During his earlier attempt, though, Ricketts logged fuel economy ranging from 36 to more than 45 miles per gallon. Read more at Domestic Fuel. HYUNDAI TUCSON FUEL CELL DRIVERS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ACCUMULATE SUFFICIENT MILEAGE TO REACH THE MOON EMISSIONS-FREE Cumulative Zero-emissions Mileage by Fuel Cell Drivers Surpasses 238,900 Miles FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., February 25, 2015 – Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell drivers have surpassed an impressive threshold, recently accumulating more than 238,900 miles on the roads of Southern California, all while emitting only clean water vapor.