2010 Hyundai Tucson Limited Sport Utility 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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Hyundai finally settles inflated fuel economy claims lawsuit for $41.2 million

Remember when Hyundai and Kia changed their claimed fuel economy numbers for a bunch of models? That happened back in 2012, and Hyundai has finally settled a lawsuit concerning the economy adjustment with a payment of $41.2 million. The lawsuit was filed by 33 state attorneys general, as well as one from Washington D.C. Each state will decide how to use its money from the settlement. According to Hyundai, this settlement was an "amicable agreement," and the company also denies any wrongdoing in changing claimed fuel economy numbers. Hyundai also reports that the agreement was reached, in part, due to the reimbursement program instituted after the economy adjustment. This program allows owners to be reimbursed the extra fuel cost, with payments determined by miles driven. The payments are sent after an owner has an affected car's odometer checked by a dealer. In addition, Hyundai also offered lump-sum payments as an option after the results of a class-action lawsuit. So far, the company reports about 75 percent of eligible owners have participated in the program. This isn't the only major payment Hyundai has made concerning the fuel economy issue. In 2014, Hyundai paid roughly $300 million in fines to the EPA. The company was also sued for inflated fuel economy claims in South Korea. In the US, models affected by the adjustment include the Hyundai Santa Fe, Accent, Veloster, Sonata Hybrid, Tucson, Genesis and Azera, along with the Kia Soul, Rio, Sorento, Sportage and Optima. Related Video: Image Credit: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images Government/Legal Green Hyundai Kia

Hyundai’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles

Hyundai’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles Hyundai revealed the 2018 Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. The Plug-in Hybrid includes a 50 kW electric motor battery pack and has a combined range of 590 miles. The two Sonatas will be built in Asan, Korea. Transcript: HyundaiÂ’s new Plug-in has a range of 590 miles Hyundai revealed its redesigned sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. Blind-spot detection, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane-change assist all come standard. The Hybrid powertrain includes a 2.0-liter 4-cyl engine with a 6-speed automatic transmission and a 38 kW electric motor. The Hybrid has a net power of 193 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Plug-in Hybrid powertrain includes a 50 kW electric motor with a battery pack 5 times larger than the Hybrid at 9.8 kWh, and has a total system output of 202 horsepower at 6,000 rpm. The Hybrid boasts a combined mpg of 42 while the Plug-in Hybrid claims a total combined range of 590 miles. Hyundai claims the Hybrid can operate solely on electric power at speeds up to 75 mph. The sonatas will be built in asan, korea. Hyundai Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video PHEV hyundai sonata hybrid 2018 Chicago Auto Show hyundai sonata plug-in hybrid sonata sonata plug-in hybrid

New autonomous testing ground in Michigan will help battle bad weather

If one of the big weaknesses of autonomous vehicles is their ability to navigate in the snow, consider this a trial by fire. The American Center for Mobility says it has opened its $110 million driverless car testing facility on the site of a former General Motors assembly plant in Michigan, with Toyota and auto supplier Visteon the first to begin testing this week. The ACM proving ground is a 500-acre site at historic Willow Run in Ypsilanti Township, near Ann Arbor. It's one of 10 sites designated by the U.S. Department of Transportation as pilot proving ground sites to test AV technologies. It features a variety of simulated environments to test driverless cars, including a 2.5-mile highway loop, two double overpasses, intersections, roundabouts and a 700-foot curved tunnel. It also opens just as the region experiences a series of snowstorms and the first frigid temperatures of the season. That ability to test autonomous vehicles in a wide variety of weather conditions is important, as autonomous vehicle sensors have struggled to handle cold, wet and snowy conditions. Google parent Alphabet in October said its Waymo division was expanding its winter testing operations to Michigan, making it the sixth state where it's testing its driverless car systems. In a Medium blog post, Waymo CEO John Krafcik wrote that "This type of testing will give us the opportunity to assess the way our sensors perform in wet, cold conditions. And it will also build on the advanced driving skills we've developed over the last eight years by teaching our cars how to handle things like skidding on icy, unplowed roads." Waymo also opened a development center in suburban Detroit in 2016, working with Fiat Chrysler to integrate its autonomous technology into Chrysler Pacifica hybrid minivans. Visteon began testing and validating its DriveCore autonomous driving platform to evaluate algorithms, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure technology and other systems. Toyota used the facility Wednesday to begin orientation and driver training. ACM has so far secured $110 million to construct the first two phases from founders Ford, Hyundai America Technical Center, Toyota and Visteon, and says it expects to announce more investment soon.