2013 Hyundai Veloster Base Hatchback 3-door 1.6l on 2040-cars

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Hyundai spices up Euro lineup with i20 Coupe, i30 Turbo, revised i40

Hyundai's model line in North America is made up of nameplates like Accent, Elantra and Sonata, but across the pond in Europe, the Korean automaker takes an alphanumeric approach. And it's just revealed a whole slate of new models. Arguably the most enticing of the fresh batch of Hyundais destined for Europe is the new i20 Coupe. Joining the recently refreshed, Ford Fiesta-sized i20 five-door hatch, the new three-door gets a more rakish roofline, beefed-up wheel arches and other visual enhancements to appeal to a younger demographic. European buyers will be able to choose between four engines – two diesels and two gasoline units – ranging from 1.1 liters to 1.4 liters, offering anywhere between 74 horsepower up to 99 hp, with a new 1.0-liter turbo three to follow. Hyundai Motor Europe has also revealed a refreshed version of its Focus-sized i30 with refreshed styling and upgraded equipment. The kicker, though, is the new i30 Turbo that packs the Korean automaker's 1.6-liter turbo four, but detuned from the 201 horsepower it produces in the Veloster Turbo and Kia Cee'd GT to "only" 183 hp. Although the refreshed i30 is available in three-door hatch, five-door hatch or wagon bodystyles, and with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual clutch, the turbo engine is only being offered with the manual and in hatchback form. Finally, Hyundai has also announced a refreshed version of the i40. Just a bit smaller than the Ford Fusion/Mondeo, the i40 is available in sedan and wagon forms, and benefits in this latest iteration from updated sheetmetal, a more refined cabin, upgraded equipment and a new diesel engine displacing 1.7 liters and putting out 113 or 139 horsepower, channeled through a six-speed manual or (on the more powerful version) a seven-speed DCT. Interested parties will want to scope out images of all the new models in the accompanying galleries and details in the trio of press releases below. DIFFERENTIATED BY DESIGN: HYUNDAI MOTOR INTRODUCES NEW GENERATION i20 COUPE - Hyundai Motor reveals New Generation i20 Coupe - Clear design differentiation for unique three-door - Extends the appeal of New Generation i20 to younger customers High Wycombe, 10 December 2014 - Hyundai Motor has today unveiled the New Generation i20 Coupe. For the first time, Hyundai has created a three-door B-segment car that is significantly differentiated from the five-door model.

Autoblog Minute: VW finds CO2 'irregularities', Takata dropped by automakers, SEMA recap

Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal gets a new wrinkle, US regulators hit Takata Corporation with a substantial fine, and we head to Las Vegas for a look at tuner paradise at the 2015 SEMA show. Autoblog senior editor Greg Migliore reports on this edition of Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. Show full video transcript text [00:00:00] Volkswagen's diesel emissions scandal gets a new wrinkle. US regulators issue a significant fine to Takata Corporation. And we take a peek inside tuner paradise at the 2015 SEMA show. I'm senior editor Greg Migliore and this is your Autoblog Minute Weekly Recap. The VW diesel emissions scandal, first brought to light in September, gets a new wrinkle, as an internal investigation by the German automaker revealed [00:00:30] irregularities in CO2 emissions that could affect approximately 800,000 vehicles. VW estimates the issue could pose a 2-billion euro economic risk. VW claims that most of the vehicles affected have diesel engines, but industry analysts say a 1.4-liter gas engine is also affected. VW says that fuel consumption figures were set too low during the CO2 certification process. During all of this, sales of some diesel-powered Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche models [00:01:00] have been halted. Takata Corporation is back in the news in connection with its deadly airbag scandal. Federal regulators fined Takata $70 million. If the parts supplier does not comply, the fine could balloon to $200 million. Takata was also dropped this week by its biggest customer, Honda. And now, Toyota and Mazda will be following Honda's lead in dropping Takata. We're also hearing that Mitsubishi and Subaru are considering a switch in air-bag inflator suppliers. SEMA 2015 [00:01:30] came and went. We saw offerings from Mopar, like the AWD Challenger concept. Honda unveiled a Ridgeline that it will race at the Baja 1000, which gives us a hint at what future production model could look like. The celebrity presence was also felt in Vegas as it always is. Kid Rock brought a Duramax Diesel Chevy Silverado, and Acura restored and presented Ludacris with his now famous 1993 Acura Legend. Those are the highlights from the week that was. Be sure to come back on Saturday for my full recap, [00:02:00] where I'll have some added insight into Hyundai's foray into the luxury sector. For Autoblog, I'm Greg Migliore. Autoblog Minute is a short-form video news series reporting on all things automotive.

Hyundai's zombie obsession is just good business

In case you somehow missed it, Hyundai has enjoyed a long and fruitful relationship with The Walking Dead, the critically acclaimed zombie apocalypse show that entertains the masses while they're waiting for the next season of Game of Thrones. Fans of the show will recognize Rick, Michonne, Carol, Maggie and Glenn's mint green Hyundai Tucson, a staple vehicle for the crew of survivors, but the relationship between manufacturer and show goes far beyond that. There's a whole line of Zombie Survival Machines, as well as a special-edition production model (shown above). Heck, even Hyundai's post-LA Auto Show party featured actors staggering about as startlingly realistic walkers (TWD's name for zombies).
So what is it about the dead that quickens the pulse of Hyundai's marketing department? Ward's Auto has a great interview with Steve Shannon, the brand's US vice president of marketing. In it, Shannon describes the sudden nature of the tie-in between the show and the automaker, while describing how the company's corporate overlords in South Korea saw the results of the deal. It's an interesting insight into automotive product placement, as well as Hyundai's marketing philosophy and plans for the future (spoiler alert: the Tucson, which has had a role in the show for several seasons, was seemingly abandoned at the end of season four).
Head over to Ward's and have a look.