2011 Hyundai Elantra Touring on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai and Kia to hit record 8M sales for 2014

Hyundai and Kia are on a sales charge in 2014, and parent company Hyundai Motor Group is increasing projections to a record eight million combined units for the automakers by the end of the year – a bump over the original target of 7.86 million vehicles. According to Bloomberg, the key to the growth is beating expectations in Brazil, China and India, and strong crossover sales are also helping the bottom line. In the US, both automakers are doing well this year. In October, Hyundai saw a six percent dip in monthly sales, but through the first 10 months it sold 607,539 vehicles, compared to 601,773 at this point last year. Kia has done even better with 489,711 units sold from January to October, versus 456,137 for the period in 2013. The good news is a welcome antidote to negative headlines like investors' anger over Hyundai's $10 billion land purchase in Seoul, South Korea. The two automakers also had to pay a $300 million penalty to the Environmental Protection Agency for misstating fuel economy on some models. While sales may reach a new record, profits might not grow as much with them. The strong Korean won means that Hyundai and Kia have a tougher time keeping up profit margins compared to Japanese competitors with a weaker yen.

Hyundai files patent for smartphone feature disabler in proximity to steering wheel

Combatting driver distraction continues to be a hot topic in automotive safety, especially when it comes to young motorists. While simply not using a smartphone behind the wheel would fix much of the problem, automakers are trying to work out complicated ways to make people safer. For example, GM is experimenting with head and eye tracking to make sure folks are paying attention to the road. Now, Hyundai might have come up with a technology that offers a very simple fix: disable the phones. The Korean automaker explains the idea in explicit detail in a recently published patent. The tech specifically "limits or disables the use of some of mobile device features which could cause distraction to the user," according to the abstract. Depending on variables like the vehicle's speed, the system determines what smartphone functions are safe to use, including texting or voice calls. Based on a plethora of permutations in the document, these restrictions could only be for the area around the driver's seat or for the whole vehicle. The key to the patent is placing antennas around the vehicle and monitoring for cellular signals. When the system detects them, it can begin selectively deciding what features to allow on the device. The tech isn't a simple on/off switch either, and can possibly detect the time of day or importance of the caller to let messages though. The major downside to all of this is the phone would need to run a specific program or firmware for all of this to work. With such a recently published patent, it might be years before the tech arrives in Hyundai vehicles, if at all. Still, this is an interesting solution. Of course, it would be far simpler if people just put down their phones. You can read the full description of the automaker's concept, here. News Source: Free Patens Online via US Patent and Trademark Office Auto News Hyundai Technology Emerging Technologies Smartphone distracted driving patent cell phone driver distraction

Sketch teases next-gen Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai is giving us a good look at the next-gen Elantra in a teaser sketch, and the company is overhauling the sedan's styling for the new model. It sports a simple design that's devoid of much ornamentation, and you can just spot the corners of the hexagonal grille up front. The headlights now narrowly squint rather than rising up the fenders. The roof arches gracefully over the passenger compartment for a coupe-like shape, and a crease down the shoulders flows to the taillights, the tip of which you can barely see at the back. Hyundai already confirmed the new Elantra's debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. A leak earlier this year also purported to show an actual photo of the 2016 model for the Korean market, but that vehicle had a significantly different front end than this one. That rumor also claimed the powertrain range would include a turbocharged 1.6-liter four-cylinder, which makes 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque in the 2016 Tucson. Sleek All-New Elantra Reveals its Dynamic Impression - Style of All-new Elantra places Hyundai Motor compact sedan in a class of its own - Appealing active character lines and creatively designed wheel arches August 19, 2015 – Hyundai Motor is excited to provide customers a glimpse of the forthcoming All-new Elantra's modern looks and unique design ahead of the car's launch just around the corner. The new model's dynamic and sleek style received the approval of a recent consumer study, where the Elantra's striking appearance saw it ranked ahead of key rivals. Designers of the All-new Elantra identified a series of innovative design aspects that give the car an unrivalled status and unique presence. Clever use of active character lines evoke a dynamic, stylish and confident appearance, building on the global popularity of the model. Peter Schreyer, President and Chief Design Officer at Hyundai Motor Company said: "The All-new Elantra captures the car's unique design characteristics that really place this model in a class of its own. The subtle and innovative appearance enhancements reflect Hyundai Motor's vision for design. Furthermore, this car indicates a move from traditional to modern styling by communicating the new model's comfort, fashion and sporty feel." In the newly released exterior rendering, the car's innovative design points become clear.