2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Hyundai pickup gets glimmer of hope, Equus may go turbo

While it still doesn't technically have a green light for production from headquarters yet, rumors over the last few weeks suggest that the Hyundai Santa Cruz is all but certain to arrive in showrooms eventually. Now, we might be getting a hint about which of the company's models that the unibody truck might share underpinnings with. According to Auto World News, the platform from the 2016 Tucson and upcoming 2017 Elantra is a potential choice for the pickup. "We're always looking for efficiencies," said an unnamed Hyundai product planner to the website. "If you look at how well the Santa Cruz was received, it certainly helps make the case." An earlier rumor also hinted the truck might be the automaker's first diesel-powered model in the US. Meanwhile at the top of the brand's lineup, the next-generation Equus may see some significant changes. "Like much of that segment, it's fair to say you can expect the Equus will expand," the product planner said. Underneath the larger hood, a turbocharged powerplant is reportedly being considered. Given the development of a twin-turbo V6 from Hyundai with around 420 horsepower, that part of the rumor certainly makes some sense. A 10-speed automatic might also be offered eventually. Related Video:

Kevin Hart tracks his daughter's Genesis in Hyundai Super Bowl ad

As the official automotive sponsor of the NFL, Hyundai has a massive advertising presence during Super Bowl 50, including four commercials premiering before or during the game. A newly released spot titled First Date markets the Genesis sedan (soon to be the Genesis G80) with humor by casting comedian Kevin Hart as a concerned dad who spies on his daughter's date. The commercial highlights Hyundai's Blue Link Car Finder that lets owners track their vehicle from a smartwatch. Hart uses it to follow his daughter on her date in increasingly absurd ways. By the end of the spot, he's hanging off a helicopter to keep an eye on her. This is also the second automotive ad to use a Queen song this year. Where Hyundai's commercial uses Another One Bites the Dust, Honda picks Somebody to Love for its Ridgeline spot. The 60-second commercial airs during the pre-kick time slot and joins Ryanville and The Chase among Hyundai's Super Bowl ads. The still unreleased Better premieres during the pre-game and shows the automaker's desire to improve its vehicles and customer experience. Related Video:

Honda scores big in Automobile Advertising of the Year Awards [w/videos]

This year the Detroit Auto Show didn't just celebrate the automobile, it celebrated how we find out about the automobile, too. Partnering The One Club, this year introduced the 2014 One Show Automobile Advertising of the Year Award to Cobo Hall, celebrating winners in five different categories of advertising: broadcast television, online, interactive, experiential, and print/outdoor. Winners in those categories were judged by 50 creative directors and journalists, while a Public Choice category was chosen from among nearly 20,000 online votes.
Honda walked off with three of the six awards, its Hands spot taking Broadcast honors, its Sound of Honda getting the Online category and Illusions winning Public Choice. Hyundai made the grade in Interactive with Driveway Decision Maker, Fiat captured Print/Outdoor with its "Letters" ad, and Toyota's Tundra Endeavor Campaign spot and BMW's A Window into the Near Future were co-winners for Experiential.
You can watch all of the press release and winning videos below or check out all of the finalists, announced last month, for a refresher.