2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Are old airbags killers?

Takata airbags may not be the only ones with some very serious problems. A new report from TheDetroitBureau.com claims that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened its second investigation into bad airbag inflators, and this time, they aren't from Takata. The focus of this latest case is on the airbag inflators in some 500,000 older Chrysler Town and Country minivans and Kia Optima sedans, all of which come from ARC Automotive. While the Takata case looks at problems stemming from the engineering and production process, the ARC investigation focuses on the age of the inflators. As TDB explains, airbag inflators are essentially what the military refers to as shaped charges, sort of like Claymores (for fans of the Call of Duty series). In combat, they blow up in a specific direction, protecting those behind the explosion, although in the case of airbags, the explosion "[creates] a precise rush of hot gases" that inflate the bags. NHTSA's worry is that with the increased average age of today's vehicles, years and years of being bounced, jolted, and shaken about and exposed to often-radical temperature changes have altered the nature of the explosives in these vehicles, causing too big of an explosion. "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate." – Analyst George Peterson "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate," analyst George Peterson told TheDetroitBureau.com. NHTSA boss Mark Rosekind backed up aging angle. "Cars are lasting on the road a lot longer than ever before," Rosekind told TDB, adding that seals could start breaking down. "Is aging now an issue? That's part of the investigation going on." NHTSA has only identified two "incidents" so far, although according to Center for Auto Safety Director Clarence Ditlow, there's genuine concern that there could be additional unidentified cases. "Could we have missed more? That could be the case," Ditlow told TDB, citing the misidentified deaths in the Takata investigation. Ditlow was quick to point out that, even in older vehicles, airbags are much more likely to protect than harm. "No one is saying you should disable your airbags," the safety advocate told TDB. "You're far more likely to be helped than hurt by one if they go off." At least one automaker, meanwhile, has already been advised of the investigation by NHTSA and is checking its airbags.

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

The new Hyundai Veloster will have a driver-focused interior

We've had a number of solid glances at the Hyundai Veloster's exterior while testing, but this is our first look at the car's interior. And it's a seriously good look. About the only thing hiding the dashboard is some snazzy zebra-print vinyl wrap. We can tell from these new spy photos that the Veloster's interior is more focused on the driver than other Hyundais. The center stack is canted slightly toward the driver, and it's a bit asymmetrical, favoring the person behind the wheel. At the top of the center stack is a large touch screen that protrudes from the dash, but it looks a bit more integrated than the screen found in the Elantra GT, as it's nestled between two air vents. We have reason to suspect this is a Veloster Turbo model, which may be renamed Veloster Sport to fit nomenclature used on the Elantra line. The steering wheel is leather-wrapped and has a metallic red accent in the bottom spoke, just like the wheel in the Elantra Sport models. The shifter also has an accent in the same red color as the one on the wheel. We doubt this could be a Veloster N, though, as the seats don't seem aggressive enough, and there don't appear to be any accents in the performance sub-brand's trademark light blue. We expect to see this interior fully revealed, along with the rest of the Veloster lineup, by the end of the year. It will be available in three versions, an entry-level model, a peppier Turbo or Sport version with the outgoing model's center exhaust and more aggressive looks, and a high-performance N model that will probably use the Elantra i30 N's 271-horsepower turbo engine. The Veloster N will also have the most aggressive looks, featuring a large rear wing. Related Video: