Autoblog

Hyundai and Kia recalling 1.6M more models for faulty brake switch

Jeffrey N. Ross — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:02:00 EST

Filed under: Government/Legal, Recalls, Safety, Hyundai, Kia

In what is likely the largest recall campaign for Hyundai and Kia, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has announced a recall of more than 1.6 million models due to a faulty brake switch. This is in addition to almost 700,000 Hyundai and Kia models recalled for the same problem back in 2009.

In more than 620,000 Kia models and 1 million Hyundai products for the 2007 through 2011 model years, the brake switch could malfunction causing the brake lights to not illuminate, which could lead to accident. Other possible issues with a faulty switch include the cruise control not cancelling with the brake pedal, the push-button starter not working properly and the shift interlock not disengaging causing the transmission to be stuck in Park. To fix the problem, the brake lights switch will be replaced.

Due to the large number of units being recalled, both automakers are issuing a notice by next month with parts not expected to be ready until June. The full list of affected vehicles and the NHTSA press releases are posted below.

Continue reading Hyundai and Kia recalling 1.6M more models for faulty brake switch

Hyundai and Kia recalling 1.6M more models for faulty brake switch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 03 Apr 2013 11:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:59:00 EST

Filed under: SUV

Motor Trend has been around since 1949, and during that time it has handed out a fair share of awards to various automakers and vehicle models. More recently, the print publication has gone online by way of its web site, Youtube page and various social media networks. One network in particular has stuck a chord with the buff book and it's choosing to leverage the power of Facebook to announce the winner of its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year award.

M/T has been steadily rolling out its top 15 contenders, with the announcement of the winner to be made on October 19th, 2010 at 12:01 a.m EST. Why Facebook?

"We want to foster a two-way dialogue with our audience," said Angus MacKenzie, Editor In-Chief of Motor Trend, "and Facebook was the next logical step to engage our community even further."

The currently revealed contenders are:

Past winners of this title include the Subaru Forester and the Mazda CX-9. Hop the jump to read M/T's press release.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Continue reading Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook

Motor Trend getting ready to announce its 2011 Sport/Utility Vehicle of the Year Award...on Facebook originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Volkswagen New Beetle still number one with the ladies

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Etc., Hatchback, Volkswagen

Volkswagen New Beetle - Click above for high-res image gallery

Men, take note: According to a new survey from research firm TrueCar, the Volkswagen New Beetle is (still) the ultimate car for women. Apparently, its combination of cute-as-a-button looks and affordable pricing make the reborn Bug a total hit with the fairer sex.

This data was determined not by some silly woman-on-the-street clipboard survey, but rather by looking at the registrations of more than 13 million vehicles over the past two years. We could have saved them quite a bit of work if they wanted to know that the New Beetle was a chick car, but whatever. There was some other interesting info gleaned from the research, including the revelation that 64% of all cars are registered by men despite the fact that there are more women (at 51% of the population, just a tad) than men in America.

Rounding out the top five vehicles that scored well with the mono-chromosomed gender were the Nissan Rogue, Hyundai Tucson, (saw this one coming) Volkswagen Eos and Volvo S40.

Gallery: 2009 Volkswagen New Beetle

[Source: The Wall Street Journal]

Volkswagen New Beetle still number one with the ladies originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyundai loses $1.8M lawsuit because of seats that recline too far

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Government/Legal, Hyundai

Sarah Goodner was killed in Texas in 2007 when her 2005 Hyundai Tucson rolled over and she was thrown out the back window. The culprit for that odd circumstance - even though she had her seat belt fastened - was her seat, which was reclined so far back that she was able to slide out of it.

Stuart Goodner, Sarah's father, sued Hyundai claiming that the Tucson was unsafe because the seat could be reclined too much. A jury agreed, kind of, awarding Goodner a $1.8 million judgment against Hyundai, but also deciding that Hyundai was only 45% responsible for Sarah's death. Stuart said, "We want people to know how dangerous it is to drive with the seat reclined, [and] we're calling the auto industry out to correct this design defect so that no other family has to bury one of their children."

Forty-five degrees was determined to be the maximum amount of recline before driving became unsafe. And the issue isn't new: The NTSB and NHTSA debated the issue in 1988 and couldn't come to an agreement. Of course we can't make light of this - a young woman has died. But we do wonder why it's Hyundai's responsibility to make sure you don't drive your car in an unsafe manner. We suspect we haven't heard the last of this...

[Source: Go San Angelo]

Hyundai loses $1.8M lawsuit because of seats that recline too far originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 30 Apr 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Review: 2010 Hyundai Tucson GLS is a stylish all-rounder without sacrifice

Steven J. Ewing — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Crossover, Hyundai, New Car Reviews

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Like it or not, the small crossover segment is booming. Not only are budget-minded automakers all putting forth their best efforts to create new-and-improved vehicles for the class, even higher-end manufacturers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are getting into the act hoping to win over customers looking for a more premium experience. Why? These vehicles offer an excellent coupling of both utility and economy - two of the most important must-haves for the vast majority of new car shoppers.

We recently invited the latest small CUV offering from Hyundai, the 2010 Tucson, into the Autoblog Garage for a week, and found it to be a stylish, useful workhorse for everyday tasks that doesn't sacrifice too much in the way of driving enjoyment. What's more, with a sticker starting at $19,995, it's quite a bargain. But just because the Tucson carries a wallet-friendly price doesn't mean it lacks refinement or quality. Hit the jump to find out why.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Continue reading Review: 2010 Hyundai Tucson GLS is a stylish all-rounder without sacrifice

Review: 2010 Hyundai Tucson GLS is a stylish all-rounder without sacrifice originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Apr 2010 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyundai reportedly increasing Tucson production to meet surging demand

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Hyundai, South Korea

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Every automaker was expecting, or at least really hoping for, a dramatic rise in sales at the beginning of this year. Something in the lower double digits would have been an excellent start, a nice way to bring in the new year. Hyundai is one of those for which such dreams came true - the Korean automaker's dealers posted a 128-percent increase in sales in January.

Among the popular vehicles in the showroom blitz was the 2010 Tucson, leading Hyundai to boost production to meet demand. It's a great problem to have, especially after selling just 15,000 of the previous model last year. Hyundai America's CEO said the company foresees a "huge boost" this year. Part of that can be attributed to the troubles faced by a certain Japanese automaker, while another chunk of that gain is simply down to the fact that Hyundai is making some very good machinery.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req'd]

Hyundai reportedly increasing Tucson production to meet surging demand originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 19 Feb 2010 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hyundai, First Drives

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Little more than ten years ago, the meat and potatoes of the automotive universe were C and D segment sedans. Think Corolla and Camry; Focus, Fusion and (old) Taurus; Civic and Accord. But then, for better or for worse, something significant shifted in that old sales paradigm. Specifically, crossovers. Also known as CUVs, the overgrown wagons still ride around on C and D platforms, only a foot higher off the ground. Why? Blame the SUV craze and/or what automakers refer to as the "command seating position," an odd euphemism for sitting up high.

A momentary flirtation with $4 per gallon gasoline has - for the most part - shut down the large SUV game. But for whatever reason, consumers still want and demand command seating, so much so that Hyundai believes the compact CUV segment will experience more growth than any other niche in the market. Hyundai knows this specialized segment well, as the outgoing Tucson - the Korean brand's previous generation small CUV - has sold more than one million copies. However, the Tucson has been around since 2005, and to put it nicely, the old Tucson wasn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer. And this is a gun fight. Knowing that, Hyundai has just rolled out its newest car, the 2010 Tucson. But is it a killer?

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Continue reading First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises

First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Tucson a green machine with few compromises originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyundai prices 2010 Tucson crossover from $18,995*

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai began the first wave of media drives for the new 2010 Tucson today in California after unveiling its latest crossover at last week's LA Auto Show. As part of the presentation before heading out, product planning chief Scott Margason announced that the completely redesigned model will have a starting tariff of $18,995 when they start rolling into showrooms in the coming days.

At launch, the Tucson will only available with the 2.4-liter Theta II four-cylinder, although a 2.0-liter four will join the lineup later in the year. The bigger four will be available with either manual or automatic transmission choices, both with of them six-speed units.

The base price gets you a GLS model with three pedals and front wheel-drive. All wheel-drive is optional, but not much else is. Hyundai has packaged everything into two trim levels, the base GLS and the upscale Limited plus an available premium package that includes a navigation system, sunroof, and other niceties for $2,850. A maxed-out all-wheel drive, automatic Limited with the premium pack will run $28,695 (*plus $795 in freight charges). Including the transmission and drive options, there are only ten buildable Tucson equipment combinations for 2010, not including color choices and dealer-installed accessories. The first batches of 2010 Tucsons are on the way to dealers now, but if you can't wait, you can check out the softroader in our high-res gallery below and the official press release with pricing breakdown after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading Hyundai prices 2010 Tucson crossover from $18,995*

Hyundai prices 2010 Tucson crossover from $18,995* originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Dec 2009 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

LA 2009: Bye-bye boxy, hello 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Jonny Lieberman — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai just took the wraps off their all new 2010 Tucson CUV. A right-sized (i.e. compact) crossover designed in Frankfurt, Germany - as opposed to the California designed Sonata we saw yesterday - but still uses Hyundai's new design language, the oddly named Fluidic Sculpture. Like the Sonata, the new bigger-yet-lighter Tuscon (61 pounds, to be precise) has been designed to convey a sense of motion. Of course, whether they succeeded or not is up to the beholder's eye.

Hyundai feels that the compact CUV market is growing (as does the rest of the industry), however the small crossover buyer is changing. Used to be that when people shopped for say a Tucson, it was because they couldn't afford an Excursion. No more. The new small CUV buyer expects a higher level of comfort and refinement from their little truck-like rides. If what Hyundai's peddling proves true, the Tucson's impressive list of standard bells and/or whistles fits this projected market to a tee (see the press release for the full lowdown).

The most impressive Tuscon attribute is in likelihood its frugal MPG rating. 23 miles per gallon in the city, 31 at highway speeds. In addition to the slight weight reduction, the Tucson achieves these numbers via innovations such as a switch away from parasitic hydraulic power-steering in favor of an electric system. There's also an all new six-speed automatic that uses 62 fewer parts than the outgoing five-speed. Interestingly, the new slusher is built fully in house by Hyundai.

The engine of course contributes to the good-for-a-CUV mileage. The new Tucson comes with a 2.4-liter Theta II four-cylinder that produces 176 hp and 168 lb-ft of torque. You will notice that the Tucson does not come with the more powerful Gasoline Direct-Injection (GDI) Theta II that ships with the new Sonata. We asked Hyundai if a future iteration of the Tucson (say the 2011) would in fact receive the GDI motor. "That's a logical conclusion."

We also asked if the turbocharged GDI motor would make it into the Tuscon. "It would fit." We then asked if we'll see a hybrid version as the new Sonata will eventually show up in gas-electric guise. "No comment." Then after a pause, "We all have to get to 35.5 mpg." Finally, we asked if we'd see an all-electric version of the Tucson. We received another "No comment," but Hyundai North America President and CEO John Krafcik did state that they will be selling an electric car in the States. As to when, "Not next year." Read the press release, after the jump.

Gallery: LA 2009: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

Continue reading LA 2009: Bye-bye boxy, hello 2010 Hyundai Tucson

LA 2009: Bye-bye boxy, hello 2010 Hyundai Tucson originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

2010 Hyundai Tucson makes the drive to America

Sam Abuelsamid — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - Click above for high-res image gallery

Hyundai's second big unveiling for the LA Auto Show is its next-generation Tucson, its compact crossover. Like the Sonata sedan, we've actually already seen the Tucson for some time now, as it previously debuted South Korea and Europe badged as the ix35 or Tucson ix. We actually first saw this shape as the ix-onic concept at Geneva last March and the production model is only mildly toned down.

Even toned down, though, this is a major departure from the outgoing Tucson. Like the Sonata, that model was a competent but utterly invisible CUV. The new Tucson was created by Hyundai's Frankfurt-based European design studio and features the same "Fluidic Sculpture" surface language used on the Sonata. Like the sedan, the look is attractive, if not entirely original, as the form seems to draw quite a bit inspiration from the Nissan Murano, especially in the rear. Either way, with its bulging fenders and a multitude of curves and creases, the new style is likely to draw a lot more second glances than its predecessor. Wherever the ideas came from, the Tucson appears to be well-executed overall. Follow the jump to learn more Hyundai's latest CUV.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson

[Source: Hyundai]

Continue reading 2010 Hyundai Tucson makes the drive to America

2010 Hyundai Tucson makes the drive to America originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai Tucson ix35 is... another crossover

Noah Joseph — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:31:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Crossover, Hyundai

Hyundai Tucson ix35 - Click above for high-res image gallery

The new Hyundai Tucson ix35 may look good with a Britney Spears soundtrack playing in the background. It may even look good out on the road. But under the bright lights here at the Frankfurt Messe, it looks pretty much like every other compact import crossover on the market. Which is to say, attractive, but rather cookie-cutter.

The new Tucson is being offered overseas with 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines burning either gasoline or diesel (with 166 and 184 horsepower, respectively) and driving either the front wheels or all four through a six-speed automatic slushbox. Among the latest features, Hyundai included are Downhill Brake Control and Hill-Start Assist Control, which almost makes us mistake this for a real sport-utility vehicle. Almost.

We'll reserve our final judgement for when we actually drive the thing, but in the meantime, you can check out the gallery of live shots below.

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai Tucson ix35

Frankfurt 2009: Hyundai Tucson ix35 is... another crossover originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 06:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Camo-free 2010 Hyundai Tucson on U.S. soil!

Sam Abuelsamid — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:07:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hyundai

2010 Hyundai Tucson - click above for high-res image gallery

Just last week, Hyundai revealed the new ix35 compact crossover in its home market of South Korea. When it arrives at U.S. dealers late this year, it will retain the Tucson nameplate used on the current-generation model. This week, we stumbled across what looks to be a production-ready Tucson here in Michigan, completely devoid of camouflage and missing only its badges.

As we saw in the photos from Korea, the new Tucson is very similar to Hyundai's ix-onic concept shown in Geneva last March. The biggest exterior differences are the front foglights, the rear taillamps and the CUV's lower fascia. From what we were able to see of the interior, the design of the concept is also carried over verbatim.

We expect for the Tucson to make its official U.S. debut at the Los Angeles International Auto Show this November.

Gallery: 2010 Hyundai Tucson undisguised

Spy Shots: Camo-free 2010 Hyundai Tucson on U.S. soil! originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?!

Noah Joseph — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Crossover, Hyundai, South Korea

Hyundai Tucson iX commercial from Korea - Click above to watch the video after the jump

It doesn't seem that long ago that Beck was singing about picking up his date in a Hyundai. (Check out "Debra" - best song ever). Only he was kidding. And it was funny. Damn funny, actually. But guess who's laughing now? The Korean automaker has gone from punchline to the fourth largest automaker in the world in just a few years, backed by some seriously improved products. And they're keen to point out their newfound appeal with the new iX35/Tucson, the crossover which the capital of Seoul has dubbed the "Sexy Utility Vehicle."

Not convinced? Just check out the music video/television commercial after the jump featuring the latest Britney Spears hit, "If U Seek Amy" (it's not quite as good as Beck, but at least it's got a beat) - who apparently thinks all of the boys and all of the girls want to do naughty things to the latest Hyundai - and a voiceover at the end that we could swear sounds just like Tom Cruise. Oh, and if you're up on your Korean and care to tell us what the text is on about, feel free in the comments section below.

Gallery: KDM 2010 Hyundai Tucson

[Source: YouTube]

Continue reading VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?!

VIDEO: KDM Hyundai Tucson iX is a Sexy Utility Vehicle... just ask Britney Spears?! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Frankfurt Preview: Hyundai officially teases the new Tucson *UPDATED

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:27:00 EST

Filed under: Frankfurt Motor Show, Crossover, Hyundai, Design/Style

2010 Hyundai Tucson renderings/teasers - click image for high-res gallery

We've been seeing spy shots of the next generation Hyundai Tucson for several weeks, but we now have the first official teaser from the Korean automaker. The new Tucson and a refreshed Santa Fe will both debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month, and according to Hyundai spokesman Dan Bedore, the shot above was released from the home office in South Korea. Unfortunately, the badging shows two elements we won't be getting in North America: Hyundai has no current plans to offer a diesel in the Stateside Tucson, but on the upside, the automaker won't be spreading its alphanumeric nomenclature to U.S. shores with the European ix35 nameplate.

The Tucson was designed at Hyundai's new Frankfurt studio and will launch first in Korea next month, while the European version launches later this fall and then in the U.S. early next year. The Santa Fe will benefit from some styling updates along with powertrain and suspension upgrades, including a rumored direct injected gas engine. More to follow from Frankfurt next month.

*UPDATE: We've just received a pair of official renderings from Hyundai that lend much more definition to the next-gen Tucson crossover. Check them out in the high-res gallery below.

Gallery: Hyundai ix35 official renderings/teasers

Continue reading Frankfurt Preview: Hyundai officially teases the new Tucson *UPDATED

Frankfurt Preview: Hyundai officially teases the new Tucson *UPDATED originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyundai ix35 (i.e. the new Tucson) spotted in Sydney

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, Crossover, Hyundai

The Hyundai ix35, otherwise expected to be the next U.S.-spec Tucson, was caught on a commercial shoot in Sydney, Australia. Compared to its concept progenitor, the ix-onic, the production crossover is pleasingly true to its inspiration.

The ix-onic's asymmetric grill mesh has been swapped for three conventional horizontal lamellas. Elsewhere, the edge-tastic treatment of the concept has been toned down but not dispensed with altogether. The boomerang fog lights take a more open shape but still form an angled design element with the headlamps. And it's hard to tell in the original image posted by Ausmotive.com, but the possibly softer rear end seems to have a bit of a Murano-style look about it now.

Motive force (in other markets) will come from a 1.6-liter GDi turbo four-cylinder, moving the wheels through a 6-speed double-clutch transmission -- a nice bit of technology for a CUV from a the same people who brought us the unlamented Hyundai Excel. If it goes as well as it looks, Hyundai could have a winner with its new compact 'ute. Hat tip to Liam

[Source: Ausmotive.com]

Hyundai ix35 (i.e. the new Tucson) spotted in Sydney originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Geneva 2009: Hyundai ix-onic concept is far more enticing than its name

Chris Paukert — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Geneva Motor Show, Crossover, Hyundai

Click above for high-res gallery of the Hyundai ix-onic concept

We're not sure what marketing genius came up with the moniker for Hyundai's new ix-onic crossover concept, but it's something of a shame because the labored name sounds more like an air purifier than the attractive vehicle it's atttached to. Questionable marketing decisions aside, the ix-onic, which previews the next Tucson crossover, is a winner. Aesthetically, it has some mildly derivative elements (the face has a certain Mazda quality about it), but it's a good-looking vehicle that comes off bigger and more muscular than its 173-inch length suggests. In other words, it's got presence.

The exterior also has some innovative touches, including headlamps with cool - if slightly contrived - moving internal elements (check out the video after the jump), and as well a coral-like asymmetrical grille mesh and very strong upswept greenhouse that shows off a clean, less hard-edged interior. That said, we could do without the heavy-handed chrome wheels that look like they were cribbed from the guys over at West Coast Customs.

Interestingly, with the ix-onic, Hyundai designers are now going on record saying they are working toward defining a "hexagonal" front graphic as the company's new universal corporate face (check out the video). How the latter proclamation fits in with new offerings like the Genesis Sedan and Coupe or the Equus is something of an open question (perhaps this is just on designs for the European market), but as aesthetic signatures go, we can see this idea working to Hyundai's advantage, as the company's offerings currently don't really have a familial design element to tie them together.

The ix-onic - pronounced "ik-sonnik" - makes use of Hyundai's brand-new 1.6-liter GDi turbo four-cylinder, which routes its 168 horsepower through a six-speed double-clutch transmission (a bit of tech we don't recall seeing from Hyundai before), and the drivetrain has stop-start tech to help it yield a commendably low 149 grams-per-kilometer of C02. With Hyundai's previous admission that the company will move toward all direct-injection engines, we can expect to see this powerplant coming to America in the next Tucson, although perhaps not immediately. Click on the high-res galleries below and make sure to check out Hyundai's video and press release after the jump.

Gallery: Geneva 2009: Hyundai ix-onic concept

Gallery: Hyundai ix-onic concept

Continue reading Geneva 2009: Hyundai ix-onic concept is far more enticing than its name

Geneva 2009: Hyundai ix-onic concept is far more enticing than its name originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 04 Mar 2009 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Tucson caught frolicking in the snow

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Spy Photos, SUV, Crossover, Hyundai

The next generation Hyundai Tucson has been caught by spy photographers playing in the white stuf, and it looks like it's being massaged into a more graceful beast.

The next Tucson will only get 4-cylinder engines, so the front overhang can be kept shorter, although it's hard to tell with the covering. However, the rear overhang looks noticeably tighter. Details like the wheel arch flares look like they have been incorporated into the fender bodywork (instead of looking like cladding), and the side windows have a much narrower, sleeker line at the rear. From what little bits of body aren't camouflaged, this looks like an evolutionary but not insubstantial change.

The Tucson is expected to bow at the end of next year or the beginning of next.

[Source: Next Autos]

Spy Shots: Next-gen Hyundai Tucson caught frolicking in the snow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4

Chris Paukert — Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:54:00 EST

Filed under: In the Autoblog Garage, SUV, Crossover, Suzuki

Fish around in your pants for the Suzuki's fob, punch the unlock button, pull the handle, and clamber inside. Or, rather, you might've, were there actually a need to engage in a bit of pocket-lint spelunking. Not so with the new Grand Vitara. In an unusual move for its class, Suzuki has fitted their compact SUV with a type of keyless entry and start. Oh, there's a fob (a big, chunky one, at that), but you won't need to lay hands on it every time you want to get in or out of the vehicle... that's what those rubberized oval buttons on the two front doors and rear cargo access door are for. Approach the vehicle with the fob somewhere on your person, and the 'Zuki detects its presence, allowing you to open the door (one push on the handle button for your door, two nudges for everyone). It's a system that works well, particularly as keyring-resident box still works as normal. Hidden within is a key for valets and less-than-trustworthy types.

[Click through to the jump for further interior impressions and more than a dozen photos!)

Continue reading 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4

2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 in the Autoblog Garage Day 3-4 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jun 2006 11:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Websites select top new vehicles for young drivers

Joel Arellano — Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Truck

Automotive websites Cars.com and DriversEd.com (a drivers education resource) have teamed up to determine the top new vehicles for teens this year. Criteria used included price, safety, size, and 'fun factor.'

The two sites top picks, broken down in categories, are:

Cars:

Honda Civic
Mazda MX-5
Mazda3
Mini Cooper
Scion tC
Subaru Impreza
Volvo s40

Pickups:

Nissan Frontier Crew Cab
Toyota Tacoma Double Cab

SUVs:

Hyundai Tucson
Subaru Forester
Toyota RAV4

[Source: PR Newswire via Seattle Post Intelligencer]

Websites select top new vehicles for young drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Apr 2006 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments