Save 80% on International Calls from Your Cell Phone
No PINs and No Monthly Fee. Prepay or pay-as-you-go.
-
Hyundai Accent Parts
-
Hyundai Accent Exterior/Interior Accessories and Performance parts
- Autoblog Podcast #188 - with Mike Spinelli of 0-60 magazine
Filed under: Podcasts, Etc., Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, Hyundai, Porsche, Toyota, Design/Style
Click above for the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes, RSS or listen now!
Chris Shunk, Alex Nunez and Dan Roth are joined this week by Mike Spinelli, editor-in-chief of 0-60 magazine. Topics for Episode #188 of the Autoblog Podcast are the 2011 Ford Explorer, Audi's A7 Sportback, the announcement of the Hyundai Equus coming to the U.S. market, hybrid/electric Porsches and zombie-like rumors of a new Ford Ranger for North American showrooms. We also pepper poor Mike with our impressions of his fine publication. It's an hour-and-ten of stellar repartee this week, thanks for listening, see you next time!
Autoblog Podcast #188 - with Mike Spinelli from 0-60 magazine
In the Autoblog Garage:
Dodge Challenger R/T
Toyota Avalon
Toyota Sienna Limited AWD
News:
- Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S.
- 2011 Ford Explorer unveiled
- Audi A7 Sportback images leaked ahead of Monday reveal
- Hyundai reveals 2011 Equus details
- Porsche testing three electric Boxsters in 2011
Dan Roth, Alex Nunez, Chris Shunk
Runtime: 86:17
Get the podcast:
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Joystiq Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator
[MP3] Download the MP3 directly
Feedback:
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)
Review the show in iTunes and take our survey
Autoblog Podcast #188 - with Mike Spinelli of 0-60 magazine originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Mulally unwittingly confirms next-gen Ford Ranger for U.S.
- Hyundai reveals 2011 Equus details, range topper to come in two U.S. flavors
Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury
2011 Hyundai Equus - Click either image for high-res image gallery
The 385-horsepower Hyundai Equus cometh, and Hyundai has let loose a torrent of information on the two kinds of horses you'll be able to buy: Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate. The Signature version comes with almost everything: leather and Alcantara interior, heated steering wheel, climate controlled seating with a massaging driver's seat, Smart Cruise Control, parking assistance, air suspension and a 17-speaker, 608-watt Lexicon stereo are at the beginning of a terrifically long list.
Pay a little more for the Equus Ultimate and you add the around-the-corner-view cameras to the parking assist, power trunk, and in back, reclining, cooled rear seats with their own massage function and leg support - like in Korean Air business class - and a rear seat refrigerator. Among many, many other things. And there's always that Apple iPad manual, because you can never get enough of something special. You can find the press release listing all the goodies after the jump.
[Source: Hyundai]Continue reading Hyundai reveals 2011 Equus details, range topper to come in two U.S. flavors
Hyundai reveals 2011 Equus details, range topper to come in two U.S. flavors originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 26 Jul 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Korean-spec Hyundai Avante interior gives sneak peek inside 2011 Elantra
Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Hyundai, South Korea
2011 Hyundai Avante (Elantra) interior - Click above for high-res image
Even though we have yet to see official images of the U.S.-spec 2011 Hyundai Elantra, we have a pretty good idea of what will be heading our way in the coming months. Hyundai debuted the new Avante sedan (the Elantra's Korean market equivalent) at the Busan Motor Show this past April, and now the first interior snapshot of the Avante has been leaked out.
If you've been in the new 2011 Sonata, you know that the family sedan's cabin is a giant leap forward in the right direction. The center stack is awash with curves and angles that pay homage to the automaker's new "fluidic sculpture" exterior design. And styling aside, we're willing to bet that Hyundai hasn't skimped out on high-quality materials for the less-expensive Elantra's innards, either.
This more attractive, better-tailored interior will do well when matched with the swoopier lines of the new Elantra's exterior. That - combined with Hyundai's new 138-horsepower, 1.6-liter GDI four-cylinder - will mean that other new cars in the budget sedan segment (this means you, Ford Focus and Chevrolet Cruze) will need to watch their backs. If the new Elantra is being positioned as a baby Sonata, the competition should indeed be stiff. Top tip, Monkaroo!
[Source: Hyundai Blog]Korean-spec Hyundai Avante interior gives sneak peek inside 2011 Elantra originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Michigan and Ohio senators demand Obama gets tough on South Korean auto importing
Filed under: Government/Legal, Hyundai, Kia, South Korea
Talk to most analysts in the auto world, and they'll say that the recent rise of South Korean automakers like Hyundai and Kia have been an absolute blessing to the industry as a whole. Consumers now have an array of quality, inexpensive products, extra jobs have landed in rural areas of the deep south thanks to American-based manufacturing facilities and the competition from low-priced models have forced domestic manufacturers to up their game.
But not everyone's thrilled about the balance of automotive trade between the two nations. According to The Detroit News, senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Michigan, and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, recently wrote to the Obama administration in order to urge the President to take a hard line on the South Korean Free Trade Agreement.
The two senators aren't taking issue with Korean products here in the U.S., they simply think it's unfair that South Korea has made it economically difficult to import vehicles into the country. The senators want American companies to have the opportunity to do business on the peninsula - something that most automakers, with the exception of General Motors, have been pushing for since before the second President Bush was in office. GM, meanwhile, owns Korean automaker Daewoo, so it has no problem dealing with the current ban on auto imports.
For its part, Obama administration has said that it will once again open talks about the free trade agreement in hopes of making more American goods available in the global market.
[Source: The Detroit News | Image: Ted Aljibe/AFP/Getty Images]Michigan and Ohio senators demand Obama gets tough on South Korean auto importing originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Jul 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights
Filed under: Sedan, Technology, Hyundai, First Drive
2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid - Click above for high-res image gallery
Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid hails from a nation where Buddhism is one of the dominant religions. After all, this slippery sedan's design is the gas-electric's equivalent of The Middle Path - a road that the company hopes is truly the way to automotive enlightenment.
Say what?
In the still-young history of the modern hybrid automobile, there have been two prevailing schools of thought on design: As the less costly path, The Low Road to hybridization is already a crowded one - it's a design route that basically calls for the electrification hardware to be buried beneath a familiar bodyshell that's shared with a conventional internal combustion-only model (see: Lexus LS 600h, Ford Fusion Hybrid, Chevrolet Silverado, etc.). The driving philosophy here is to keep production costs in check while also appealing to audiences that might be otherwise reluctant to embrace "new" technology.
Despite being on the checklist of every politician, environmentalist and Hollywood glitterati, hybrids don't sell in AmericaBy contrast, The High Road calls for swoopier model-specific bodywork - if not an entire dedicated platform - enabling a "greener than thou" halo for its owners and parent company. Unfortunately, this high-visibility strategy also costs a boatload of cash, and the only such model that has managed to make a solid business case for itself is the Toyota Prius, a vehicle that's become the de-facto postercar for the green movement.
But here's the conundrum that Hyundai has keenly recognized: Despite being on the checklist of every politician, environmentalist and Hollywood glitterati, hybrids don't sell in America - they account for less than two percent of new vehicles purchased in the U.S. every year, and their high technology bandwidth means that they require a disproportionate amount of money to develop. Basically, Hyundai knows that the Sonata Hybrid is a necessity for improving its technological capabilities, as well as for burnishing its industry-leading CAFE scores, but it also seems to understand that it is almost certain to lose money on each one it builds. Which is why they've taken The Middle Path.
In this case, the Sonata Hybrid tries to integrate the best of the other two hybrid strategies - create a distinctive new model with a unique look that says "I care more about the earth than you do" without incurring the cost of a whole new platform and all-new sheetmetal. Have they been successful? We flew all the way to South Korea to find out...
Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights
First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid looks to split the uprights originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 19 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Video: Next generation Hyundai Elantra caught practicing its parking?
Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Videos, Hyundai
Next generation Hyundai Elantra parking - Click above to watch video after the jump
The next Hyundai Elantra was revealed a few months ago at South Korea's Busan Motor Show. It's been revealed again, this time outdoors, in a parking lot where it appears to be practicing parallel parking maneuvers. Hyundai's small four-door has grown in size, which helps it wear those stretched 'fluidic' design cues rather nicely. Once a portrait of anonymity, the Elantra's now as good-looking as its big brother, the Sonata.
When the restyled Hyundai Elantra arrives next year, we expect it to be motivated by a 1.6-liter gasoline direct-injection engine with 138 horsepower. And we have a feeling those new looks are going to make people take a good, long look at the Elantra in liew of say, a Civic or Corolla.
As for parking jobs like this? We have a feeling they'll be a lot easier than these drivers are making it look. If they had to find street parking in, say, New York, they'd run out of gas before they successfully stashed the car. Follow the jump to see the video, which does nothing to make parking seem any less mundane than it is. Hat tip to Avery
[Source: YouTube]Continue reading Video: Next generation Hyundai Elantra caught practicing its parking?
Video: Next generation Hyundai Elantra caught practicing its parking? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Hyundai releases Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for 2011
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Hyundai
2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery
Hyundai isn't content to just sit back and rest on its laurels. Despite the fact its Genesis Coupe, which was just introduced for the 2009 model year, has earned plenty of praise - including here on our own pages - the Korean automaker has upped the ante for 2011 with a host of new detail changes and one completely new model to spice things up.
The biggest single piece of news is the addition of an R-Spec package for the 3.8 V6-powered coupe. Previously only available on the smaller-engined 2.0T, the R-Spec model includes all the goodies to make the car go, turn and stop as quickly as possible without adding the frilly stuff to hold it back... or add dollars and unwanted weight.
To the standard 306-horsepower V6 mated up to a six-speed manual transmission, the R-Spec adds 19-inch wheels with a gunmetal finish, Brembo brake package with 13.4-inch ventilated front rotors, stiffer suspension, a limited slip differential and sportier seats with larger bolsters. Naturally, appropriate badging is also included.
All Genesis Coupe models get a refinished interior for 2011 with soft-touch, matte-finish surfaces and dark metal-grain accents on key bits and pieces, along with softer leather on the steering wheel and cloth-wrapping on the A-pillars. There's also new chrome trim on the shifter bezel, center stack knobs and gauge cluster rings.
There's plenty more for the truly obsessive to, um... obsess over, so feel free to check out all the details in the press release after the break.
[Source: Hyundai]Continue reading Hyundai releases Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for 2011
Hyundai releases Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Jul 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Report: Chung, Mullaly, Winterkorn named top car company CEOs
Filed under: Ford, Hyundai, Volkswagen
Automotive News has put together its list of 2010 auto industry all-stars, and taking first place in American, European and Asian CEO categories are Ford CEO Alan Mulally, Volkswagen CEO Dr. Martin Winterkorn, and Hyundai-Kia CEO Chung Mong-koo. Hard to fault the choices, and it shouldn't come as a surprise at all that the same three gentlemen took slots two through four of Motor Trend's list of top 50 auto execs for 2009.
Mulally was cited because his "steadfast plan to turn Ford around is bearing fruit in impressive fashion" and Chung was lauded for having " turned the Hyundai brand into a superpower." Winterkorn, who could have been awarded based on VW's Hulk-like growth, was actually noted for his "Strategy 2018," by which time he plans for the VW group to be selling ten million cars per year. Check this spot in eight years to see if he's still an all-star. For now, though, congrats to all.
[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd.]Report: Chung, Mullaly, Winterkorn named top car company CEOs originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 17:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Spy Video: Hyundai Veloster hits the road with VW Scirocco
Filed under: Spy Photos, Coupe, Budget, Videos, Hyundai
Hyundai Veloster out testing - Click above to watch the video after the jump
Hyundai's new Veloster sports coupe (or is that Tiburon or something else?) aims to write another chapter in the book of Hyundai's relentless pursuit of market share when it launches next year, and in this latest video, we see a still heavily camouflaged prototype running around with the likes of the Volkswagen Scirocco - a similarly sized sportster. Thanks for the Euro-spec comparison test idea, Hyundai.
The Veloster aims to best Stateside competitors like the Honda CR-Z in terms of fuel economy, and Hyundai is on record as saying that the new coupe should achieve more than 40 miles per gallon without any sort of hybrid powertrain. It's expected that Hyundai will have its new 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine under the hood, and we hope that the end result is a car that's not only efficient, but truly fun to drive.
Hit the jump to see Hyundai's sporty prototype out on the street.
[Source: Auto Motor und Sport via YouTube]Continue reading Spy Video: Hyundai Veloster hits the road with VW Scirocco
Spy Video: Hyundai Veloster hits the road with VW Scirocco originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 19:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - Video: Red Bull chronicles Rhys Millen's Pikes Peak world record attempt
Filed under: Motorsports, Videos, Hyundai
Rhys Millen's Pikes Peak World Record Attempt - Click above to watch the video after the jump
While we didn't know if anyone would break the ten minute barrier at Pikes Peak this year, we did know one thing: Red Bull was going to make an awesome video. Rhys' video of his record-breaking run in the 2WD Time Attack class in 2009 was pretty spectacular, so we had high expectations. This year the energy drink giant had cameras placed just about everywhere on Rhys Millen's Hyundai PM580, and it even brought along a helicopter to get some awesome aerial shots.
While neither Millen or anyone else broke the record in this year's Race To The Clouds, the resulting footage is still definitely worth a watch. You can watch the entire video after the jump.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.
[Source: YouTube via Hyundai]Continue reading Video: Red Bull chronicles Rhys Millen's Pikes Peak world record attempt
Video: Red Bull chronicles Rhys Millen's Pikes Peak world record attempt originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Jul 2010 12:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street, America
Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, First Drive, South Korea
2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T - Click above for high-res image gallery
We've watched with a sense of awe as Hyundai has gone from a discount also-ran brand into a genuine industry powerhouse in startlingly short order. But we've also long suspected that its vehicles have gained so much ground by being among the best values in their respective segments - not because they've necessarily been the best vehicles to drive. The addition of the Genesis Coupe may have served notice that Hyundai isn't content to just be the industry's value leader (see Battle of the Sixes), but the keystone draw of most of the brand's offerings has remained their affordability. Which is not to suggest this is a bad thing - Hyundai's steroidal growth speaks to the inherent soundness of its strategy. But as enthusiasts, we've been waiting for the company to not only out-value, but to categorically outsmart and outplay its rivals. With introduction of the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai appears to have done exactly that.
The Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt.We admit that we weren't sure whether the Sonata's outré styling would play in that most milquetoast of markets: the family sedan segment. When the sheet was pulled on the 2011 model, it was as if Hyundai had strolled into a Sunday morning prayer breakfast with Kathy Griffin on its arm - we didn't know exactly what was going to come of it, but we knew it was going to be fun to watch. Thankfully, the Sonata has proven to be far more than just a styling stunt. Packing big space, a rock-solid chassis, accomplished handling and unmatched power and fuel economy from its 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, the Sonata has gained widespread acceptance and acclaim in a historically conservative slice of the market.
But while the normally aspirated sedan got our attention, the promised 2.0-liter turbocharged model had our enthusiast hearts bound up in anticipation. The specifications revealed at this spring's New York Auto Show were enough to have visions of a proper cut-rate sport sedan dancing in our heads: 274 horsepower and 269 pound-feet of torque plunked into a chassis that's among the very lightest in its class. So when Hyundai invited us to hop a plane to Seoul to sample their new force-fed family schlepper, we had our bag packed and were at the airport before you could say "pass the Kimchi."
Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street, America
First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T brings turbo power to Main Street, America originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Jul 2010 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Spy Shots: Clearest look yet at the 2012 Hyundai Veloster
Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Coupe, Budget, Hatchback, Hyundai
2012 Hyundai Veloster - Click above for high-res image gallery
Our ever-vigilant long-lens warriors have managed to snag a passel of photos of the new Honda CR-Z fighter from Hyundai. The little hatch has shed a portion of the camouflage we've seen in previous spy photos, giving us a clear look at some of the three-door's (or is that four-door's?) sheetmetal. Near as we can tell, the compact has kept the reverse-sloping roof of the concept car, and while that's bound make rear headroom a hot commodity, it also gives the Veloster a tie-in with the Kia Soul - its corporate cousin once removed.
Unfortunately, we didn't get an updated look at the car's interior, but it would surprise us to see anything changed from the last time our spy photographers got up close and personal with the newest Hyundai on the Veloster - and there's still some mystery about what kind of door mechanism is fitted on the passenger side.
With news that the Korean automaker has pledged to spank the CR-Z hybrid in the fuel economy game without shouldering the added cost, weight and complexity of a hybrid system, we can't wait to get our grubby little journo hands on the Veloster. Word on the web is that the car will be powered by an efficient 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine churning out around 140-160 horsepower.
Spy Shots: Clearest look yet at the 2012 Hyundai Veloster originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - One market where Hyundai sales aren't white hot? Home.
Filed under: Hyundai, Kia, South Korea
2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click above for high-res image gallery
It seems that Hyundai is having a very similar problem to Buick in its home market. Overseas customers can't get enough of its products, but buyers at home are rather ho-hum. Just as Buick is huge in China, Hyundai models are selling like gangbusters in North America and Europe. However, in South Korea, Hyundai sales have dropped for three months in a row. Interestingly, sister brand Kia is seeing robust sales for its just introduced K5 (Optima in the U.S.) and Sportage with total volumes up by 49 percent compared to 2009.
Lack of fresh product is blamed for the 1.2 percent decline at Hyundai, although the new Tucson and Sonata were launched just last Fall. Hyundai has several new products coming in August with the new Elantra and Accent as well as the new Veloster coupe (or whatever it ends up being called), and those new models may spur an increase in domestic sales.
[Source: Reuters]One market where Hyundai sales aren't white hot? Home. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - 2011 Hyundai Genesis getting BMW-cued refresh?
Filed under: Sedan, Hyundai, Luxury
A Hyundai Genesis sedan spotted in South Korea appears to have given up the model's 2011 secrets, with a mix of minor as well as substantive elements applied to the new car.
In the former category are items like newly sculpted skirting, LED headlamps and more chrome trim. In the substantive column we have that 5.0-liter, direct-injection V8 with 429 horsepower and an eight-speed automatic. They're good tweaks for a dark-horse sedan that's already an IIHS Top Pick at the best price-to-reward ratio around.
Nevertheless, we have to chide Hyundai for holding back on the originality. When the car was first introduced, we were told that its somewhat collated-from-other-cars styling was to give it a firmer basis for acceptance. To refresh the car with a BMW-like shifter and 7 Series exhaust tips (or Lexus, take your pick) comes off as a kind of design torpor that we know Hyundai is above - at least when it wants to be.
[Source: The Car Blogger]2011 Hyundai Genesis getting BMW-cued refresh? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 09:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments - First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage keeps moving in the proper direction
Filed under: Crossover, Hyundai, First Drive, Reviews
2011 Kia Sportage - click above for high-res image gallery
The crossover is the high-fructose corn syrup of the automotive world. Think about it: Rather than using real sugar, Pepsi opts for a cheaper, highly refined and processed sweetener. Which, according to lots of studies, is pretty bad for us. Why would they do that? Higher profits, pure and simple. Likewise, CUVs offer all of the space of a comparably long station wagon or hatchback, get inferior mileage, don't handle as well, take longer to stop and in most cases offer none of the utility of a true off-roader. But guess what? They pull in fistfuls of greenbacks for auto companies.
Like high-fructose corn syrup then, car experts ("Hi, Mom!") can scream out their lungs until they're blue about the benefits of a more sensible, safer, smarter product (again, wagons). Yet consumers simply don't listen. The fastest growing automotive segment is - of course - the small CUV. Like the Snickers bar, the Twinkie and a twenty-piece Chicken McNuggets meal with BBQ sauce (all of which is mostly corn syrup), they are here to stay, forever. Buyers just seem to like the looks and the perceived safety that a high-riding vehicle affords them. Plus, for those with infant children, not having to stoop down to strap Junior into his car seat is the most luxurious feature on earth. With all that in mind, some CUVs are better than others - and not only in terms of looks, but also handling, packaging, content and value. Is the new 2011 Kia Sportage one of them? Read on to find out.
Photos by Jonny Lieberman / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage keeps moving in the proper direction
First Drive: 2011 Kia Sportage keeps moving in the proper direction originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Jul 2010 11:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Hyundai brings Toyota's Michael O'Brien to head U.S. product planning
Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Hyundai, Toyota
Hyundai Motor America can officially stick another feather in its cap. The company has successfully managed to woo Mike O'Brien from the clutches of Toyota and back onto the Korean automaker's team. O'Brien worked at Hyundai for a full 14 years as a product planner before jumping ship and heading over to Toyota as a corporate manager. Now he's back, and will be filling the role of vice president of product and corporate planning under the Hyundai flag.
So what does that mean for future Hyundai products? Any hypotheses we throw out now would be little more than guesses, but according to the press release, O'Brien is a car guy first and foremost and spends his off-time buzzing around in a decommissioned French fighter jet. Here's hoping some of that need for speed translates into a few more aggressive pieces of machinery from Hyundai. Clear the jump for the press release.
[Source: Hyundai]Continue reading Hyundai brings Toyota's Michael O'Brien to head U.S. product planning
Hyundai brings Toyota's Michael O'Brien to head U.S. product planning originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Consumer Reports gives top marks to Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata among family sedans
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Nissan, Suzuki
2010 Nissan Altima and 2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click either image above for high-res image gallery
The minds at Consumer Reports have just wrapped up testing on a handful of family sedans. The publication lined up the Chevrolet Impala, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima and Suzuki Kizashi for a four-door throw down, and by the time the dust settled, Nissan and Hyundai reigned supreme. Both the four-cylinder Altima and Sonata racked up 'Excellent' ratings from the Consumer Reports testers, but only the Altima managed to walk away with the coveted 'Recommended' badge - the Sonata is too new for CR to weigh in on the Big Hyun's reliability.
Likewise, the Kizashi secured an 'Excellent' rating, though missed out on the honor of being 'Recommended' for the same reason. The same can't be said for the Chevrolet Impala. The Bowtie only managed a 'Good' rating, though it fared poorly enough in testing to be 'Not Recommended.' According to Consumer Reports, the big Chevrolet's disappointing fuel economy, clumsy four-speed transmission and lackluster fit-and-finish simply mean that it's due for a new model in a big way. Hop the jump for the full press release blast.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Photos by Michael Harley / Copyright (C)2009, (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Consumer Reports gives top marks to Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata among family sedans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Jun 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima fastest man on the mountain, but ten minute mark remains unbroken
Filed under: Motorsports, Hyundai, Suzuki, Racing
2010 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb - Click above for high-res image gallery
I had a choice to make for the race day of this year's Pikes Peak Hill Climb. Do I stick to the more photogenic middle portions of the course or do I head to the finish line to potentially see history made? The decision was easy. If the infamous ten-minute mark was going to be broken, I wanted to be there to see the car at the checkered flag. After all, the chances seemed quite good. "Monster" Tajima had smashed the qualifying record the previous day and had looked incredibly fast during the practice sections. The track conditions and weather were ideal in the morning, and the first few groups showed plenty of promise. In fact, a few track records were broken in the morning groups of cars, including Rhys Millen's recent fastest time in the Time Attack 2WD class.
There was an atmosphere of excitement and tension near the finish line as it was announced Tajima had started his run, and we all waited impatiently to hear the shriek of his Suzuki's twin-turbo V6. It soon arrived, echoing around the surrounding mountains. Within 30 seconds Tajima came tearing around the last turn, the rear tires breaking loose momentarily as he fought to keep it pointed towards the finish line. The Suzuki came tearing across the finish line, and we all looked at one another, wondering if the record had been broken.
Make the jump to read the rest of the story about race day at Pikes Peak.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima fastest man on the mountain, but ten minute mark remains unbroken originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 28 Jun 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima dominates third practice session, sets qualifying record
Filed under: Motorsports, Hyundai, Suzuki, Racing
2010 Pikes Peak Hill Climb Practice Day 3 and Qualifying - Click above for high-res image gallery
A few lessons learned from my second day on Pikes Peak:
- If you don't like cold weather, then watch the race on the bottom part of the course. After experiencing the freezing temps at 14,000 feet, I came better prepared this morning with more layers and hand warmers. I needn't have bothered. Even at 4:30 in the morning I was comfortable in a light jacket. Who would've thought that being 9,000 feet above sea level would feel so good?
- Don't forget sun screen at high elevation. The sun feels twice as harsh in the thin air. I'll be peeling for weeks.
- You can't drink too much water in Colorado. Despite downing what seems like gallons of water, I still feel more dried out than a saltine cracker. I guess that's what happens when it's 85 degrees out and humidity is only at ten percent.
- While I know why they split up the vehicles into three groups for practice, it's kind of a shame. You have to choose between seeing a different set of vehicles or seeing a different area of the track. I chose to stick with the same group since I wanted to follow the battle between Millen and Tajima.
- The spectators here are insane. There are basically no rules for where you can or can't stand, so just about anyone can stand a foot off the road while the cars fly by. Sideways. Towards a cliff.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima dominates third practice session, sets qualifying record
Pikes Peak 2010: Tajima dominates third practice session, sets qualifying record originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 Jun 2010 20:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments - Pikes Peak 2010: Second day of practice is in the books
Filed under: Motorsports, Hyundai, Suzuki, Racing
2010 Pikes Peak Hill Climb Practice Day 2 - Click above for high-res image gallery
As I headed up the Pikes Peak toll road early this morning (3:30 am to be exact) I started to doubt whether it was going to be worth it. Maybe it was the fact that I got just a little over two hours of sleep, or maybe it was the lack of oxygen, but as I passed 12,000 feet my head began to cloud-over and all I could think about was a nice, comfortable bed. It didn't help that I was driving on a mountain road in pitch black darkness at 10 mph sandwiched between a string of other cars. To make matters worse, a fierce, bitter wind greeted me as I parked the car just a few miles below the summit, and the fog was so thick I couldn't see more than a hundred feet. This was going to be miserable. What was I thinking?
And then something magical happened. As I stood shivering on the side of the road with camera in hand, a small glow appeared in the eastern sky and the fog started to lift. As more light started to brighten the area around me, the incredible beauty of the most famous mountain in America was brought forth in stunning fashion. The entire sky was lit with an orange glow, broken only by a few small clouds that looked like wispy strands of cotton. Suddenly an engine roared to life, breaking the peaceful silence, and minutes later an open-wheel racecar roared past at near-triple-digit speed, the rear end cocked out sideways and the driver applying loads of opposite lock to avoid hurling off the edge. It was amazing. Incredible. I've been to plenty of motorsports events, but this tops them all. The matchless beauty of the surroundings juxtaposed with such incredible machinery being pushed to its absolute limit is like nothing else on earth. I could have left right then and it would have all been worth it. Fortunately, I still had more than three hours of it to enjoy. Follow the jump for more impressions from the second day of testing for the 2010 Pikes Peak Hill Climb.
Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.Continue reading Pikes Peak 2010: Second day of practice is in the books
Pikes Peak 2010: Second day of practice is in the books originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 24 Jun 2010 20:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | Comments
Autoblog
Two Souls As One
100% Free -- AlwaysDomain Offerings
Premium Domain SalesEncryptian
Encrypt/Decrypt Like an EncryptianLatitude Longitude Distance
Pinpoint Geographic Coordinates of any location on Earth, Measure Distances Aerially, Much More...Online Dating Forum
Share, Live, Love, LearnValue Vault
Coupon Syndication NetworkRelated Sites:
Nissan Altima Accessories
Honda Accord Car Parts
Insurance Property Casualty
VW Passat Parts
Saab Car Parts
Ford Focus Accessories
Honda Civic Car Parts
Isuzu Car Parts
Honda Accord Car Parts
Insurance Property Casualty
VW Passat Parts
Saab Car Parts
Ford Focus Accessories
Honda Civic Car Parts
Isuzu Car Parts
Audi Auto Parts
Ford Focus Car Parts
Vintage Subaru Parts
Auto Insurance Personal
Jaguar X-Type Parts
Kia Sedona Parts
Suzuki Wheels
Ford Focus Car Parts
Vintage Subaru Parts
Auto Insurance Personal
Jaguar X-Type Parts
Kia Sedona Parts
Suzuki Wheels