In order to create a larger gap between the Hyundai brand and the premium vehicles it produces, the automaker is considering making a sub-brand under the Genesis label for the U.S.

Badges would be swapped on rear-wheel drive models including the Genesis sedan and coupe, and the Equus, and would trade in their current model names for an alphanumeric system. Although it would be a separate brand, Hyundai says the premium models would still be sold at its dealerships, and that a fully separate luxury brand is not at all an option.

“There’s a conversation going on within the company that says, ‘Does having the Hyundai badge on the premium vehicles sell more vehicles, or does it restrict us from selling more vehicles?’” said Dave Zuchowski, executive vice president of sales for Hyundai Motor America.

Sales numbers for Hyundai’s premium models certainly make the debate worthwhile, with 3,193 Equus models sold in its first full year released, well over the 2,300 the automaker anticipated. As for the Genesis Sedan and Coupe, sales for these models were up 13 in 2011 from 2010, putting 2011 total at 32,998.

With redesigns coming up for all of the premium models in 2013, Hyundai would have its best opportunity to make that move with the launch of the new generation.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoNews

Most of the coupe’s exterior resembles the Elantra sedan, buy takes the brand’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design theme to a sportier design language.

Check out more news on the Hyundai Elantra.

Power comes from the 1.8 liter 4-cylinder in the Elantra sedan, which pumps out 148-hp and 131 lb-ft of torque. Mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic, the Hyundai Elantra Coupe manages an estimated fuel-economy of 29/40 mpg (city/highway) and 28/49 mpg (automatic). That enables the Elantra Coupe to return a highway driving range of up to 500 whopping miles and makes it more fuel-efficient than the Civic Coupe and Kia Koup.

Inside, the story is pretty much the same as the Elantra sedan in terms of technology options and features, however, roominess is sacrificed. Nonetheless, the interior volume comes in at 110.2 cubic feet,which exceeds the 2012 Honda Civic Coupe and 2012 Kia Forte Koup by quite a lot.

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe will be available to order this spring. Sit tight for pricing details.

- By: Omar Rana

“Elantra GT is a fun-to-drive, functional, five-door compact hatchback,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Elantra GT is the latest example of how Hyundai is redefining the compact car and setting new standards in automotive design, efficiency and functionality.”

Hyundai says that the new 2013 Elantra GT will compete with the Ford Focus, Mazda3, Volkswagen Golf and will offer more interior space and fuel-economy than its competitors. It also weighs the least out of the bunch at just 2,784 pounds (with an automatic) - 175 pounds lighter than Focus, 151 pounds lighter than Mazda3 and 222 pounds lighter than Golf.

Power for the Elantra GT comes from the same 1.8 liter 4-cylinder engine as the Elantra sedan. The engine pumps out 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque. Mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic, the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT averages an estimated 28/39 mpg (city/highway).

Check out more news on the Hyundai Elantra.

Inside the Elantra GT, offers more interior volume than the Toyota Matrix, Mazda3, Ford Focus and VW Golf and even more cargo capacity than the Nissan Juke crossover. Technology wise, the 2013 Elantra GT comes standard with a 172-watt AM/FM/Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with six-speakers and iPod/USB/auxiliary input jacks, Bluetooth and Hyundai’s new BlueLink infotainment system. Optionally, buyers can add SiriusXM Satellite Radio, real-time NavTraffic and Data services, leather trim, heated front seats, dual-zone climate control and a panoramic sunroof.

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT hits dealerships this summer. Price, as always, will be announced closer to launch date.

- By: Omar Rana

The pace for U.S. light vehicle sales rose by 11 percent last month and was set by a few major automakers including Chrysler Group, Volkswagen Group and Hyundai/Kia.

All major automakers posted sales gains last month except General Motors, which fell 6 percent from a strong January 2011. The automaker sold a total of 167,962 vehicles with Chevrolet being the main highlight as sales for the brand were up 13 percent.

“Chevrolet drove our performance once again and sales of our fuel-efficient new cars were especially good,” and Don Johnson, vice president, U.S. Sales Operations. “The strength that the economy and the auto industry showed in the fourth quarter carried into January, so we believe the year is off to a good start.”

FoMoCo sold a total of 136,710 vehicles in January, a 7 percent increase. Ford as a brand sold 131,589 vehicles in January, making it the best January sales month for the Ford brand since 2008.

Chrysler shined the most out of Detroit automakers with U.S. sales coming in at 101,149, a 44 percent increase compared with sales in January 2011.

Toyota sold a total of 124,540 units – up 7.5 percent. Honda sold 83,009 units a increase of 8.8 percent. Nissan was up 10.4 percent after selling 79,313 units.

Korean’s Hyundai was up 15 percent with total sales coming in at 42,694.

Germany’s Volkswagen Group sales were up 40 percent to 36,681 units. The sales were led by a 48 percent increase for the VW brand and 20 percent increase at at Audi.

- By: Omar Rana

Hyundai is now in its fifth consecutive year as a Super Bowl advertiser and will have a total of 5 commercials during the big game on February 5 including two pre-game spots with one during the highly-rated pre-kick time slot and two ads during the game.

“The general theme of the day focuses on elements that drive the Hyundai brand and culture, with the two in-game ads highlighting performance characteristics – bolstering a brand attribute that Hyundai doesn’t often emphasize,” the company said in a statement. “The campaign features interactive and digital content throughout, including outtakes, online extensions and social media engagement to extend the reach of the program. Creative was developed by Hyundai’s agency of record, Innocean Worldwide Americas.”

Two out of the five spots are called Cheetah and Think Fast. The Cheetah commercial features the 201-hp Hyundai Veloster Turbo and the Think Fast commercial shows the Genesis Coupe R-Spec.

Check out the ads after the jump.

- By: Omar Rana

The National Association of Automobile Dealers survey was released today, revealing that Subaru, Lexus and Hyundai have the most satisfied dealers.

Twelve bits of data have been complied over three categories that include automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership, franchise value, and automaker field staff who visit the dealership. The resulting information gauges how satisfied new-car dealers are with each of their automakers.

Hyundai has been holding the top spot for the third consecutive survey period, and Subaru made the top three five consecutive periods, with Lexus holding the number three slot, dropping form second place on the previous survey.

The top 10 include Volkswagen, Porsche, Audi, Toyota, and Mercedes-Benz, and Honda and Cadillac are together in the number 10 spot.

Lexus scored highest on the section of the survey that indicates how dealers feel towards their manufacturers’ policy and the effect they have on their franchises. Toyota and Hyundai followed in this category.

Dealers who feel their automakers value them more start with Hyundai, then Kia, with Lexus being third.

Some dealers feel that their automakers don’t value their input on decisions that impact their stores, with Suzuki, BMW and Mini scoring the lowest here, and Toyota, Lexus and Subaru doing the best. All of these positions remain the same from this time last year.

As for how dealers feel about the field representatives from their manufacturers, Infiniti showed the greatest improvement in this category from winter 2011, up from sixth place, with Acura and Toyota following. The fourth spot in the segment is also held by a Japanese automaker.

In total, 14,700 dealer franchises were surveyed throughout the U.S., with just over half responding.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoNews

Not only was the Hyundai Elantra named the North American Car of the Year this month, the models sales increased by 41 percent in 2011.

Keeping up the momentum, the automaker is releasing a coupe variant to join the compact sedan, which is expected to arrive in the near future.

The down side to all of the buzz around the Elantra is that the automaker no longer has the production capacity to handle the car’s success. Hyundai’s plant in Montgomery, Alabama builds both the Elantra and the Sonata, and rolled 338,000 units off the production line last year, putting the plant at 110 percent of its operating capacity. The Elantra alone sold more than 186,000 units in the U.S. for 2011.

Overall, Hyundai’s sales were up 20 percent last year, and to keep up with its growth and consumer demands, the automaker may need to consider opening additional locations in the near future.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoBlog

The concern evolving around hybrid cars has always been the life and durability of their battery packs, which stemmed from the fact that batteries inevitably die out at some point. And despite Toyota’s Prius and Ford’s Escape proof that hybrid batteries can stand the test of long-term use and time, Hyundai still insists on providing prospective buyers some piece of mind by offering a lifetime warranty for 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid batteries.

“We can afford the program because the failure rate is so low,” said Hyundai’s CEO, John Krafcik. And in the same sentence, Krafcik also claimed that Hyundai has tested the Sonata Hybrid’s drivetrain for more than 300,000 miles with no apparent signs of degradation.

Krafcik didn’t explain the specifics of the warranty, but in the same interview, his crew apparently confirmed that Hyundai is working to up the ante with transmissions by introducing, not a nine-speed cog swapper, but ten…TEN gears.

“We confirmed that it (the ten-speed) is a ‘go project’ for development,” said an undisclosed Hyundai representative.

Other than the confirmation, no other details were given.

- By: Chris Chin

Source: CARandDRIVER

This car is no different, while it is not offensive like the Pontiac Aztek was, it is not interesting like the Hyundai Veloster is, except for one thing, the rear hinged sliding doors. This is not a production reality like the B-pillar less carbon E-Class Mercedes we announced earlier this week, but it keeps things exciting.

Inside there are eight seats, blue lights and other concept car excitements. The only real world prospect here is the 1.2 liter direct injection turbo four linked to a six-speed auto ‘box.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Continuing efforts to move far away from its old reputation, Hyundai is currently trying to leave a bigger imprint on the global automotive industry.

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik says “”The orthodoxy inside the company just three or four years ago was, seriously, ‘We can’t sell a car without a rebate on the hood.” While he notes that the 5.1 percent market share that the automaker has took 25 years to acquire, there’s no doubt that without the drastic changes made in recent years, there would be no hope of any greater achievement. Krafcik says the direction that Hyundai is now headed in is to make itself a “valuable” brand instead of a “value” brand.

Selling prices have increased by 14 percent since 2009, back when consumers were only looking to cough up 89 percent of the sicker price for a Hyundai, compared to the 96 percent of the cost consumers are now willing to pay.

For 2011, the brand’s sales had increased by 20 percent, with the 10 percent swell in the U.S. market overall. Despite the increase in sales, Hyundai didn’t do well with the J.D. Power’s Sales Satisfaction Index for mainstream brands in 2011, hitting 15th on the list after holding the number 7 spot the previous year. Krafcik says this will be an area of focus for 2012, and will be using a sales training program developed for high-end model sales for all of its dealerships.

By: Alexandra Koken

Source: AutoWeek

Hyundai Motor America is looking to completely revamp its U.S. operations headquarters in Fountain Valley, CA, and has recently released renderings of what may be the future for the location.

The proposal was presented by prestigious design and architecture firm Gensler and is highlighted by a goal for gold level in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, which offers a green building certification.

Hyundai’s current headquarters are already in the demolition process, and the new build should begin this spring, with completion anticipated for late 2013. A temporary office is housing all the current employees, as the new construction should be opening up over 1,500 new positions.

- By: Alexandra Koken

Not that it is a priority with a sports car, but mileage picks up too; the V6 improves over both transmissions with 18 mpg city/28 highway for the auto, and one less on the highway for the manual. The four only picks up economy with the auto’ box at 20/31 and 21/30 for the manual.

Inside paddle shifters are just one of the changes. The six speed manual is still available in both cars, but now an 8-speed auto ‘box can be shifted via panels. Both the 2.0T and the 3.8 now have telescoping steering wheels and revised center stacks. As part of this interior revision comes the option of Hyundai’s BlueLink infotainment system.

Just two more things: this is a car where you can shut the stability control totally off, and with the four cylinder, the penalty for running regular gas instead of premium is only 14 bhp.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Hyundai say that at 14 lbs/hp, they have a best-in class power to weight ratio and time will only tell if this translates well to the real world of handling. One bit that does translate is the fuel consumption: the 63 extra horses only take off two highway mpg when compared to the standard car, making it 38 mpg for the turbo, and while this is not an advertisement, I would add that this is class leading economy as well.

With the Veloster Turbo comes a sprinking of LEDs front and back, turn signals on the mirrors, bespoke front fascia, fog lights and a new matte gray color, whatever that means. If you see one coming down the road, you might also notice dual circular exhausts offering a different sound, stiffer suspension and less noticeably, another inch of length.

One interesting feature of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo is not just the stability control, but the power steering; if the driver brakes or accelerates, the system will provide up to eight newton meters of counter steering force.

Prices to be announced at later date.

All Photos Copyright © Omar Rana - egmCarTech.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Back when the Veloster Concept was introduced in 2007, we knew that they had a neat idea on their hands, especially one that had the potential to reinvigorate the concept of the affordable sports car. But after the normal Veloster hit the showrooms this past year, it didn’t seem to meet the expectations of those expecting homage to the original Honda CR-X.

But expressions of discontent have been kept to a minimum since Hyundai has had us on the edge of our seat ever since they announced that a more powerful turbocharged version was on the way.

Click here for more news on the Hyundai Veloster.

So far from what’s been circulating the automotive news desks, the turbocharged Veloster will be powered by the same 1.6L Gamma GDI four-banger that’s in the standard Veloster. Obviously, that engine has been reworked to accommodate a twin-scroll turbocharger for an estimated 204-hp and 195 lb-ft of torque. Additionally, buyers can also choose between a six-speed manual or automatic.

Other changes haven’t been released, but from the photos, we can decipher some aesthetic and optional differences when compared to the standard Veloster, such as more aggressive bodywork and unique seats with bespoke trim for the inside.

Full detail will be announced tomorrow at Hyundai’s press conference.

- By: Chris Chin

Hyundai Motor Group, which consists of the Hyundai and Kia brands, has plans to invest a total of $12.2 billion research and development and facilities in 2012. The investment is a 15.6 percent increase from 2011.

$4.4 billion of the investment will go into r&d efforts to “accelerate the development of eco-friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles,” Hyundai said. $7.9 billion is earmarked for new facilities. $2.6 billion of the $7.9 billion will be used to upgrade and construct facilities in South Korea and overseas locations.

Hyundai and Kia both reported record sales in the United States in 2011.

The group aims to sell about 7 million vehicles globally in 2012, as compared to 6.5 million in 2011.

- By: Omar Rana

Source: AutoNews

The New York Times Square billboards draw 1.5 million impressions a day in one of the world’s most iconic locations for exposing brands. Hyundai is taking advantage of the with a new interactive racing game billboard galled ‘Hyundai Race.’

Visitors to Times Square can play the high-quality racing game featuring the new Hyundai Veloster on the big screen and simulate real driving experiences.

Click here for the Top 10 things you need to know about the Hyundai Veloster.

“Hyundai Race” is controlled by tilting a smart phone, just like turning the steering wheel when driving a car. Players can easily download the controller for “Hyundai Race” from the App Store. Then, by connecting to the free Hyundai WiFi network in Times Square, players can control their vehicle on the big screen just as if they were playing a racing game on their smart phone. When players finish the race, their score will appear on the billboard and show their ranking among other players.

Hyundai Race will be available in Times Square until the end of the year – so if you’re in the area – check it out.

Hit the jump for the video.

Refresher: Power for the 2012 Hyundai Veloster comes from a 1.6 liter GDI Gamma direct-injection gasoline engine making 138-hp and 123 lb-ft of torque. EPA estimated fuel-economy comes in at 28/40/32 mpg (city/highway/combined) with the six speed manual and 29/38/32 mpg with the DCT. Prices start at $17,300.

- By: Omar Rana

On the heels of BMW and Audi, Hyundai continues to find ways to compete with the finer European brands; first they open a design center in California like BMW, and now they have just tapped Chris Chapman of BMW X Coupe fame.

Hyundai’s head of design, SukGeun Oh said of Chapman: “With over 22 years of experience in the industry working on esteemed automotive brands, Chris provides a level of talent that will help further our design portfolio…we are thrilled to have Christopher Chapman as chief designer for Hyundai and look forward to continuing the strong momentum of our vehicle designs.”

The change comes after a strong wave of Hyundais, which pulled prospective Lexus customers away from the Japanese marque and into the emerging premium South Korean offerings. As cars are the second largest investment the average person makes over a lifetime, the decision often is based on design and other right-brain variables: Hyundai is not resting on their laurels.

Chapman may have worked for BMW most recently (the 1er, X5 and X3), but he was also successful in the early nineties, winning best in show at the ‘93 Tokyo Motor Show for the Isuzu XU-1 concept.

- By: Sawyer Sutton

Power continues to come from a 2.4 liter Atkinson 4-cylinder hybrid engine mated to a hybrid starter-generator and a permanent magnet high-power density motor. The motor gets its fuel from a 270V lithium polymer battery.

Click here for more news on the Hyundai Sonata.

The 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid delivers 40 mpg highway fuel-economy rating and 35 mpg city. Combined EPA rated fuel-economy comes in at 37 mpg.

Prices start at $25,850.

Check out the complete specs after the jump.

Sonata Hybrid

Leather Package ($1,500 MSRP):

• Leather seating surfaces
• Heated front seats and rear seat bottom cushions
• Leather-wrapped steering wheel & shift knob
• Auto-dimming rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass

Ultimate Package ($5,500 MSRP) – Includes Leather package contents plus the following:

• Panoramic sunroof with tilt & slide
• 17-inch Eco-spoke alloy wheels with unique finish
• Navigation system with high-resolution touch-screen display
• Rear backup camera
• Infinity® premium speakers, subwoofer and external amplifier (400-watt)
• HD Radio® Technology with multicasting
• SiriusXM, NavTraffic, NavWeather and Sports & Stocks w/ 90-Day Trial
• HVAC multi-mode button
• Premium door sill plates
• Glossy black door surround and outside mirror housing

- By: Omar Rana