Hyundai auto news

Long Term: 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: January 2012

January was not a busy month for our long-term 2011 Hyundai Equus. It did ferry one of our editors between auto company cocktail hours and dinners during the week of the Detroit Auto Show, but for the latter half of the month it wasn't driven all that much. But that's good news, because our Equus spent quite a bit of time at LaFontaine Hyundai, in Dearborn, Michigan, receiving a long-awaited repair to the driver's seat.

As we wind down its year in the Autoblog fleet, we also saw fit to address some cosmetic damage to the front fascia and have our 22,500-mile service completed. While the service was free, the "minor" scrape on the lower corner of the bumper skirt set us back some $669.25. Our time with the Equus ends in just a few weeks, which means we'll only have limited time to enjoy the now-comfortable seat. This has been one of our biggest issues with the car, and to have it finally fixed after all this time is so wonderful that some editors are grumbling that they won't have the chance to get back in the car again.

We do wish, however, that the seat bottom wasn't made to look even more worn by the contrast of the brand new seat back. At least we don't have to look at it while we drive around enjoying the comfort of the now-working back massager.

Did Hyundai pull MPG claims from Super Bowl ad due to watchdog group pressure? [w/video]

Hyundai has been targeted by Consumer Watchdog, a non-profit advocacy organization, over the automaker's 40 mpg fuel efficiency claim on the Hyundai Elantra. The group says Elantra owners have seen fuel economy averages of 18 and 19 mpg instead of the the 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway reported by Hyundai and the Environmental Protection Agency. As such, the group has sent letters to both Hyundai CEO John Krafcik and President Eok Jo Kim warning that if the automaker advertised the 40 mpg claim in the company's Super Bowl spots, Consumer Watchdog would release a retaliatory video of its own. The group has since followed through with that threat.

Hyundai has since released a new, updated version of its Super Bowl ad, and Consumer Watchdog claims the Korean automaker has now promised not to include the 40 mpg figure in any of the spots. Hyundai, meanwhile, released a statement saying the company's advertising was "in no way" influenced by the Consumer Watchdog claims, comments or statements. Click past the jump for a look at the Elantra Super Bowl spot, the Consumer Watchdog clip about the vehicle's mileage claims and a press release from the non-profit.

Also worth a read is Popular Mechanics just-published (and very timely) fuel-economy test of two cars boasting 40 mpg EPA highway ratings: the Ford Focus SFE and the Hyundai Elantra. Ultimately, when you get past all the noise, it's important to remember that "your mileage may vary" is a mantra for a reason.

Continue reading Did Hyundai pull MPG claims from Super Bowl ad due to watchdog group pressure? [w/video]

Video: Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door

Based on the can't-make-enough status of the Hyundai Elantra, the public hasn't gotten tired of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design theme. Based on this commercial for the Hyundai i30, we admit that we haven't either. The five-door sold in Europe and based on the Kia Cee'd platform shows us what we can generally expect from the upcoming Elantra Touring replacement.

The last Elantra wagon didn't get big play here three years ago, but neither the Elantra nor Hyundai were in the position they're in now. In Europe, the i30 five-door will get a choice of four engines and three transmissions, but we shouldn't expect to be so spoiled for choice. Follow the jump to see the video.

Continue reading Hyundai i30 commercial previews upcoming Elantra five-door

Video: Hyundai i30 commercial gives good look at coming Elantra five-door

Based on the can't-make-enough status of the Hyundai Elantra, the public hasn't gotten tired of Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design theme. Based on this commercial for the Hyundai i30, we admit that we haven't either. The five-door sold in Europe and based on the Kia Cee'd platform shows us what we can generally expect from the upcoming Elantra Touring replacement.

The last Elantra wagon didn't get big play here three years ago, but neither the Elantra nor Hyundai were in the position they're in now. In Europe, the i30 five-door will get a choice of four engines and three transmissions, but we shouldn't expect to be so spoiled for choice. Follow the jump to see the video.

Continue reading Hyundai i30 commercial gives good look at coming Elantra five-door

Report: These are North America's top producing auto plants

Volkswagen has the honor of being this year's top producing North American automotive manufacturer by a wide margin with its Puebla, Mexico facility. The factory managed to produce 510,041 units last year, beating out second-place Nissan and its Aguascalientes, Mexico plant by a staggering 149,245 units, according to Ward's Auto. Nissan jumped from third to second place after Toyota and its Georgetown plant dropped from the top five. Toyota and Honda both saw themselves ousted from the leader board after a year pockmarked by disruptions from earthquake and tsunami activity in Japan and flooding in Thailand.

The Japanese automakers' vacancies made room for Hyundai and its facility in Montgomery, Alabama with 338,127 units to take fourth place. Ford, meanwhile, moved from fifth in 2010 to third in 2011 with 344,446 units from its Dearborn Truck plant. Nissan rounded out the top five last year with the company's plant in Smyrna, Tennessee taking the automaker's second spot on the list.

Ward's Auto reports Volkswagen enjoyed a boost from the popularity of the Jetta. That model alone helped push the company's Puebla facility to a 75,356 unit gain over last year's figures. Head over to Ward's to see the full report.

Report: Analysts: U.S. automakers will lose marketshare in 2012

Domestic automakers have much to be happy about, with Chrysler, Ford and General Motors all gaining market share last year for the first time since 1988. Yet according to Bloomberg, 2012 won't be as good to Detroit. Total sales are projected to grow from 12.8 million vehicles last year to 13.6 million, according to the report, but increasing competition from Korea and a Japanese recovery from the natural disasters of 2011 mean those extra sales aren't likely headed to the Big Three.

The news agency spoke to five analysts, and predictions have the U.S. automakers losing 1.3 percentage points this year. The analysts estimate that GM will drop 0.6 of a percent, Ford will lose 0.5 percent, and Chrysler will be down 0.2 percent. Toyota is seen gaining 0.9 percent, with Honda grabbing an extra 0.5 percent, while Hyundai and Kia are only projected to see their combined market share improve by 0.01.

If all this comes true, GM would have the top market share in the U.S. at 19 percent, with Ford in second at 16.3 percent, followed by Toyota at 13.8 percent, Chrysler at 10.5 percent, and Honda at 9.5 percent.

Video: Hyundai premieres trio of Super Bowl commercials

A few months ago, Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing at Hyundai said the brand would tailor its Super Bowl commercials to the game, instead of focusing just on features, and with this peppy quip: "We're making Super Bowl spots. We need to get that headset on. The bar is high."

The first three ads are, and in one of them, "All for One," a designer needs a little extra support getting a job done. He gets it from his coworkers. And plant workers at Hyundai's Montgomery, Alabama facility. And Rocky. Follow the jump to check that one out along with "Cheetah" (pictured) that features the 2012 Veloster Turbo and "Think Fast," which introduces the revamped Genesis Coupe R-Spec You'll also find the press release describing Hyundai's Super Bowl gameplan and find link links to watch the behind-the-scenes videos for each, as well.

Continue reading Hyundai premieres trio of Super Bowl commercials

Study: NADA: Dealers most happy with Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus

The National Automobile Dealers Association conducts its Dealer Attitude Survey twice each year, and results from the summer survey are in. Hyundai stayed on top for the third time in a row, followed by Subaru, Lexus, Kia, and Mercedes-Benz. The survey measures three factors: "franchise value, automaker policy decisions that affect the dealership and the automaker's field staff who visit dealerships."

Sixth place went to Toyota, while Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi followed. Cadillac and Honda tied for tenth. NADA received responses from over 14,700 dealerships, representing almost 54 percent of all dealers nationwide.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading NADA: Dealers most happy with Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus

Report: Hyundai says Elantra sales to slow because factory can't keep up with demand

Hyundai's Elantra has been on fire, with sales up 41 percent last year. The compact sedan won North American Car of the Year in January, and the icing on the cake will be a new coupe bodystyle that will soon be landing at dealers. But all is not completely well, according to a report from Bloomberg.

Hyundai expects Elantra sales to run into a brick wall of limited production capacity, as the company's Montgomery, Alabama plant is already operating at 110 percent. The plant, which builds the Elantra and its big brother, the midsize Sonata, churned out 338,000 units in 2011. Hyundai sold over 186,000 Elantra models in the U.S. last year.

With Hyundai posting 20 percent overall sales growth in the U.S. in 2011, it clearly needs to address its capacity bottleneck. Speculation is building that the company will soon announce plans to build another North American assembly plant.

Spy Shots: Are you the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe?

It won't be long before we see the official reveal of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, but predictably, the Internet won't be kept waiting. Consider us unsurprised that a set of grainy photos showing what is claimed to be a badgeless redesigned Santa Fe crossover has appeared ahead of schedule.

That said, we're thinking the chrome-heavy maw depicted in these shots suggests that this is probably an overseas version (ix45) - not exactly what we'll see in the States. At least, that's what we're hoping, as the wall of frontal brightwork seems out of step not just with the market, but also Hyundai and its styling position here in North America. That said, our moles confirm that this is "some version of Santa Fe" and suggest that the image above was likely part of an illicit photo shoot taken inside the plant in Korea.

We should know more in April, when the North American Santa Fe is expected to launch at the New York Auto Show. For now, however, check out AutoEvolution for a second look.