Archive for the ‘Hyundai’ Category

The all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata isn’t due to make its U.S. debut until the 2010 Detroit Auto Show in January but already we have the first tentative details about its American specifications. The big shocker is that the car will likely miss out on a V-6 engine option, instead being offered with a four-cylinder engine only at the initial launch and then a gasoline-electric hybrid option towards the end of next year.

The four-cylinder engine destined for the new Sonata is based on the current model’s 2.4-liter unit but gets a few nifty features to boost performance and fuel economy. Dubbed the 2.4-liter Theta II GDI, the new mill...

Hyundai has made a very smart choice on its Elantra sedan for 2010: improved its fuel economy. And at the center of the improvement is a new frugal base model, the Elantra Blue.

Through some relatively simple engineering enhancements—such as a smart alternator, lower-friction components, and revised/taller gear ratios, along with revised engine calibration—Hyundai has improved fuel efficiency on the Elantra Blue (versus last year’s Elantra models) by up to eight percent. EPA ratings now stand at 26 mpg city, 35 highway with the standard five-speed manual transmission—up from 24 mpg city, 33 highway on last year’s model.

Due to “smart...

• What is it?: The next generation of Hyundai's mid-size family sedan • The basics: Exceptional styling, and a hybrid version in the works • On sale: Summer 2010, with a public showing at the Detroit Auto Show • Price: $20,000 (est.)

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is months away from a U.S. debut at the 2010 Detroit Auto Show, but the sixth-generation of the popular nameplate has now made its debut in its home market of South Korea.

The new car was designed and developed in Hyundai's Orange County, California offices, and shows a design flair that's been absent from the model's repertoire. It adopts a new "fluidic...