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HYUNDAI’S 2013 SANTA FE SPORT WINS WINTER VEHICLE AWARD FOR BEST IN CLASS SUV/CROSSOVER UNDER $28,000

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport outperformed its competitors to earn the distinction of “Best in Class SUV/Crossover under $28,000” in the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) annual Winter Vehicle Awards, which honor the best cars, trucks, crossovers and SUVs for handling New England’s difficult winter driving conditions.

NEMPA will present this year’s Winter Vehicle Awards on May 9, 2013, at MIT in Cambridge, Mass. The winners are selected each year by NEMPA media members, which include automotive journalists in the six-state New England region. NEMPA members test a wide range of vehicles to evaluate winter-specific features along with various qualities that make for safe, enjoyable all-weather driving.

“The Santa Fe Sport is an exceptional vehicle with strong performance from a choice of four-cylinder engines and an all-wheel drive system that meets any challenges thrown at it by New England weather. Its good fuel economy also makes it a smart choice for consumers, which is why we named it Best in Class SUV/Crossover under $28,000,” said Keith Griffin, NEMPA president.

“We are excited to see the all-new Santa Fe Sport earn a Winter Vehicle Award from a group of journalists who know first-hand what it takes to handle challenging weather conditions,” said John Shon, Product Manager, Hyundai Motor America. “Now joined by a longer three-row Santa Fe trim the Santa Fe provides today’s families with premium features and advanced driving dynamics at an incredible value. Whether it’s a quick drive down the block or a family road trip, Santa Fe is equipped to safely and comfortably navigate roads in any season.”

The two-row Santa Fe Sport introduced last year and three-row Santa Fe being launched this spring both offer an optional Active Cornering Control AWD system that continuously analyzes data to supply torque and braking force to the right tires for improved traction. Rather than just react to conditions after they occur, the system can anticipate traction requirements for better performance in winter driving.

Santa Fe Sport offers a choice of a 2.4-liter or 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine. The longer wheelbase Santa Fe comes standard with a 3.3-liter V6 engine and provides a 5,000-pound towing capacity. Both Santa Fe models feature a progressive design and flexible interior.

Santa Fe also comes standard with Hyundai’s Blue Link®, combining safety, service and infotainment features to simplify owners’ lives and reduce distracted driving by seamlessly connecting the driver directly with the vehicle. Technologies such as emergency assistance, POI search and download, turn-by-turn navigation, smartphone remote features (including remote start) and monthly vehicle reporting are available with the system.

Starting May 16, 2013, all Blue Link-equipped new vehicle purchases will come standard with three years of Assurance Connected Care service, providing many of Blue Link’s safety and car care services. For more details on Assurance Connected Care, visithttp://www.hyundaibluelink.com/

Via Hyundai News

2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT NAMED BEST COMPACT CUV BY NWAPA

The Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) named the all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport “Best Compact CUV” during the 2013 Mudfest competition last week in Snoqualmie, Washington. More than 30 NWAPA automotive journalists participated in the event at the 300-plus acre DirtFish Rally School site in Snoqualmie, WA.

“Mudfest gives our members the ability to test the top crossovers, side-by-side, in real-world conditions,” said Ryan Douthit, host of Driving Sports TV and this year’s event organizer. “Working with the DirtFish staff, we designed a number of test courses that really challenged the vehicles in terms of road-handling and their ability to navigate through very rugged off-road conditions. The fact that our members selected the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport for this honor speaks volumes about what it offers compared to competitive vehicles in its class.”

“The Pacific Northwest terrain provided media the opportunity to put the Santa Fe Sport AWD turbo through a number of exercises that included a wet pavement autocross course and a real-world drive through the hills surrounding DirtFish Rally School,” said Scott Margason, director product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “NWAPA members were able to experience the Santa Fe Sport AWD turbo capabilities, including the punch of the twin-scroll turbocharger and the dual continuously variable value timing, which delivered both outstanding performance and fuel economy.”

The 2013 Best Compact CUV award from NWAPA is one in a list of honors the 2013 Santa Fe Sport has garnered since launching during the fourth quarter of 2012. Santa Fe Sport received the honor of “Best New Crossover” in the Midsize and Large Crossovers category in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, was named to this year’s Ward’s “10 Best Interiors” list for its upscale and highly-functional interior, and was awarded “Crossover of the Year” by the editors of Autobytel.

Via Hyundai News

SiriusXM’s All Access Package Adds Premium Content, Including SiriusXM NFL Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, Exclusive Talk Programming and More

Hyundai Motor America and Sirius XM Radio will offer new Hyundai customers a three-month subscription to SiriusXM’s All Access package, offering them even more programming, beginning this month. Programming enhancements for new vehicles include: SiriusXM NFL Radio, SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, exclusive talk programming and more.

In addition, new Hyundai owners with the SiriusXM All Access Package can enjoy SiriusXM Internet Radio for the same three-month period, allowing them to seamlessly access SiriusXM programming throughout the day. This includes SiriusXM Latino, a suite of 20 Spanish-language channels featuring 10 exclusive commercial-free music channels from a wide variety of genres. SiriusXM Internet Radio can be accessed at home, office or on the go anywhere outside the vehicle on Apple iPad®, iPhone®, iPod Touch®, Android® smartphones and other connected devices as well as at www.siriusxm.com.

“Hyundai’s offer of an enhanced SiriusXM subscription is a great benefit to new Hyundai owners, offering a variety of premium content as well as convenient access to SiriusXM Internet Radio,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America.

Via Hyundai News

Don’t Be Jealous…LOYAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL FAN WINS BRAND-NEW 2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT

During the 2012 college football season, Hyundai successfully engaged thousands of passionate fans through its multi-faceted college football marketing program. At 153 college football games last season, fans visiting Hyundai’s experiential “FanZones” had the opportunity to enter into a sweepstakes for a 2013 Santa Fe Sport. The one lucky fan, picked from more than 100,000 Facebook and on-site entries, was an Illinois fan, David Peterson from Lynn Center, Ill. Peterson was awarded the new Santa Fe Sport at Green Family Hyundai in Moline, Ill.

 

 

“As a big-time Illinois football fan, Santa Fe is the perfect car for weekend tailgates with its spacious layout and plush interior design,” said Peterson. “Santa Fe has great ride and handling and as someone who’s tall, is easy to get in and out of. I highly recommend taking Santa Fe for a test drive, you’re sure to like it.”

Every fan at Hyundai’s game-site displays was given a key chain with a radio frequency identification chip (RFID) that entered them in a Facebook contest for an all-new Santa Fe Sport. Fans visiting multiple Hyundai FanZone locations throughout the season were given additional sweepstakes entries each trip.

Hyundai’s college football marketing program partnered with 25 renowned powerhouse programs, connecting the loyalty of Hyundai owners with the passion and traditions of college football. From ‘The Swamp’ to ‘The Big House’ and 23 schools in-between, fans from all across the country experienced the loyalty and passion that Hyundai breathes into its products, creating a synergy between college football tradition and Hyundai’s pursuit of excellence.

“David Peterson is a perfect example of the die-hard sports and auto enthusiast this program was designed to reach,” said Steve Shannon, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “Our college football program last year was remarkably successful. Research from the fans who participated in our game-site FanZones shows an increase in brand opinion and awareness, along with extremely high consideration numbers. This program truly enabled us to connect with college football fans in a meaningful way.”

At select events, Hyundai also displayed its ‘Ultimate Tailgater Vehicle’ – a 2013 Santa Fe Sport modified to accommodate any and all pre- and post-game celebrations. The customized Santa Fe Sport was prominently featured in Hyundai’s college football creative and at on-site displays throughout the fall.

Via Hyundai News

Hyundai… It’s a Lifestyle not a Car

U.S. consumers are increasingly looking for cars designed and packaged to meet their overall lifestyle needs, Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America, told attendees at the SAE 2013 World Congress in Detroit. His remarks highlighted consumer insights driving the integration of new technology into modern car design. O’Brien pointed to Hyundai Assurance Connected Care – the new safety and security suite powered by Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics platform—as a proof point to illustrate the automaker’s response to changing customer preferences.

Hyundai Assurance Connected Care is an example of an automotive innovation developed with the broader consumer lifestyle needs in mind, O’Brien said. The new program will provide free proactive safety and car care telematics services for three years to every buyer of a new Hyundai vehicle equipped with Blue Link. The technology and service includes automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, monthly vehicle diagnostics reports and maintenance alerts.

“Technology is important, but consumers aren’t all that interested in the specific telematics hardware or diagnostic software that make it work,” O’Brien said. “They just want to know that their vehicle can help speed assistance to them in the case of an emergency or alert them of maintenance issues before they become major problems.”

To meet this shifting consumer mentality, Hyundai already has changed its product development process, O’Brien said. Instead of just asking car shoppers what features they want, Hyundai is focused on understanding what inspires, motivates and shapes the lives of consumers. It’s looking for broader cultural trends that affect people’s lives and then determines how mobility fits into their evolving world.

“With longer product development cycles in the automobile industry than most other businesses, we have to anticipate what consumers will want years from now,” O’Brien said. “It’s not just about doing more research; it’s about doing smarter research that listens to the consumer and delivers an automobile with an overall package and design that meets their needs before they’re even able to precisely articulate what they want.”

HYUNDAI ASSURANCE

Connected Care is an extension the Hyundai Assurance program started in 2009 that’s designed to meet consumer needs through an umbrella of services that pledge exceptional customer service and owner satisfaction.

Since its launch in 2009, Hyundai Assurance has represented Hyundai’s longtime commitment to its customers. The current pillars of Assurance include America’s Best Warranty and 5 years/unlimited mileage of 24/7 Roadside Assistance. Now with Assurance Connected Care, Assurance is made even stronger, able to deliver additional confidence and peace of mind through a suite of proactive, cloud-enabled safety and car care features powered by Blue Link. For more details on Blue Link pricing and packaging, visit http://www.hyundaibluelink.com/. Hyundai Assurance Connected Care will provide the following features on Blue Link-equipped vehicles for the first three years for the original owner.

ASSURANCE CONNECTED CARE FEATURES EXPLAINED

• Automatic Collision Notification (ACN) and Assistance: Provides immediate assistance when an accident occurs and an airbag is deployed. In this event, an ACN signal, containing customer and location information, will automatically be transmitted to the Blue Link response center. Upon receipt of the signal, a Blue Link response specialist will attempt to establish voice communications with the vehicle occupants while also connecting to emergency/9-1-1 services. The Blue Link response specialist will remain on the line with the customer until advised assistance has arrived.
• SOS Emergency Assistance: Customers request emergency 9-1-1 assistance by pressing the dedicated SOS button in the vehicle. This action transmits vehicle information and location to specially-trained Blue Link response specialists, who will assist in coordinating the dispatch of appropriate emergency assistance to the customer. The Blue Link response specialist will remain on the line with the customer until advised assistance has arrived.
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance: Enables customers to contact Roadside Assistance via a single in-vehicle button press. Vehicle information (including location) is automatically transmitted to a response center, enabling the specialist to dispatch assistance more quickly and efficiently for vehicle assistance.
  • Vehicle Diagnostics with Monthly Vehicle Health Report: Provides a report of vehicle diagnostics and other important vehicle information in a monthly email report and web page update, starting 30 days after registering with the Blue Link service.
  • Maintenance Alert: Notifies customers in the vehicle as well as via website, email or SMS message that an upcoming service is due at various thresholds leading up to the service date. The service interval can be configured online through http://www.myhyundai.com
  • Automated Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification: Provides explanation and repair assistance using vehicle data and off-board diagnosis capabilities to better inform the customer of vehicle trouble alerts. A combination of in-vehicle display alerts and guided voice messages provides customers with additional instructions. Customers can connect to a live operator for further assistance including scheduling service or dispatching roadside assistance. The diagnostic data is also sent to the customer’s preferred Hyundai dealer to assist with the repair process.
  • Recall Advisor: Provides pertinent recall information should a recall be initiated.
  • Service Scheduling (Service Link): Allows the customer to conveniently schedule a service appointment with a dealer from in the vehicle using Blue Link or the Blue Link iOS or Android smart phone apps.

Via Hyundai News

2013 HYUNDAI SANTA FE SPORT NAMED ONE OF WARD’S 10 BEST INTERIORS

The all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport’s upscale and highly-functional interior was acknowledged by the editors of WardsAuto, which named it to this year’s Ward’s 10 Best Interiors list. This recognition follows the2012 Accent and 2012 Azera being named to the list last year.

“The latest version of the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport is the essence of a midsize family CUV: well-crafted, tastefully appointed and affordable, despite a decidedly upscale look and feel,” said Tom Murphy, executive editor, WardsAuto. “Hyundai is consistently delivering excellent interiors that reinforce the brand’s ‘Fluidic Sculpture’ design language.”

WardsAuto editors have been studying the vehicles since February, selecting the 10 winners from a field of 46 vehicles with new or significantly refreshed interiors. The selection process mimics that of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines competition, in which editors rate vehicles based on their daily commutes in and around metro Detroit. Unlike 10 Best Engines, the interior competition has no price cap.

“The all-new Santa Fe Sport offers buyers a comfortable, functional and modern-looking interior,” said Christopher Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design North America. “Designed with families in mind, the interior features quality materials, intuitive controls and a spacious layout for the diverse needs of today’s active families.”

“The instrument panel is defined by its sculptural center vents from which the flowing form develops,” said Christopher Zarlenga, design manager of Santa Fe’s interior. “Color is also an important differentiator for the interior, emphasizing the wing shape outward from the center stack through the doors.”

During the selection process editors pay close attention to fit-and-finish, checking to see if seams are straight and match up cleanly on armrests and instrument panels. Editors climb in and out of back seats and third rows in larger CUVs and SUVs to check overall comfort levels, headroom and legroom. Another increasingly important category is driver information. Bluetooth® phone links are commonplace, so editors connect their smartphones and experiment with voice-activation systems.

Santa Fe Sport features a flowing interior look, designed for passenger functionality and comfort. From the heated rear seats and available eight-way power driver seat, to a standard 40:20:40 folding-rear seat back, the vehicle boasts flexibility and a comfortable cabin for all passengers. Also standard on all Santa Fe models with cloth seating is a YES Essentials® seat fabric treatment that provides soil-resistant, anti-odor and anti-static properties for added longevity and livability. Special care and attention went into other interior details, such as an optional panoramic sunroof, which allows more natural light into the cabin, and premium window switch trim. Available on 2.4-liter models and standard on Turbo models is a push-button starter with proximity key and an electrochromatic gauge cluster color LCD screen. A heated steering wheel and sliding second row seats are optional first-class touches on Santa Fe Sport.

The 2013 interior winners will be honored during the WardsAuto Interiors Conference on May 22 at The Henry hotel in Dearborn, Mich. An extensive package profiling the winners is available on WardsAuto.com and in the May issue of WardsAuto Worldmagazine.

Via Hyundai News