Define Popular: HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA BREAKS ALL-TIME MONTHLY SALES RECORD

COSTA MESA, Calif., April 3, 2012 – Hyundai Motor America, the most fuel efficient automaker in the U.S., today announced an all-time monthly sales record of 69,728 units, up 13 percent over last March, which held the previous record. For the first quarter, Hyundai sales were up 15 percent over 2011.

“March was the best month in Hyundai’s history and capped the best first quarter we’ve ever recorded,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America’s executive vice president of national sales. “Improving vehicle availability, particularly among our most fuel-efficient vehicles, Sonata, Elantra, Accent and Veloster, has fueled this record growth.”

Overall retail sales through dealerships rose 33 percent over last March. Sales of Accent, Sonata and Elantra saw sales increases y-o-y of 28 percent, six percent and eight percent, respectively. Fleet mix remains low at 11 percent for the month.

“As Hyundai continues to offer more fuel-efficient vehicles, we are seeing more and more consumers in our showrooms, resulting in greater 40-mpg highway vehicle sales than ever before,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. “Our 40-mpg vehicle sales are up an astonishing 67.5 percent over last March.”

Hyundai’s RWD premium products, Genesis and Equus, saw an outstanding sales increase of 30 percent over March 2011 and are up 35 percent over February. While sales in the CUV segment remained relatively flat, the launch of the all-new 2013 Santa Fe at the New York International Auto Show will bring increased interest and demand in Hyundai’s CUV segment.

Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy level of 37.7 MPG (28.4 MPG label value) in March, while selling 28,636 vehicles (41 percent of total sales) with 40 MPG window label highway fuel economy ratings.

Via Hyundainews.com

Hyundai shows Millen’s updated-for-2013 Genesis Coupe drift car

HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE AND RHYS MILLEN RACING PARTNER TO COMPETE IN 2012 FORMULA DRIFT SERIES

Renewed Partnership with Rhys Millen Racing Focuses on Extreme Performance Potential of Hyundai’s Rear-drive Sport Coupe

COSTA MESA, Calif., Mar. 30, 2012 – Hyundai Motor America today announced its continued partnership with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to compete in the 2012 Formula Drift series. Hyundai will be lead sponsor of the RMR Genesis Coupe driven by former Formula Drift champion and acclaimed stunt driver, Rhys Millen.

Available at dealerships now, the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is significantly refreshed for the 2013 model year, with aggressive powertrain and styling enhancements sure to appeal to purist, rear-drive sport coupe buyers. The Formula Drift competitive car has been extensively drift-prepared by RMR, making more than 600 horsepower to create the extreme drift angles and blinding smoke both fans and judges love to see. This race-prepared powertrain is further evidence of the engineering durability of core Hyundai production engine components used, including engine block, heads, and more.

“Formula Drift is the best race-fan oriented example of extreme car-control driving. It’s also the best competitive arena for us to highlight the rear-drive power and handling finesse of the new Genesis Coupe,” explains Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “It’s thrilling when a driver of Rhys Millen’s caliber combines tire-smoking power with surgical drifting precision. And, in addition to the intense drifting action, Hyundai will provide trackside interactive facilities where drift fans can check out its latest products, driving games, music partnerships and race fan gifts. With the thousands who joined us at our interactive area in 2011, we intend to expand our fan outreach even further in 2012.”

“I’m pleased to have Hyundai’s ongoing support for the 2012 season,” Millen said. “This begins the fourth year of our racing relationship with Hyundai, and we want to continue to build upon our success in both developing and racing Hyundai’s race-proven products.” Millen stands to build on momentum from last season’s success with a win in Las Vegas and runner-up in Irwindale, the final races of the 2011 season. “The refreshed 2013 Genesis Coupe with direct injection and twin-scroll turbocharger technology leverages the proven performance of Hyundai’s rear-drive coupe, making it a perfect choice for anyone interested in competitive driving events,” said the 2005 Formula Drift Champion. Millen will be the exclusive driver for the entire Formula Drift season, challenging the field with strong potential for the 2012 championship. The RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe will make its competitive debut at the first event of the 2012 Formula Drift series, April 6th and 7th in Long Beach, California.

In addition to Formula Drift, Hyundai and RMR continue to join forces in the thrilling new motorsport of rallycross, challenging the best from Ford, Subaru, Dodge and Citroen in the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship Series. RMR has extensively fine-tuned the RMR Veloster rallycross car with insights gained from an exciting rookie season in 2011. The RMR Veloster rallycross season kicks off in Las Vegas on April 21.

2012 FORMULA DRIFT SCHEDULE

April 6-7: Streets of Long Beach, California

May 11-12: Road Atlanta, Georgia

June 1-2: Palm Beach International Raceway, Florida

June 22-23: Wall Speedway, New Jersey

July 20-21: Evergreen Speedway, Washington

August 24-25: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Nevada

October 12-13: Irwindale Speedway, California

Hyundai Veracruz to end production “around November,” replaced by Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik confirmed Wednesday that the all-new seven passenger 2013 Santa Fe will replace the Veracruz model. “The Veracruz is going away,” Krafcik told Autoblog. “It ends production around November.” Hyundai debuted the Santa Fe Wednesday at the New York International Auto Show in both five-passenger and seven-passenger configurations.

The seven-passenger Veracruz was a new nameplate for Hyundai when it rolled out in 2007. It never gained much acceptance in the U.S., so Hyundai has found a new way around that problem.

“It’s hard to establish a new brand name,” Krafcik said. “It can take $50 to $100 million dollars. Santa Fe is a golden nameplate for us, it’s a great product, and now it will be much more efficient in my marketing spend.”

Indeed. It will also be more efficient producing a five- and seven-passenger Santa Fe than two different vehicles. From the B-pillar forward, there will only be minor differences between the two Santa Fe models.

Furthermore, the new design of the Santa Fe moves it into Hyundai’s stylized fluidic design theme, something that has been very successful with the compact Elantra and midsize Sonata. The Veracruz, which still included many of Hyundai’s older design elements, just didn’t fit in with everything else. Now, or at least in the coming months, it will be no more.

By Scott Burgess

Via Autoblog.com

HYUNDAI EARNS NO. 2 RANKING IN STRATEGIC VISION TOTAL VALUE INDEX

COSTA MESA, Calif., March 20, 2012 – Hyundai ranked as the number two brand in terms of Total Value, according to Strategic Vision’s 2012 Total Value Index™ (TVI). Additionally, Hyundai’s sleek crossover Tucson was named the “Small SUV” segment leader in Strategic Vision’s study. The TVI looks at all aspects of perceived value; from quality, to economics to customer appeal.

“Hyundai continues to shift the paradigm of how customers perceive real value in their automotive purchases,” said Alexander Edwards, president, Strategic Vision. “For example, customers who purchased a Hyundai Sonata explicitly stated that they ‘Love’ the product attributes such as styling as well as overall value more than any other buyer of models in the midsize segment. When such synergy exists, you have a leader in value that results in strong sales.”

Presented annually since 1995, the TVI was calculated from 68,088 buyers who purchased models during September 2010 to June 2011. Total Value is a calculation of explicit owner statements on 442 attributes and focuses on immediate and expected (long term) economic factors such as warranty, technical innovation, standard equipment and fuel economy.

“Hyundai’s continued rise in Strategic Vision’s TVI reinforces the strength of our brand and the appeal of our vehicles,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With stand-out designs, loads of innovative features and outstanding fuel economy, it’s no wonder that vehicles like the Tucson are consistently exceeding the expectations of our customers.”

Hyundai’s star Crossover Utility Vehicle (CUV) Tucson strikes a stark contrast from its competitors and excels in every functional area, from its roomier cabin with extra cargo space to its excellent fuel economy and fun-to-drive personality. Tucson features the company’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language and showcases precedent-setting engineering including advanced weight saving technology and two eco-efficient Theta II four-cylinder engines delivering up to 32 mpg on the highway.

Via Hyundainews.com

New Sonata Coming in 2014

So a new Sonata isn’t as exciting as a new Chevrolet Corvette, but given the enthusiasm the current Hyundai midsize sedan has generated around these parts, musing about what might be coming down the pipeline is worth at least a few minutes. Hyundai’s Korean CEO Kim Choon-ho has told Reuters that a “revamped” Sonata is due in just two years, following closely on the heels of a new Genesis in late 2013.

In case you haven’t been paying attention, we have loved the new Sonata and its Optima cousin from Kia ever since they first hit our shores back in 2010. This pair is the class of the midsize class, and we can only wonder what Hyundai has planned to keep them on top, given the fierce competition.

We’d suspect the new Sonata will be launched here as a 2015 model, which would make some sense. Though we haven’t driven it yet, the new-for-2013 Ford Fusion looks poised to bring the goods, and the next generation of the hot-selling Nissan Altima will soon be unveiled at the New York Auto Show.

By Jeff Sabatini

Via Autoblog.com

Sneak Peak of the 2013 Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor Co., one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing automakers, today unveiled exterior teaser images of the all-new Santa Fe, which had been known by its code name DM in Korea. The all-new Santa Fe will have its world premiere at the New York International Auto Show in early April.

Hyundai will keep the name “Santa Fe” for the new vehicle, continuing the solid brand heritage of the automaker’s most representative SUV model. The all-new Santa Fe, which is entering its third generation, has reached worldwide cumulative sales of about 2.56 million units (Korea: 680,000 / overseas: 1.95 million) since its 2000 debut.

Based on Hyundai’s design philosophy, Fluidic Sculpture, the new Santa Fe adopts its own design concept called “Storm Edge,” which captures the strong and dynamic images created by nature during the formation of a storm.

The third-generation Santa Fe features sophisticated and refined lines, which are in harmony with bold and voluminous surfaces, completing a more aggressive and classic look than its predecessor.

The design adopts the hexagonal grille – a key design cue of the Hyundai family look – a two-tone voluminous bottom car body and wider front and rear bumpers, creating a futuristic and urban-style SUV image.

Dynamic side character lines give a more aerodynamic feeling, while emotional details expressed on the exterior design deliver a premium image, suggesting a new design direction for Hyundai’s next-generation SUVs.

The all-new Santa Fe, whose core product concepts are “Refinement,” ”Smartness” and “Practicality, ” is expected to be a hit in the global SUV market, offering the best value to customers in every aspect, with its differentiated design, cutting-edge technologies, good fuel economy and practical use of space.

Via Hyundainews.com

COSTA MESA, Calif., March 9, 2012 – In a government-issued report today, Hyundai Motor America was named number one in fuel economy and CO2 emissions in America by topping the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) fuel economy rankings for the 2010 model year, beating out traditional leaders Honda and Toyota. No make scored higher than Hyundai. This is the second time Hyundai has led in both categories, having achieved this distinction previously for the 2008 model year.

The EPA 2011 Light-Duty Automotive Technology and Fuel Economy Trends Report identified Hyundai as the top 2010 brand with an adjusted[1] fuel economy rating of 27.0 miles per gallon. In addition to being named the most fuel efficient brand, Hyundai also had the lowest fleet-wide adjusted composite CO₂ emissions performance (329 g/mi) for the 2010 model year.

The EPA 2011 Trends Report also indicates that preliminary 2011 model year values suggest that Hyundai will maintain its fuel economy leadership. Forecasts show that Hyundai will achieve an adjusted fuel economy rating of 27.5 miles per gallon in the 2011 model year.

With a strong offering of fuel efficient models, including Elantra, Sonata Hybrid, Accent and Veloster M/T all achieving estimated 40 mpg highway fuel economy ratings, Hyundai continues to set the industry bar in fuel efficiency. In 2011, Hyundai achieved a corporate average fuel economy level of 36.1 mpg and sold 214,132 40 mpg vehicles, representing one-third of total sales.

“The 2011 EPA data demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to fuel economy leadership and validates the effectiveness of our Blue Drive strategy,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “We are committed to developing a suite of smart fuel-efficient strategies – from hybrids to new solutions in high-technology gasoline vehicles. Gas prices are expected to hit record highs this summer and consumers are looking for ways to cut back on fuel costs with cars that offer improved fuel economy. Through innovations such as light-weight steel, direct injection technology, turbocharging and advanced transmissions we are able to improve the efficiency and performance of all our vehicles, allowing us to achieve best-in-class fuel economy and emissions levels for the Hyundai brand.”

Hyundai’s Fuel Economy Commitment

In 2010, Hyundai announced plans to maintain its fuel economy leadership and achieve a corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) rating of at least 50 miles per gallon (mpg) by 2025 for its lineup of passenger cars and light duty trucks. Current National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regulations require automakers to achieve a CAFE rating of 35.5 mpg by 2016. Before those rules were enacted in 2009, Hyundai had already announced its own plan to reach 35 mpg by 2015.

Hyundai’s plan to achieve an average of at least 50 mpg or better encompasses a full line of products, from small cars to larger family haulers. It leverages Hyundai’s global Blue Drive strategy, aligning R&D resources at its engineering centers in California, Michigan, Korea, India and Germany to develop more fuel-efficient vehicle technologies.

Fuel-Efficient Solutions

Hyundai is currently the only manufacturer with four models achieving 40 mpg ratings on the highway – Accent, M/T Veloster, Sonata Hybrid and the recently named North American Car of the Year, 2011 Elantra. Powered by an all-new 1.8-liter Nu four-cylinder engine weighing 74 pounds less than the previous generation and an all-new six-speed transmission, Elantra achieves a 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway fuel economy rating – a highway-only driving range of up to 500 miles. Thanks to advanced clean engine technology, most Elantras sold in California, Oregon and several Northeast states are certified as Partial Zero Emission Vehicles (PZEV) by the EPA. The PZEV Elantra is as clean as many hybrid electric vehicles. The PZEV Elantra helps Hyundai meet its environmental commitments. Outside of these “green” states, the Elantra is available as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV).

In 2010, Hyundai launched its first gas-electric full hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid. The Sonata Hybrid features Hyundai’s proprietary parallel hybrid drive system which pairs the already fuel efficient 2.4-liter Theta II engine to a six-speed automatic transmission and a 30kW electric motor for maximum fuel economy. In addition, Sonata Hybrid uses the industry’s first lithium polymer battery, leapfrogging in-market nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion applications.

Via Hyundainews.com