Hyundai launches new Santro

Hyundai has launched the new santro with exactly the same features as we reported. The new santro comes with the same 1.1L epsilon engine but gets lotsa new features

* New body coloured radiator grille

* Full wheel cover

* rear spoiler

* rear parcel tray

* Brown and beige interiors

The new Santro will be available in 8 colours – Crystal White, Black Diamond, Sleek Silver, Electric Red, Dark Grey, Silky Beige, Berry Red and Sparkle Blue. The new Santro will be available in 8 colours to choose from (Crystal White, Black Diamond, Sleek Silver, Electric Red, Dark Grey, Silky Beige, Berry Red and Sparkle Blue). Available in 5 variants the new santro is priced between Rs 263,999 and Rs 369,499 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Pictures Of New Santro

2010 Hyundai Santro

Expected Launch date: Christmas 2009

exterior changes:

• new countered bonnet with round headlights with integrated turn signals.
• new front bumper with rectangular fog lights in top end models.
• new rounded chrome grille.
• body coloured bumpers in all versions
• new fenders
• new taillights
• rear fog lights in top end varients integrated into rear bumpers
• bumper detachable black moulding deleted for a cleaner look
• new pull type door handles
• new OSRVM, bigger and wider like in i10 kappa.

interior changes:

• beige interior with black central console
• new instrument cluster with tachometer (on higher end versions) with electric odometer with 2 tripmeters (in all versions)
• more storage space provided in the gear console*
• improved rear seat comfort with improved thigh support
• new seat fabric and trims
• rotary AC controls*

mechanical changes

• engine upgrade to meet euro 4 norms (retuning of ECU specific to i10 engine, increased torque from 9.8 kg-m to 10 kg-m and power from 63 ps to 64 ps)
• improved spring and damper rates of the rear suspension for better ride quality*
• a bit stiffer front suspension with anti-roll bar of a bigger size*

models:

• 3 varients-base, mid level and top end
• AC and power steering standard standard on all models
• AT model will not be available
• NON AC model made to order.
• 7-8 colours, planned a new rustic orange also.*

Competition in the small car segment is increasing and the latest challenger, the Tata Nano has not helped Hyundai in anyway. Thus Hyundai is planing to do the obvious, launch a upgraded Santro.The new Santro will also comply with Bharat IV emission norms which come into affect in April, 2010. The slightly updated engine in the facelifted Santro will have a power increase of 1bhp and torque increase of 20NM.
The 2010 Hyundai Santro will get a new chrome grille, rounded headlamps, bigger rear view mirrors with turn indicators, pull type door handles, new taillights, rear foglights, beige interiors, more storage space, tachometer (finally), improved dampers for better ride quality, etc. There will be a slight price hike but its better if Hyundai do away with the Santro and position the i10 in the small car segment rather than a premium hatch.

Hyundai cuts back Japanese presence

Hyundai Motor, Korea’s leading automaker, has decided to stop selling passenger vehicles in one of the world’s most competitive markets - Japan - due to stagnant sales figures.

The group’s Japanese unit announced its decision late on Friday. Hyundai Motor Japan said it would focus on buses instead.

According to the local unit, Japanese drivers only buy 1,000 to 2,000 Korean vehicles each year. Since 2000, when Hyundai Motor set up shop in Japan, it has sold 15,000 units.

Last year, Hyundai Motor sold 496 units, while this year vehicle sales totaled just 764 in the first 10 months. This is in stark contrast to the brisk sales the company is enjoying in China and the United States recently.

A poor exchange rate contributed to a lack of price competitiveness in Japan, which in turn ate into Hyundai’s image among the Japanese public. The Japanese unit has seen an annual deficit of 10 billion won ($8.5 million) to 20 billion won. The end of passenger car sales in Japan was reported to Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-koo in October.

In Japan, Hyundai had been selling the Avante, Sonata and Grandeur, all developed for U.S. consumers. For that reason, the vehicles were considered inappropriate for Japanese road conditions and consumer preferences. In Japan consumers are more interested in compact vehicles rather than larger sedans, and even that category is already dominated by high-end European vehicles.

Buses sell for around 25 million yen ($290,000) with annual sales of about one million units in Japan.

Hyundai Motor pulled its passenger vehicles out of the Tokyo Motor Show just a week before it opened in October, but introduced 30-seat and 51-seat high-end buses in Japan that same month. To compensate for lost Japanese sales, Hyundai plans to concentrate on other markets including U.S. and China.

“Even if passenger vehicles stop selling we will continue providing after service for Hyundai Motor vehicle owners,” said a Hyundai Motor official.

2011 Hyundai Sonata with 2.4 DI Engine Gets Estimated 35 MPG Highway

Hyundai unveiled its first direct injected engine last week and estimates that in the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, it will be capable of getting 35 mpg.

Hyundai’s 35 mpg figure is currently pending EPA certification, but if that figure is what appears on the window sticker, it will launch Hyundai to the top of the fuel economy charts. The Chevrolet Malibu, with a rating of 33 mpg highway, currently holds the best-in-class fuel economy title for non-hybrid, mid-size sedans. The new Theta II GDI engine, as Hyundai calls it, is the automaker’s first step on the way to improving fuel economy standards across its lineup to meet upcoming fuel economy regulations.

“At Hyundai’s core is a promise to deliver unparalleled quality and value to our customers,” says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Leading the introduction of this technology in our most important, highest volume product, the all-new 2011 Sonata, demonstrates our commitment to delivering products that excite and reward Hyundai owners.”

In addition to delivering improved fuel economy over the Theta I 2.4-liter four-cylinder, the Theta II GDI increases horsepower and torque figures as well. In U.S. tune, the direct injected 2.4-liter engine will produce 200 hp and 186 lb-ft of torque. Those are slightly different from the figures we reported earlier of the Korean-spec engine.

While the 2.4-liter engine is the first in Hyundai’s Theta four-cylinder family to receive the technology, it will be expanded to the other four-cylinder engines in Hyundai/Kia’s lineup in the next few years. At some point, we should see all of Hyundai and Kia’s four-cylinder engines using direct injection.

Hyundai's Tucson ix and Sonata YF

The strengthening Korean won, higher oil prices and interest rates are potential risks for Hyundai and many other local exporters, but the automaker says sound profitability will be maintained thanks to the fresh lineup of new models.



Hyundai's Tucson ix and Sonata YF and its affiliate Kia's Forte Koup are some of the top debuts by the auto group this year.

Most recently in September, Hyundai introduced the sixth-generation Sonata aimed at shaking up the world's mid-sized sedan market.

The company's perennial bestseller adopted an all-new design and a six-speed automatic transmission.

``The Sonata will set a new standard for world class mid-size sedans with its state-of-the-art technology, superior build quality and design,'' Chung Eui-sun, Hyundai's Vice Chairman said at the launching ceremony in Seoul.

It cost Hyundai 450 billion won and took four years to develop the new model from concept to completion.

Two months before the launch of the new Sonata, the car maker introduced the all-new Tucson ix.

The coup-style SUV features a completely redesigned exterior styling with a bold ix-onic concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show in March.

The next-generation Tucson is powered by a 2.0 liter engine, available in both diesel and gasoline, which pump out 184 horsepower and 166 horsepower, respectively.

Named after a city in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Tucson has been one of the most popular Hyundai models with more than 1 million sold worldwide since its debut in 2004.

Hyundai invested 280 billion won and three years to develop the new design.

Some of the design highlights include a vehicle dynamic control, which improves safety and stability by minimizing skids; an emergency stop signal, which automatically triggers the emergency hazard lights in the event of a panic stop; and downhill brake control and hill-start assist control, which allows the vehicle to maintain a safe speed on steep declines without having to use the brake.

Hyundai has its annual sales for the Tucson pegged at 16,000 in the Korean market this year and 40,000 annually starting next year. From the year 2011, the company predicts its sales will reach 300,000 globally, with 260,000 sold on overseas market.

Hyundai's affiliate Kia Motors also rolled out new models this year, including the 2010 Forte Koup.

The car maker's first-ever two-door coup embodies sporty features and capabilities that make it a fresh addition to the Forte family.

Available in two trim levels (EX and SX), the Forte Koup is slightly shorter in length and height than the Forte Sedan. However, the smaller body still allows comfortable seating for up to five passengers, according to Kia officials.

``The Forte Koup represents the next exciting step in the transformation of Kia design and offers a blend of sporty and emotional appeal,'' said Michael Sprague, Kia Motors America's vice president of marketing.

Hyundai's Genesis sedan earns another accolade

More than 48,000 buyers of cars in the category participated in the survey and answered questions about expected reliability, expected fuel economy, price paid and other factors.

"The Genesis brought luxury buyers to Hyundai who have household incomes very close to BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class buyers," Alexander Edwards, president of Strategic Vision, said in a news release.

"We see many Lexus, Infiniti, Cadillac and BMW owners trading in their vehicles for the Genesis. Hyundai competes in this segment by meeting a customer's security needs with perceived quality and successful programs such as 'Hyundai Assurance' combined with a price, warranty and value customers can love."

2010 Hyundai Tucson prototypes

2010 Hyundai Tucson

Next generation Hyundai Tucson has been spotted during the pause from its extensive cold weather testing somewhere on the northern part of the globe. Well, actually, there were two Hyundai prototypes caught parked outside, while the third one comes from Kia Motors, Hyundais sister company.

Each of the next generation vehicles has been heavily disguised not letting us to see much of its exterior shape. But one thing is certain, the official debut of next generation Hyundai Tucson and Kias first ever mini-MPV model is approaching fast. Its less than a year before both new vehicles hit the streets in their production ready form.

Little Kia is rumored to make its official public unveiling at one of the Frankfurt auto show held in September, while the all-new Tucson crossover will possibly make its official debut at one of the upcoming North American auto shows this year.

2010 Hyundai Tucson engines

As we learned from guys at Globalmotors, the 2010 Hyundai Tucson will be (again) sharing its unibody platform with next generation Kia Sportage and will be loosing the currently available 2,7L V6 powerplant.

That engine has been known as a very reliable one, but persent Tucson owners have been complaining over its above average fuel consumption. Fortunately, Hyundai will be replacing the V6 unit with a smaller, four-cylinder engine, that achieves higher power ratings but at the same time, consumes a lot less of gas.

Since eco-friendly cars are gaining on their popularity and their sales has been rising pretty fast, Hyundai might also bring the Tucson hybrid to the US market. Another rumor tells us Hyundai has also been working on the supercharged 2,0L engine for the 2010 Tucson, with approximately 200+ horsepower.

But thats not all, in Europe, Hyundai will put on sale a diesel powered Tucson model, equipped with the EURO5 compliant engine unit. Dubbed the R-engine, the brand new diesel unit will be available as a high and low output variant with 150 and 184 horsepower ratings respectively.

[Source: Latest set of Hyundai spy shots, previewing the 2010 Hyundai Tucson, have been provided by Globalmotors.]

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Pictures

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue

Hyundai has launched the 2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue model.

2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue will offer increased fuel economy thanks to a host of technical changes. The Elantra Blue is rated at 26 mpg city/35 highway, up 2 mpg in both tests from equivalent 2009 models. The Elantra Blue uses the same 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine as the rest of the Elantra lineup and comes only with a five-speed manual transmission. A revised alternator, lower-friction engine internals, new gear ratios, reprogrammed engine management, and a shift indicator all help the Blue model achieve its higher fuel economy.

The 2010 Hyundai Elantra Blue is priced at $14,145.

[Source: Hyundai]

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The 2010 Genesis Coupe is a purpose-built rear-wheel drive sport coupe featuring two performance-focused engines – a 210-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a range-topping all-aluminum, 306-horsepower, DOHC 3.8-liter V6 engine.

The entry-level Genesis Coupe 2.0T, with its unique combination of rear-wheel drive and four-cylinder turbo power, offers an intriguing alternative to existing front-wheel drive sport coupes. The 3.8-liter version of Genesis Coupe takes driving to an even higher level, rivaling the capability of premium-performance coupes.

[Source: Hyundai]