Report: Honda Threatened by the Rise of the Koreans

If there is one Japanese company that can lay claim to having a reputation for innovation and advanced engineering, it is Honda.

It is a reputation built over more than 30 years, starting from the first generation of the Civic in the ‘70s and continuing throughout the years with novelties such as VTEC, the futuristic first generation Insight hybrid back in 1999, the S2000's high-revving 120HP-per-liter engine, the first practical supercar, the NSX – and the list goes on.

However, something seems to have changed, and not for the better.

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Posted on 19.13 / 0 comments / Read More

Video: Australian “Shell” Ad for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra

From Sydney ad firm Innocean Worldwide comes this neat little TV commercial for the 2011 Hyundai Elantra four-door sedan.

The ad features Hyundai’s C-segment offering sitting inside a non-descript brick building. Then, in a way that reminds the machine that Tony Stark uses to suit in and out of his Iron Man costume, a multitude of robot appendages unfold from the ceiling and begin removing pieces of the Elantra’s body to reveal a smaller car inside.

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Posted on 14.44 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai Rumored to Debut New Elantra Coupe at 2011 LA Auto Show

We are a long way from the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show and many things may change in the meantime, but for now, the word from the team over at Insideline is that Hyundai will head to California this fall to unveil a new coupe version of its freshly launched Elantra model. The two-door model will offer Hyundai a direct rival to the 2012 Honda Civic Coupe in the U.S. market. Read more »

Posted on 14.15 / 0 comments / Read More

Shanghai Auto Show: Hyundai Elantra Puts on a New Face for China

The Hyundai Group is now pointing its arrows to the world’s biggest auto market with the unveiling of two new models for China at this week’s 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, the Elantra Yuedong compact sedan and the mid-size Azera, which is badged as Grandeur in some markets.

If the Elantra Yuedong looks familiar, that’s because it is a facelifted version of the fourth generation model sold in the States until 2010. The most prominent change on the outside concerns the revised front that draws on the Azera’s styling.

According to Hyundai, the interior has also been upgraded with higher quality materials and new convenience and safety features such as a smart key / button start, front side airbag, Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), Navigation, USB2.0 port and eco-driving guide system.

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Posted on 13.42 / 0 comments / Read More

More than 280,000 Hyundai Elantras Recalled Over Air-Bag Problems

Hyundai has issued two separate recalls for its Elantra sedans over air-bag related problems. The first action covers approximately 95,783 Elantras from the 2007-2008MY manufactured from July 14, 2006, through August 29, 2007. In this case, the air bag control module may receive an unstable electrical signal from the seat track position sensor and cause the driver's airbag to deploy at a higher pressure than intended. To fix the problem, the South Korean firm’s dealers will reprogram the air bag control module free of charge.

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Posted on 10.58 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai’s Model Naming Conventions: From 0 to Fubar in Just 4 Years

Hyundai is one of the world’s biggest automakers, and the most visible of South Korea’s business and industrial acumen. So you would think a company that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Toyota and pre-bailout GM would be pretty consistent with its model naming conventions, right?

Well, not exactly. When Hyundai first launched the i30 hatchback in Europe, Australia and other markets, it seemed that familiar nameplates such as Elantra and Sonata would soon be dead and buried. Not so. In fact, the i30 CW (basically, the station wagon version of the i30), is still sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring.

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Posted on 15.06 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai Preparing New Elantra Coupe, Azera and Genesis R-Spec with 429HP V8

After registering record sales in 2010, Hyundai seems committed to an all-out offensive with the company reportedly planning to launch a coupe version of the 2011 Elantra and the new Azera sedan in the U.S. within the next year or so. According to an Autoweek report, the news was broken at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in San Francisco, where the Korean automaker also showed its dealers a photo of the upcoming coupe.

“They showed us a photo of it and it's gorgeous,” said Doug Fox, a Hyundai dealer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “We weren't expecting that.”

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Posted on 11.08 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai to Challenge “Marketing Conspiracy” with Super Bowl XLV Ads

With its three ads programmed to air during the Super Bowl XLV later in the day (Sunday, February 6), Hyundai wants to show the American public that not all compact cars have “uninspired design, cramped interiors and limited innovation”, as marketing portrays them. Two out of the three advertisements showcase the 2011 Elantra sedan, while the third features the 2011 Sonata Hybrid. Videos available after the break.

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Posted on 07.18 / 0 comments / Read More

2011 Hyundai Elantra Pricing Released, Starts from $15,550

Hyundai revealed the US-spec version of its all-new 2011 Elantra in LA this week, and now the South Korean automaker has released figures and pricing for its fluidic compact sedan contender. Powered by a 1.8-liter Nu engine backed by a Hyundai-developed 6-speed transmission or a 6-speed manual, the Elantra boasts a 40 mpg highway, and 29 mpg city fuel ratings on any and every model. If you're inclined, scroll down for some comparison charts to see how the Elantra stacks up against the competition.

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Posted on 14.29 / 0 comments / Read More

2011 Hyundai Elantra: Photo Gallery of U.S. Spec Model

Hyundai has let out a comprehensive photo gallery of the North American version of the new Elantra sedan in advance of the sedan's debut at this week's Los Angeles Auto Show. As anticipated, aside from some barely visible alterations here and there including the modified digital display in the instrument panel and tail light crystals, there are no other styling changes over the South Korean market model that was introduced locally in July.

However, unlike its KDM counterpart that's powered by a 140HP 1.6-liter unit with direct-injection, the U.S-spec model gets a larger displacement 1.8-liter gasoline unit with conventional port fuel injection rated at 148-horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque. Hyundai estimates that the U.S. model will return a highway efficiency of around 40mpg.

We'll have more on the new Elantra from the LA Show floor, but for now, follow the jump to check out our high-resolution photo gallery.

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Posted on 08.24 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai Twitters Out New 2011 Elantra ahead of its LA Show Unveiling

Not that Hyundai will surprise any of you that have already seen the Korean domestic market 2011 Elantra sedan, but the automaker has released a single photo of a partially wrapped up U.S. spec Elantra on its Twitter page. For the full story on the available powertrains and other details, we'll have to wait until next week when Hyundai pulls the wraps off the car at the Los Angeles Auto Show. But until then, follow the jump for a high-res gallery of the KDM model.

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Posted on 13.01 / 0 comments / Read More

LA Auto Show: More Debuts Announced, Including Mazda Shinari, New Chrysler 200 Convertible and Hyundai Elantra

Automakers are planning to unload a raft of new vehicles at the rapidly approaching Los Angeles Auto Show. According to the event planners, the LA convention center will host 20 world premieres and more than 30 North American debuts.

We already know about several world debuts such and Nissan's completely redesigned Quest minivan, Murano Cross Cabriolet concept and Ellure sedan study, but today the organizers [officially] confirmed a few more premieres.

These include -in no particular order- the well-received Mazda Shinari sports sedan [read the full story here]; the five-door version of the Land Rover Evoque; Saab 9-4X; Kia Optima Hybrid; VW Eos facelift, and the U.S.-spec Hyundai Elantra compact sedan and Fiat 500

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Posted on 08.15 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai wants to be more American than Ford, GM, and Chrysler by Building 80% of its U.S.-sold cars in the States

Hyundai, in another bold move to continue attracting American consumers and impressing the public, will soon be building up to 80% American-sold cars in the US (as long as the Elantra makes as big a splash as the Sonata). That would make the little Korean-that-could as "American" as Ford, GM, and apple pie. While this sounds impressive, the numbers are a bit skewed.

For example, the 80% (or "closer to 70%" if listening to J.D. Power analyst Jeff Schuster) is significant when strictly discussing percentages. If discussing volume, the major US automakers still hold the cards. CNN Money reports that if GM were building 66% of American-sold cars here, the number would triple Hyundai's current volume.

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Posted on 13.34 / 0 comments / Read More

All-New Hyundai Elantra to join Sonata and Sorento in Alabama, U.S. Spec Model to Debut in LA

For some reason (maybe it's a revolution) Hyundai is just all up in everyone's face lately. Whether it's forging the way Stateside with its new Sonata and Tucson or diving head-first into the Russian market with its new Solaris small sedan, the South Korean automaker just appears in the news non-stop like it's no big thing.

Case in point: the all-new and very Soanata-esque Elantra (called Avante in South Korea) is going to be built in good ol' Alabama at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant.

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Posted on 06.15 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai Officially Confirms U.S. Sales of New Elantra at the End of 2010 - Plus New Gallery with 42 Photos

Hyundai has finally confirmed what's been rumored for months; that the all-new 2011 Avante saloon, the predecessor of which we came to know as the Elantra, is heading to North American shores.

"The new compact sedan will also make its way to overseas markets including U.S. starting the end of the year," Hyundai said in an official statement, without disclosing any more details. Unless the company changes its plans, expect to see Hyundai's baby Sonata making its first public outing in the States at the Los Angeles Auto Show in mid-November.

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Posted on 21.02 / 0 comments / Read More

2011 Hyundai Elantra / Avante gets Video Debut

There's not much to say about the new 2011 Hyundai Elantra that hasn't already been said, but thanks to a autoscardesign tipster, we can show you a new video of the domestic market version, which is called the Avante and goes on sale in South Korea in the beginning of August. In global markets, the Avante will be pitted against the sedan variants of the Toyota Corolla and Honda Civic. Be sure to check out our previous post on the new Elantra here after you watch the video after the jump.

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Posted on 12.27 / 0 comments / Read More

Hyundai Drops New Photos of the 2011 Elantra / Avante

Next week, Hyundai will begin South Korean sales of the all-new 2011 Avante, which is the home-market version of what we could come to know as the next generation of the Elantra compact sedan, with prices ranging from 14,900,000 Won to 19,500,000 Won or about US$12,600 to US$16,500 at today's exchange rates.

In anticipation of the launch, Hyundai released a slew of new photos along with a more detailed spec sheet. The South Korean market version of the car is powered by an all-new Gamma 1.6-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder engine producing an output of 140-horsepower at 6,300 rpm and a maximum torque of 17.5 kg-m (171Nm or 126.5 lb-ft).

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Posted on 15.55 / 0 comments / Read More

2011 Hyundai Elantra / Avante: First Official Picture of Interior

If you have been wondering what the interior of the all-new 2011 Elantra, or as it is known in its home market, the Avante MD, looks like, here's the first official photo of the compact sedan's cabin.

As expected, the overall design of the dashboard continues the same "sculpted" theme seen on the new Sonata's interior, enhanced with more edges and swoopy lines. It also gets an instrument panel with a pair of tunneled main gauges (speedometer and tachometer), as well as unique controls for the HVAC system on the center console and plenty of faux metal trim.

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Posted on 15.46 / 0 comments / Read More

VIDEO: 2011 Hyundai Elantra in Parking Competition

We're not exactly sure what's going on here -other than some men in suits trying to park the all-new 2011 Hyundai Elantra, but since this is the first video we've seen of the compact saloon out in the open, we thought we'd share it with you.

Leaner and longer than the current model with a styling that draws cues directly from the new Sonata, the next Elantra made its world debut at the Busan motorshow in Korea in April 2010 and is set to go on sale as the Avante MD in its home market before the end of the year. Hyundai's VW Jetta rival will be offered with a new 140-horsepower 1.6-liter foru cylinder petrol engine with direct injection technology.

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Posted on 10.28 / 0 comments / Read More

2011 Hyundai Elantra / Avante Interior Teased with Rendering

At this year's edition of the Busan Motor Show in April, Hyundai gave us our first look at the rakish new Elantra sedan, known as the Avante in its home market. However, the South Korean company only showed us its outer parts as the display model's windows were all blacked out.

Now, Hyundai is teasing us with a conceptual rendering of the Elantra's interior that, like the exterior, promises a dramatic revamp relative to the current model Judging from the sketch, the 2011 Elantra's cabin design will continue the same "sculpted" theme seen on the new Sonata's interior.

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Posted on 14.18 / 0 comments / Read More