September was a very slow month for automakers, thanks to the slow down (grinding halt?) in the US economy. In fact, for the first time in 15 years, auto sales for the month of September fell below 1 million. Check it out: continue reading...
“Auto buffs love to rave about burled walnut, custom rims, and V-12 engines, but most car buyers just want a pleasant car at a good price. Especially now. With the housing-boom excesses dragging down the economy and a possible recession looming, extravagance is out. Like investors fleeing exotic securities for the safety of gold or T-bills, it’s time for car shoppers to make safe, practical purchases that will hold up through tough times, if necessary.
So we’ve scoured our data on hundreds of models and highlighted the cars that offer the best mix of value, performance, and curb appeal. These aren’t necessarily the cheapest cars or the most priggish gas misers—standard-issue econoboxes tend to lose their value quickly, plus they’re usually dull and joyless. Instead, we’ve included cars that offer lots of conveniences and safety features for the money, get decent mileage, handle well, and score above average in the U.S. News Best Cars and Trucks rankings. Those scores account for important factors like expected resale value and the long-term costs of maintenance and repairs—things that can affect your wallet directly down the road.” - Rick Newman on www.usnews.com continue reading...
Seoul, Korea (PRWEB) January 18, 2008 — For the first time ever, three Hyundai models earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s (IIHS) Top Safety Pick award. The Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe received awards in the midsize SUV segment and the Hyundai Entourage in the minivan segment. All winning vehicles are recognized for their ability to protect people in front, side and rear crashes.
This marks the third year in a row the Entourage has received the highest honor - the IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the minivan category. All three vehicles also earned five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rating under NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program, for both frontal and side impact. continue reading...
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ — Hyundai Motor America Vice President of Product Development and Strategic Planning John Krafcik, speaking at the Center of Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars, announced Hyundai’s all-new five-door compact will be named “Elantra Touring.” Elantra Touring will reach dealers in the spring of 2008 as a 2009 model year vehicle. The “Touring” name captures this all-new model’s combination of high-function and fun-to-drive character.
Elantra Touring will once again extend Elantra’s product line into the compact five-door segment. (The previous generation also featured a sporty five-door model). Elantra Touring will come with class-leading standard safety technologies, including Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, and six standard airbags, including side curtain airbags and active front head restraints. The vehicle will be the first compact five-door with standard Electronic Stability Control. continue reading...
IRVINE, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ — The editors at Kelley Blue Book (http://www.kbb.com), the leading provider of new - and used - vehicle information, have compiled a list of the top 10 cool and affordable new vehicles available today for less than $18,000. In addition to their sporty stylishness, many of these editor’s picks are smaller vehicles that deliver excellent fuel economy, making these cars in this price range even more appealing with gas prices currently surging over $3.00 a gallon in many parts of the country. All but one of the winners on the list returns highway fuel economy of 30 mpg or better.
In choosing the elite 10 Coolest New Cars under $18,000, the editors thoroughly examined each vehicle through the subjective magnifying glass of what is cool, with an emphasis on its styling, performance and fun-to-drive factor. Additionally more objective criteria such as safety, fuel economy, environmental impact, interior size and comfort were taken into account. continue reading...
NEW YORK, April 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — XM , the nation’s leading provider of satellite radio with more than 7.6 million subscribers, today announced its continued expansion as a factory-installed, standard feature across the Hyundai vehicle lineup. New vehicles with standard XM include the all-new Veracruz midsize crossover on sale now and Hyundai’s upcoming premium sports sedan. A concept of the future sports sedan was revealed today at the New York International Auto Show.
XM Radio is already a standard, factory-installed feature on all 2007 Azera, Elantra, Santa Fe and Sonata audio systems. continue reading...
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., March 28 /PRNewswire/ — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gave five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rating under the agency’s New Car Assessment Program, to the all-new 2007 Hyundai Veracruz and Santa Fe for both frontal and side-impact crash tests. The 2007 Elantra also scored five stars for frontal crash performance and Veracruz earned four stars for rollover performance.
NHTSA uses a consumer-friendly ratings system — ranging from one to five stars, with five being the highest. Sixty-three 2007 models were assessed. Categories included sport utility vehicles, heavy and light passenger cars, pickups, vans and compact and medium passenger cars. Beginning in September 2007, government star ratings will be listed on the window stickers of new vehicles. continue reading...
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ — MotorWeek recognizes the Hyundai Entourage as the “Best Minivan” in its 2007 Editors’ Choice Awards. The award was distributed at the 2007 Chicago Auto Show. As a winner, the Entourage will also be featured on a special MotorWeek episode on PBS, February 10.
“MotorWeek’s 2007 Drivers’ Choice Award for Best Minivan goes to a duet, the Hyundai Entourage and Kia Sedona,” said John Davis, producer, host and creator of MotorWeek, the automotive series on PBS. “This second-generation Korean-branded design matches all the best features of its rivals, and then beats them in price and powertrain warranty. The leaps that Hyundai and Kia make in perceived quality with each new vehicle are well documented, and the Entourage and Sedona are just the latest examples. From school bus to apartment moving, minivans are the most versatile vehicles on the planet, and this two-some is tops.” continue reading...
Chung Mong Koo, the chairman of Hyundai Motor Co. and South Korea’s wealthiest man, will find out today whether he has to spend the next six years in prison.
Chung, worth more than $2.2 billion, has been on trial since June for allegedly embezzling 69.3 billion won ($73.9 million) in company funds and breach of trust. Chung, 68, said he was aware funds were diverted. He denied knowledge of how they were used. The presiding judge will decide whether Chung is guilty at 10 a.m. in Seoul. continue reading...
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