Hyundai Unveils New Grandeur in Korea [w/VIDEO]

NOTE: More images will be added soon.

Hyundai has been advertising the all-new generation of its Grandeur for quite some time now, but today, the automaker officially launched the large sedan in its home market. The new Grandeur, which will be badged as the 2012 Azera in the States, arrives in the Korean market six years after its predecessor’s launch in May 2005.

Codenamed HG, the 2012 Grandeur is result of three-and-a-half years and 450 billion won (about US$415 million) of research, development and testing. Positioned between the Sonata and the Genesis sedan, the new Grandeur measures 4,910mm (193.3") long, 1,860mm (73.2") wide and 1,470mm (57.9") tall. It rides on a 2,845mm-long (112") wheelbase, which is 65mm (2.6") longer than the outgoing model.


The South Korean market model is offered with a choice of two gasoline engines, a 2.4-liter four-cylinder Theta II GDI with 201-horsepower and a new 3.0-liter V6 Lambda II GDI producing 270-horsepower. Both engines are linked to a standard six-speed automatic transmission that drives the front wheels.

The new Grandeur comes with a host of safety systems including VDC (Vehicle Dynamic Control), VSM (Vehicle Stability Management), TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) and ESS (Emergency Stop Signal), plus a standard nine-airbag system that includes a driver’s knee airbag.

Other notable features include Hyundai's Advanced Smart Cruise Control, which automatically keeps a safe distance from a car ahead and provides automatic stop and restart functions in response to traffic flow, and a Smart Parking Assist System that utilizes a sensor to measure parallel parking spaces, controlling the steering wheel to semi-automatically park the car.

Hyundai said it aims to sell 100,000 units of the Grandeur this year (80,000 in the domestic market and 20,000 outside of Korea) and 120,000 units in 2012 when the car arrives in more markets.

The South Korean automaker has not yet provided details on the North American market Azera.

Along with some new photos, Hyundai also released a video showing the evolution of the Grandeur / Azera from the presentation of the first generation in 1986 to the current fifth gen model.

Hyundai Begins Accepting Orders for New Accent in Korea

Hyundai has begun accepting orders for the all-new redesigned Accent in its home market of South Korea today, ahead of its official sales launch on November 1st. For the new generation, Hyundai is bringing back the Accent nameplate for the Korean market after having supplanted it with the Verna moniker since 1999.

Hyundai is marketing the new Accent as a "premium compact" sedan, and is packing an expansive list of amenities and technologies to back such an audacious claim. For one, the Accent is the first in its class to bring six airbags standard across the range. Active front headrests and rear parking assist are also standard equipment in the new Accent. Also available is Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), or Hyundai's way of calling electronic stability control.

The highlight of the new Hyundai Accent, however, is found under the hood where an all-new 1.6-liter GDI Gamma four-cylinder engine resides. It produces a class-leading 140 PS (138 horsepower) and 122 lbs.ft of torque, and achieves equally segment-topping fuel economy figures of 16.7 km/L (40 US MPG) thanks to a 6-speed automatic transmission mated to the engine. A smaller 1.4L MPI Gamma four-cylinder engine is also available.

The new Accent also boasts the largest interior room in its class, thanks to increased dimensions in all aspects (4370mm length x 1700m width x 1455mm height). The wheelbase has also augmented by 70mm from its predecessor to 2570mm.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Releases Aero Kit for Avante/Elantra: Korea

Hyundai has released the first images of the new Avante/Elantra compact sedan with the company's new OEM aero kit and visual enhancements. The cosmetic upgrades are designed by Hyundai's new tuning branch for the South Korean market called TUIX (coined after "Tuning is Innovation & Expression).

Several exterior upgrades are available for the Avante from Hyundai's TUIX, including front/side/rear skirts, chrome beltline molding, rear spoiler, fuel cap, and sporty dark grey 17-inch alloy wheels. No performance upgrades are available from Hyundai at this point.

As of now, these visual upgrades will not be available for purchase in any markets other than South Korea. We will, however, stick with the adage "never say never", and speculate that Hyundai might be eyeing the customization-happy North American market as its first overseas foray into this field.

[Source: Hyundai]

READ MORE for a rear-view shot of the Avante tuned by TUIX.

Kia Recalls 56,000 Souls, Sorentos in US and S. Korea

Kia Motors said on Friday it had started a recall of some 56,000 Soul and Sorento vehicles sold in the United States and South Korea due to defective wiring harnesses that could cause fires. Some harnesses supplied by Johnson Controls for lighting in 2010 model-year Soul cars and 2011 model-year Sorento SUVs were improperly soldered, leading to possible electrical shorts, Kia said in a letter to U.S. safety regulators on August 30.

There were no reports of accidents or injuries due to the issue, which was identified in June, said Kia, an affiliate of South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co. Kia determined that a recall was needed on August 23.

The U.S. recall covers 23,972 Soul cars produced from September 7, 2009, through June 8, 2010, and 11,213 Sorento vehicles built from October 23, 2009, through July 30, 2010, according to the notice filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

In August, NHTSA launched a probe into possible steering defects in the 2010 model-year Soul after a driver said a steering shaft detached from the steering wheel in a two-month-old vehicle and fell onto the driver's side floor, causing a complete steering loss and limited braking.

[Source: Reuters/Kia]

Kia Releases First Images of Forte Hatchback for Korea

For our readers interested in the upcoming Kia Forte Hatchback, we have two new official images from Kia as well as some information that accompanied these pictures.

According to Kia, the automaker commenced pre-orders for the Forte Hatchback in South Korea in early August. For the Korean market, the Forte Hatchback will be powered by a direct-injected version (GDI) of its 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with an output of 140 horsepower and 122 lb. ft of torque. It will be mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission and is touted to achieve 16.5 km/liter in fuel economy (38 US MPG).

Kia has not mentioned a clear sales date for the Forte Hatchback in Korea. For now, all we can do is stay tuned for more official tidbits from the automaker as the year progresses.

[Source: Kia]

READ MORE for the second official image released by Kia!

Official: 2011 Hyundai Avante Interior Revealed

Stay tuned for more information.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Posts Third Consecutive Losses For Its Home Market

It seems every time you read a story about Hyundai these days, it includes something about the brand’s tremendous growth. Unfortunately for Hyundai, positive sales figures aren’t a reality everywhere – like in its home-market of South Korea.
While worldwide sales in the month of June rose 4.6 percent to 312,388 vehicles, in Korea the number dropped 1.2 percent from the previous month to 48,643 units. And while a one-month blip might not be reason to panic, June actually marks the third consecutive month of losses for Hyundai as domestic sales have dropped to a 10 month low.

Reasons for the decline include competition from newly looming foreign automakers like Toyota and Honda. Taking a substantially larger chunk out of Hyundai's potential sales, however, is its sister-company Kia. While Hyundai’s sales slumped, Kia’s exploded with sales of 178,391 vehicles in June, marking a 49 percent increase for first-half sales in 2010. The recently released K5 mid-size sedan (Optima/Magentis elsewhere) topped the mid-size sales, dethroning the reigning champion Hyundai Sonata and marking the first time ever of such an accomplishment for Kia.

Korean market experts suggest the real issue is a lack of new product from Hyundai. However, with the upcoming arrivals of the redesigned Accent (Verna) and Elantra (Avante), as well as the highly anticipated Veloster, Hyundai is showing itself to the world that it is not ready to concede to its rivals just yet.

[Source: The Chosun Ilbo]

All-New Hyundai Avante (Elantra) Pre-Orders Surpass 5000 in S. Korea

Hyundai Motor Company has announced that it has received over 5000 pre-orders for the all-new, redesigned Avante (Elantra) mid-size sedan in its domestic market of South Korea today. The automaker began taking orders on the 21st of June and has since amassed tremendous popularity for the newest addition to its line-up. The new Avante made its public debut at the Busan International Motor Show last April.

For the South Korean market, the Avante is available with a single powertrain: a 1.6L GDI (gasoline direct-injection) Gamma 4-cylinder engine that produces 140 horsepower and 129 lb. ft of torque. It is mated to either a standard 6-speed manual transmission or an available 6-speed automatic. The new Avante is packed with a myriad of standard features such as six airbags and rear parking assist, as well as optional items including HID headlamps, segment-first rear heated seats, and a 10-way power adjustable driver seat.

Expect to see the redesigned Avante cross the Pacific to make its North American debut early next year.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Reveals Facelifted 2010 Grandeur

Hyundai has released the first official image and information of the refreshed 2010 Grandeur today. The automaker has also begun to take orders for the car, ahead of its official launch scheduled for the 16th of this month. The new Grandeur (Azera) receives a host of changes both inside and out including a redesigned front fascia, rear fascia, and added safety features. In the Korean market, Hyundai will market the car as "The Luxury Grandeur."

The facelifted Grandeur receives an array of styling updates including a redesigned chrome grille and sharper headlights. A sleeker front bumper, highlighted by larger air intakes and round foglights, is reminiscent of the Genesis. According to Hyundai, the rear end of the Grandeur is also revised, but no images of that have been released as of yet. Redesigned alloy wheels round up the exterior changes of the new Grandeur.

According to Hyundai, the interior of the new Grandeur will remain much the same save for a more luxurious Alcantara trimming also found in the Equus. Standard amenities include Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), LED side repeaters, and voice-activated Bluetooth hands-free.

Korea: 2010 Kia Carens Adds New Features

Kia Motors has commenced sales of the 2010 Carens (Rondo in North America) multi-purpose vehicle in South Korea today. The 2010 model adds a myriad of appealing new features including new 17-inch "Black Luxury" alloy wheels, Supervision cluster, ETCS (Electronic Toll Collection System), and integrated Bluetooth hands-free system. Also new for 2010 is an available gasoline-powered model.

The exterior of the 2010 Carens is highlighted by a set of redesigned side mirrors with LED turn signals that adds both elegance and safety. The new 17-inch "Black Luxury" alloy wheels, standard in the top trim, pay homage to Kia's new penchant for high-gloss black in the brand's domestic line-up.

For 2010, Kia also introduced two new trim levels: GX Family and GLX Family. The GX Family adds a front passenger airbag, ABS, rear parking assist, and Carmel Beige seats. The GLX Family trim adds active headrests, VDC, rear parking assist, and Carmel Beige seats.

Under the hood, the 2010 Carens is now available in either gasoline or LPI configurations. The former is powered by a 2.0L Theta I 4-cylinder petrol that produces 151 horsepower and 19.8kg·m (143 lb.ft) of torque. The latter is propelled by a 2.0L 4-cylinder LPI that offers 141 horsepower and 19.0 kg·m (137 lb.ft) of torque.

Pricing remains the same for the 2010 model. The 2.0L LPI range is priced from 17.15 million Won to 22.08 million Won, while the 2.0L Gasoline range is priced from 16.35 million Won to 21.28 million Won.

[Source: Kia Motors]

Revealed: Hyundai EQUUS Limousine, 400 PS V8

Hyundai Motor Company officially unveiled the long-wheelbase "Equus Limousine" in South Korea today. The redesigned Equus Limousine sits atop the regular-wheelbase Equus in the brand's domestic line-up, making it the flagship vehicle of the Korean automaker. The Limousine is 300 mm longer than the regular-wheelbase Equus, and introduces a myriad of technological innovations to the Korean automotive industry including an upgraded 400 ps (394 horsepower) 5.0L Tau V8 engine.

Hyundai boasts that the new Equus Limousine is longer than the car's primary rivals - Mercedes-Benz S500L, Lexus LS460L, and BMW 750Li. The automaker claims to have achieved this by not only stretching the B-pillar, but also lengthening the rear passenger doors in order to facilitate ingress and egress. The Equus Limousine also bests its main competitors in rear legroom by as much as 376 mm.

One of the main highlights of the Equus Limousine is the upgraded 5.0L Tau V8 engine that produces 400 ps and 51.0㎏.m of torque (369 lb.ft). The new engine is based on Hyundai's Tau 4.6L V8 which landed in the list of Ward's 10 Best Engines. Hyundai's 5.0L V8 beats the powerplants of the Lexus LS460L (380 horsepower) and Mercedes-Benz S500L (382 horsepower), but lags slightly behind that of the BMW 750Li (407 horsepower). The Equus Limousine is also available with a 290 horsepower 3.8L Lambda V6.

READ MORE for full article and more images.


To differentiate the Limousine from the regular-wheelbase model, the stretch version features an exclusive horizontal cross-bar radiator grille with the EQUUS emblem in the center. It is also Hyundai's first production car to be standard with Adaptive LED headlamps. The Limousine also packs many luxury amenities such as powered footrest, Rear Seat Leg Support, Relax Posture Control and Massage System function.

The price for the long wheelbase edition EQUUS ranges from 135 million won to 146 million won (approximately US$113,000 to US$122,180, based on today's currency exchange rates). Hyundai has released no word on its potential arrival into the States, though we highly doubt the automaker will make such a daring attempt.

[Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai releases first images of refreshed Santa Fe

Hyundai Motor has released the first official images of the refreshed 2010 Santa Fe today. To be called "Santa Fe The Style" in the Korean market, the facelifted crossover receives an array of improvements including exterior and interior updates, along with new powertrain technologies.

The exterior of the 2010 Santa Fe gains a myriad of updates including the revised three-bar Hyundai signature grille (also found on the "YF" Sonata), redesigned front bumper, side mirrors with turn signals, new wheels, new taillights, and a revised rear bumper with integrated rear fog lamps.

[Source: edaily.co.kr]

Read more for the full article and one more image.

Inside, the facelifted Santa Fe benefits from higher quality materials, new seat upholstery and new interior color choices. The revised Santa Fe will also feature a slightly updated center stack and a redesigned leather-wrapped steering wheel. The model will also see equipment upgrades such as voice-activated Bluetooth, smart access with push-button ignition, active headrests, and a rear-view mirror with back-up camera.

For 2010, the Santa Fe receives a list of radical technical changes including the incorporation of an all-new six-speed automatic transmission and the availability of Hyundai-Kia's state-of-the-art 2.0L and 2.2L e-VGT R diesel engines. Also found in the Kia Sorento R, the 2.2L R diesel engine has an impressive output of 200 horsepower and achieves 14.1 km/L in fuel economy. The 2.0L engine boasts a segment-leading fuel consumption of 15 km/L. For lower fuel consumption, all models run on low rolling resistance tires.



The 2010 Hyundai Santa Fe The Style will commence sales in Korea on July 1st. Expect to see the revision cross over the Pacific by December. Hyundai has announced its hopes to reach the 2 million unit sales milestone for the Santa Fe by the end of this year.

Kia releases Forte Koup for S. Korea

Kia Motors held the official Korean launching event for the Forte Koup at COEX Mall in Seoul on the 11th. The Koup already made its world debut at this year's New York International Autoshow, and the automaker spent over 95 billion Won in developing its first 2-door coupe. Kia hopes the 4-seater coupe will be one of its many new cars that will help transform the brand into a design iconic one.

The Forte Koup features an aesthetically pleasing and sleek design penned by Kia's Peter Schreyer. The sportier Koup has minute similarities to its four-door counterpart and features such as frameless windows and a lower roofline set the Koup apart from the sedan. Inside, the Koup also carries a myriad of sporty items including LED mood speakers (also found in Soul), sport bucket seats, two-tone interior, power sunroof, and aluminum pedals. Available options include smart access with push-button ignition, voice-activated DMB navigation system, and rear parking assist. Kia also emphasizes safety with standard Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC), four-wheel disc brakes, six airbags, and active headrests.

The Forte Koup will be available in two four-cylinder petrol configurations: a 158 hp 2.0L Theta II with 20.2 kg-m of torque and a 124 hp 1.6L Gamma with 15.9 kg-m of torque.''

Kia will market the Forte Koup in several markets including North America and the Middle East. The two-door will reach American showrooms this August. Kia plans to produce 35,000 units of the Koup annually with 25,000 being allocated for export. In Korea, the Forte Koup will be priced from 15.41 million Won for a base 1.6L model and top out at 19.66 million Won for a fully-loaded 2.0L model.

[Source: Kia]

Continue reading to view more images.

Korea: Kia releases 2010 Forte, sees minor upgrades

While Kia's new Forte has yet to go on sale in the States, the automaker released the 2010 model-year Forte for the South Korean market today. The main highlight of the changes is the addition of a more powerful 2.0L Theta II 4-cylinder gasoline engine to the lineup. The Forte also receives minor equipment upgrades.

The 2.0L Theta II 4-cylinder gasoline engine is a welcome addition to the Forte lineup in Korea. Producing 156 horsepower and 19.8 kg-m of torque, the new powertrain gives customers a more potent option over the less powerful 1.6L gasoline and diesel counterparts already available with the Forte since launch.

The Forte's interior receives a minor overhaul for 2010 with style and equipment upgrades. Silver metallic interior trimmings (dashboard, door, steering wheel, center fascia) that North American models have enjoyed since launch, are now available for Korean models. The suspension and steering are tweaked to ameliorate the driving and ride dynamics of the car. Additional interior dampening has also been added to reduce road noise. The 2010 Forte also benefits from an available segment-first rear view mirror with backup camera.

The 2010 Kia Forte will go on sale across South Korea in mid-June. Pricing starts at 13.31 million Won for the base 1.6L petrol (with A/T) model, and tops off at 19.45 million Won for the 1.6L diesel. The 2.0L gasoline model is priced from 17.49 million Won to 18.89 million Won.