Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: Hyundai Archives

August 8, 2008

Hyundai Accent Named Most Dependable Sub-Compact Car

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- The fuel-efficient Hyundai Accent, which gets up to 35 miles per gallon on the highway, today was named the most dependable sub-compact car by J.D. Power and Associates in its 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).

The highly regarded study measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2005 model year) vehicles.

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August 7, 2008

Hyundai Shuts Down Maiden Lane for Performance Rides

NEW YORK -- On Friday, Aug. 8, Hyundai will offer visitors in New York's Financial District an opportunity to take a fast ride or luxurious break in the new Genesis premium sports sedan -- a serious competitor to the likes of Lexus ES, Cadillac CTS and Chrysler 300.

Genesis will be driven on a special course by professional drivers at the annual Financial Community Day Festival (Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.).

Continue reading "Hyundai Shuts Down Maiden Lane for Performance Rides"

August 2, 2008

Hyundai Reports July Sales Down 6.5%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 40,703 for the month of July, a 6.5 percent decrease over the same period last year.

"Although Accent and Elantra sales continued their upward trend with increases of 96 percent and 31 percent respectively over the same period last year, we experienced an overall slow down for the month of July," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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July 30, 2008

Hyundai Teams Up With Rhys Millen Racing for SEMA

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America announced today that it has teamed up with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to create the "Art of Speed" Genesis Coupe show car.

The Hyundai RMR "Art of Speed" Genesis Coupe 2.0t will be on display at the Hyundai booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Nov. 4 - Nov. 7, 2008.

Continue reading "Hyundai Teams Up With Rhys Millen Racing for SEMA"

Chrysler, GM and Nissan are Tops in Online Search Visibility

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- iCrossing, a global digital marketing company, today announced the findings of the Vertical Visibility Index: Automotive, the first in a series of studies analyzing the paid and natural search media visibility leaders within specific industry verticals.

iCrossing found that Chrysler, GM and Nissan North America are doing the best job of taking a synergistic search engine marketing approach, with the highest scores for combined visibility. Ford leads for natural search visibility and Hyundai has the greatest paid search visibility for the keyword set analyzed.

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July 1, 2008

Hyundai Reports June Sales Up 1.3%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 50,033 for the month of June, a 1.3 percent increase over the same record-setting period last year and best sales month ever.

"As consumers continue to shift to smaller cars, our most fuel-efficient vehicles -- Accent, Elantra and Sonata -- continue their upward trend with increases of 70 percent, 51 percent and 12 percent respectively over last year," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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June 26, 2008

Hyundai Launches National Hope on Wheels Tour to Support Pediatric Cancer Research

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- The 2008 national Hyundai Hope on Wheels(TM) Tour launched yesterday in Los Angeles with a ceremony to honor the pediatric cancer patients at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles.

The Tour will visit 32 children's hospitals across the country from June through November, donating a total of $1.6 million to support the fight against pediatric cancer.

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June 5, 2008

Top Selling Minivans in the Unites States for May 2008

The minivan segment saw sales drop 16.6% in May, with Chrysler holding on to two of the top three spots, thanks in part to their gas rebate plan.

Of particular note was the 80% drop in Hyundai Entourage sales, that one can only hope was due to a supply problem -- point being, this is a bad time to be getting into the minivan business, as Volkswagen is about to find out.

The top 8 best selling minivans in the United States for May 2008:

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Hyundai Sonata Wins Interior Design Award

DETROIT -- The 2009 Hyundai Sonata was named an “Interior of the Year” award winner in the category of “Best Redesign” at the annual “Automotive Interior of the Year Awards” conducted by Ward’s Auto World magazine.

“This award is particularly gratifying for our team, who started with a world-class car, listened to customer feedback telling us they wanted an improved interior, and went to work to make the 2009 Hyundai Sonata stand up and stand out against every other car in its class,” said Dan Vivian, Hyundai Motor America’s director of Design Engineering.

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June 4, 2008

Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008

With total SUV sales down 19.5% in May, not even the crossover segment was able to escape unscathed -- the smaller ute/station wagon category was also down 5%, as consumers decided they didn't even want mini-SUVs over more fuel efficient cars.

Besides the usual suspects a couple vehicles did well in consumers' quest for smaller wagons, including the Dodge Journey, Nissan Rogue and Subaru Forester. Also of note is that GM placed both the GMC Acadia and Saturn Vue in the top 15, which is good news for that new platform, and for the parent company that suffered a big blow for the month.

After the jump, the top 15 best selling crossovers for May 2008:

Continue reading "Top Selling Crossovers in the United States for May 2008"

June 3, 2008

Hyundai All-Time May Sales Record, Up 6%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 46,415 for the month of May, a six percent increase over the same period last year, and its best May ever.

"We are very pleased with our results for May and the fact we were able to break the record set in 2007 for the month during a period of record-setting oil prices and a sluggish economy," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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Hyundai Elantra Tops Toyota Corolla in Small Sedan Test

YONKERS, N.Y. -- After testing a group of compacts and subcompacts, Consumer Reports judged the Hyundai Elantra SE best with an "Excellent" overall road test score. But three other compact cars, Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, also achieved "Very Good" ratings in a report on gas-saving sedans published in the July issue.

The Corolla achieved a very impressive 32 mpg overall in Consumer Reports' real-world fuel economy tests. That's among the best gas mileage CR has seen in a conventional gasoline-powered car with an automatic transmission. Only the smaller Honda Fit (32 mpg) and Toyota Yaris (33 mpg) subcompacts do as well or better.

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May 29, 2008

Hyundai Announces Genesis Sedan Pricing

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America has announced prices for its new flagship, the all-new Genesis sports sedan, starting at $33,000 for a well-equipped 290-horsepower V6 and $38,000 for the 375-horsepower V8 model.

"When we first showed the production Genesis earlier this year, we committed to deliver the interior package of flagship European luxury sedans, world-class driving dynamics, and pricing comparable to entry-level premium brand vehicles," said John Krafcik, vice president, Hyundai Motor America.

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Cadillac Tops 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

TUSTIN, Calif. -- A study released today by noted automotive consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc. summarizes the results of its 2008 model year vehicle satisfaction research. AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award (VSA) is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied an owner is with their new passenger car or light truck.

In a year that promises to be the toughest in a decade, owner-based awards like AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Award will help customers make their purchase decisions.

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May 28, 2008

Hyundai Selects Davie Brown Entertainment for 2009 Hyundai Launch

LOS ANGELES -- Davie Brown Entertainment, a leading entertainment marketing consultancy, announced today that it has been retained by Hyundai Motor America to strategically lead all entertainment initiatives within film, television, music, branded entertainment and industry influencer outreach for the 2009 Hyundai Genesis.

"Davie Brown is the perfect marketing partner to assist us in a targeted entertainment marketing campaign for the Genesis," said Monique Morin Kumpis, experiential marketing manager, Hyundai Motor America.

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May 27, 2008

Kia to focus on small cars at Georgia plant

Kia officials have announced they will focus on building small cars at the plant they are building in West Point, Georgia. Kia is planning to build the Sorento SUV at the plant starting in 2009, but has scrapped plans to make a pickup truck, according to Automotive News. There is also the possibility Kia may build a similar Hyundai at the plant.

Kia has not announced which car they will build there, but could it be the new Soul vehicle?

Related: Kia bringing Soul to the U.S.

May 20, 2008

GM's Jamie Hresko touts quality gains

by Jamie Hresko, GM Vice President, Quality

So, I’m watching the NFL draft a few weeks ago and it hits me. It occurred to me that there is a complete incongruity (thank you word-a-day calendar) between hope and reality.

Don’t get me wrong, hope is very important. Hope, however, is not active. It doesn’t drive results. Do you think any of the draftees just sat on the bench hoping to play … hoping to be spotted … hoping to be picked? Of course not. They worked hard. They had a plan. They actively pursued their goal of playing football well.

Continue reading "GM's Jamie Hresko touts quality gains"

May 14, 2008

Video: 2009 Hyundai Sonata

The 2009 Hyundai Sonata is a significant refresh from the model first introduced in 2006 -- and it's still reasonably priced, with a four cylinder engine that gets 22/32 mpg.

May 12, 2008

2008 Fuel Economy Guide Available for Download

The EPA has issued a comprehensive PDF guide to fuel economy of all 2008 vehicles, which you can download by right-clicking here.

In today's gas market, buyers are more sensitive than ever about buying cars that get good mileage, and more important, they want the government ratings to be as accurate as possible -- nobody wants to buy a vehicle that gets 10% worse mileage in the real world than the sticker rating.

To address this situation, the EPA has started using an updated test to assign more accurate MPG ratings to new vehicles, and you can learn about that by watching the video in this post.

May 8, 2008

Hyundai Entourage and Santa Fe named top picks for retirees

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Santa Fe and the Entourage were recognized by Forbes.com as two of the “Best Cars for Retirees” based on features that help mature drivers stay behind the wheel longer.

In order to determine the list of “Best Cars for Retirees” Forbes.com factored in NHTSA and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) crash-test ratings, AAA’s suggestions from "Smart Features for Mature Drivers" guide and additional features that appeal to mature drivers.

Continue reading "Hyundai Entourage and Santa Fe named top picks for retirees"

May 6, 2008

Microsoft and Hyundai-Kia Developing In-Car Infotainment

SEOUL, South Korea -- Today, Microsoft Corp. and Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group (HKAG) entered into a long-term agreement to co-develop the next generation of in-car infotainment systems.

Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, and Mongku Chung, chairman of HKAG, were present as Martin Thall, general manager of Microsoft's Automotive Business Unit, and Hyun Soon Lee, president and chief technology officer of HKAG, signed the agreement in Seoul.

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May 4, 2008

Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008

Americans rediscovered cars in April 2008, with small cars in particular accounting for nearly one in five of all vehicles sold in an otherwise down month.

Toyota had four vehicles in the top twenty, General Motors had three; Nissan, Hyundai and Kia had two apiece. And Dodge has a hit with the Caliber, which made the list at number 9.

With people paying nearly $4 per gallon of gas nationwide, it appears that the free market has achieved what environmentalists have been clamoring about for years -- to conserve fuel by buying smaller vehicles.

The top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top twenty best selling small cars for April 2008"

Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008

Overall, pickups and SUV sales were down 17.4% in April and are down 13.5% for the year to date. The one bright spot is the crossover and small wagon category, which was down 0.4% for the month but has edge up 1.9% for the year.

In general, crossover utility vehicles are built on car platforms, while traditional SUVs are built on truck frames. CUVs are smaller, lighter and get better gas mileage than big SUVs -- one way to think of them is that they are really modern station wagons, but shorter and with a higher profile.

This months list of the top ten selling crossovers features three vehicles from General Motors, and two each from Ford and Toyota. Also of note, the new Nissan Rogue made the list at number ten.

The top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008:

Continue reading "Top ten best selling crossovers for April 2008"

May 1, 2008

Hyundai Reports Flat April Sales

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 39,280 for the month of April, a 0.4 percent increase over the same period last year.

"In a pretty tough economy, we are pleased that sales were slightly up over April 2007," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales. "Car buyers showed strong interest in our more fuel-efficient vehicles. The Accent, Elantra and Sonata sold well reflecting concerns with the overall economy and rising fuel prices."

Continue reading "Hyundai Reports Flat April Sales"

April 4, 2008

April Hyundai Rebates Available at CurrentAutoRebates.com

Hyundai is offering up to a $3,000 rebate on the 2008 Sonata sedan, $2,000 on the Santa Fe SUV, $1,500 on the Elantra and up to $1,500 on the Entourage minivan.

Program ends 4/30/08.

If you would like to research current auto rebates for all make and models for sale in the United States, check out CurrentAutoRebates.com, a fabulous service that allows you to check up on all rebate programs through a handy PDF report. The service is free and available now!

April 1, 2008

Hyundai Posts 2% Sales increase in March

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced record sales of 42,796 for the month of March, a two percent increase over the same record-setting period last year.

"We are very encouraged by our March results, especially considering the challenging market we are in," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

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March 30, 2008

$500 Cash Back on Hyundai Azera

Through April 15, 2008, Hyundai is offering a $500 cash back bonues on the Azera sedan. The offer is good for both 2007 and 2008 model years. The 2008 Azera has a starting price of $24,600.

Program ends April 15, 2008 and cannot be combined with other offers.

March 27, 2008

Hyundai's Genesis Coupe: More Fun For the Buck

On sale in the Spring of 2009, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe promises to be the most affordable 300 horsepower car on the market, priced comparably to the Mustang GT.

Based on the same platform as the Genesis sedan, the Coupe is targeting younger buyers with a little bit of cash to spend, but are still looking for value.

The base model of the Genesis Coupe will have a turbocharged, 2.0 liter, 4-cylinder engine that produces 212 horsepower, while the 3.8 liter V6 will pump out 306 hp.

Hyundai Welcomes a New Genesis to Lineup

Hyundai continues to refine its sedan lineup [after introducing the Azera] with the all-new rear-wheel drive Genesis that is going on sale in the summer of 2008.

There will be three engine options available, a 3.3 liter and 3.8 liter V6, as well as a 4.6 liter V8 that produces 375 horsepower.

Features include adaptive front lighting, smart cruise control, electronic stability control, GPS navigation with backup camera and rain sensing wipers.

March 25, 2008

Hyundai Marketing Nabs Industry Honors

NEW YORK -- Hyundai Motor America (HMA) earns accolades from IAG Research for the “Most Effective New Nameplate Launch Campaign” for a Veracruz ad that compares the exciting SUV with the Lexus RX 350.

IAG Research, the TV ad effectiveness and program engagement company, presented the Second Annual IAG Automotive Advertising Awards recently at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.

Continue reading "Hyundai Marketing Nabs Industry Honors"

March 20, 2008

Hyundai Genesis Coupe to Offer XM Radio as Standard Feature

NEW YORK -- XM, the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, announced that XM Radio will be a factory-installed standard feature on the 2010 Genesis Coupe. Hyundai's new rear-wheel drive sport coupe was unveiled at the New York Auto Show, at the Jacob K. Javits Center.

Hyundai's rollout of XM Radio as a standard feature across its U.S. vehicle line-up began in the 2007 model year. XM Radio is also a standard, factory-installed feature on the Accent, Azera, Elantra, Santa Fe, Sonata, Tiburon, Tucson and Veracruz.

Continue reading "Hyundai Genesis Coupe to Offer XM Radio as Standard Feature"

March 19, 2008

300-Horsepower Hyundai Genesis Coupe Unveiled

NEW YORK -- Hyundai unveiled Genesis Coupe, the new benchmark for affordable 300-horsepower sport coupes, during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show today.

The 2010 Genesis Coupe is a purpose-built rear-wheel drive sport coupe featuring two performance-focused engines -- a 212-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a range-topping all-aluminum 306-horsepower, DOHC 3.8-liter V6 engine. Genesis Coupe is scheduled to join the Hyundai lineup in the spring of 2009.

Continue reading "300-Horsepower Hyundai Genesis Coupe Unveiled"

March 18, 2008

Hyundai Veracruz Named Top Winter Vehicle

BOSTON -- In one of the most hotly-contested categories of the New England Motor Press Association's (NEMPA) 2008 Winter Vehicle Awards, the Hyundai Veracruz registered a tie with the Buick Enclave for best All Weather SUV -- $25,000-$35,000.

The award was presented at a NEMPA ceremony at the Boston Globe on the evening of March 11, 2008 hosted by NEMPA president Ezra Dyer.

Continue reading "Hyundai Veracruz Named Top Winter Vehicle"

March 17, 2008

Hyundai Puts $3,000 on the Sonata Hood

Hyundai is running a "Dollars & Sense" sales promotion through March 31 that features a $3,000 rebate on the Sonata sedan, as well as $2,000 on the Santa Fe SUV.

You can find out about all of Hyundai's current rebates by going to Current Auto Rebates, the only publication of its kind that lists all current rebates for all vehicles for sale in the U.S.

Hyundai has five vehicles named best bet

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai continues to collect awards for its revamped model lineup adding “Best Bet” distinction for five of its vehicles in The Car Book 2008.

Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Tucson and Entourage all earned the title “Best Bet” from author Jack Gillis and the Center for Auto Safety. For 28 years, The Car Book has selected vehicles for this distinction based on how well they respond to the safety and performance needs of today’s consumer.

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March 3, 2008

Hyundai Reports February Sales Down 10%

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 31,090 for the month of February, a 10 percent drop from the same period last year.

"While we were unable to equal our record-setting February of 2007, we are pleased our sales were as strong as they were considering the overall economic conditions," said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.

Continue reading "Hyundai Reports February Sales Down 10%"

March 2, 2008

2008 Hyundai Sonata Rebate -- $3,000 Thru March

Hyundai is offering a $3,000 rebate on the 2008 Sonata sedan, thru March 31, 2008. You can also opt to use 0%-1.9% financing -- not too bad on a car that stickers for less than $18K.

To ensure you get the best deal possible on a 2008 Sonata, have a Hyundai dealer contact you by filling out the form on this page.

When you use the Internet to work with a new car dealer, you are turning the traditional car buying experience upside down -- instead of walking into a dealership and hoping for the best, you're making the dealer compete for your business -- and this is what the promise of the Internet is all about!

If you'd like to stay up to date on all the latest auto rebates, check out Current Auto Rebates, the only site on the Internet that provides a complete listing of all rebates for all makes and models in a convenient to use PDF form.

March Hyundai Rebates Available at CurrentAutoRebates.com

Hyundai is offering up to a $3,000 rebate on the 2008 Sonata sedan, $1,500 on the Entourage minivan, $750 on the Accent and $2,000 on the Santa Fe SUV.

Program ends 3/31/08.

In addition, the Current Auto Rebates document features links to have a local dealer contact you about the vehicle you are interested in -- this is the best way to stay in control of the vehicle buying process, as dealers are essentially competing for your business.

February 26, 2008

Hyundai Sonata Earns Greener Choices Award

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) recognized the 2008 Hyundai Sonata on its “Greener Choices 2008” list that features widely available gasoline-powered cars and light trucks with automatic transmissions.

The Sonata will be listed in the ACEEE’s Green Book Online, an annual consumers’ guide to environmentally-friendly cars and trucks.

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February 18, 2008

Hyundai Super Bowl Advertising Yields Positive Impact

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. -- Hyundai's Super Bowl advertisements did the best job of boosting brand opinion according to two leading marketing research firms. The Nielsen Online MegaPanel Survey, post- game study showed that 43 percent of respondents had improved their opinion of the Hyundai brand -- the highest of any automotive advertiser.

In addition, in comScore's 2008 Super Bowl post-game survey, Hyundai garnered a 45 percent increase in net brand improvement, the highest figure of any Super Bowl advertiser.

Continue reading "Hyundai Super Bowl Advertising Yields Positive Impact"

February 17, 2008

Hyundai Veracruz Rebate Available at CurrentAutoRebates.com

Hyundai is offering a $1,000 rebate on the 2008 Veracruz SUV. Program ends 3/31/08.

The easiest way to get a good deal on a car is to make dealers compete for your business -- and making them contact you [as opposed to you walking in blind] is the easiest way to stack the odds in your favor. Click here to have a dealer contact you about the Hyundai Veracruz.