Hyundai Australia Updates Entire 2011 Line-Up with Customer-Driven Upgrades

In response to consumer and media feedback, Hyundai Australia announced today a tidal wave of changes for some of its core products, namely the 2011 Hyundai i45 (Sonata in other markets). Follow the jump to see what Hyundai has in store for its Australian line-up for the 2011 model year.

2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur (HG): Best Rendering Yet

Remember that spy shot of the first undisguised 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur prototype we posted recently? The image generated great interest probably because it gave us our first good glimpse at the final design of the upcoming redesign.

Well thanks to a renowned amateur CGI artist from Korea, who goes by a Korean nickname of "우얄라고", we now have the closest thing to an official rendering from the folks at Hyundai themselves with this stellar rendering of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur (HG). This clean rendering is based on the spy shot we referred to above, but we would have taken it as an official one had we not known about the original image.

We would love to hear from you about your thoughts on this rendering. Does it change your impression of the all-new Azera? Perhaps it makes the new Azera look even more similar to the Sonata. Leave us your two cents in the comments below!

[Rendered by: 우얄라고]

Hyundai Delays Unveiling of Veloster to Early 2011

Fresh from the South Korean presses, we bring you the unfortunate news that the upcoming production version of the Hyundai Veloster 2-door compact hatchback will be delayed in unveiling to early 2011.

The Veloster, code-named "FS", was scheduled to be launched in its home market in November. However, with the coinciding launches of the all-new Accent and Azera/Grandeur planned for November and December respectively, Hyundai did not wish for the Veloster to steal the spotlight alone. Hyundai intended to produce 2000 units of the Veloster before the year's end.

According to the news source, Hyundai is also considering keeping the Veloster moniker for the front-wheel drive sport hatchback, as the automaker has not been able to coin a suitable name for it yet.

The production "FS" measures 4285mm in length and 1790mm in width, which is nearly the same as the dimensions of one of its rivals, the Volkswagen Scirocco. It will be powered by a turbocharged version of a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine with GDI (direct injection). Output is estimated at around 140 horsepower and it will be mated to a standard dual-clutch gearbox.

Hyundai will commence production of the Veloster in December and start sales in the South Korean market in January of next year. The automaker will subsequently launch the Veloster in North American and European markets by the first half of 2011.

SEMA 2010 Preview: Hyundai Equus Gets the Rhys Millen Racing Treatment

 

 

Hyundai's partnership with racer and tuner Rhys Millen has fared well for the automaker, and the upcoming SEMA Show will bear testimony to more evidence regarding that statement.

The 2010 SEMA Show will be host to the 2011 Hyundai Equus bearing the RMR signature, which is short for Rhys Millen Racing. This special edition launch will be the third consecutive year when Hyundai flaunts off the RMR insignia in Las Vegas.

And here goes what you have been waiting for- the new edition delivers 415 horsepower, a 30 horsepower addition to the stock figure using Hyundai’s 4.6-liter Tau V8. This is accomplished with an RMR bolt-on cold air intake and stainless steel exhausts, with a 14-inch brake kit thrown in to make the sedan screech to halt faster.

The exterior looks bold with two-tone carbon fiber and Red Bull Racing blue satin paint scheme, while the set of HRE 21-inch P40 wheels take care of the rest. The passengers will be lavished upon with an elaborate swathing of ostrich leather and suede.

Kia POP Electric Car Concept Revealed Ahead of Paris Debut

Kia has just released new images of the POP Concept, ahead of the concept's debut in Paris. The Kia POP was designed by the company's European design team under the direction of Peter Schreyer, Kia’s Chief Design Officer, and Gregory Guillaume, Kia Europe's Chief Designer.

"A concept car like the Kia POP could only have come from us," explains Gregory Guillaume. "Designers very rarely have the opportunity to start from a clean sheet of paper and it’s great to be in a position to operate with such freedom."

Unfortunately, the company did not release any additional information regarding the Kia POP. What we do know so far about the Kia POP concept
is that it's a three-meter long three-seater powered by an electric motor. The seating configuration of the Kia POP includes a front bench and an additional rear seat. The Kia POP also seems to have a "different" door opening mechanism.

We'll have more details on the Kia POP concept at the time of its premiere in France next week.

Hyundai to Recall 140000 Sonatas in US

Hyundai will recall about 139,500 units of the 2011 Sonata in the U.S. because of steering issues that could result in a loss of or reduction in maneuvering capability amid increased attention among automakers on product quality.

The year 2011 Sonata sedans manufactured between Dec. 11, 2009, and Sept. 10, 2010, are subject to the plan, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said in a statement on its website. Hyundai Motor America informed the agency it is voluntarily initiating a safety recall of Sonata sedans to inspect the steering issues, the automaker said in an e-mailed statement yesterday.

Hyundai said there were fewer than 10 vehicles with the steering issues and no accidents or injuries have occurred as a result of this condition. The automaker is expected to begin the recall in October, according to NHTSA, which opened a preliminary probe into steering issues on the model in August.

2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur: New Spy Shots!

Another day begins, and another round of new spy shots of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur (HG) we bring you for your viewing pleasure. We do not see anything new in particular, especially after the undisguised prototype we posted earlier this week.. The noticeably higher resolution of the photos, however, does give us a better look at the redesign.

We also have word from Hyundai with regards to the official launch date of the all-new 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur. According to Hankyung, Hyundai is planning to release the redesigned Grandeur to the Korean market in late November. One of the several powertrain options for the Korean-market Grandeur will be an all-new 3.0L GDI (gasoline direct-injected) V6 that is projected to produce around 270 horsepower. For the North American market, expect a larger V6 engine to be available.