Toyota and Honda want to Win Back Sales Share from Hyundai Sonata with New Models

Not too long ago, if someone told you that a South Korean model would challenge America’s best selling sedan, the Toyota Camry, you would have probably laughed in his or her face.
Needless to say, a lot has changed over the past few years with Hyundai and in particular its latest Sonata sedan, not only challenging, but this past May even surpassing the Camry in U.S. sales for the first time in history.
Of course, the fact that Toyota’s production capabilities were seriously affected by the aftermath of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan, played a significant role in Hyundai’s accomplishment.

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.

And there's another thing. When the “i” and “ix” naming convention was introduced by Hyundai, it seemed to me that the “i” names would be for cars and the “ix” for the brand’s SUVs. This too was not to be. In Australia, the Hyundai Sonata is sold as the i45 and the upcoming ix20 is a B-segment MPV, not a mini SUV.

So what gives, Hyundai? Why can’t you keep the names internally consisted? Audi never had this problem. A’s for cars and Q’s for SUVs. Oh, I forgot about the TT and R8. Damn it, guys! It can’t be that difficult to stay consistent. It irks me, as I’m a pedant and a stickler for uniformity.

So that’s my two cents. We now return you to your regular scheduled blog.

By Tristan Hankins

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New Hyundai i40 is the European Market Sonata, Sedan Model to Follow Later in the Year

Hyundai had shared the first photos of its all-new i40 ahead of the car's world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show on March 1. Revealed here in station wagon form, the estate is the first i40 body style to be introduced to Europe, with a four-door sedan model to follow later this year. The i40 essentially replaces the older generation Sonata in Europe eyeing the highly competitive D-segment with rivals such as the Ford Mondeo, Peugeot 508, Mazda6 and Volkswagen Passat.

Designed and engineered at Hyundai’s R&D headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany, Hyundai says the i40 is the company's "first D-segment vehicle to be developed specifically for the European market, with a package of powertrains, equipment and technology tailored for European tastes."

The exterior styling of the i40 is much closer to that of the North American Elantra than it is to the latest Sonata, and encompasses design cues from Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language. The flowing roofline and accentuated profile line help to visually lighten the design of the estate model.

Inside, the i40 gets a sculpted dashboard with a prominent screen display mounted high up and flanked by a pair of small air vents, underneath which nestle a bank of push buttons for ventilation and minor controls.

Hyundai says the i40 will come with a high level of standard equipment, including three segment ‘firsts’: heated and reclining front and rear seats; a heated steering wheel; and an active de-mist system that automatically detects and clears mist on the windscreen.

The mid-size model will be offered with a variety of modern powertrains including Hyundai's new 1.7-liter four-cylinder turbo diesel engine that emits just 113 g/km of CO2 emissions. The Korean automaker did not release any other details on the engine lineup, but it is believed that the Veloster's 1.6-liter gasoline engine and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol with direct injection and an output of around 170-horsepower, will also be on offer.

Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, commented, “Offering more for less has always been a fundamental principle at Hyundai, and now we are advancing this with our new brand direction under the ‘New Thinking. New Possibilities.’ slogan. The i40 is a perfect example of how we are offering the best and making it accessible to everyone. From stunning design and specification, to industry-leading technology and aftersales care – the i40 sets itself apart from its competitors.”

Along with the i40, Hyundai's Geneva motor show stand will also host the European specification Veloster Coupe and the Curb small crossover concept.

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New Hyundai i40 is the European Market Sonata, Sedan Model to Follow Later in the Year

Hyundai had shared the first photos of its all-new i40 ahead of the car's world premiere at the 2011 Geneva Motor Show on March 1. Revealed here in station wagon form, the estate is the first i40 body style to be introduced to Europe, with a four-door sedan model to follow later this year. The i40 essentially replaces the older generation Sonata in Europe eyeing the highly competitive D-segment

Hyundai Drops Pricing on New Sonata Hybrid, Starts from $26,545

Hyundai's all-new 2011 Sonata Hybrid sedan will carry a starting price of $25,795 plus a $750 fee for freight charges for a total of $26,545 when it arrives in the firm's dealerships in early January. The most fuel efficient version of the South Korean maker's mid-size sedan will comes in just two flavors, with the next version being the tech-feature-packed Premium model priced at $30,795,