Two Hyundai concept cars to be displayed at the 2012 Busan Motor Show (South Korea)!

Domestic and foreign automakers plan to unveil a wide number of concept cars at the 6th Busan Motor Show.

The biennial auto event, which kicks off on May 24, will give the South Korean consumers a peek at future vehicle design and state of-the-art powertrain technology.

Hyundai Motor Company plans to unveil the eight-passenger Hexa Space (HND-7) and i-oniq concept vehicles at the event.

The 1,2L turbo engine powered Hyundai Hexa concept made its official public debut at the Auto Expo 2012 in New Delhi (India), while Hyundai i-oniq concept made its premiere at the 2012 Geneva Auto Show.

None of them, however, has been shown to the South Korean consumers so far.

Alongside two concept vehicles, Hyundai will also display the all-new Veloster Turbo, 2013 Santa Fe crossover vehicle, new Azera sedan and other stylish vehicles from its range.

Hyundai’s sister firm Kia Motors announced the official Korean premier of the GT concept car.

First displayed at the 2011 Frankfurt Auto Show in Germany, the GT concept previewed the long-awaited Kia K9 luxury sedan.

The high-end Kia flagship sedan uses Hyundai Genesis sedan’s platform and shares a range of V6 engines and 8-spped automatic transmission with its Hyundai sibling.

Hyundai puts its all-new new i30 hatchback to the ultimate durability test!

All vehicles are put through a rigorous series of quality and safety tests before they are ever released to the general public.

Those are all standard tests that every automaker does, but there is only one company that uses monkeys as part of the testing process.

That would be Hyundai and they recently released 40 monkeys on their all-new i30 hatchback, which is known as the 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT in North America, to see how it would handle a baboon beating.

Video: Hyundai i30 baboons test

The test was performed in Britain where the i30 was taken to Knowsley Safari Park which is home to dozens of baboons.

Over the years, those playful monkeys have demonstrated a love for pulling cars apart, including the one belonging to Manchester United star Wayne Rooney who visited the park last year.

Park officials and a group from Hyundai sat for a 10 hour period, watching while the 40 baboons had their way with the i30 hatchback.

Felicity Wood, i30 Product Manager at Hyundai said that there was a certain amount of bravery required to subject any car to the most rigorous quality testers in the world. She went on to say that the baboons certainly did a great job of putting the i30 through the wringer.

The good news for Hyundai was that the i30 escaped with nothing more than a few scrapes after its 10 hour ordeal. Wood claimed that it was a testament to the way Hyundai built their car, and that they don’t give a monkey’s about making them tough.

This was more than just a publicity stunt though, and to express their thanks to Knowsley Park, Hyundai donated £1,000 to the Primate Society of Great Britain.

David Ross, General Manager at Knowsley Safari Park said that the baboons being allowed free reign over a car for that period of time was like a trip to monkey heaven. He went on to say that he has seen many cars mobbed by baboons and that none of them stood up to the assault as well as the new Hyundai i30.

The all-new 2013 Hyundai Sonata goes on sale in the USA!

The war to become the king of the midsize sedan segment has heated up considerably, with Hyundai stating that the 2013 Ford Fusion and 2013 Nissan Altima are “borrowing pages from the Sonata playbook.”

The 2013 Sonata is now on the market, albeit at a loftier price than the older model.

The prices for the 2013 Sonata depend on the trim, with the GLS coming in at $21,670, and the 2.0L turbocharged Limited sitting at $28,370.

Those prices include a $775 shipping charge, all of which adds up to an $1,100 price hike over the 2012 Sonata GLS model which came in at $20,570 (including shipping costs).

Noticeably absent from the current crop is the six-speed manual version of the GLS. It has been replaced by a 2.4L GDI four-cylinder engine linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai set the fur flying by issuing a press release entitled “Bring It” with the content clearly aimed at their competitors.

It was there that the Korean automakers accused Nissan and Ford of rifling through the Sonata playbook, claiming that its release had “sent competitors back to the drawing board.”

Nissan spokesman Dan Bedore went on record on a telephone conversation with Inside Line where he admitted that the midsize segment was indeed competitive. He said that while the Sonata was new 9 months ago, it will be old 9 months from now.

He also noted that constant improvement is always at the forefront of every Nissan vehicle and that the 2013 Altima will reflect that.

Ford on the other hand declined any sort of comment when contacted by Inside Line. That may be more of them taking the high road, for as much as competition exists, there is usually no specific name calling in the war.

An example of that came in a statement issued by Nissan back in April. It was there that they boasted about the class-leading 38 mpg achieved by the Altima. It was a clear dig at the 2013 Sonata which comes in at a still very respectable 35 mpg.

The intent was clear, but it was done in a way that didn’t name names. While Ford has kept pretty quiet on the details of the 2013 Fusion, Nissan have announced that the Altima will start at $22,280, which is a few ticks higher than the Sonata 2013 (Model Year).

The 2013 version of the Sonata will differ very little from the previous model, but will come with a few extra upgrades. Those include heated seats on the base GLS model, as well as some bigger additions to the higher priced trim models.

For an extra $2,900 Limited owners can go with a Premium Package that will include panoramic sunroof, back-up camera, GPS navigation, and an upgraded sound system.

Hyundai Motor America is going to hire more than 800 workers for third shift at its Alabama plant!

The popularity of the Hyundai Sonata and Elantra sedans has helped Hyundai Motor America to brake sales and production records.

To keep pace with high demand for both models, Hyundai announced it plans to introduce a third shift at its Montgomery (Alabama) facility. That will create additional 877 jobs and increase total employment at the plant over 3,000.

The $1-billion manufactruing plant, which has been operating two shifts over the past couple of years, will be able to produce 245,000 new Hyundai vehicles annually, due to the extra shift (20,000 units more than previously!).

The high-ranking officials working at Hyundai Motor America revealed that the transition to three shifts will begin in September 2012, whle job applications and pre-employment training will begin during the summer.

Hyundai instituting brake pedal throttle override tech in all US-market models!

Hyundai has spent the past few years building up its brand with bold new design styles and a commitment to quality vehicles at an affordable price.

A large part of their success during that time has been due to those efforts, and also to the steps that they have taken to make their vehicles among the safest on the road.

While other automakers sit idly by and wait for government mandates before making safety changes, Hyundai adopts a pro-active stance on the matter and tries to very much stay ahead of the curve.

A perfect example of that are the changes that they have made in the electronic throttle control in their vehicles.

The possibility of a malfunction of the throttle are pretty slim, especially when you take into account all the built-in safety measures that are standard with the control, but that hasn’t stopped Hyundai from taking safety to the next level.

Rather than waiting for an unforeseen, uncontrollable acceleration caused by a fault in the electronic throttle control, Hyundai is installing a brake pedal override option that put the driver back in control in the event of just such an issue.

Robert Babcock, director of certification and compliance affairs for Hyundai’s technical center explained that the addition of the brake pedal throttle override would mean that the driver would be able to have complete control over a runaway throttle or other problem caused by a failure in the electronic throttle control.

Adding the brake means that the possibility of increasing engine power is now totally negated, which means peace of mind of every Hyundai driver.

While most automakers have been sitting back waiting for the government mandate for brake pedal throttle override capability, a component of FMVSS 124 (Accelerator Control Systems), Hyundai has been busy thinking about their customers by taking care of the issue immediately.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)have been mulling over the possible changes since April 16, 2012, but as yet no firm date on their final decision has been announced.

The impending decision means nothing to Hyundai though, as they plan to start adding brake pedal throttle override capability to every one of their vehicles beginning in May.

The fact that it could be months or even years before a final decision is made on the mandate just goes to show that Hyundai put the safety of their customer first at all times.

The all-new 2012 Hyundai i20 goes on sale in Europe next week!

After wowing the crowds at the Geneva Motor Show, fans of the Hyundai i20 were keen to see what price point would be put on the vehicle.

Hyundai UK announced that the all-new i20 hatchback will have a starting price of £9,995 for the Classic 1.2 petrol 3-door, and £14,295 for the top of the line CRDi diesel model, with the cars expected to be in showrooms on May 7th.

The 2012 Hyundai i20 has undergone something of a makeover, with the exterior getting a hexagonal grille that fits Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture design.

There have also been changes on the front end with a reshaped bonnet and rounded wings. The lights received a subtle styling makeover in front and back, as well!

The car also boasts an all-new alloy-wheel design and redesigned bumpers which complete the exterior revisions made to the exterior of the i20 facelift.

The interior of the 2012 Hyundai i20 hatchback got a fresh look too, with soft-touch plastics and a distinctly classier looking centre console.

Hyundai i20 trim levels

There are three different trim levels to choose from, starting with the Classic, then moving on up to the Active and finally the Style.

Each comes with an impressive set of standard features including 6 air bags, AC, ESP, remote central locking, and Vehicle Stability Management.

The Active trim takes it one step further with 15-inch alloy wheels, voice recognition Bluetooth, heated door mirrors, leather on the steering wheel and gear knob, front fog lights, and electric rear windows.

The Style is loaded with extra features such as 16-inch alloys, rain sensing front wipers, climate control, automatic headlights, and automatic dimming rear view, and even a reversing camera.

Those types of features are usually reserved for larger luxury cars, but the 2012 Hyundai i20 Style has them all standard.

For even more features, buyers can opt for the Convenience pack which will add chrome exterior handles, keyless entry, engine Start/Stop button, and more.

Tony Whitehorn, President and CEO Hyundai Motor UK said that the goal with the updated i20 hatchback was to please existing customers, but also to make it appealing to a younger generation of drivers unfamiliar with the Hyundai brand.

He feels that people are going to love all of the luxury items, especially when they come at such an affordable price.

Hyundai i20 engines

Whitehorn went on to praise the engine in the i20 which has the cleanest combustion diesel engine in terms of CO2 emissions, with the 1.1L diesel engine in particular putting up impressive numbers.

Various technical improvements have also been done to Hyundai’s 1.2L engine (petrol). The engine now is cleaner, more efficient, and more powerful than its predecessor.

Its aximum output is rated at 85 horsepower (79 horsepower for the outgoing variant) while improvements in fuel consumption increased from 55.4mpg to 57.7mpg on the combined cycle.

CO2 missions were reduced from 119g/km to 114g/km to make the 1.2 petrol engine one of the most efficient around.

Efforts to reduce fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in all of its vehicles (including in 2012 Hyundai i20), are all part of Hyundai’s goal to become the most fuel efficient automaker on the planet.

Hyundai, BMW reportedly in engine-development talks!

Hyundai Motor Company and BMW are rumored to be discussing an alliance to develop new diesel and gasoline engines.

None of the carmakers has confirmed that it is going to form an engine development alliance, so far.

However, the German industry newsletter Automobil Produktion reported recently, that Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-koo’s son and heir apparent, Chung Eui-sun, had met a group of high ranking BMW managers in Germany to discuss about the possible tie-up.

Although BMW denied it would extend its technical partnerships beyond Peugeot and Toyota, the engine tie-up with Hyundai would certainly be attractive, particularly in terms of slashing the engine development costs.

The formed alliance would, reportedly, save both automakers at least $1,3 to $2,6 billion.

Feel free to share your thoughts on a possible Hyundai, BMW engine alliance! Is it necessary at all? Who do you think would benefit most from it, BMW or Hyundai?

Hyundai has been racking up sales records each and every month for the past couple of years.

And that trend continues when the South Korean carmaker announced first quarter profits that exceeded all estimates.

Hyundai’s net income for the quarter was a staggering 2.45 trillion won ($2.2 billion) which was a 31% increase over the 1.88 trillion they took in during the same period last year.

Analysts had estimated that the figure would be closer to 2.07 trillion, so the figure came as a surprise to everyone.

Revenues sat at 20.2 trillion won, which was an 11% increase, with the increases due in large part to the Sonata and Accent sedans.

They combined to deliver a 15 % increase in US deliveries, while across the pond the i20 diesel hatchback bucked the European economic slump by posting a 13% increase.

The economy had led the demand for vehicles to a 14-year low, making Hyundai’s numbers all the more impressive. The company has openly stated that they expect sales to hit 7 million this when they combine figures with their affiliate Kia Motors.

Shin Chung Kwan, an analyst at KB Investment and Securities Co. in Seoul, stated that they expect the growth in the industry to continue rising as the year progresses. He predicted that more automakers would see better numbers as the growth in US and China continues to improve.

Another area that exceeded the Bloomberg analyst’s experts was in the area of operating profit, which took a 25% increase to 2.28 trillion won.

Those figures were the first to be released by any of the major global automakers, and it was enough to lift their stock value to 262,000 won at close of trading in Korea. The Kospi index also saw a slight 0.1% rise after the figures were announced.

The large demand for Hyundai vehicles in the US market has meant that the company has now raised their global market forecast for 2012 to 5.6%.

Lee Won Hee, Hyundai’s chief financial officer, announced the new estimate, which was originally 3.6%. That is mostly down to the Elantra and Sonata, both of which are struggling to meet demand.

Hyundai is unconcerned about competition from large Japanese rivals like Toyota and Honda, and are planning to introduce no less than 5 new models in the US this year.

It’s not just the United States where growth is great, and the numbers in China are equally impressive. The numbers are so impressive there that Hyundai plans to release a China only version of the Elantra which will be known as the Langdong.

Hyundai’s third Chinese plant will start production in July, with the end result expected to be a 1 million unit production capacity in the country. [Source: Reuters & Hyundai]

Hyundai Motor America reports best-ever April sales and second best month in company history!

Hyundai’s meteoric sales growth cooled down slightly in April 2012 as the carmaker only posted a sales growth of 1 percent over the same month a year ago.

Still, the April 2012 was a record month in volume for Hyundai Motor America with sales totaling 62,264 units.

Hyundai’s top sales performers last month were the Sonata mid-size sedan and Elantra compact car with 20,521 and 16,836 units sold, respectively.

Taking third and fourth spot in the carmaker’s U.S. range were the Santa Fe SUV, which will soon be replaced by a fully-revamped 2013 Santa FE crossover, and 40-mpg Hyundai Accent sub-compact car.

During the month of April 2012, Hyundai sold 6,318 Santa Fe SUVs and 6,160 units of new Accent.

The Tucson CUV (known also as Hyundai ix35 in Europe) performed pretty well last month (3,909 units sold), while Hyundai Veloster Coupe again showed some strong sales numbers. The Veloster sales totaled 3,192 units.

Hyundai Azera sales

Hyundai Azera near-luxury sedan is back! In its first month of sales, the all-new Azera posted a 399 percent increase in sales over the same month a year ago with sales totaling 953 units.

Hyundai’s family of rear-wheel-drive premium models, Genesis (and Genesis Coupe) and Equus flagship, continued to deliver outstanding sales results with volume up 36 percent over April 2011.

Hyundai sales by model – April 2012:

New Hyundai Sonata caused Nissan to reassess the all-new 2013 Altima sedan!

They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and if that is the case, then Nissan appear to be throwing a lot of that in the direction of Hyundai.

Whilst in the midst of design work for the fifth-generation Altima, Nissan called a halt after seeing the latest version of the Hyundai Sonata.

Andy Palmer, Nissan executive vice president-global planning, marketing and Infiniti Div admitted that development of the 2013 Altima came to a temporary halt in order to sure that the proportions and styling was exactly as it should be.

He also admitted that the new Hyundai Sonata was a major point of reference in the design of the newest version of the Altima 2013 (Model Year).

The midsize sedan segment is one of the busiest and most highly contested of all the car categories, with over 750,000 units sold in the US alone during the first quarter.

Being able to grab a large slice of that pie can mean very healthy numbers across the board for an automaker, and right now Hyundai has that pie in both hands.

What’s ironic is that Hyundai used to model their cars after the Japanese style of design, but that all changed 3 years ago with their aggressive re-design of the new Sonata, which many people refer to as the turning point for the Korean automaker, as well as their sister brand Kia.

Palmer went on to say that while currency plays a part in the pricing of their competitors vehicles, he couldn’t deny that the Sonata was a very good product.

That has been borne out by the astonishing sales figures that the Sonata has posted, making it the number 7 best-selling model through March.

It still falls short of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Palmer admitted that as much as he admired the Sonata, their main focus was on catching the Camry once the new 2013 Altima is released.

The Nissan Altima currently sits second behind the Camry, but you have to imagine that both of the major Japanese automakers will have one eye firmly on the rearview mirror, especially if the new Hyundai Sonata can continue to post larger sales numbers with each and every passing month.