2011 Hyundai Elantra Limited on 2040-cars

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Major Alexa deal will bring Amazon services into more cars

Amazon and its personal assistance service Alexa are partnering with HERE Technologies to create a new connected mobility service powerhouse. Alexa will integrate with HERE's navigation and location services to offer what the two companies are calling a "true voice-first-navigation experience." Alexa will come pre-integrated with HERE navigation on-demand, which the automakers can then enable, which should help cut down on development time. One of the biggest features from this partnership is how directions could be offered and delivered using HERE's Open Location Platform (OLP). Currently, the OLP uses data from several car manufacturers to provide insights into real-time location and traffic. But on Alexa, this could be used to provide directional context. For example, Alexa could say, "Turn right after [such-and-such a building]" rather than just, "Turn right." Amazon has been testing the automotive waters throughout the past decade. Its home-based Alexa-enabled devices are already offered with connections to several manufacturers. To various degrees of integration, it can already pair with Ford, Genesis, Toyota, Lexus, Hyundai and BMW vehicles. At the end of 2018, Amazon took things a step further when it introduced the Echo Auto, a Bluetooth-connected Alexa assistant device that can be physically kept in a car. Currently only available by invitation (its production and distribution have been delayed), the $25 device is essentially a voice service that works together with smartphones and connects to a car's speakers. Users can command it to do a variety of things, including playing music, setting navigation, opening the garage door, finding local stores, making calls, setting reminders, and thousands of other "skills." According to The Verge, nearly 1 million people have already ordered the device. Some (well, probably few) may know HERE Technologies from its maps on Windows Phones. We all know how that turned out, though. Today, HERE has expanded into a multi-function suite that is available in multiple mediums, including many automotive applications. HERE Automotive's connected vehicle services include real-time traffic, parking, weather, fuel prices, hazard warnings, traffic sign integration, and even EV charging stations. These all incorporate and extend the use of HERE's location and tracking programming. HERE is already partnered with BMW, Audi, Daimler, Intel, Mobileye, NVIDIA, and has investments from Bosch, Continental and Pioneer.

Hyundai ix35/Tucson replacement comes into view

Last week, we showed you some leaked images of the Hyundai Intrado Concept, a vehicle set for debut at next week's Geneva Motor Show. We suspect that the Intrado will act as the inspiration for the next Hyundai Tucson, known elsewhere in the world as the ix35. Now, we can bring you the first images of that car undergoing testing.
There is quite a lot of cladding on this prototype, although we can make out a set of slim headlights that are similar in shape to the Intrado. The two cars also share a similar shape in the greenhouse, although obviously the prototype wears an extra set of doors behind the B-pillar.
Don't be fooled by the heavy cladding on the rear hatch, either, as it's just there to disrupt the look of the profile. It's fairly easy to spot where the roofline starts its dive down.

Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV70e continue EV product blitz through 2022

A Hyundai presentation to investors has revealed an onslaught of competitive-looking products coming in the next couple of years. It includes more electric variants of existing vehicles, as well as dedicated EVs for the Ioniq sub-brand, as well as updates for popular existing models that have to ensure they don't get stale. Perhaps the biggest news is the fact that Ioniq 6 is sedan will follow the retro-cool Ioniq 5 hatchback, hitting the road by 2022. With styling flowing from the stunning Prophecy concept revealed last year, it will help bolster the Ioniq sub-brand as an exciting choice for mainstream EVs. It's classified as a C-segment sedan, meaning it will be about the size of a Honda Civic. But before the Ioniq 6 arrives, a yet-unnamed CUV will also join the lineup in 2021. It's not clear whether that model will be for foreign markets or the U.S., but either way Ioniq is shaping up to be a strong nameplate. However, that doesn't mean it will be the sole source of EVs in the Hyundai empire. Following the launch of the battery-electric G80 later this year, Genesis will in 2022 offer an battery-electric version of its GV70. These will be named the G80e and GV70e, if trademark filings discovered earlier this year are any indication. Unlike the Ioniq 5 and 6, it will likely take the shape of their gasoline-powered counterparts with only minor styling changes. In 2022, updates to both the Sonata and Palisade will hit the market. Both vehicles were all-new in 2020, and their strong designs still appear fresh. However, Hyundai clearly understands the importance of keeping its bread-and-butter offerings fresh in a competitive market, unlike some Japanese and American automakers we could mention. Nowhere in the presentation was Kia mentioned, as the company is trying to keep the brands separate. However, Kia's boss has said it is going full steam ahead in the EV push, trying to outdo even Hyundai. The Hyundai juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, and other automakers should take note (or be very afraid). Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hyundai reveals the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe