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Hyundai spotted testing Prius-style hybrid

The Toyota Prius has become an automotive icon – maybe less so among actual automotive enthusiasts than with the public at large – to the extent that most anyone on the street would recognize its five-door hatchback form and immediately identify it as a hybrid. Little wonder that Honda tried to emulate it with the second-gen Insight, but while that didn't work out so well for Honda, it looks like Hyundai is preparing to go down the same road with a dedicated hybrid of its own. Our paparazzi on the ground in the Arctic Circle have spotted this protoytpe and tell us what we're looking at is a new Prius-fighter from the Korean automaker. Snapped up high on a transporter truck, you can see the orange high-voltage cables underneath and a label with the letters AE HEV – the latter standing, of course, for Hybrid Electric Vehicle. We wouldn't be surprised if the AE stood for Advanced Experimental or Alternative Energy or something of the sort. Tipped to be based on the same platform as the next-generation Elantra, the new Hyundai hybrid is said to pack a 1.6-liter inline-four working in parallel with an electric motor juiced by a lithium-ion battery pack. It's expected to begin production in the second half of 2016, with a plug-in and possibly other variants to follow a year to a year and a half after its initial launch.

Google's new Android Autos OS unveiled, will be in cars this year [w/video]

Connected cars are coming en-masse. We know this much. How, though, remains something of an open question, especially as two of the world's largest tech companies are preparing to battle for control of your car's dashboard. On the one hand, we have Apple and its CarPlay system. And now, we know what Google has been working on with Auto Link.
Its new name is Android Auto, and yes, it's based off the Android architecture that is the primary challenger to Apple's iOS mobile operating system. Announced at Google's I/O conference today, Android Auto functions similarly to CarPlay - owners will need to plug their smartphones into their cars to access the full breadth of capability.
In Android Auto's case, that means a wealth of voice controls to limit distracted driving. Google's marquee apps will be available when the interface arrives in production models later this year, including Google Play Music, Google Maps and voice-activated texting and text playback. Meanwhile, developers will be able to begin designing custom apps for the new system via an upcoming software development kit.

2016 Hyundai Tucson comes to Geneva with long-awaited redesign

As one of the oldest vehicles in Hyundai's lineup, it was only a matter of time before the compact Tucson was given a redesign. Now, at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, we're getting a first-person look at the next-generation model as it prepares to do battle in an increasingly important market. While the last-generation Tucson was an ambassador of Hyundai's early "fluidic sculpture" design language, this new model shares the sharper, more aggressive lines of last year's Intrado Concept. A hexagonal grille is front and center, while the large headlights bleed into the front fenders. As we covered in our original post, the broad, flat hood is reminiscent of the Santa Fe, while the tail looks to the Genesis for its taillight design. Ample attention has also been paid to the cabin, although admittedly, the last Tucson's interior aged rather well. The Geneva show car features handsome red leather seats that contrast nicely with the black dash and silver accents. The cabin layout itself, meanwhile, isn't unlike what's found on the new Sonata; it's clean, logical and easy to figure out. Take a look at our full gallery of live images from the car's Geneva Motor Show Debut. THE ALL-NEW TUCSON 17/02/15 All-New Tucson represents significant step forward for Hyundai New model follows one million Hyundai SUV sales in Europe, over 116,600 in the UK Bold and athletic exterior creates unique appearance Refined interior combines elegance with ergonomics and generous cabin space Convenience and connectivity features tailored to customer needs including New Navigation with TomTom Live services and seven-year free subscription Comprehensive active and passive safety technologies Wide choice of engines; power range from 115 PS to 184 PS All models for Europe to be built in Europe High Wycombe, 17 February 2015 – With its worldwide public debut just weeks away at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the All-New Hyundai Tucson is set to redefine the Hyundai brand's C-SUV offering – featuring the highest levels of design, quality and technology which are poised to lead the segment. "The All-New Tucson is a bold new car that represents another leap forward for Hyundai," commented Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor UK.