2006 Hyundai Santa Fe Ltd 3.5l V6 Auto Low Mileage Leather Loaded Sunroof on 2040-cars

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Hyundai beefs up HB20 R-Spec in Brazil

If you've been following the news from the Sao Paulo Motor Show, you'll likely have seen not only a series of new concept cars, but also a whole mess of production vehicles you never knew existed because they were developed specifically for the Latin American market. One of them is the Hyundai HB20.
Hyundai Brasil makes the HB20 in Sao Paulo for local consumption in three forms: there's the HB20 hatchback, HB20S sedan and HB20X crossover. It's the former which it has transformed into the R-Spec concept you see here.
Decked out in matte blue, the HB20 R-Spec concept packs an aggressively upgraded aero kit, extra cooling ducts, 17-inch alloys, LED headlights and an interior with leather trim and striped seats. Even if we don't know what's under the hood, it all looks pretty convincing, and makes us wish Hyundai would offer it Stateside as part of the Accent family with which it shares its underpinnings.

Hyundai and Kia introduce new predictive transmission tech

Hyundai and Kia have announced that the two have developed a new transmission control system that optimizes shift logic to both improve efficiency and reduce "gear hunting." The system utilizes real-time traffic data, built-in 3D navigation and the same sensors that feed the cars' advanced safety and driver assist tech to proactively choose the right gear — even neutral in some cases — to reduce both fuel consumption and wear-and-tear. The Korean sister brands call it the "Information Communication Technology Connected Shift System," or "ICT" for short, and Hyundai says it delivers not just improved frugality, but a better all-around driving experience. ICT programming allows the transmission control unit to collect and interpret traffic, camera, sensor, navigation route, elevation and topographical data.  "Using all of these inputs, the TCU predicts the optimal shift scenario for real-time driving situations through an artificial intelligence algorithm and shifts the gears accordingly," the announcement said. "For example, when a relatively long slow down is expected and radar detects no speed irregularities with the car ahead, the transmission clutch temporarily switches to neutral mode to improve fuel efficiency." While this sounds like a primarily green play, there are quality-of-life improvements too. For example, ICT can also optimize gear selection and shift points for safer highway merges, effectively implementing the equivalent of a "Sport Mode" driving profile when a little extra punch is called for.  Hyundai says the resulting decrease in shifts was significant; in some test scenarios, such as roads with lots of curves, the number of shifts executed by the transmission was reduced by almost half. As an added bonus, these vehicles also utilized their brakes less often (11%), which would reduce wear (and accompanying maintenance costs) over time.  ICT is somewhat future-proof, too, as it was developed to incorporate vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) data should such networks improve down the line.  The announcement did not say when the new tech would reach customers, committing only to introducing the technology "on future vehicles." If we're betting, the smart money says it will probably on a new Genesis model and trickle down from there. Related Video:

All new Hyundai Elantra revealed in Korea

After thoroughly teasing the next-generation Elantra, Hyundai is finally unveiling its latest sedan for the South Korean market (where it's called the "Avante"). While the names might be different, expect the revised model to look just like this for the North American debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Although, the powertrain range might be tweaked when crossing the Pacific. Hyundai is reworking the swoopy Fluidic Sculpture design language into a sleeker, simpler shape for the latest Elantra, and the company calls the new direction "Modern Premium." Up front, there's a big hexagonal grill to grab attention, and it's matched with squinting headlights on each side. The roof now simply flows back elegantly to the trunk, and the sides are left largely unadorned beyond an understated crease along the shoulders. At the rear, narrowing taillights stretch horizontally across the trunk. Also, while the upgraded styling is meant to make the Elantra look low and wide, the dimensions grow less than an inch in length and width. Beneath the upgraded design is a revised platform that's made of 53 percent advanced high strength steel, versus 32 percent before. The result is a stiffer frame that Hyundai claims leads to better crash test results and lower NVH. Drivers get added security from a safety suite that includes autonomous emergency braking, high beam assist, blind spot detection, and rear cross traffic alert. Hyundai is clear that powertrains can vary with region, but South Koreans get three choices in the Avante. A 1.6-liter gasoline-fueled four-cylinder offers 130 horsepower and 119 pound-feet of torque, and a 1.6-liter diesel makes 134 hp and 221 lb-ft. There's also a 2.0-liter petrol mill running on the Atkinson cycle that produces 147 hp and 132 lb-ft. Rumors suggest North America might get the turbocharged 1.6-liter from the latest Tucson with 175 hp and 196 lb-ft. Hyundai Motor Holds World Premiere of All-new Elantra in Korea 09 September, 2015 • Hyundai Motor's best-selling model evolves with innovative design • Award-winning compact sedan inspires driver confidence with enhanced performance and stable handling • Class-leading convenience and safety features are tailored to customer needs September 9, 2015 – Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, today unveiled the 'All-new Elantra (named Avante in Korea)', a sophisticated evolution of the brand's long-established compact sedan.