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Hyundai leased 70 Tucson fuel-cell vehicles in first year

Since going on sale in the early summer of 2014, Hyundai has leased around 70 of its hydrogen fuel-cell-powered Tucson CUVs. That's the number that Mike O'Brien, Hyundai's vice president of corporate and product planning, revealed at a green vehicle event in Huntington Beach, CA, this week. There's a reason for the low number, O'Brien said. "Of course, everybody asks 'Why 70?' and it's basically tied to the number of fuel stations that are available," he said. "We were the first to actually pass over ownership of the vehicle, it's not a test program. It helps people put their money on the table, and they lease the car from us and it's their car. The customers that we've leased the vehicle to are ones that live close to a fuel station. "Right now there is less than 10 in the state of California. By the end of this calendar year, there should be in the mid-20s. And then, of course, under Gov. Jerry Brown's $200 million towards construction, I believe about 100 stations [will come online] through the end of the next couple of years. As those stations get built out, we're taking more and more applications for vehicle sales." In January 2014, O'Brien told AutoblogGreen that 88,000 people had expressed an interest in owning a fuel-cell Tucson. O'Brien said that Hyundai needs the customers to be close to a hydrogen station so that driving the car feels similar to what they're used to doing. "We just want to make sure there is a satisfying experience of ownership, and that's the most important thing, to make that their ownership experience matches what they've experienced with a gasoline car," he said. The Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell can be leased for $499 a month, which includes free refueling. For the 2016 model year, the Tucson FCV gets HomeLink connectivity in the rear-view mirror and two new exterior colors, Hydro Blue and Chromium Silver, in addition to the already available Winter White. 2016 Hyundai Tucson Fuel Cell Continues To Attract Zero-Emissions-Focused Customers With New Colors And Features World's First Mass-Produced Fuel Cell Vehicle Available For $499 per month Lease Includes Unlimited Free Hydrogen Refueling and At Your Service Valet Maintenance FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai's zero-emissions, hydrogen-powered Tucson Fuel Cell vehicle continues to satisfy and attract new customers focused on high-versatility and clean transportation.

Hyundai considering upscale Genesis-based crossover

Hyundai already offers upscale entries in its lineup such as the Equus and Genesis (pictured above), but unlike many brands in North America, the company lacks a luxury crossover to further compliment the sedans. The latest signs suggest that hole in the lineup might be filled in the near future, though. According to four, unnamed company insiders speaking to Reuters, the Korean automaker might build a posh CUV on the Genesis' platform. "We are considering developing premium, large SUVs based on customers' needs. We plan to respond to the fast-changing market centered around SUVs by beefing up our SUV line-up," said a statement from Hyundai to Reuters. The idea stems from a proposal last year to pounce on the booming luxury CUV market. However, this strategy doesn't have a green light yet, and it could be years before the crossover sees showrooms. Potentially holding things back is the brand's concern about its power in the luxury market. "We are timid when it comes to bigger SUVs," a source said to Reuters. Hyundai also remembers the struggles of the Veracruz in North America, and the vehicle was eventually replaced by the three-row Santa Fe. Finally, there's a worry that higher gas prices around the time of the proposed debut could be a problem, too. Even if the plans for the luxury model don't pan out, this is hardly the end of Hyundai's upcoming crossover plans. A compact CUV is reportedly under consideration for North America, and there's the much-rumored Santa Cruz unibody pickup potentially on the way, too.

Meet Hyundai's new flagship, the Genesis G90

Hyundai just revealed the first vehicle for its new Genesis luxury brand. It'll be called the EQ900 back home in Korea, but to the rest of us, it will be known as the Genesis G90, effectively replacing the Hyundai Equus. The G90 is as big as a Mercedes S-Class, but like the outgoing Equus, will be priced closer to the E-Class. Exterior dimensions are incrementally larger than the outgoing Equus, and compare roughly to the Mercedes S-Class (in the long-wheelbase form we get in America). But if Hyundai keeps pricing in line with the Equus we currently know, the G90 will be priced closer to the smaller E-Class. Design was carried out under the watchful eye of Peter Schreyer at the company's new Prestige Design Division, headlining a new Athletic Elegance design language that will expand to the five new Genesis-branded models coming after the G90. The front end is characterized by a Crest-shaped grille with the Genesis brand's new winged emblem (also projected onto the pavement from the side mirrors), and flanked by LED headlamps. A chrome beltline bridges to the rear with its dual exhaust tips. While the interior of the Equus may not have been up to par with the competition, the G90's cabin looks poised to rival the best of them. Italian leather offsets real wood trim. The ergonomic seats are certified by German back specialists, with 22-way power adjustment for the driver and 14 ways for the other occupants. In Korea the EQ900 even features a Smart Posture Caring system that positions the seat, steering wheel, head-up display, and outside mirrors to the driver's optimal position. There's a 12.3-inch high-definition screen in the dashboard, a megapixel parking camera, 360-degree around-view monitor, Lexicon surround sound system, and wireless inductive phone charging – all of which adds up to what looks like a sumptuous environment in which to pass the miles. While the Equus is powered exclusively by a V8, the G90 offers three engine options. While the Equus is powered exclusively by a V8, the G90 offers three engine options: Least potent is the new 3.8-liter V6 launched in the Kia K900, rated at 311 horsepower. There's a 3.3-liter turbocharged V6 good for 365 hp. And the 5.0-liter V8 carries over at 419 hp (though the current version is quoted at 429 hp), propelling the sedan to 62 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds. Power in any case is transmitted through an eight-speed automatic transmission to either the rear wheels or all four.