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Hyundai kicks off NFL sponsorship with 'D-Gate'

After a long summer, football season is finally back. Hyundai is ready for the snap as the National Football League's new automotive sponsor, and the company hopes its new ad campaign scores with fans. The company's first NFL spot is titled D-Gate and it's about a group of buddies with a Tucson at an Arizona Cardinals game hoping to get on the Jumbotron. One guy brings something from home that doesn't make his wife too happy, as you'll see in the clip. The 30-second commercial is premiering during the season-opening weekend. The automaker's second ad called Field Goal arrives on Sept. 24 and is about a dad who loves the Houston Texans but has to deal with his napping newborn. Hyundai promises even more football-oriented advertising coming throughout the year. Hyundai has a four-year agreement with the NFL as the league's automotive sponsor, and the deal includes events like the draft and providing vehicles for the Super Bowl. General Motors previously held the rights since 2001 and it reportedly cost the company over $150 million a year. Kickoff Celebration Includes Two All-new Fan-inspired Television Ads FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Sept. 9, 2015 – Harnessing the passion of NFL fans, Hyundai's first NFL marketing execution launches literally with the very first kick of the regular season. During the season opening celebrations on September 9-10, Hyundai is the presenting sponsor of the 2015 NFL Kickoff activities that include a concert in the San Francisco Bay Area, home of Super Bowl 50. Hyundai is also unveiling two new NFL-themed television ads that highlight what it truly means to be a fan. "Our NFL campaign is all about conveying our love for football and providing opportunities for people to celebrate the game in a meaningful way," said Jacquelyn Kim, director, customer communications and promotions, Hyundai Motor America. "In the new television creative, we want to showcase what passionate fans do #BecauseFootball, and include the role our vehicles can play in that." Hyundai's New NFL Creative Hyundai's all-new Tucson SUV just recently hit dealers, and with its Hands-free Smart Liftgate with additional cargo space, is the perfect vehicle to help fans come game day. Hyundai's "D-Gate" 30-second spot, which will run during the season opener, is a fun take on some passionate Arizona Cardinals fans and their effort to create the ultimate symbol of support for their team.

Hyundai Sonata's slow sales start to trigger more daring redesign

On paper, the latest Hyundai Sonata has been a winner. The sedan sold 216,936 units in 2014, around 13,000 more than the previous year, and the new model posted healthy year-over-year gains in both December and November. However, according to a report from Wards Auto, the Korean brand isn't happy with how the vehicle is doing and is planning a redesign, to be timed with the future refresh. Unveiled at the 2014 New York Auto Show, the latest Sonata has a more refined, almost luxurious air about it, and the sedan ditches the swooping styling from the previous generation. It also comes at a slightly lower base price. But the more mature design is also the problem. Hyundai Motor America CEO Dave Zuchowski told Wards during the 2015 Detroit Auto Show that the new model was "not as distinctive" as its predecessor. Previously, "people would seek us out because we look different. And we don't get that now," he said. While no details on the redesign were divulged, Zuchowski said the company was already at work on the shape. He suggested the changes would debut for the Sonata's refresh, likely in the 2017 or 2018 model years. Autoblog reached out to Hyundai about the possible design change and spokesperson Derek Joyce told us, "Dave was simply referring to our normal mid-cycle refresh where it's typical to make styling tweaks." According to Wards, the latest Sonata isn't conquesting as many buyers from other brands as Hyundai would like. The company reportedly raised incentives to get them to move. So while sales were up, the automaker was disappointed. AutoTrader senior analyst Michelle Krebs confirmed to Autoblog that incentives were high for the Sonata, but that had nothing to do with its design. "The midsize car segment has fallen out of favor with buyers who want utilities so they are carrying very heavy incentives. We expect that trend to continue and then some in 2015," she said. A previous report also claimed that the 2015 Sonata wasn't living up to sales expectations in part due to its more traditional styling. But the company shot down those claims because the sedan was still rolling out the entire range to dealers at the time. Even now, Hyundai is still adding the Sonata Hybrid and Plug-In to the lineup in the coming year.

NHTSA investigating 8 million airbags not made by Takata

In a shocking turn of events, we have a line of airbags under investigation that weren't made by Takata. Rather, Automotive News reports that 8,000,000 airbags made by ARC Automotive Inc. are under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). According to Automotive News, NHTSA is looking into ARC's airbags after two injuries and a recent death were attributed to the company's products. The two injuries occurred first and prompted the initial inquiry of 490,000 airbags, which then expanded after an airbag from a different line caused the death of a Canadian driver. The airbags in question are found in GM, FCA, Hyundai and Kia products, and all automakers are cooperating with the investigation, Automotive News reports. It is also important to note that these airbags have not been recalled, as NHTSA is trying to determine the issue and whether a recall is necessary. NHTSA also told the news outlet that the ARC inflators use a different design than those from Takata, instead using some pressurized gas and an ammonium nitrate charge. While the design may be different, the Takata inflators also used ammonium nitrate propellant, which other manufacturers have avoided. We will be watching this situation closely to see what develops. Here's hoping – for our collective safety and sanity – that we won't have to go through another airbag crisis like with the Takata recall. Related Video: News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Shutterstock Government/Legal Hyundai Kia Safety FCA airbag fiat chrysler automobiles