2004 Hyundai Sonata Base Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year entries announced

Over 40 vehicles will compete for the 2017 North American Car, Truck, and Utility of the Year awards. If that name looks a little strange, it's because the competition added a third category. In years past, pickup trucks, crossovers, SUVs, commercial vans, and minivans competed for the same award. That's why there were occasionally weird comparisons, like last year's competition between the Volvo XC90 and Nissan Titan XD. The new format separates pickups and commercial vans into the truck contest and CUVs, SUVs, and minivans into the utility competition. A complete list of eligible vehicles is below, but here are a few highlights. For one, the entire list of entries has a luxurious lean. Of the 43 vehicles, nearly half of them are from premium brands. There are two eligible Bentleys – the Bentayga and Mulsanne – the Rolls-Royce Dawn, Jaguar F-Pace, Audi Q7, and the Mercedes-Benz GLS-, E-, and S-Class Maybach. The performance ranks are lofty, too, with the Audi R8, Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo Giulia, Mercedes SL- and SLC-Class, Porsche 718, and F-150 Raptor. The mainstream entries are just as comprehensive. From the Chrysler Pacifica to the Chevrolet Cruze to the Fiat 124 Spider to the Mitsubishi Mirage, NACTOY has covered an enormous price range with this year's contestants. Of course, these are only the eligible vehicles. They'll need to run through three rounds of judging, starting in September at NACTOY's traditional Hell, MI, test drive. The Canadian and American journalists involved in the judging will announce this year's nine finalists – three in each category – on December 6. Cars Acura NSX Alfa Romeo Giulia Audi A4 Audi R8 Bentley Mulsanne Buick Cascada Buick LaCrosse Cadillac CT6 Chevrolet Bolt Chevrolet Cruze Fiat 124 Genesis G90 Hyundai Elantra Infiniti Q60 Jaguar XE Kia Cadenza Lincoln Continental Mercedes-Benz E-Class sedan Mercedes-Benz S550 Maybach Mercedes-Benz SL-Class Mercedes-Benz SLC-Class Mini Clubman Mitsubishi Mirage/G4 Porsche 718 Boxster and Cayman Rolls-Royce Dawn Toyota Prius Prime Volvo S90 SUVs Audi Q7 Bentley Bentayga Buick Envision Cadillac XT5 Chrysler Pacifica GMC Acadia Infiniti QX30 Kia Sportage Mercedes-Benz GLS-Class Jaguar F-Pace Mazda CX-9 Nissan Armada Trucks Ford F-Series Super Duty pickups Ford F-150 Raptor Honda Ridgeline Nissan Titan half-ton Related Video: Featured Gallery Bentley Bentayga View 23 Photos News Source: Automotive News - sub.

Hyundai's green vehicle line might be called AE

When we got spy shots back in June of Hyundai's challenger for the Toyota Prius, intel suggested Hyundai would name it AE HEV, an acronym that possibly meant Advanced Experimental or Alternative Energy Hybrid Electric Vehicle. The Korea Herald reports that AE is indeed the tentative project name, and that it could be applied to an entire model line of green-only models with hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric variants. We're told the hybrid's launch is slated for January 2016, the first configuration being a five-door hatchback based around the company's 1.6-liter direct-injected Cappa engine. The size of the battery pack and capability of the electric motor are still unknown. It aims to outdo the Prius in at least two ways, one of them being to exceed the Prius' rating of 21 kilometers per liter of combined fuel economy. The other would concern model range instead of on-road range: if the other powertrain options follow, the AE could be the world's first model with three different green drive configurations (if Honda doesn't get there first). The Korea Herald said Kia will be rolling out a hybrid-only vehicle of its own called the DE. We're not sure what the specs and timeline are for that car, nor if it is included in the "22 green cars" that a Hyundai spokesman told the paper the automaker plans to release by 2020. Right now we're awaiting the initial response to Hyundai's full dive into green waters with the Sonata PHEV that just went on sale. Featured Gallery Hyundai Prius-Fighter Spy Shots View 14 Photos News Source: The Korea HeraldImage Credit: Chris Doane Automotive Green Rumormill Spy Photos Hyundai Alternative Fuels Hatchback Electric Hybrid

Hyundai previews Ioniq with choice of electric powertrains

Hyundai is giving us our first glimpse at its upcoming dedicated electrified model. Called the Ioniq, it's set to debut next month in South Korea, and offer a choice of three powertrain options with varying levels of dependence on electric and gasoline power. All the while, Hyundai promises it will deliver an "entertaining drive alongside class-leading fuel economy and appealing design." Depicted in the teaser image above and detailed in the press release below, the Hyundai Ioniq will be offered as a gasoline/electric hybrid, plug-in hybrid, or pure EV. It will compete against hybrids like the Toyota Prius and Chevy Volt as well as all-EV models like the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model S. The Ioniq is being built on a new platform, designed to deliver sporty handling and efficient propulsion – something which Hyundai characterizes as lacking in the segment. Further details have yet to be announced, but the Ioniq is set to debut in Korea come January. Subsequent motor show debuts are scheduled for Geneva and New York in March. By that time we hope to have more details on the Korean automaker's first dedicated hybrid/EV. Related Video: HYUNDAI MOTOR INTRODUCES IONIQ, THE FIRST CAR TO OFFER A CHOICE OF THREE ELECTRIFIED POWERTRAINS - A world first - electric, plug-in hybrid and hybrid powertrains available in a single body - The IONIQ breaks hybrid stereotype by delivering entertaining drive alongside class-leading fuel economy and appealing design - Global launch set for January 2016 in Korea, followed by Geneva and New York auto shows, an important step as Hyundai Motor works to be global green car market leader High Wycombe, 7 December 2015 – Hyundai Motor has announced the name of its advanced, alternative-fuel compact vehicle due for launch in 2016: the Hyundai IONIQ. The car will be available with electric, plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid, or gasoline/electric hybrid powertrain – the first car from any manufacturer to offer customers these three powertrain options in a single body type. As part of Hyundai Motor's ambition to chart the direction of future mobility, the IONIQ responds to rapidly changing customer lifestyles by breaking the mold for hybrid vehicles. As the world's first model to offer customers the choice of three powertrain options, the IONIQ combines class-leading fuel efficiency with a fun, responsive drive and attractive design - a unique mix not yet achieved by a hybrid vehicle.