2011 Hyundai Sonata on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Hyundai ix35/Tucson replacement comes into view

Last week, we showed you some leaked images of the Hyundai Intrado Concept, a vehicle set for debut at next week's Geneva Motor Show. We suspect that the Intrado will act as the inspiration for the next Hyundai Tucson, known elsewhere in the world as the ix35. Now, we can bring you the first images of that car undergoing testing.
There is quite a lot of cladding on this prototype, although we can make out a set of slim headlights that are similar in shape to the Intrado. The two cars also share a similar shape in the greenhouse, although obviously the prototype wears an extra set of doors behind the B-pillar.
Don't be fooled by the heavy cladding on the rear hatch, either, as it's just there to disrupt the look of the profile. It's fairly easy to spot where the roofline starts its dive down.

Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic

Consumer Reports annual Car Reliability Survey is out, and yes, there are some big surprises. First and foremost? The venerable publication no longer recommends the Honda Civic. In fact, aside from the walking-dead CR-Z and limited-release Clarity fuel-cell car, the Civic is the only Honda to miss out on CR's prestigious nod. At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well. Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58. The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each. You can check out Consumer Reports entire reliability roundup, even without a subscription, here.

Hyundai Super Bowl ads use humor, Ryan Reynolds to sell 2017 Elantra

If you watch the Super Bowl on Sunday, expect to see a lot of Hyundai advertising. The South Korean automaker has two spots set to air during the game and two others that will premier before kick-off. The in-game commercials are now online, and they both use humor to market the 2017 Elantra. Ryanville (above) is an odd commercial about a town full of Ryan Reynolds clones, and two smitten women drive through the village to gawk at the actor. It's a forgettable ad unless you really like Reynolds, but Hyundai gets plenty of opportunities to show off the Elantra, including features like the available pre-collision braking. If you want something with a little more action, watch The Chase (below). Angry bears run after a frightened couple, and the Elantra's voice-activated start feature allows the people to get out of trouble in the nick of time. The ad finishes with a little humor to lighten the mood. This commercial still isn't memorable, but it's the better one of this pair. Hyundai hasn't released either ad for before the Super Bowl yet. First Date will star comedian Kevin Hart in a spot for the Genesis sedan, and Better will highlight the automaker's desire to improve its vehicles and customer experience. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds Serve Up Humor While Showcasing Latest Hyundai Vehicle Technologies FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Jan. 28, 2016 – In its first year as an official NFL sponsor, Hyundai will delight Super Bowl 50 fans with four entertaining ads set to run on Super Bowl Sunday. Hyundai will run a 60-second ad in the coveted pre-kick time slot, two 30-second ads during the game and a 60-second ad during the pre-game show. With help from A-list celebrities Kevin Hart and Ryan Reynolds, Hyundai will highlight the safety, technology and convenience features of its all-new 2017 Elantra and premium 2016 Genesis sedan. Hyundai will build on the creative digitally with heavy social media activity that will drive additional anticipation and awareness of the Super Bowl spots. Creative was developed by Hyundai's agency of record, INNOCEAN Worldwide. "Super Bowl Sunday is our opportunity to participate in the most-watched TV and live event in the U.S.