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South Korea island of Jeju becoming an EV-incentive heaven

When it comes to providing some island EV love, we can point to Hawaii, which has been pushing hard for greater electric-vehicle adoption through subsidies and a broader charging network. Now, South Korea has Jeju. We're not sure if the surf is as good. Like Hawaii, Jeju is focusing on a "carbon-free" existence and lowered fossil-fuel dependency as a way to help the environment while addressing the extra expenses involved in providing fuel locally, Wards Auto says. Jeju, which is about 720 square miles, provides about $7,000 worth of EV incentives on top of those provided by the South Korean government. As a result, the cost of buying an EV can be cut in half. In the case of a Chevrolet Spark EV, going electric actually has a lower out-of-pocket price tag than buying a gas-powered counterpart on the island. South Korea's Ministry of Environment has earmarked about $14,000 in subsidies for each EV purchase, while 10 South Korean cities are adding on incentives anywhere from about $2,800 to $7,400 per vehicle. South Korean automaker Hyundai and affiliate Kia are just starting to do their part to boost the country's EV sales, which didn't even break the 800-unit mark last year. Kia recently said it will start making its 2015 model-year Soul EV in April, with sales debuting in South Korea by the end of the year. Hyundai is said to start selling its own EV starting in 2016. News Source: Wards AutoImage Credit: Korean Tourism Organization Government/Legal Green Hyundai Kia Electric incentives tax incentives island

Hyundai i20 WRC gets shakedown in Finland

It's always a good day when we get to post a video about rally racing. It's even better when that video is of a new WRC competitor undergoing testing. This spy video shows Hyundai's i20 WRC, a car that debuted nearly one year ago at the 2012 Paris Motor Show. It's set to usher in Hyundai's return to top-flight motorsports, and will do battle with the cars from Citroen, Ford and Volkswagen that are currently contesting the 2013 season.
This video, which shows the i20 testing on the notoriously tough Finnish rally stages, gives the impression that progress on the new WRC contender is going well. It certainly looks fast, and as with the vast majority of rally cars, it sounds absolutely wonderful (listen to some of those gun-shot-like backfires). Take a look below for the whole, glorious three minutes and 20 seconds of unadulterated rally noise, flying dirt and jumping.

2017 Genesis G90 signals Equus' evolution

As predicted, Hyundai's executive-level Genesis EQ900 has crossed the Pacific to make its big debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Known in the North American market as the Genesis G90, the first-ever vehicle for the new Genesis brand will occupy the same position as the old Hyundai Equus at the top of the heap. That means lots of interior space, most of which is finished in luxurious materials and stuffed full of technology. From the lone interior image Hyundai sent out, the cabin is clearly an evolution of the Equus' aesthetic. There's a large swath of real wood on the dash, which is topped by Nappa leather. The expansive center display sits atop a high, curving transmission tunnel that houses the traditional knob-and-dial controller for the infotainment, as well as the shift lever and HVAC buttons. Hyundai stretched the G90's wheelbase by 4.5 inches over the old Equus, but in the process, it removed an inch of backseat legroom. Now there's only 37.8 inches in the second row, which doesn't compare favorably to the 42.9 inches in the back of the Audi A8L or the 43.1 inches offered in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Unlike the EQ900 that was shown early last month, the US-market G90 will only offer a pair of engines. On the one end, we have a 3.3-liter, twin-turbocharged V6, capable of 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. The 5.0-liter V8 from the Equus will be offered too, and it still churns out 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. But with peak twist from the V6 model available between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm and less than 60 horsepower difference between the two engines, it sounds like the smaller engine will be the one to have, especially if it proves significantly lighter (Hyundai hasn't published the G90's weight yet). Both engines are paired to eight-speed automatic transmissions and can be paired with Hyundai's H-TRAC all-wheel-drive system. Look for more on the new G90 from its Detroit debut. And in the meantime, head over to our December 9 report on the new flagship model for more on Peter Schreyer's design and the safety equipment.