2012 Hyundai Sonata Se 2.0t on 2040-cars

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Hyundai Prius-fighting hybrid spied wearing new camo

Hyundai's engineers certainly don't want the public to see its upcoming dedicated hybrid model in several of these new spy shots, but the company can't deny that the machine is on the way. These test cars were first spotted last summer as Prius-like five-door hatchbacks. However in these photos and the second set, it would seem that the model has morphed into a more sedan-like shape similar to the Chevy Volt. Unlike the last time we saw this car during arctic testing, the vehicle no longer is covered in plastic concealment. That obfuscation has been replaced with a very effective camo pattern on everything but the roof, and in several photos, workers are actively standing in the way of the spy shooters' lenses. Beyond the whole model's general shape, there are a few details to pick out, though. You can easily spot the outline of the brand's hexagonal grille up front. There appears to be a rather complicated air dam design there, too. In profile, the shape of the rear hatch creates an integrated spoiler at the back. While the camouflage makes it very hard to tell, we don't see a plug-in port on this example. According to our spies, this test car was being driven with a slew of other electrified models, including a BMW i3, Nissan Leaf, Volkswagen e-Golf, and Kia Soul EV. Given that group, perhaps the engineers were specifically benchmarking the electric performance for this outing. Earlier reports suggest that Hyundai's latest hybrid could debut in the second half of 2016. Power reportedly comes from a 1.6-liter four-cylinder with hybrid assistance and a lithium-ion battery. Plug-in and five-door hatchback versions are also rumored.

2017 Hyundai Elantra arrives with a host of upgrades [w/video]

We got a great idea of the 2017 Hyundai Elantra's styling when the company revealed it for the South Korean market a few months ago. Now, the US-spec car arrives at the LA Auto Show. The shape is just as expected, but Hyundai has new powertrains and tech in store, too. Hyundai designers simplified the Elantra's look for the latest generation. The sedan's nose now flows down to a hexagonal grille with horizontal slats, and squinting headlights flank it on each side with vertical LED running lights underneath. The new lower air dam leads air to wheel curtains that help lower wind resistance. The profile lacks the heavy sculpting of the current model, but a subtle character line sweeps up across the side for some visual interest. Narrow taillights stretch horizontally across the trunk. Even with the aesthetic changes, the overall size only expands slightly: length grows 0.8 inches to 179.9 inches, width increases an inch to 70.9 inches, and the wheelbase remains 106.3 inches. The interior features a more horizontal layout with metallic trim that runs across the dashboard. There are two infotainment choices beyond the base stereo. A seven-inch Display Audio system includes a rearview camera, and an eight-inch setup also has navigation. Both support Android Auto. Most trims of the 2017 Elantra feature a 2.0-liter four-cylinder that runs on the Atkinson cycle, and it produces an estimated 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. Hyundai expects fuel economy ratings of 29 miles per gallon city, 38 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined with the six-speed automatic. The company also offers a six-speed manual only on the SE trim. The Elantra Eco arrives in spring 2016 with a 1.4-liter turbocharged four cylinder with 128 hp and 156 lb-ft and a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The brand estimates 35 mpg combined with that combo. A much stronger platform is beneath the upgraded design. The Elantra now uses 53 percent advanced high strength steel compared to 21 percent before, and the change allows torsional rigidity to increase 29.5 percent. The engineers also work to improve NVH wherever possible with improvements like a hood insulator, thicker glass, sound-absorbing material, and plastic and rubber bushings for the front subframe. Drivers can order a plethora of driver assistance and safety tech for the 2017 Elantra including Automatic Emergency Braking, Lane Keep Assist, adaptive cruise control and Blind Spot Detection.

2015 Hyundai Genesis appears uncovered [UPDATE]

Hyundai gave us a tease of its second-gen Genesis sedan courtesy of the HCD-14 Genesis Concept displayed at this year's Detroit Auto Show, and while we've seen numerous spy shots of the car testing since (both on and off the track), all were heavily camouflaged. That all changed today when the South Korean site bobaedream.co.kr posted an image of the new luxury sedan sitting out completely uncovered (click the image to enlarge).
While we can't see much more than the face of the new Genesis sedan, it does appear to be a striking improvement over the current car that debuted back in 2008. The jutting, upright grille is very similar in appearance to the HCD-14 Concept, while the headlights and fascia look like a combination of Mercedes S-Class and E-Class. The body creasing isn't as dramatic as the concept, but the roofline and glasshouse look to be almost identical to the show car. Based on how finished the car looks in this picture, our guess is that we could see Hyundai's new Genesis at an upcoming auto show like LA or Detroit.
UPDATE: Per the request of the individual pictured next to the Hyundai Genesis in the original photo that spurred this story, we have removed said image from the post. You can still see the new Genesis here at the source, for the moment.