2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea

Bloomberg reports shifting tariff regulations have upended the traditional automotive pecking order in Korea. Thanks to cheaper import taxes, foreign brands have seen market share jump from 28 percent to 41 percent over the last two years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have all capitalized on the shift, with domestics like Hyundai and Kia suffering at the hands of their German rivals.
Taxes on European imports have fallen from 8 percent in 2011 to just 3.2 percent today. Over the next few years, tariffs will all but be eliminated for most imports, and taxes on US-made vehicles are expected to fall to just 4 percent in 2014. By 2016, that number will be zero. Needless to say, Hyundai and Kia are concerned about the shift.
Hyundai has seen profit fall by 15 percent last quarter, and the company says it is on pace to see the slowest sales growth since 2007. The company's shares have fallen by 12 percent. In order to stem the losses, Hyundai has discounted its midsize sedans and started working on diesel engine options.

Hyundai Veloster Re:Flex edition hits showrooms with $21,650* MSRP

It's been several months since Hyundai first revealed the Veloster Re:Flex at the Chicago Auto Show. The special-edition of the quirky Korean hatchback features an array of chrome accents and exclusive available Ice Pearl paint along with LED lighting, red or black leather interior, and of course special badging all around, available exclusively with the 1.6-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine and six-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
Limited to just 3,000 units, Hyundai has now released pricing for the Veloster Re:Flex edition at $21,650, plus the standard $810 destination charge, for a delivered total of $22,460. That makes it $3,850 more expensive than the base Veloster (at $17,800 list or $18,610 delivered), but add to that the $1,250 for the DCT and you're already looking at $19,860 delivered. Add on the $1,800 Style Package (all of whose equipment is included in the Re:Flex save the panoramic roof) and you're looking at a delivered price of $21,660, so in the end the actual premium Hyundai's getting for the Re:Flex edition is $800 (plus whatever the missing sunroof is worth to you, because you can't option that separate of the aforementioned Style Package anyway). Details in the press release below.

Hyundai i20 gets Active for Frankfurt

Hyundai has a raft of new debuts to showcase at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month, and what's caught our eye here is the new i20 Active. It's a more rugged version of the supermini hatchback that replaced the Getz in 2008. Now in its second generation, the i20 is already offered in three- and five-door guises, and is now expanding even further with the introduction of this pseudo-crossover soft-roader. The new Hyundai i20 Active is based on the five-door model, but offers the better part of an inch more ground clearance thanks to a revised suspension. It also benefits from skid plates under the front and back, beefed-up wheel arches, and a higher seating position. All of which promise to make the little hatchback feel just a little bit better prepared to venture off the beaten path – or at least the smooth pavement. European buyers will be able to choose between a 1.0-liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine in two states of tune that will now be introduced across the i20 range. The more efficient of the two produces 99 horsepower, while a slightly more potent version offers 118 hp. The new i20 Active will be featured on Hyundai's show stand alongside the new Santa Fe, the Vision G concept we saw in Monterey, and the N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo concept that's slated to launch the company's new N performance sub-brand. HYUNDAI MOTOR INTRODUCES TWO NEW MODELS TO YOUNGEST-EVER RANGE - New i20 Active and New Santa Fe enhance crossover and SUV range - New i40 introduces Android Auto in Europe - Vision G concept car shows inspiration for future premium products At the Frankfurt International Motor Show 2015 Hyundai Motor is showcasing the passion of its brand, with new models, visionary concept cars and innovative technologies. The New i20 Active and New Santa Fe both premiere on the Hyundai stand, joining the company's youngest-ever line-up in Europe, with all models being less than two years old. The Android Auto smartphone mirroring technology debuts in the New i40, placing Hyundai among the first in Europe to offer this feature. The company's passion for design is presented in the Vision G coupe concept car, making its motor show debut, offering a glimpse of Hyundai's design evolution and future premium products. Passion for performance is envisioned through the new Hyundai N sub-brand and exciting concept cars such as N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo.