2004 Hyundai Accent Sedan 4-door 1.6l (gas Saver With A/c) on 2040-cars

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Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid plus nitrous equals FIA speed record

As Hyundai prepares its trio of Ioniq electrified cars for sale in the US, the Korean automaker is taking the opportunity to showcase its strengths. One thing that definitely doesn't hurt its pre-launch standing in the eyes of potential customers is an FIA-ratified land speed record. As you'll see in the video above, Hyundai took a race-prepped Ioniq Hybrid prototype out to the Bonneville Salt Flats, where there are no speed limits or concrete barriers to hold it back. The result was a new record for a production-based hybrid, at 157.825 mph. The car also achieved a peak exit speed of 160.7 mph. To push the limits of the eco-focused Ioniq Hybrid, Hyundai boosted power and decreased resistance. In terms of output, the company's Engineering and Quality team added low-restriction intake and exhaust systems, minimized parasitic losses by removing the air conditioning and other systems, remapped the ECU, and added a freakin' nitrous injection system from Nitrous Express. They swapped the standard hybrid model grille for that of the all-electric Ioniq, tweaked the underbody and air dam for aero, and stripped or otherwise modified interior components for weight. The lowered ride height (thanks to a Progress Competition coil-over suspension) and Goodyear Eagle rubber wrapped around aero wheels were a final visual testament to this hybrid's singular purpose. For the sake of the driver, the Ioniq received a safety cage, racing seat, six-point harness, and fire suppression system. Finally – and while style points aren't part of the FIA record — the Ioniq was equipped with a racing parachute, which looks impressive on video, especially when you remember this car will be a fuel miser for the masses when it goes on sale later this year. "We couldn't be more proud in setting the FIA hybrid-category record with our new Ioniq hybrid," says Hyundai VP of Corporate and Product Planning Mike O'Brien. "Our engineering team really pushed the limits to set this new segment benchmark while demonstrating the impressive durability of the entire Ioniq vehicle platform. We expect this will be the first of many accolades for Ioniq." Related Video: Related Gallery Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid Sets FIA Land Speed Record At Bonneville View 10 Photos News Source: Hyundai, YouTube: HyundaiUSA Green Motorsports Hyundai Hybrid Videos fia land speed record hyundai ioniq ioniq

Hyundai Kona crossover factory grinds to a halt ahead of U.S. launch

SEOUL — Hyundai workers in South Korea have stopped building the Kona sport utility vehicle this week ahead of its U.S. launch at the L.A. Auto Show — a protest against what the automaker's labor union says are plans to trim assembly-line headcount. The union, which is also in annual talks with management over pay, warned that a wider strike was possible. Hyundai has been in discussions with its labor union since October on production plans for the Kona, a key model that it hopes will reverse a U.S. sales slump. The union contends that the automaker wants to introduce more automation and outsource more assembly of key sections to part makers — plans that it is vehemently opposed to. Hyundai management argues that the union is making "irrelevant demands" such as requests for extra windows in the factory as part of the production discussions. The automaker's decision to start production of the Kona on a new assembly line was made without consultation with the union and was unacceptable, union leader Ha Boo-young said in a statement, adding that a wider strike was possible "should there be another provocation by management." The move comes ahead of a planned unveiling of the U.S.-production version of the Kona at the Los Angeles Auto Show on Wednesday, with U.S. sales slated to begin early next year. The Kona is currently sold in South Korea, where it has proven to be a popular model, as well as Europe. The two days loss of production so far this week is equivalent to 1,230 vehicles, Hyundai said. Hyundai Motor President Yoon Kap-han said it was regrettable that the labor union was disrupting production for a high-demand model at a time when most of its plants were "suffering from the worst sales slowdown." Hyundai Motor's global sales fell 6 percent from January to September compared with the same period a year earlier, as a limited number of SUV models hurt sales in the U.S. market and a diplomatic row between Seoul and Beijing hurt sales in China. Reporting by Hyunjoo JinRelated Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Hyundai Kona: LA 2017 View 13 Photos Related Gallery 2018 Hyundai Kona View 20 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2017 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Plants/Manufacturing LA Auto Show Hyundai Crossover SUV 2017 LA Auto Show autoworkers

Recharge Wrap-up: Chevy teases Bolt driving range, China pursues EV subsidy cheaters

Chevy is teasing the Bolt's driving range, which it is set to reveal on Tuesday. It will certainly be able to travel more than 200 miles between charges, but the second and third digits in that value, as it stands today, are still question marks. On its Facebook page, Chevrolet is asking fans to try to guess the official range. Of course, Tesla fans have already started posting their own snide remarks in the comments. Chevy fans are certainly hoping to see the Bolt's range eclipse that of Tesla's upcoming Model 3, which the California-based automaker puts at 215 miles. See Chevy's post on Facebook to make your own guess, or check back there (or here at AutoblogGreen) for the official number once it is unveiled. Fuel cell company PowerCell Sweden says it has signed an agreement with a Chinese company to make range extenders for commercial trucks. The unnamed Chinese customer has placed an order and signed a memorandum of understanding with PowerCell Sweden, and the partners will develop methanol reformer fuel cell range extenders for electric distribution trucks. "Our unique expertise in fuel cells and reformer technology is receiving an increasing attention worldwide and we are truly pleased to get another Chinese order," says PowerCell Sweden Sales Director Andreas Boden. Read more at Green Car Congress, or from PowerCell. China is accusing major automakers of violating EV subsidy rules. After the country's Ministry of Finance penalized five companies with fines and, in one case, revocation of production license for subsidy cheats, China has since named 20 more potential violators, including Nissan, Hyundai, JAC, and a subsidiary of BYD. Of the first five companies to be punished under the investigation, Suzhou Gemsea Coach Manufacturing is having its production license revoked, while four others, including a subsidiary of Chery, are being fined for about half of the subsidies received. The scandal is bad new for China's subsidy program, which has helped spur sales of plug-in vehicles. Read more from Fortune, or at Hybrid Cars.