2003 Hyundai Elantra on 2040-cars

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Hyundai and GM say they're serious about air taxis

The Hyundai S-A1 electric concept is displayed at the 2020 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. (Getty Images)   DETROIT — Hyundai and General Motors said on Monday they are pushing ahead with developing "flying cars," with the South Korean company expressing optimism it could have an air-taxi service in operation as soon as 2025. A GM executive said it could take until 2030 for air-taxi services to overcome technical and regulatory hurdles and reach commercialization. Electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) zero-emissions aircraft, which take off and land like helicopters and carry passengers and cargo, are being developed by a number of startups as well as aircraft makers and automakers, but they face a long road to profitability. Hyundai is ahead of its previously stated timetable for rolling out air-mobility vehicles, Jose Munoz, the company's global chief operating officer, said in an interview broadcast on Monday at the Reuters Events Car of the Future conference. Munoz, who is also CEO of Hyundai North America, previously said urban air taxis would be in operation at major U.S. airports by 2028 and perhaps earlier. He told Reuters on Monday it could possibly happen before 2025. Cadillac Vertile View 9 Photos "We see this market as a significant growth opportunity," Munoz said, adding he was "very confident" of the technology's development. Hyundai is developing air taxis powered by electric batteries that can transport five to six people from highly congested urban centers to airports. Other automakers developing flying cars either alone or with startups include Toyota, Daimler and China's Geely. "I think that there's a long pathway here," Pamela Fletcher, vice president of GM's Global Innovation team, said at the Reuters event. "2030 is probably a real commercial inflection point." She added: "It's a very nascent space. There's a lot of work to be done on the regulatory side, as well as the actual technology side." In January, GM unveiled a flying Cadillac concept. Morgan Stanley has estimated the total addressable market for urban air mobility could hit $1 trillion by 2040 and $9 trillion by 2050. In 2019, Hyundai, which has a dedicated Urban Air Mobility Division led by Jaiwon Shin, a former NASA engineer, pledged to invest about $1.5 billion in urban air mobility by 2025. Munoz said Hyundai sees its flying cars serving not only residential customers but also transporting commercial cargo.

Hyundai previews new Creta crossover in first design sketch

It was barely a week ago that Hyundai announced the name of its upcoming subcompact crossover, the Creta. And now the Korean automaker has released the first sketch. The design bears obvious links to the larger Santa Fe (which was just unveiled in facelifted form) and the new Tucson (unveiled in Geneva), particularly at the front end with its angular eyes and trapezoidal grille. Hyundai promises "a bold front, voluminous side, [and] sporty rear," with a hidden A-pillar and an overall "premium look." Called the Creta, the new small crossover is set to take on the likes of the Nissan Juke, Mazda CX-3, Jeep Renegade, and others in an increasingly vital, growing, and competitive segment. HYUNDAI MOTOR UNVEILS FIRST RENDERING OF CRETA SUB-COMPACT SUV Hyundai Motor Company today unveiled its first rendering of the upcoming Creta, sub-compact SUV. The design of Creta follows a premium look, based on Hyundai Motor's evolved design philosophy. Harmony between a bold front, voluminous side, sporty rear and other details complete the premium sub-compact SUV design. Creta with its bold and glamorous looks feature singular hexagonal radiator grille, sleek profile and a stable stance. The hidden A-pillar was applied to grant a unique and dynamic image, hinting at an open and airy cabin. Related Video:

2019 Hyundai Santa Fe diesel engine cancelled before it arrives

When the totally redone 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe was revealed in February, we were told a 2.2-liter turbocharged diesel engine would be an option for the crossover. Now, a company spokesperson told Green Car Reports that Hyundai is canning the diesel for the U.S. market. In addition to that, the diesel was going to be the only Santa Fe with three rows. Since the diesel is done with, the third row is toast as well. With gas prices so low compared to diesel, we imagine consumers won't be clamoring for an oil burner crossover. Given this, the choice makes sense for this exact moment in time. Hyundai isn't exactly in dire need of a three-row vehicle anymore either, after the reveal of its giant Palisade SUV we just drove. In case you wanted to know what you could never have, the Santa Fe's diesel engine is slated to make 190 horsepower and 322 pound-feet of torque. Now you'll be limited to either the 185-hp 2.4-liter or 235-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter. The best fuel economy you'll get in a Santa Fe is 22 mpg city and 29 mpg highway in the 2.4-liter. This promise, then retraction of a diesel in a crossover is reminiscent of Mazda's attempt to bring its diesel engine to the United States in the CX-5. Then Volkswagen Dieselgate hit us, and Mazda learned why it couldn't make its diesel competitive. Perhaps Hyundai isn't willing to test the trust of U.S. car buyers with a diesel engine quite yet. That being said, GM, Jeep, Jaguar and Land Rover sell SUVs with diesel engines here. Related video: