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Redesigned 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and PHEV revealed in Chicago

The refreshed 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and PHEV have been revealed at the 2018 Chicago Auto Show. While the updates are subtle, it's enough to breathe a little life into an underappreciated member of the Sonata clan. Like the rest of that clan, the fascias front and back have been redesigned. The grille in particular looks considerably more shapely and modern than the outgoing 2016 model's rather plain, Audi-aping unit. The fog light recesses are much more aggressive, better complimenting the headlights, which are new LED units. New wheel designs top off the exterior changes. It's all fairly handsome in toto. Inside, there's a new steering wheel, and behind that a revised instrument cluster. The infotainment system is upgraded with new nav overhead perspective features, and there's a Qi charging pad if you option the nav as well. Safety is a big part of this refresh: blind-spot warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist are now standard. Automatic emergency braking and lane keep assist are also new options for these two cars. The gasoline-electric powertrains are unchanged. The Hybrid's 193-horsepower-combined electric and gas motor output remains the same. That includes a 2.0-liter gas engine, a 38-kW electric motor mounted in the transmission, and a 1.76-kWh battery pack in the trunk. The PHEV gets a bigger 9.8-kWh battery for up to 27 miles of electric range. With the larger 50-kW motor, the PHEV combined horsepower rating swells to 202. Like every other 2018 Sonata, however, the suspension and steering have been revised. The front roll bar has been stiffened, the steering assistance has been recalibrated, and the rear trailing arms have been fitted with new bushings. As we discovered in our 2018 Hyundai Sonata Sport quick spin review, these changes make a surprisingly significant difference in the way this midsize sedan drives. One would assume the improvements to the hybrid models' vehicle dynamics would be comparable. The PHEV will only be sent to dealers in certain states: California, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island and Vermont. If you want a PHEV in another state, your dealer can order one – so technically it's available in all 50 states, if you're patient. Hybrids are available now-ish, and PHEVs will be available in the second quarter of this year. Related Video:

Hyundai ix35/Tucson replacement comes into view

Last week, we showed you some leaked images of the Hyundai Intrado Concept, a vehicle set for debut at next week's Geneva Motor Show. We suspect that the Intrado will act as the inspiration for the next Hyundai Tucson, known elsewhere in the world as the ix35. Now, we can bring you the first images of that car undergoing testing.
There is quite a lot of cladding on this prototype, although we can make out a set of slim headlights that are similar in shape to the Intrado. The two cars also share a similar shape in the greenhouse, although obviously the prototype wears an extra set of doors behind the B-pillar.
Don't be fooled by the heavy cladding on the rear hatch, either, as it's just there to disrupt the look of the profile. It's fairly easy to spot where the roofline starts its dive down.

Hyundai delivers its first Tucson Fuel Cell to a California customer

With expected pomp and circumstance, but short of a marching band, Hyundai delivered its first Tucson Fuel Cell crossover to the Bush family in Southern California on Tuesday. Dave Zuchowski, president and chief executive officer of Hyundai Motor America, was on hand to officiate along with an array of other government officials, including California Air Resources Board chairman Mary Nichols. The automaker is touting the emissions-free vehicle as the "world's only mass-produced fuel cell vehicle" as it travels down the same assembly line as the other Tucson models - its production is scalable, based on demand.
The Tucson Fuel Cell replaces the standard model's 2.4-liter, four-cylinder, gasoline combustion engine with a 100-kW fuel cell stack, which sends power to a 100-kW (134 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque) electric motor driving the front wheels. A 24-kW battery pack, shared with the Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, is used for storage. The vehicle earns the customer a combined 50 MPGe, while earning the automaker up to $130,000 through California's ZEV credit system.
As the hydrogen refueling infrastructure is extremely underdeveloped, Hyundai will initially only offer the Tucson Fuel Cell on a lease program to customers in the Los Angeles/Orange County areas, where it has approved six stations with the 700-bar (WEH TK17 pistol-grip nozzle) pumps. The automaker has packaged the program with a $2,999 drive-off, with payments of $499 per month for 36 months. To nearly eliminate operating expenses, the automaker is throwing in "unlimited free hydrogen refueling" (keep in mind that the leasee is only contracted to 12,000 miles each year, so that will put a cap on how much free fuel flows from the pump) along with the company's At Your Service Valet Maintenance at no extra cost.