2014 Hyundai Tucson Gls on 2040-cars

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Next Hyundai Elantra to debut at LA Auto Show

The next-generation Hyundai Elantra will debut at the 2015 Los Angeles Auto Show, a company spokesperson confirmed to Autoblog. This comes just two years after Hyundai revealed the refreshed 2014 Elantra, pictured above, at the 2013 LA show. This will be an all-new Elantra, and while we don't have any more details as of this writing, we might have already seen the new sedan in leaked, Korean-spec form. Just last month, Indian Autos Blog posted this photo of what's said to be the 2016 Elantra, scheduled to make its debut in South Korea in the near future. And since Hyundai has a habit of debuting its new cars in Korea before bringing them to the US, there's a chance this new sedan might be destined for our shores. Of course, that's all speculation at this point. We'll know more later this year, likely before the new Elantra's official unveiling in Los Angeles this November.

Will Norway and South Korea lead us to the hydrogen future?

In the US, California leads the hydrogen highway. But, globally, the countries at the forefront include Japan, Norway, and South Korea. A new announcement by the Norwegian ambassador in Seoul, Jan Grevstad, makes it sound like those last two countries should think about Voltron-ing it up to promote H2 cars. The ambassador was speaking at the Korea-Norway Economic Cooperation Council at the Federation of Korean Industries. "A great example of the Norwegian–South Korean energy cooperation can be found in the transport sector," he said, according to Yonhap News. "South Korean engine technology is paired with Norwegian hydrogen production and infrastructure technology to create hydrogen driven cars." Grevstad said that the two countries could also work together on solar, wind, and other energy efforts, but didn't get into more detail about what he meant by this. The first Toyota Mirai hydrogen car was just delivered to Norway, but other H2 vehicles have been on the roads there for many years. Back in 2009, for example, as part of the 24th Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS24), some hydrogen cars road tripped from Oslo to Stavanger. That same year, Mazda delivered 30 hydrogen-powered RX-8 RE vehicles. Hyundai – a South Korean company, of course – has been leasing its Tucson Fuel Cell (also known as the ix35 Fuel Cell) in hydrogen-friendly areas and believes that hydrogen-powered cars have a bright future. There's even a Tucson Fuel Cell car-sharing program operating in Germany. As gung-ho as Hyundai is, it's only sold 26 Tucson Fuel Cells in Norway so far, out of a total of about 500 around the world, Yonhap News says. Related Video: News Source: Yonhap News Agency Green Hyundai Green Culture Hydrogen Cars h2 ix35 tucson

Hyundai Ioniq launches in Korea before challenging Prius in US [w/video]

Enough with the teasers already: Hyundai has officially launched its first dedicated electrified vehicle. The Korean automaker is naturally rolling out the all-new model in its domestic market before sending it our way. But when it does arrive, it will offer a choice of three powertrains with decreasing levels of reliance on fossil fuels. Hyundai isn't saying how far or how fast the Ioniq hybrid will travel, but it will travel on electric mode at up to 75 miles per hour. Deriving its name from an amalgamation of "ion" and "unique," the new Ioniq bears a shape largely dictated by aerodynamic requirements, helping the Ioniq achieve a drag coefficient of just 0.24, and lending it a similar appearance to the Chevy Volt, Toyota Prius, and Honda Insight. Unlike those vehicles, Hyundai will offer a fully electric version of the Ioniq at some point in the future. For the time being, the manufacturer has only detailed the hybrid version. The powertrain is built around a new 1.6-liter four-cylinder Kappa engine rated at 104 horsepower and 108 pound-feet of torque. It's paired to an electric motor that's good for another 43 hp, giving the system a combined output of 139 hp and as much as 195 lb-ft, transmitting power through a new six-speed dual-clutch transmission with a lithium-ion polymer battery pack, hidden under the flat-folding rear seat to maximize passenger and cargo space, supplying the electric motor. Though the focus here is clearly on efficiency, Hyundai says it has also designed the Ioniq to behave in a sportier fashion than its rivals. Hyundai isn't saying how far or how fast the Ioniq hybrid will travel, but has disclosed that it will travel on electric mode at speeds of up to 75 miles per hour. To further its range, the automaker fitted an efficient HVAC system, mounted low-rolling resistance tires, and developed a system that predicts energy requirements based on the programmed route and on traffic patterns to optimize charging and required level of gas engine assistance. It also made the vehicle as light as possible, using high-strength steel for the structure and aluminum for non-structural panels. Even the cargo cover is 25 percent lighter than a conventional one, and the construction uses a variety of renewable and recycled materials like (sugar cane and soybean oil) that are both environmentally friendly and lighter.