Hyundai Elantra 4dr Sdn Auto Gls Sedan Automatic Gasoline 2.0 4 Cyl. Black on 2040-cars

Auto blog

Watch the 2015 Hyundai Sonata crash its way to an IIHS Top Safety Pick+ rating

Hyundai has managed to get another vehicle on the prestigious Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's Top Safety Pick +, as its new 2015 Sonata sedan performed admirably in crash testing.
The redesigned Sonata's new look belied an improved crash test in the difficult small overlap front test, where Hyundai's family sedan improved from a "Marginal" score to "Acceptable." Meanwhile, the Sonata's optional Forward Collision Warning system garnered a "Basic" rating on IIHS' three-tier rating scale for these sort of automatic safety systems.
Netting a spot on the Top Safety Pick + list requires a "Good" or "Acceptable" score on the small overlap test, as well as "Good" scores on the four standard tests and some form of automated safety system.

Asian automakers still reluctant to use more aluminum

There's a logical progression of technology in the auto industry. We've seen it with things like carbon-ceramic brakes, which use to be the sole domain of six-figure sports cars, where they often cost as much as an entry level Toyota Corolla. Now, you can get them on a BMW M3 (they're still pricey, at $8,150). Who knows, maybe in the next four a five years, they'll be available on something like a muscle car or hot hatchback. Aluminum has had a similar progression, although it's further along, moving from the realm of Audi and Jaguar luxury sedans to Ford's most important product, the F-150. With the stuff set to arrive in such a big way on the market, we should logically expect an all-aluminum Toyota Camry or Honda Accord soon, right? Um, wrong. Reuters has a great report on what's keeping Asian manufacturers away from aluminum, and it demonstrates yet another stark philosophical difference between automakers in the east and those in the west. Of course, there's a pricing argument at play. But it's more than just the cost of aluminum sheet (shown above) versus steel. Manufacturing an aluminum car requires extensive retooling of existing factories, not to mention new relationships with suppliers and other logistical and financial nightmares. Factor that in with what Reuters calls Asian automaker's preference towards "evolutionary upgrades," and the case for an all-aluminum Accord is a difficult one. Instead, manufacturers in the east are focusing on developing even stronger steel as a means of trimming fat, although analysts question how long that practice can continue. Jeff Wang, the automotive sales director for aluminum supplier Novelis, predicts that we'll see a bump in aluminum usage from Japanese and Korean brands in the next two to three years, and that it will be driven by an influx of aluminum-based vehicles from western automakers into China. Only time will tell if he's proven right. News Source: ReutersImage Credit: Sean Gallup / Getty Images Plants/Manufacturing Honda Hyundai Mazda Nissan Toyota Technology aluminum

Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis Concept takes a sleek look at the future

After seeing the promising lines of Hyundai's latest concept car last week in a shadowy teased rendering, we now have a better idea about what this sleek concept is all about. The 2013 Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis Concept received its official debut today at the Detroit Auto Show, and it's expected to be a pretty good indication of the styling direction for the next-generation Genesis sedan, although not quite the real deal.
Comparing this concept to spy shots of a Genesis prototype captured early last month, we can see that many elements of the HCD-14 will be incorporated into the newest Hyundai luxury sedan. As is the case with any concept car, the oversized carbon fiber wheels and suicide rear doors will certainly not be making it to the production model, but it will be interesting to see if the next-generation sedan has some of this car's styling cues like the hard-edged body creases along the side of the car, the coupe-like roofline running all the way to the rear of the car leaving no true decklid, or even the fine details like the "Genesis" etched into the headlights.
In addition to the styling of the car, there are plenty of new features being introduced on the concept that may be intended for the final product. This includes cabin technology features like a head-up display, hand-gesture recognition, and even a system that is able to track a driver's eyes to select options in various vehicle functions such as audio or climate controls. There also luxury appointments like the real milled wood accents and the iPad storage station. Hyundai is also promising improved driving dynamics with a more rigid chassis, new driver-selectable settings for various driving conditions and, of course, carrying over the 5.0-liter direct-injected V8 paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.