2007 Hyundai Santa Fe Ltd Suv on 2040-cars

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We visit Hyundai's Nurburgring test center

Understanding the achievement and the message of Hyundai Motor Group having a European Technical Center at the Nurburgring might be easier if we look at what Hyundai has done in the US. In 1985 Hyundai Motor America set up shop in California. The first car sold here was the 1986 Excel, a rebodied Mitsubishi Mirage with a Hyundai interior treatment. This was the first Mirage, which also served as the Chrysler Colt in hatchback form and circled back as the Mitsubishi Precis so Mitsu could get around Japanese automakers' voluntary export quotas of the time. The Excel made such an impression on reviewers and buyers that in Car and Driver's 1986 review they wrote that "'astounding' is not too strong word" to describe the company's progress, and said, "Our guess is that Hyundai will be a major force in the US car market almost from the moment it opens its doors." Hyundai sold 168,882 Excels in the US in its first year, back when the Ford F-Series led all comers with 544,969 sales. That's what happened. The company sold 168,882 Excels in the US in its first year, back when the Ford F-Series led all comers with 544,969 sales, the Chevrolet Celebrity came second of all vehicles with 408,946 sales, the Honda Accord seventh with 325,004 sales. The Excel sold even better the following year, and the year after that. Three years on, buyers began to discover that one of the things the Excel did best was disintegrate. It's been called "fantastically crappy," Popular Mechanics would later say the Excel "deserved to fail," and they decomposed so thoroughly that you'll have a hard time finding one in any junkyard. Buyers got so allergic to the Flying H badge that sales declined for ten consecutive years. By 1999, when Hyundai's model range was four times larger than it had been in 1986 – Accent, Elantra, Sonata, Tiburon – the brand sold just 90,217 cars in the US. Two important things happened around that nadir. In 1998, as a way of reassuring potential customers, Hyundai became the first automaker to introduce a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. In 1999, Mong-Koo Chung became the CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, promoted from 11 years as CEO of Hyundai Motor Service, a role that put him in charge of global warranty claims. Having spent all those years of his life wading through that carnage, he swore when he took the top spot that he'd get the situation fixed. In 2014 the JD Power Initial Quality Survey ranked Hyundai the leading non-premium brand.

Hyundai mulling new Lexus-fighting upscale crossover

The idea of Hyundai marketing a luxury automobile might have seemed ridiculous a decade ago, but that was before the Genesis sedan, Genesis coupe and Equus came along. Now that buyers seem more accustomed to the notion of an upscale Hyundai, the Korean automaker is said to be considering launching a luxury crossover to take on the likes of the Lexus RX and Cadillac SRX.
The report comes from our compatriots at Edmunds, who spoke to Dave Zuchowski, head of Hyundai's North American unit, who said that the project is not yet part of the company's plan, but that "it is something under consideration."
The last time Hyundai entered that territory was with the Veracruz (pictured above), a model that was sometimes compared to but ultimately failed to compete with the Lexus RX when it was sold between 2006 and 2011. The Veracruz was effectively replaced by the seven-passenger Santa Fe with which it shared its underpinnings. This new project being considered would similarly be based on the latest Santa Fe, and the challenge Hyundai is facing once again would be to position it as a sufficiently upscale product to warrant a premium sticker price.

Hyundai HND-12 Enduro Concept shows Seoul a motorcycle-inspired CUV

While the New York Auto Show is grabbing our attention with major debuts, Seoul, South Korea, is celebrating its own automotive event. There, Hyundai is showing off a new three-door crossover concept called the HND-12 Enduro that's inspired by long-distance, off-road motorcycles. Despite its rugged inspiration, this concept isn't made to get dirty, Instead, the Enduro is aimed at folks living in cities "with energetic, athletic lifestyles," according to Hyundai. The result looks like a Veloster after spending a lot of time at the gym that's mixed with a smaller take on the Intrado concept. To fit Hyundai's modern style, the Enduro wears a hexagonal grille but features a polished aluminum blade at the bottom that wraps around to a the muscular, black-cladded fenders. Even with its higher ride height, the concept looks a bit more like a sporty three-door hatch than a CUV in profile. The roof has just the slightest curve and leads to a tiny rear window, which is outlined almost completely by the taillights. To lend a little more utility, side steps near the rear wheels make it easier to load the top, but good luck finding much room up there to carry anything. Although, one neat feature is a sliding storage drawer hidden in the bumper just below the hatch. Inside, the Enduro is driver-focused with the center console and dashboard enveloping the pilot. Hyundai designers also try to bring in some motorcycle cues with a steering wheel inspired by the hand moldings of a road bike. While purely a concept for now, power from the Enduro comes from Hyundai's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and it's linked to a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Related Video: HYUNDAI MOTOR INTRODUCES 'ENDURO' LIFESTYLE CUV CONCEPT AT 2015 SEOUL MOTOR SHOW Urban crossover utility vehicle harmonizes with energetic, athletic lifestyles 'The Professional Gear' for drivers wanting to escape the ordinary Design concept is expressed in rugged, versatile yet sophisticated form language April 2, 2015 - Hyundai Motor is celebrating the world premiere of its all-new design concept, the 'Enduro' lifestyle urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV), at the 11th Seoul Motor Show today (Thursday). The name 'Enduro' is derived from 'Endurance.' Also, Enduro visually combines SUV looks with rally motorcycles which compete in the world's toughest rally events. The Enduro is designed as the perfect partner for individuals living in the modern city with energetic, athletic lifestyles.