2005 Hyundai Sonata Gl Sedan 4-door 2.4l on 2040-cars

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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.

Hyundai adds tech to Blue Link, offers it free for 3 years

Hyundai has not only thrown more technology at its 2018 lineup, the tech will be less expensive. At the New York Auto Show, the South Korean automaker announced that Blue Link remote services will be free for three years on the 2017 Ioniq and on all 2018 models, starting with the Sonata, Elantra GT, and Santa Fe Sport. The remote services include all three packages currently offered as options with a Blue Link subscription: Connected Care, Remote, and Guidance. Among the included features are automatic collision notification, a monthly vehicle health report, remote lock and unlock, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, and remote start with climate control. That last function gets an update for 2018 that allows control of the rear defroster and heated side mirrors on the coming Sonata and Elantra GT. The whole shebang tallies 10 features in the Connected Care Package, 12 features in the Remote Package, and 3 features in the Guidance Package. But wait, there's more: the SD-card-based navigation maps get free downloads for three years. Blue Link subscribers can already access remote functions with a smartphone and a smartwatch. For 2018, Amazon Alexa (via the Tap, Echo, and Echo Dot) and Google Assistant (via the Google Home speaker) become control devices. You can tell either gadget to start your car and set the climate control, to send an address to the navigation system, or start and stop the charging of an Ioniq. Right now, if a new buyer subscribes to Blue Link, he gets three free months of the Remote and Guidance packages, and a free year of the Connected Care Package. After the trial, each package costs $99 per year. By offering the packages free for three years, Hyundai dangles a savings of nearly $750 in front of those who can wait for the new models. Be sure to read this accompanying post about the Sonata's design. Related Video:

Kia design chief Peter Schreyer named Hyundai-Kia President

Automotive News reports Peter Schreyer has been appointed the first non-Korean president of Hyundai-Kia Motor Group. Schreyer is expected to retain his role as the chief designer for Kia, while also taking on new, high-level executive duties. He is now one of three presidents at the automaker.
The designer made a name for himself at Volkswagen, where he penned the 1998 New Beetle and lent his eye to the Audi TT. In 2006, Schreyer moved to Kia, where he quickly revised the brand's styling from bland, forgettable lines to bold, "tiger nose" creations. Analysts attribute much of the brand's recent sales success to Schreyer's influence.
Kia is expected to move 2.75 million units worldwide next year, while sister company Hyundai will likely beat its 2012 sales forecast of 4.29 million units, according to CFO Lee Won Hee.