2010 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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2017 Genesis G90 signals Equus' evolution

As predicted, Hyundai's executive-level Genesis EQ900 has crossed the Pacific to make its big debut at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show. Known in the North American market as the Genesis G90, the first-ever vehicle for the new Genesis brand will occupy the same position as the old Hyundai Equus at the top of the heap. That means lots of interior space, most of which is finished in luxurious materials and stuffed full of technology. From the lone interior image Hyundai sent out, the cabin is clearly an evolution of the Equus' aesthetic. There's a large swath of real wood on the dash, which is topped by Nappa leather. The expansive center display sits atop a high, curving transmission tunnel that houses the traditional knob-and-dial controller for the infotainment, as well as the shift lever and HVAC buttons. Hyundai stretched the G90's wheelbase by 4.5 inches over the old Equus, but in the process, it removed an inch of backseat legroom. Now there's only 37.8 inches in the second row, which doesn't compare favorably to the 42.9 inches in the back of the Audi A8L or the 43.1 inches offered in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Unlike the EQ900 that was shown early last month, the US-market G90 will only offer a pair of engines. On the one end, we have a 3.3-liter, twin-turbocharged V6, capable of 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. The 5.0-liter V8 from the Equus will be offered too, and it still churns out 420 hp and 383 lb-ft of torque. But with peak twist from the V6 model available between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm and less than 60 horsepower difference between the two engines, it sounds like the smaller engine will be the one to have, especially if it proves significantly lighter (Hyundai hasn't published the G90's weight yet). Both engines are paired to eight-speed automatic transmissions and can be paired with Hyundai's H-TRAC all-wheel-drive system. Look for more on the new G90 from its Detroit debut. And in the meantime, head over to our December 9 report on the new flagship model for more on Peter Schreyer's design and the safety equipment.

Mr. Millen goes to Washington

Ever driven around DC? We have. And let us tell you, people drive like jerks in the nation's capital. Mostly because they think they're more important than you, and they're probably right. But Rhys Millen is out to put them all to shame.
In this latest video, the guy who Red Bull refers to as a "precision driver" (and who the rest of us would call one of the best drifters ever to burn rubber) takes to the streets of the District in his Hyundai Veloster Turbo. There he does what he does best around sites like Capitol Hill, Thomas Circle and RFK Stadium - the one-time home of the Washington Redskins and Montreal Expos (pardon us, "Washington Nationals") - all with a police escort of black Tahoes and Harley outriders. Scope out the action in the video below.

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.