2012 Hyundai Sonata on 2040-cars

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Hyundai will launch 26 green models through 2020

Hyundai Motor Group, which comprises both Hyundai and Kia, believes that launching a blitz of 26 green models through 2020 could place the Korean automaker among the leaders in the segment. Only Toyota would be larger in the electrified vehicle market, if Hyundai Motor's plan works, Automotive News reports. The 26 models run the gamut of the green car field, and they include at least 12 hybrids, six PHEVs, two EVs, and two hydrogen fuel cells, according to Automotive News. If customers latch onto them, Hyundai and Kia could move as many as 300,000 electrified vehicles a year by 2020 versus about 43,000 in 2015. Kia is responsible for at least 11 of these vehicles like the upcoming Niro crossover. Meanwhile, Hyundai wants the upcoming Ioniq (above) to challenge the Toyota Prius, and the Korean company has hybrid, PHEV, and EV versions on the way. To save money on the development of so many electrified vehicles, Hyundai Motor uses shared components. "For example, all our electric motors have the same diameter," Lee Ki-Sang, Hyundai's green powertrain boss, told Automotive News. "The power output is different, but we can just adjust the width of the core winding. Or for the motor controller, we standardized to use the same printed circuit boards." Trying to go from a relatively small player to a market leader is an audacious move, but it's especially risky right now. Gas prices are the cheapest in 12 years in the US, and green car sales are down in the US and in Europe. Toyota even predicts the inexpensive fuel could cut into Prius sales, and it's far more established than Hyundai's models. The South Korean company could have an even tougher time because these efficient vehicles still lose money for now. "Our target is before 2020, we would like to make profits on these eco-friendly vehicles," Lee told Automotive News. Related Video:

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.

2014 Hyundai Elantra gets new 2.0L engine, Sport model, tweaked styling

Most of the attention at Hyundai has recently been focused on the next-gen Sonata and Genesis, but before we see either of those sedans, the automaker is giving its small car lineup a significant overhaul.
Just last week, Hyundai unveiled the refreshed 2014 Accent, and today at the LA Auto Show it's take the covers off of its updated 2014 Elantra. All three Elantra models - sedan, coupe and GT - will receive the same changes, but Hyundai has only released pictures for two of the sedan models: Limited (above) and Sport (inset).
The biggest news is that a new, more powerful 2.0-liter, direct-injected inline four-cylinder is now the standard engine in the GT and Coupe, as well as the Elantra sedan's all-new Sport trim level. This engine produces 173 horsepower and 154 pound-feet of torque, and while the 2014 Elantra GT can still be equipped with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, the 2014 Elantra Coupe drops the option for a manual transmission; it also appears that the Elantra Sport sedan will come solely with the automatic. With the larger engine, fuel economy numbers do drop a little: all models powered by this engine receive EPA estimated ratings of 24 miles per gallon in the city. Highway estimates for this engine include 33 mpg for the GT with automatic, 34 mpg for the GT with manual and Coupe, and 35 for the Sport sedan. Sedan buyers looking for better fuel economy still have the carry over 1.8-liter engine with 145 hp, 130 lb-ft and EPA ratings of 28 mpg city/38 mpg highway.