2012 Hyundai Sonata 2.0t Sedan 4-door 2.0l on 2040-cars

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2016 Hyundai Tucson First Drive [w/video]

For most of us, September 2009 doesn't seem like that long ago. We had the same president, carried Apple iPhones, and were even paying roughly the same amount for a gallon of gas. For Hyundai, though, this particular month was when everything began to change, thanks to the introduction of "fluidic sculpture" and the second-generation Tucson. The swoopy, handsome styling introduced on the Tucson infiltrated the rest of the brand's offerings, starting with the Sonata sedan and filtering through. In the process, Hyundai raised its flag not as a manufacturer of ultra-affordable utilitarian transport, but as a company that builds fashionable, well-equipped, and high-quality cars. While it's no secret Hyundai is in a better place than it was nearly six years ago, the importance of the Tucson has grown substantially. Much as the second-gen model helped to signal Hyundai's arrival as a global player, the company hopes the third generation will mark its entry as one of the industry's premier crossover builders. Based on a day of driving around some of Minnesota's 10,000 lakes, we think that's an attainable goal. According to Hyundai's research, the Tucson is viewed as "sporty, stylish, and modern." Targeting that first notion is the new 1.6-liter, turbocharged Gamma four-cylinder, which sits under the hood of Eco, Sport, and Limited models. The single-scroll turbo allows the tiny four to deliver 175 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. There's also a 2.0-liter, naturally aspirated four-cylinder for the base SE, with 164 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque, although we weren't able to score any time behind the wheel. Look for more on the base Tucson in the near future. The turbo, though, is shockingly quiet at idle, and isn't too bad as it climbs the tachometer. North of 6,000 rpm, though, it's loud, buzzy, and unpleasant. Even with the turbo's peak twist available from 1,500 to 4,500 rpm, there's little hiding the maximum curb weight of 3,710. After a smidge of lag, initial torque comes on strong, although the weight of this compact crossover soon overwhelms what power is available. That'd be a problem were it not for the new seven-speed, dual-clutch transmission. Paired exclusively with the 1.6-liter turbo (the 2.0-liter gets a traditional six-speed auto), the dry-clutch gearbox is able to deliver smooth but quick changes, particularly at engine speeds below 5,000 rpm.

Hyundai planning EV for US market

California's stringent automotive emissions mandates, which require that all automakers include some form of Zero-Emissions Vehicle (ZEV) in the lineup, may be forcing the hand of Hyundai, suggests The Detroit Bureau after a recent tweet from John Krafcik, HMA Chief Executive. Up until now, the Korean automaker has been attempting to meet future regulations with fuel-cell vehicles like the modified ix35/Tuscon models (the technology uses hydrogen to generate electricity), but consumers have been slow to warm to hydrogen citing an immature and undeveloped refueling infrastructure.
While battery-powered EVs are far from perfect, they appeal to consumers who have short commutes and owners who find it convenient to recharge at home. If Hyundai were to get into the EV game in short order, one solution could be the BlueOn battery car (shown above) that is sold in the automaker's domestic market. In its current state, the BlueOn offers a 16.4-kWh lithium polymer battery, which provides a range of just over 85 miles and a lethargic 0-60 time of 13.1 seconds.
To be competitive, Hyundai would have to boost performance or seek another more expensive solution. We'll have to wait for official word, or another tweet from Krafcik, to see which way the company is heading.

Hyundai reveals new Creta crossover in India

It's been less than a month since Hyundai told us to start anticipating the arrival of the new Creta, and even less time since it released the first teaser sketch. Now the Korean automaker has taken the wraps off the finished product. Unveiled over the weekend in India, the new Hyundai Creta applies the company's latest design language to a smaller crossover form. Full details have still yet to be released, but those body panels are laid over a structure the manufacturer calls Hive. It makes use of a high proportion of high-strength steel to keep the chassis rigid yet lightweight. Powertrain options – for the Indian market anyway – include a 1.6-liter four with 121 horsepower or a choice of diesels with as much as 126 hp. Hardly earth-shattering stuff, but short of more potent turbocharged offerings, those engines ought to make it perfectly competitive with the company it intends to keep. Relative output and fuel choices aside, the engines channel their power through a six-speed manual or automatic transmission, though there's no mention as of yet of the availability of all-wheel drive. We'll have to wait for a release with a wider purview to find out more. At this point Hyundai isn't showing us around the interior, either, but you can scope out what images have been released thus far in the slideshow above. It'll be a while longer before anyone can determine whether it'll prove a worthwhile competitor to the likes of the Nissan Juke, Jeep Renegade, and Honda HR-V, to name just a few likely rivals. With fellow Korean automaker SsangYong eager to make its mark with the similarly compact Tivoli as well, the Creta will have quite a fight on its hands. Hyundai Showcases the Global SUV- CRETA No. 1512015-06-278 hit • Strong structural strength with adoption of Hive body structure • Stable & confident ride & handling for ultimate driving experience • Powerful engine options with first in segment Diesel Automatic Transmission Chennai, 27 June 2015- Hyundai Motor India Ltd, the country's leading premium car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter today, unveiled India's most awaited stylish, powerful and dynamic SUV - 'CRETA'. The CRETA marks Hyundai's entry in growing SUV segment with strong product offering boosting Hyundai's product line up to a robust 10 product portfolio.