2014 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Hyundai Sante Fe reveals its refreshed face in South Korea

The Hyundai Santa Fe is getting a refreshed face just three years after the debut of the current generation, but for now the revision is exclusive to the South Korean market. The crossover is definitely getting a dash more style with this upgrade. The grille retains a three-bar design, but each crosspiece now sports cuts at each edge for a more visually interesting look. Lower down, the air intake grows larger for a little more aggression, and LED running lights are now mounted above the fog lights. The headlights are also re-sculpted for a sharper shape. According to a rough translation of Hyundai's press release, the rear bumper and taillights also see revisions, but the company has no photos of them. Similarly, the interior apparently receives a redesigned gauge cluster with new fonts and icons. For the South Korea at least, the updated Santa Fe is also getting an expanded list of tech options. Buyers can now opt for adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, and a 360-degree camera system with parking assist. The release specifically mentions that Hyundai is aiming for the Santa Fe to score Good in the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap crash test in the United States, versus the current version's Marginal rating. When the refreshed Santa Fe was previously spotted testing, the North American debut was predicted for sometime this year. Given the reveal of the crossover in South Korea, that estimated date would seem even more likely now. Autoblog reached out to a Hyundai Motor North America spokesperson for a more exact date, but all we heard back was that the automaker wouldn't comment on future product plans.

Genesis bringing an EV concept and G90 to New York Auto Show

It's official, the entire Hyundai Group has plans for the New York Auto Show. During the Hyundai Sonata press launch in South Korea, design head Luc Donckerwolke told Roadshow "You'll have an electric show car for Genesis." This year will be the charm for Genesis and EVs, after showing the GV80 SUV concept and its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain in 2017, and the electric Essentia coupe concept last year. We will also see the production version of the U.S. market Genesis G90 and its mongo grille. The premium brand's debuts will join the new Sonata sedan and Venue crossover, and an as-yet-unnamed Kia show car expected to be our version of the SP Signature concept potentially called Tusker. Hyundai-Kia isn't getting its electric razzle dazzle ready for New York alone. Auto Express reports the group is working on a new electric car platform to serve the carmaker the same way Volkswagen's MEB architecture serves the German group's brands. At the moment, the only four EVs in the South Korean automaker's range are the Hyundai Kona and Ioniq, and the Kia e-Niro and Soul. They are all built on ICE platforms, the Kona and e-Niro still proving popular enough for this year's planned UK-market production to sell out already. According to a "company insider," the dedicated EV platform is around two years away and will focus on B- and C-segment cars. That's the same year that Genesis is expected to have its EV ready, but unless the luxury arm has plans to dip its grille into C-segment waters, Genesis likely has other EV platform plans. By 2025, Hyundai and Kia have said they'll have 14 EVs in the combined lineup as part of 38 electrified offerings. Whatever's on the way could prove far more radical than today's offerings. Donckerwolke told Auto Express that in order to attract the future EV buyers that aren't necessarily car people, "[You] have to ask whether you want science fiction or whether you want to conform. We can create something that doesn't appeal to someone in the traditional sense." If the head designer gets his way, 3D-printing will help whip up those attractions. Last year's Essentia concept showed off 3D-printed carbon fiber ornament, but the potential goes much further.

2015 Hyundai Genesis automatically slows for speed cameras

Speed cameras are something of a foreign curiosity for many drivers in the US. Sure, there is sporadic use of red light cameras here, but the cams to catch speeders are much more popular in Europe. However, Hyundai might have created a way to end that scourge for our foreign auto enthusiast compatriots. The Korean automaker recently showed off a system on the Genesis at its headquarters in Seoul that could detect and automatically slow down for the nefarious devices. It could make many speeding tickets a thing of the past.
According to Australian website Drive, the Genesis' tech is actually a simple integration of already existing structures. It combines a navigation system programmed with the locations of speed cameras and the sedan's automatic braking. Drivers get an audible warning about a half-mile beforehand to slow down, and if they don't the car can do it for them.
Unfortunately, this potentially money-saving tech isn't leaving its domestic market anytime soon. "This is offered only in Korea and not planned for the US. In Korea, many cars with smart cruise control offer this and it is viewed as a safety feature," said Hyundai spokesperson Jim Trainor to Autoblog via email.