2014 Hyundai Sonata Limited on 2040-cars

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Are old airbags killers?

Takata airbags may not be the only ones with some very serious problems. A new report from TheDetroitBureau.com claims that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has opened its second investigation into bad airbag inflators, and this time, they aren't from Takata. The focus of this latest case is on the airbag inflators in some 500,000 older Chrysler Town and Country minivans and Kia Optima sedans, all of which come from ARC Automotive. While the Takata case looks at problems stemming from the engineering and production process, the ARC investigation focuses on the age of the inflators. As TDB explains, airbag inflators are essentially what the military refers to as shaped charges, sort of like Claymores (for fans of the Call of Duty series). In combat, they blow up in a specific direction, protecting those behind the explosion, although in the case of airbags, the explosion "[creates] a precise rush of hot gases" that inflate the bags. NHTSA's worry is that with the increased average age of today's vehicles, years and years of being bounced, jolted, and shaken about and exposed to often-radical temperature changes have altered the nature of the explosives in these vehicles, causing too big of an explosion. "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate." – Analyst George Peterson "It may be a reasonable assumption that as these things age they deteriorate," analyst George Peterson told TheDetroitBureau.com. NHTSA boss Mark Rosekind backed up aging angle. "Cars are lasting on the road a lot longer than ever before," Rosekind told TDB, adding that seals could start breaking down. "Is aging now an issue? That's part of the investigation going on." NHTSA has only identified two "incidents" so far, although according to Center for Auto Safety Director Clarence Ditlow, there's genuine concern that there could be additional unidentified cases. "Could we have missed more? That could be the case," Ditlow told TDB, citing the misidentified deaths in the Takata investigation. Ditlow was quick to point out that, even in older vehicles, airbags are much more likely to protect than harm. "No one is saying you should disable your airbags," the safety advocate told TDB. "You're far more likely to be helped than hurt by one if they go off." At least one automaker, meanwhile, has already been advised of the investigation by NHTSA and is checking its airbags.

Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea

Bloomberg reports shifting tariff regulations have upended the traditional automotive pecking order in Korea. Thanks to cheaper import taxes, foreign brands have seen market share jump from 28 percent to 41 percent over the last two years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have all capitalized on the shift, with domestics like Hyundai and Kia suffering at the hands of their German rivals.
Taxes on European imports have fallen from 8 percent in 2011 to just 3.2 percent today. Over the next few years, tariffs will all but be eliminated for most imports, and taxes on US-made vehicles are expected to fall to just 4 percent in 2014. By 2016, that number will be zero. Needless to say, Hyundai and Kia are concerned about the shift.
Hyundai has seen profit fall by 15 percent last quarter, and the company says it is on pace to see the slowest sales growth since 2007. The company's shares have fallen by 12 percent. In order to stem the losses, Hyundai has discounted its midsize sedans and started working on diesel engine options.

2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe gets minor update, price bump

Hyundai is releasing the Genesis Coupe for the 2016 model year with a new six-inch color display in the center stack in place of the previous dot-matrix display. That's it. Oh, except for a price increase. The coupe still packs a 3.8-liter V6 as standard, driving 348 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or eight-speed automatic transmission. For some buyers, the Genesis Coupe makes for a compelling alternative to the likes of the Nissan 370Z (which only has two seats) and the Infiniti Q60 Coupe (which is significantly more expensive). Now starting at $26,950 (in base form with the manual), the 2016 model comes in $200 more expensive than the 2015 model. The R-Spec starts at $29,900 for 2016 (representing a $400 increase), and the top-of-the-line Ultimate model lists at $33,750 (or $350 more than the outgoing model). 2016 GENESIS COUPE OFFERS ENHANCED STANDARD COLOR DISPLAY WITH POWERTRAIN AND CONTENT TO SATISFY PERFORMANCE COUPE BUYERS Standard 348-Horsepower, 3.8-liter Direct-injected V6 engine FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., November 6, 2015 – Hyundai's popular Genesis Coupe continues to enhance its appeal in the fiercely-competitive sport coupe segment. Genesis Coupe offers a 348-horspower, 3.8-liter direct-injected V6 standard, ensuring its buyer maximum powertrain performance at a very affordable price point. This powertrain ensures Genesis Coupe continues to carry its recognized success as a rear-drive, high-output performance sport coupe for everyday enthusiasts. For 2016, Genesis Coupe adds a new 6-inch color center display to the center stack, replacing the former dot-matrix display. 2016 Genesis Highlights - New, vivid 6-inch color center-stack display replaces dot-matrix display 2016 Genesis Coupe Transmission MSRP 3.8 Base M/T $26,950 3.8 Base A/T w/Shiftronic® $28,150 3.8 R-Spec M/T $29,900 3.8 Ultimate M/T $33,750 3.8 Ultimate A/T w/Shiftronic® $34,950 AGGRESSIVE DESIGN TO MATCH DYNAMIC PERFORMANCE The Genesis Coupe strikes a menacing demeanor, with an aggressively designed front fascia, grille, headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights and hood with heat extractor cues. The side view reveals aggressive 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs with deep dimensional sculpting. Finally, the rear taillights provide a visual spark via premium LED illumination.