2020 Hyundai Sonata Sel on 2040-cars

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This is the Genesis I've been waiting for

In November Hyundai finally confirmed everyone's years long suspicion and announced the creation of its own global luxury brand, naming it the obvious choice, Genesis. The press release revealed a few important details, the biggest probably being that six models will be under the new brand by 2020. We can already account for at least two of these models as newly branded Equus and Genesis sedan models (possibly the coupe as a third) but we are left wondering for the rest. There is a strong argument for the Azera, as it was recently cut from Hyundai's line-up and the obvious choice of bringing in some ever important crossover models, especially while remembering the Veracruz experiment. The newly minted luxury name adds another player to an ever crowded high-end market, but a growing one, where there is room for deviation from the pack. Can Hyundai fill that niche and crack a historically expensive market to enter? I think so. Part of the Genesis plan is in crafting a proper luxury buying environment, what it calls its "hassle-free customer experience." It is unclear if this will mean fixed market pricing and no-negotiating terms but we can certainly draw that conclusion. As much as consumers claim they don't want to hassle, past attempts at fixed pricing have had mixed results. Though, with the emergence of Tesla as a real luxury contender using that kind of pricing model, maybe it's something thats time has finally come. When Hyundai introduced the Equus to the American market they placed an emphasis on the customer experience, requesting that each Equus qualified Hyundai dealership assign an "Equus Champion" to specifically handle all Equus inquires and follow a meticulously designed sales process. This salesperson had to take extra online training and pass multiple choice tests to maintain their position to sell Equus. Hyundai knows that customers buying a $60,000 vehicle expect a different experience than those buying a $30,000 one. The former group is more in tune to the concierge experience, a complete envelopment of the buyers attention and needs. Hyundai achieved this with personal on call attention from the Equus Champion, who went so far as picking up the customers vehicle well after purchase, dropping off a Genesis sedan loaner, and taking care of the entire vehicle service process (included free of charge of course) without barely any customer involvement.

Ford fights back against patent trolls

Some people are just awful. Some organizations are just as awful. And when those people join those organizations, we get stories like this one, where Ford has spent the past several years combatting so-called patent trolls. According to Automotive News, these malicious organizations have filed over a dozen lawsuits against the company since 2012. They work by purchasing patents, only to later accuse companies of misusing intellectual property, despite the fact that the so-called patent assertion companies never actually, you know, do anything with said intellectual property. AN reports that both Hyundai and Toyota have been victimized by these companies, with the former forced to pay $11.5 million to a company called Clear With Computers. Toyota, meanwhile, settled with Paice LLC, over its hybrid tech. The world's largest automaker agreed to pay $5 million, on top of $98 for every hybrid it sold (if the terms of the deal included each of the roughly 1.5 million hybrids Toyota sold since 2000, the company would have owed $147 million). Including the previous couple of examples, AN reports 107 suits were filed against automakers last year alone. But Ford is taking action to prevent further troubles... kind of. The company has signed on with a firm called RPX, in what sounds strangely like a protection racket. Automakers like Ford pay RPX around $1.5 million each year for access to its catalog of patents, which it spent nearly $1 billion building. "We take the protection and licensing of patented innovations very seriously," Ford told AN via email. "And as many smart businesses are doing, we are taking proactive steps to protect against those seeking patent infringement litigation." What are your thoughts on this? Should this patent business be better managed? Is it reasonable that companies purchase patents only to file suit against the companies that build actual products? Have your say in Comments.

Recharge Wrap-up: Rimac Concept One vs. Bugatti Veyron, Tesla Autpoilot in the snow

Watch the Rimac Concept_One and the Bugatti Veyron drive head-to-head along the Croatian coast. Rimac Automobili founder Mate Rimac invited the Earl of Pembroke to drive his 1,088-horsepower EV, while he'd drive Lord Pembroke's Bugatti for comparison. Besides the scenic coastal roads shown in this first film, the pair also drove on a racetrack and an airfield. More episodes – and a drag race – are to come. Watch the video above, and read more at Teslarati. Watch how Tesla Autosteer operates in the snow at night, with no lane markings and no lead vehicle. While Tesla doesn't recommend using Autopilot in these conditions, it seems to manage rather well. Even thought the system shows that it doesn't always recognize the curb, the car doesn't instruct the driver to take control. It's possible that data plays a key role when there aren't other guiding factors on the road, and Tesla's high resolution mapping and the car's GPS could help navigate when there is little sensor input. See the video and read more at Electrek. Andromeda Power shows how a Nissan Leaf rescue car can charge a Tesla Model S. Andromeda Power uses its V2V Orca Inceptive onboard charger, which is meant for CHAdeMO to CHAdeMO charging. It requires a lot of equipment, including a CHAdeMO Tesla adapter, but it's definitely one way to feed a Tesla enough juice to get to the nearest charging station. Read more at Inside EVs. Hyundai increase the range of its Tucson Fuel Cell by 30 percent. The next generation of the hydrogen powered Hyundai is expected in early 2018, and range will jump from 265 miles on a full tank to 348 miles. That surpasses the Toyota Mirai's 312-mile range, but not the 366 miles of the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Read more at Green Car Reports, or from the Nikkei Asian Review. Related Gallery Rimac Automobili Concept_One View 35 Photos News Source: Electrek, YouTube: KmanAuto, Teslarati, YouTube: Wilton Classic & Supercar, Inside EVs, Green Car Reports, Nikkei Asian Review Green Bugatti Hyundai Automakers Nissan Tesla Green Automakers Autonomous Vehicles Electric Supercars Videos recharge wrapup