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Hyundai Motor heir Euisun Chung takes over from father after 20 years in waiting

SEOUL — Hyundai Motor Group appointed Euisun Chung as group chairman on Wednesday, cementing his succession from his octogenarian father in a move likely to give impetus to the world's fifth-largest automaker's push into electric vehicles and flying cars. In the first generational handover at the South Korean automobile giant in 20 years, Chung, 49, said he hoped to lead change at South Korea's second-biggest conglomerate as it battles to stay ahead of the pack in a time of rapid technological innovation in the global auto industry. "Carrying on their bold and innovative legacies, I feel privileged, yet also a sense of great responsibility for opening a new chapter of Hyundai Motor Group," Chung said in his inauguration speech to employees. Chung identified autonomous driving, electrification, hydrogen fuel cell, robotics and Urban Air Mobility (UAM) — industry jargon for flying cars — as his initiatives for the future. Hyundai Motor shares were trading up 0.3% after rising as much as 2.5% after the appointment, while the wider market was down 0.6%. Kia Motors and Hyundai Mobis fell 1.6% and 1.1%, respectively.   Legacies Hyundai Motor Group earlier on Wednesday said Chung had been promoted to chairman from executive vice chairman, replacing his father, Mong-Koo Chung, who was made honorary chairman. Key affiliates of Hyundai Motor Group, including Hyundai Motor, endorsed his inauguration unanimously. The appointment makes Chung the latest third-generation leader to take over one of South Korea's family-led conglomerates, which have been credited with lifting the war-stricken country out of poverty since the 1950s. His father took the wheel of the group in 2000 and transformed the company, once mocked for poor vehicle quality, into the world's No.5 automaker. The 82-year-old has been stepping back from frontline operations in recent years, and gave up his board seat in Hyundai Motor earlier this year. Euisun Chung has played an increasingly visible leadership role since September 2018 when he was promoted to executive vice chairman. Hyundai Motor Group invested $1.6 billion in a self-driving technology joint venture with U.S. Aptiv, forged a partnership with Uber on electric air taxis and invested in ride-hailing firm Grab. In July, Chung set a goal to win more than 10% of the global market for battery EVs by 2025.

2017 Kia Model Year Preview and Updates

Kia continues its growing market momentum on the strength of three all-new intros and/or updates, along with its selection as a top pick by Consumer Reports. Kia's Niro - pictured above - is an all-new hybrid, combining a fairly conventional crossover profile with front-wheel drive and up to 50 miles-per-gallon. Also of note: Later in the '17 calendar year most dealers will receive the all-new STINGER GT, first introduced at the '17 Detroit Auto Show. KIA CADENZA: Kia's upsized, upscale Cadenza presents a near-luxury ownership experience without the penalty of a near-luxury price point. Its new platform is stronger, lighter and more rigid, while the interior is dramatically upscale. Finally, the Cadenza boasts Kia's first application of an eight-speed automatic in a front-wheel drive powertrain. FORTE: Kia's sedan and hatchback enjoy freshened styling and a new, 2.0-liter base powertrain. There is also the optional availability of a whole suite of advanced driver assistance systems, including autonomous emergency braking, rear cross traffic alert, forward collision warning and Dynamic Bending Light, which allows your lights to follow the direction of your steering wheel. K900: Kia's large, rear-wheel-drive sedan is unchanged for 2017. NIRO: Kia's all-new hybrid crossover is an outlier in the hybrid segment, with the high hip point and generous greenhouse of a crossover and a projected EPA estimate of 50 miles per gallon (combined) efficiency. It is powered by a normally-aspirated 1.6-liter four and electric motor, delivering a total system horsepower of 139, and 195 pound-feet of torque. OPTIMA: Following a redesign in 2016, Kia's midsize entry enjoys package refinements, standard 18-inch wheels on SX trim, a new value package on the 1.6T and new colors. More significant is the addition of both an Optima Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid. The Hybrid promises to be 10-percent more efficient, while the plug-in will offer an estimated electric-only range of 27 miles. RIO: New colors and a discontinued four door SX highlight the changes. SOUL: Kia's two-box box adds new alloy wheel designs, Blind Spot Detection and Rear Cross Traffic Alert on Plus and Excalibur trims. And news of two new colors pales when compared to the Soul Exclaim's new turbo powerplant, connected to a seven-speed DCT transmission. SOUL EV: UVO eco is now on EV and EV+, while all trims receive an upgraded fast charge and a second-generation Pedestrian Warning System.

Kia Stinger moves upmarket for the 2021 model year

Kia is giving the rear-wheel-drive Stinger a mid-cycle update that brings an updated design, a nicer interior, newer in-car technology, and a handful of powertrain tweaks. The sedan will reach showrooms by the end of 2020. Stylists played it safe when tweaking the front end, which receives redesigned lights that look darker than the current model's. Out back, the new-look lights are connected by a light bar, and the turn signals are made up of 10 individual LEDs arranged to resemble a checkered flag. Some variants are offered with bigger exhaust tips and a wider air diffuser, while new wheel designs and paint colors round out the exterior overhaul. Buyers will have two additional exterior packages to choose from. The first one, called Dark Package, adds a gloss black diffuser, black exhaust tips and black emblems. The second one, Black Package, bundles 19-inch matte black wheels, blacked-out trim, black mirror caps, and a trunk-mounted spoiler. Kia specifically pointed out the Black Package will be offered in North America, but it didn't reveal if we'll get the Dark Package. Kia explained it devoted a considerable amount of energy to making the Stinger's cabin feel more luxurious. It added nicer materials (like metallic trim on the steering wheel), a frame-less rear-view mirror, and, on some models, contrast stitching on the door panels as well as on the dashboard. The firm's newest infotainment system is displayed on a bigger, free-standing 10.25-inch touchscreen propped up on the dashboard. We'll need to be patient to find out what has changed under the hood. Kia alluded to a new powertrain lineup, but it won't reveal what's on the roster until a little bit later in 2020. As of writing, the Stinger's entry-level engine is a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbocharged to 255 horsepower. Motorists who want quicker acceleration can select a twin-turbocharged, 3.3-liter V6 that develops 365 horsepower. Could there be a step up to the Genesis G80's 300-horsepower 2.5-liter turbo-four and 375-hp 3.5-liter turbo V-6? Rear-wheel drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission come standard regardless of cylinder count, and all-wheel drive is offered at an extra cost. Kia noted the updated Stinger will go on sale in South Korea during the third quarter of 2020. Sales in other global markets — including, presumably, the United States — will start shortly after, and additional details will be released in the coming weeks.