First images of the camo-free Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 (Model Year) hit the web!

What you see here in this post are the clearest and spy shots of the soon-to-be-unveiled Hyundai crossover, the 2013 Santa Fe CUV.

Scheduled to make its official public debut at the up-coming New York Auto Show in April, the all-new Santa Fe CUV will boast a dynamic exterior layout with styling influences from the most recent crop of Hyundai cars (new Hyundai i40 and i30 hatchback).

Up front, the 2013 Santa Fe will sport a “Hyundai family look” with most notable features being the hexagonal grille with layered chrome bars and LED headlamps. The forth-coming crossover vehicle will also feature a strong side character line and attractively designed rear-end with LED tail-lamps and round twin tailpipes having a chrome finish.

Engine options still remain under wraps for now, but there will be a wide range of highly-advanced turbocharged gasoline and diesel engines available from launch. You can expect Hyundai to offer at least one turbo-charged four-cylinder and V6 engine with gasoline direct injection -GDI technology, as well as a four-cylinder diesel unit for the European market.

Not much else is known about the new Hyundai CUV…

Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 image gallery:

There are numerous car awards that are handed out during the course of a year, but there is one in particular that every automaker dreams of getting their hands on. That would be the North American Car of the Year award, and the 2012 version of the award was recently presented to the Hyundai Elantra.

The Korean automaker has been piling up the awards all year long, but this one is the award that means the most, and may very well represent the icing on that cake that is the re-branding effort that Hyundai have put forward in recent years.

The worthy winner was chosen by a panel of 50 esteemed North American auto journalists who rated all of the new vehicles that were released last year. The field was narrowed down to a final three of the Elantra, the Volkswagen Passat, and the Ford Focus, with the Hyundai entry coming out on top.

This is the second such award for the car maker after the Genesis received the same award back in 2009. Those two awards now serve as the bookends in what has been a miraculous transformation for Hyundai.

The jury looks at a number of different factors before deciding on the best vehicle, with design, safety, driver satisfaction, handling, and best value for the dollar all considered to be the most important of those.

John Krafcik , president and chief executive officer, Hyundai Motor America expressed his delight at receiving such a prestigious award, and was particularly pleased that the judges recognized exactly what Hyundai is trying to do with their entire line-up in regards of quality and value for money. He was also pleased that the award came in a year when high standards in auto making where being set across the board.

Perhaps the components of the 2012 Elantra that were most appealing to the jury were the design, which Hyundai describes as “Fluidic Sculpture.” The basic premise behind that ideal is in the way that the wind plays along the rigid surfaces of the vehicle, with the end result being an illusion of constant motion.

The whole look and feel is very aerodynamic, which may in turn assist with the second feature that wowed the judges. That would be the fuel economy of the Elantra which, at 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway, and 33 mpg combined, is a major plus for drivers, especially with gas prices slowly starting to creep back up again.

It would appear that consumers are in total agreement with the 2012 North American Car of the Year jury, as Hyundai Elantra accounted for 186.361 of the 645.591 units that the carmaker moved in 2011. This prestigious award will undoubtedly go a long way in helping those sales figures climb even higher in the coming months.

High-quality spy shots of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe reveal more details about exterior, interior! Release date set for September 2011?

Hyundai has been making a concerted effort to re-design their brand and update their entire vehicle line-up, but there have been a few of their cars, most notably the Santa Fe and the Veracruz, that seem to have been left out of the makeover mix. It looks as though that will change judging by some leaked pictures of the 2013 version of the Santa Fe.

This is a move that is long overdue, as Hyundai, which is well on the way to leading the market in all categories, is missing a modern take in the mid-size crossover segment.

Judging by the pictures, the new version of the Sanata Fe SUV looks to be sporting a new, more stylish body that has been modeled after the new Tuscon, and the feeling is that the 2013 Santa Fe will get the sportier sounding name of the ix45 (in Europe only!), again similar to the Tuscon which received the ix35 moniker in Europe.

While it was obvious that the overall body design had changed, the smaller details are still something of a mystery given the heavy camouflage sported by the test vehicle.

What was apparent though were the changes to the interior with the dashboard receiving a makeover that focuses more style than function, although that is likely to change as Hyundai work to make the look less button heavy and a little more streamlined. It’s also believed that the latest version will come in two versions, including a seven seat model that will look to challenge the Ford Edge and the Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Hyundai is remaining very quiet on the engine front, but it’s widely believed a 200-horsepower 2.4 GDI four-cylinder will likely be offered, as well as a possible move back to a manual transmission option, and a 4-cylinder diesel version in Europe.

2013 Santa Fe release date… All details about the new Hyundai Santa Fe will be revealed in April when the vehicle makes its official public debut at the New York Auto Show. Confirmed by Hyundai!

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe spy shots:

Hyundai i-oniq concept vehicle teased ahead of 2012 Geneva Auto Show!

The South Korean largest carmaker revealed plans to unveil a brand-new concept car  at the 2012 Geneva Motor Show. Called i-oniq, the concept car will preview the next step in the evolution of Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” design language.

Ahead of its official public premiere, Hyundai recently released a single teaser image of the i-oniq concept vehicle, which reveals a sleek profile that straddles the line between a 4-door coupe and shooting brake.

Thomas Burkle, former BMW designer and current European chief designer at Hyundai Motor Europe, described the i-oniq concept as a vehicle that features “unique exterior look with two strong arched curves defining the silhouette of the concept car and creating a playful contrast between the sharp character lines and soft but muscular features”.

The concept car was designed and developed at Hyundai’s European R&D headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany and gives us an idea of what to expect from the carmaker’s future models.

Unfortunately, the Hyundai i-oniq concept vehicle will never see the serial production however, Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President of Hyundai Europe hinted that it may offer clues to the shape of the next-generation of Hyundai Genesis coupe, which is expected to hit the market in 2014.

At this point, we don’t have any other details about the Hyundai i-oniq concept car, but Hyundai says it plans reveal more information and additional teaser images in the coming weeks. Stay tuned! [Source: Hyundai]

Annual US sales of Hyundai and Kia vehicles exceed 1 million units for the first time!

The South Korean automobile giant Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has set a significant sales milestone in the USA last month. Their combined 2011 sales exceeded 1 million units for the first time since they entered the market more than 20 years ago.

According to latest sales reports, Hyundai sold 594.926 vehicles during the first 11 months of 2011, while Kia was not far behind with sales-to-date reaching 442.102 units.

Compared with the same time a year earlier, combined sales of the two carmakers are up 26 percent. Furthermore, when you compare this year’s sales results with the 11-month period of 2009, Hyundai-Kia sales are up an impressive 50 percent.

Both carmakers have experienced an increased demand for their latest new offering such as new Elantra, Sonata, Sorento CUV and Optima sedan.

Hyundai’s top-sellers in 2011 are the Sonata mid-size sedan and Elantra compact sedan with 208.621 and 173.336 units sold respectively, while Sorento crossover vehicle remains the top-selling Kia vehicle in the USA with nearly 120.000 units sold during the first eleven months of the year.

Fueled by a surge in consumer demand and still one month left in the year, Hyundai and Kia will likely see their annual sales reach 1.1 million units in the USA.

Hyundai’s all-new 1.6L GDI four-cylinder engine listed at Ward’s 10 Best Engines List!

The all-new 1,6L four-cylinder engine from Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group has been selected as one of the world’s top 10 engines by WardsAuto, one of the most trusted automotive magazines in the United States. This marks another feat for Hyundai Motor Company after its 5.0L V8 Tau engine was named on the same list for three straight years from 2009.

Hyundai’s 1.6L GDI engine, which is available in several entry-level Hyundai and Kia models including the 2012 versions of Accent,  Veloster coupe and Kia Rio, is the smallest displacement engine on this year’s list. The list includes 10 technologically most advanced powerplants with majority featuring a highly-advanced gasoline direct injection technology.

The 1.6L GDI Gamma engine is the smallest Hyundai engine to benefit from the gasoline direct injection -GDI technology in the States. The latest engine technology helps Hyundai vehicles deliver an estimated highway fuel economy of up to 40 mpg, while at the same time lowers their CO2 emissions.

Thanks to the GDI technology, the 1.6L engine delivers a peak output of 138 horsepower at 6.300 rpm and maximum torque of 123 lb.-ft. at 4.850 rpm.

Other engines included in the latest top 10 list include the BMW 2.0L Turbo, Audi 3.0L TFSI Supercharger, Ford 2.0L EcoBoost, Chrysler 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6 and others. [Source: Wardsauto, Hyundai]

Hyundai continues to post record sales in Canada and USA on a monthly basis, but the South Korean carmaker also keeps growing fast in other regions of the globe.

We are bringing you the latest sales report from Australia, where Hyundai has recorded its best-ever November sales result since the brand was introduced to Australia (back in 1986). With 7.514 new vehicles sold in Australia last month, Hyundai saw its sales increase by as much as 20 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

Leading Hyundai sales in Australia last month were the small cars, such as Hyundai i20, i30 and new Elantra sedan. The South Korean carmaker was actually the top selling brand in the light car segment with a combined market share of 17.4 percent. Hyundai sales were also fueled by strong performance of the 2012 Accent, which recorded a sales of over 1.000 units in November.

Another Hyundai model that performed really well in Australia last month were the i45 sedan and i40 Tourer. The i40 Tourer, which received rave reviews for its design, comfort and safety form leading European automotive publications, has taken the third spot in the medium car segment selling 586 units.

Hyundai ix35 crossover, known also as Hyundai Tucson in the USA, was also ranked third in its segment. The popular compact crossover vehicle recorded sales of 1094 units and a market share of 9.6 percent in November 2011. The iMax people mover and iLoad van both ranked second in their segments selling 195 and 464 units, respectively.

As more consumers in Australia become aware of the carmaker’s high-quality products, Hyundai‘s sales momentum is expected to continue to grow through the year of 2012 and beyond. The carmaker is close to launching the Veloster sports coupe in Australia and introducing a plethora of other attractivelly styled vehicles, including the next-generation Santa Fe SUV and i20 facelift.

The recent recession caused many automakers to look at their production numbers and try to find way to scale back in an attempt at cost cutting. The same cannot be said for Hyundai, who has seen their sales jump by over 100.000 units since 2010.

While the bottom line looks great, that sort of growth doesn’t come without problems of its own, and those issues were recently addressed by Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik during an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

While sales for Hyundai has increased dramatically, they still maintain one of the lowest inventory levels in the industry; a fact that seems to fly in the face of conventional wisdom.

Krafcik explained that there is a very definite balance between sales and inventory levels that the company hopes to maintain, and that doing so is a process that is always in motion. Production levels have been increased in plants across the US and Canada, but rather than getting carried away with their success, Hyundai continues to try and keep inventory levels low, whilst still meeting consumer demand.

Much of Hyundai’s recent success has been built on the back of the value of their cars, and the feeling among many is that the value message will be lost if they fail to meet demand for their vehicles, putting dealers in the position of arbitrarily inflating prices to take advantage of that demand.

Krafcik countered by stating that dealers are free to set whatever price they wish, regardless of demand and that dealers have actually done a great job of selling Hyundai’s as close to MSRP as possible.

He went on to say that customers have never been more pleased with the value of their cars, despite the fact that the $750 rebate offered by Hyundai is among the lowest in the industry.

Krafcik then went on to talk about the projects that Hyundai has lined up for the coming year, including the release of the Azera and Veloster Turbo models in 2012.

He shared his hopes that the Azera would soon become the flagship vehicle for the front-wheel drive category, feeling that the luxury features that come standard in the Azera would be a huge selling point.

The idea of combining luxury with the Hyundai brand may have seemed like a ridiculous concept just a few short years ago, but the company’s shift to a more design oriented brand that also emphasizes value has quickly changed the perceptions of many in the industry.

That may be most telling with the sales results of the Equus, with many people believing that Hyundai would be unable to jump into the luxury car market with any level of success, especially with a vehicle priced at less than $58,000.

Krafcik was quick to point out that the Equus luxury sedan holds a 5 percent share in the luxury sedan market, which is a number that is consistent with their position in the market as a whole.

He finished up by saying that 2012 looks like it will be another exciting year for Hyundai, and if that’s the case, then perhaps we will be talking about more new sales records this time next year. [Source: L.A. Times]

Hyundai’s sales climb 22 percent in November 2011 as Black Friday brings out car buyers!

The Thanksgiving Holiday weekend helped Hyundai Motor America set an all-time November sales record. The South Korean largest carmaker announced it has sold 49.610 new vehicles in November 2011, up 22 percent from a year ago.

Leading Hyundai’s sales last month were the Montgomery-produced Sonata mid-size sedan and Elantra compact car recording sales of 12.414 units and 15.668 units, respectively. The Sonata saw its sales increase 12 percent, while Elantra 2012 recorded a gain of 12 percent.

Hyundai also reported strong sales growth for the Tucson crossover and brand-new Accent sub-compact car. The Tucson CUV sales increased 35 percent for a total of 4.101 units, while Accent sales totaled 4.682 units (15% increase in sales compared to a year ago!).

Hyundai Veloster also performed well in November 2011. Hyundai dealers moved 2.538 units of the 2012 Veloster from their lots. After only two full months on the market, the Veloster already surpassed the 7.000 units sales mark, which is a remarkable success for the brand. Another Hyundai vehicle that posted significant sales increase last month was the Veracruz SUV, which saw its monthly sales 36 percent (1.018 units sold).

Sales of the 2012 Santa Fe and Genesis luxury sedan slipped 12% and 10%, respectively.

Hyundai sales report – November 2011:

It seems to be part of the human condition to want to make something that is already great and make it even better. There is nothing wrong with that, and sometimes what we thought couldn’t be improved actually gets better with a little tinkering.

In the automotive world, that usually means upgrades, or a tweaking of the original design, and in the case of Hyundai, it means giving a sportier, edgier look to their already stunning 2013 Genesis Coupe.

The newly re-designed Hyundai Genesis Coupe was unveiled at the Korea Speed Festival in front of more than 5.000 driving enthusiasts, and they couldn’t help but be impressed by the sporty new look.

The original Genesis Coupe was introduced by Hyundai in 2008, and while the re-design is definitely different, it should really be considered more of a cosmetic face-lift as opposed to a complete overhaul. The idea behind the makeover was to make the Coupe a little sportier, with a driving experience that would be both powerful and dynamic.

On the outside, the new look is highlighted by a wide-grilled front that is not only bold and sporty, but also functional as the new design enhances the cooling performance of the vehicle.

Hyundai also decide to get the LED out, on both front and rear lights, with the headlights especially adding a sleek look which, when combined with the stunning lines of the new design, enhances the sporty edge that was the overall goal of the changes.

The new look wasn’t just confined to the exterior, and a number of changes were made on the inside, as well as under the hood. The interior has been given a more high-tech feel with the addition of new materials, which are highlighted by stunning metal accents.

A standard multi-gauge was added to the centre fascia in the hopes of providing a more dynamic experience for the driver, thanks to the instant feedback it provides.

That powerful drive also comes from the upgraded engines; the Lambda 3.8L GDI and the Theta 2.0L TCI. The Lambda in particular plays a major part in the increases performance of the 2013 Genesis Coupe by directly injecting fuel into the cylinder, and combines, the two produce a maximum output of 350ps and maximum torque of 40.8kg.m, which is a marked improvement over the performance of the original Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

The more powerful engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission, which adds dynamic driving performance and smoother shifting. That would ordinarily be enough to complete the sporty overhaul, but the addition of a sound generator to replace the original engine sound with something more in keeping with a sports model, really seals the deal.