Major car shows have always been the perfect platform for automakers to introduce their new models to the world, and the Chicago Auto Show has been chosen by Hyundai as the launching pad for their 2013 Elantra GT .

This is all part of Hyundai’s plan to expend their increasingly popular Elantra line-up, and by adding a 5-door hatchback, they are entering into some very competitive territory.

The biggest competition will come from the Ford Focus, Mazda3 and Volkswagen Golf, all of whom already have a pretty solid stranglehold in the market, which makes the job of the Hyundai Elantra GT 2013 (model year) a whole lot harder.

A quick look at what the new Hyundai has to offer though makes it pretty clear that they are more than up for the challenge.

The 2013 Elantra GT has already proven to be a hit in the European market, although under the i30 name, and it’s Hyundai’s goal to bring that success to the North American market.

Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America also expressed that Hyundai is looking to redefine the way we think of a compact car.

With that in mind, he said the focus was to make the car fun to drive, yet still functional and fuel efficient in a way that consumers have come to associate with the Hyundai brand.

One way that Hyundai has added that “fun” stamp to the Elantra GT 2013 is by instating the “Fluidic Sculpture” style of design that has become the standard for all their vehicles. That design adds a touch of sportiness that you don’t always expect to find in a compact 5-door vehicle.

It also just happens to be the lightest vehicle in the category, but that doesn’t mean that they have cut down on size and space in order to achieve that. The interior of the Hyundai Elantra GT is roomier than its major competitors, and that is a big plus for drivers who need a little extra legroom.

Hyundai Elantra GT engine & transmission

There is also some power under the hood as the GT sports the same 1.8L inline four-cylinder as the 4-door Elantra sedan, sending 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque to the ground.

That is achieved with either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, and despite its power the 2013 Elantra GT still manages to impress in the fuel efficiency department with 28 mpg in the city, and 39 mpg on the highway. That’s just the beginning of the goodies though, and there is much more to like both inside and out.

The basic model of the all-new Hyundai Elantra GT 2013 includes heated front seats, a cooled glove box, Bluetooth connectivity, and a host of other bells and whistles that you’d only expect to find as upgrades. Add to that an industry best cargo storage capacity, hidden rear camera, and sport suspension, and you have a car that is about to take the 5-door compact class by storm when it hits the streets this summer.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Coupe images:

That warranty, also referred to as the Hyundai Assurance, has now become even better, especially those who choose to purchase a brand-new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid.

The Korean automaker has announced the introduction of the Lifetime Hybrid Battery Replacement Guarantee, which will apply to all 2012 model year Sonata Hybrids, and is an industry first.

The Hyundai Lifetime Hybrid battery Replacement Guarantee is available on all 2012 Sonata models that operate in the U.S., but is not transferrable, and doesn’t apply to lease or commercial vehicles. The guarantee ensures that if the Hybrid lithium polymer battery fails, Hyundai will not only replace the battery free of charge, but will also take care of the recycling costs associated with the old battery.

Hyundai understands that one of the biggest stumbling blocks for potential hybrid customers is the replacement cost of the battery. They also realize that Hyundai car buyers are looking for advancements in engine performance, which is exactly what they have done with their direct-injection technology.

Michael O’Brien, vice president, Corporate and Product Planning, validated those customer concerns, saying that he understood why there would be a reluctance for them to switch to a hybrid when they were uncertain about the technology and vehicle performance.

He went on to say that the Lifetime Battery Replacement Guarantee is a way to reassure their customer base that Hyundai has total confidence in the durability of the product.

Hyundai has propelled the hybrid technology to new limits by being the first automaker to equip their vehicles with the Hybrid Blue Drive technology. The Sonata Hybrid is the first production vehicle to feature a lithium polymer battery pack, making it far more efficient than others in its class.

Lithium polymer is the next step in lithium ion technology, and its reliable chemistry makes it a perfect fit for automotive applications.

Hyundai Motor Company partnered with LG Chem to develop their lithium polymer cells, with the initial goal of developing a cell that could find a perfect balance between power delivery, energy density and thermal stability. They achieved that using manganese spinel chemistry which creates polymer cells with lower expansion rates.

It was expansion that caused a problem in the lithium ion technology, with the thermal expansion causing cracks in the electrodes, which in turn made it more difficult for the cells to hold a charge. The new manganese spinel lithium power cells do not suffer from that problem, and are designed to go through tens of thousands of charge cycles without fear of breakage, or having to resort to a heavier, liquid cooling system.

With that in mind, Hyundai unveiled their new 2013 Veloster coupe at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this January, and the 201 horsepower vehicle quickly became a favorite among those in attendance.

The Veloster is the first element in the Hyundai turbocharged sports couple line-up, with the 2013 Genesis Couple 2.0T (Turbo) representing the other half of the dynamic duo.

Fans of the 2013 Veloster are going to have to wait until this summer before they can get their hands on the new ride, and the people at Hyundai are well aware that by the time that release date arrives there will be serious competition in that vehicle category.

The most likely competitors to the sports couple throne will likely be the Volkswagen GTI, Honda Civic Si and Mini Cooper/Clubman S, all of which will be hitting the market at the same time.

Mike O’Brien, vice president, product and corporate planning, Hyundai Motor America acknowledged that they would be facing some tough competition, but also expressed that the Veloster sports a number of key components that should keep it ahead of its rivals.

Those include a better power to weight ratio than any other car in the class, as well as a unique suspension hardware set and sport-tuned steering. Those are just a few of the Veloster’s highlights, and a quick look at the rest will show why it was such a big hit at its unveiling.

As is the case with every Hyundai vehicle, the automaker goes out of their way to prove drivers with a car that not only looks great, but also offers great gas mileage. The Veloster fits that bill perfectly with a sleek, stunning body design and an estimated 38mpg. That’s an incredible number for a vehicle that packs a punch with 201 horsepower and 6000 RPM.

The Veloster Turbo is beautifully designed, both inside and out, with the exterior sporting 18 inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, as well as some very stylish looking lighting in the front and back, as well as side mirrors that sport LED turning lights.

The interior has a luxurious feel, with leather seats that provide excellent lumbar supports, which will also keep the driver warm on those cold winter days. The Turbo also sports a beautiful interior Graphite Black with blue accents color scheme that was a particular hit with the car show crowd.

With the release of the Hyundai Veloster Turbo 2013 (Model Year) and Genesis Coupe, it’s clear to see that Hyundai is taking their successes of the past few years and working hard to parlay that into future sales by continuing to manufacture quality vehicles at affordable prices.

The South Korean largest carmaker today reported its total sales for January 2012 soared 15 percent to a record 42.694 vehicles.

The U.S.-made Sonata sedan was once again the automaker’s top-selling product with 14.489 units sold last month. It was followed by the 2012  Elantra compact car, which has recently won the North American Car Of The Year award. Compared to a year ago, the Elantra sales grew 13 percent to 10.900 units.

Demand for the all-new Hyundai Accent and Santa Fe SUV remained strong during the very-first month of the year (4.341 and 4.818 units sold, respectively). January was also a good month for the Tucson CUV which recorded the sales of 3.116 units.

Hyundai Genesis and Equus luxury sedans also performed with sales jumping 27 percent compared to a year ago, while sales for the Azera near-luxury sedan dropped from 156 units in January 2011 to only 18 units in January 2012.

The Azera will soon be replaced by a fully revamped model so numbers are expected to increase significantly once Hyundai starts shipping vehicles to its U.S. dealerships. Hyundai also moved 1693 units of the 2013 Veloster coupe in January.

Hyundai sales – January 2012:

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:

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.

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 2013 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:

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]

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.