Hyundai Motor Company has unveiled a completely redesigned Santa Fe crossover vehicle in South Korea.

The third-generation Santa Fe CUV, which made its official worldwide premiere at the 2012 New York Auto Show earlier this month, is scheduled to go on sale in Korea at the end of April.

During its first year on the market, Hyundai aims to sell 42,000 units of Santa Fe CUV in the domestic market and more than 110,000 units internationally.

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe sales are expected to increase to 385,000 units in 2013, with domestic and overseas sales projections of 50,000 and 335,000 units, respectively.

Santa Fe pre-orders signal good sales

Hyundai has revealed it has been accepting pre-sale orders for its all-new Santa Fe in Korea since the beginning of the month. To date, the carmaker has received more than 15,000 orders for its upcoming mid-size CUV, which is above initial expectations.

It’s no secret that the brand-new Santa Fe crossover vehicle will play a significant role in reviving the carmaker’s declining domestic sales.

Although Hyundai has posted stellar sales growth globally this year, its sales at home have been under pressure after the Korean government signed a free-trade deal with USA and Europe which have boosted international automakers’ access to the formerly sheltered South Korean market.

Hyundai officially unveiled the all-new Veloster Turbo at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show.

Armed with a brand-new 1,6L T-GDI engine, the 2013 Veloster Turbo is scheduled to hit the U.S. showroom floor before the end of summer.

The hot-looking entry-level sports car features a 201-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to either a 6-speed maunal or a six-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai Veloster Turbo styling is tweaked with a more appealing and aggressive body parts.

The car sports a set of 18-inch alloy wheels with chrome inserts, unique front fascia and redesigned foglights. In addition, the car also features two circular exhaust pipes at its rear-end.

Just for your information, the Veloster Turbo has been on sale in South Korea for several weeks and some lucky guys have already taken it for a spin.

You can see some pretty hot shots of the Korean-specs Veloster Turbo if you head over to their website. Enjoy the pics!

Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corp. shine in Europe!

The South Korean carmakers recorded an all-time high monthly sales in the European market in March 2012.

Combined sales of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group totaled 85,393 units last month, an increase of more than 15 percent compared to the same month a year ago.

According to latest sales reports from Europe, Hyundai sales increased 14 percent to 50,131 units, while Kia Motors recorded a 17 percent increase in sales (35,262 units sold).

Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group acquired 5.7 percent market share to secure the number 7 position among automakers selling cars in Europe.

In terms of sales, the South Korean carmaker surpassed many of its rivals, including Toyota, Nissan, Fiat and Daimler.

Sales in March were fueled by strong consumer demand for Hyundai’s newly launched i40 sedan and i40 Tourer. Kia, on the other hand, reported brisk sales of the all-new Rio hatchback and Sportage CUV.

European Hyundai-Kia sales this year are expected to rise further, thanks to new models that Hyundai and Kia plan to put on sale.

Their most important launches this year will be the all-new Kia cee’d and Hyundai i30, which were both developed exclusively for Europe, and will go on sale across the continent by the end of summer.

The New York International Auto Show is an important auto event for Hyundai Motor America as it hosts a world premiere of at least one Hyundai vehicle each year.

Over the past couple of years, we have seen the big unveilings of  Hyundai Genesis concept, Genesis Coupe, Sonata Hybrid and Equus luxury sedan in New York. And this year was no exception.

Hyundai Motor America displayed the new Santa Fe crossover for the first time in New York.

The carmaker stole the show by unveiling two versions of the next-generation mid-size CUV, the Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe LWB (long wheelbase), and surprised majority of media members and attendees.

The official Santa Fe unveiling took place during the Hyundai press conference at Jacob Javits Center in New York City. The carmaker streamed the entire reveal live to give you the opportunity to interact directly with Hyundai’s senior executives at the show.

In case you’ve missed it, here’s the official video. Enjoy!

Hyundai Santa Fe press conference video:

Designed to delight shoppers and defy convention, two all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe models make their world debut today at the 2012 New York International Auto Show.

The third-generation Santa Fe crossover family introduces the two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport and the long wheelbase (LWB) three-row, seven-passenger model called Santa Fe.

The all-new Santa Fe family showcases the brand’s cutting-edge capabilities through “Fluidic Sculpture” design, impressive fuel economy and a host of features to delight drivers and passengers with high expectations for functionality and comfort. The all-new 2013 Santa Fe Sport will go on-sale late this summer, with the larger Santa Fe introduced to dealers in January 2013.

The all-new Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe are the final pieces in Hyundai’s 7/11 product initiative (seven new or redesigned models in 11 months in the 2012 calendar year).

The first three vehicles in the initiative were Azera, Veloster Turbo and refreshed Genesis Coupe. The fourth and fifth vehicles were Elantra GT and Elantra Coupe. All feature outstanding fuel economy, significant lightweighting actions, and Hyundai’s signature “Fluidic Sculpture” design language.

Hyundai Santa Fe engines

New Hyundai Santa Fe Sport buyers have the choice of a 2.4L Gasoline Direct Engine -GDI engine or a turbocharged 2.0L GDI engine.

Both engines have been well tested in the Hyundai Sonata and provide more than enough power for city or highway driving and have the ability to tow up to 3,500 pounds.

With 190 horsepower and 181 lb-ft of torque (estimated), Santa Fe Sport 2.4 still manages outstanding fuel economy of 23 city and 33 highway (estimated). This powertrain truly combines power and fuel efficiency with refined driving dynamics.

The higher output 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found under the hood of Santa Fe Sport 2.0T increases horsepower to 264 (estimated), while also delivering excellent fuel economy. The top-of-line LWB Santa Fe is powered by the highly acclaimed 3.3-liter V6 engine, which is also found in the Hyundai Azera.

Six-speed automatic gearbox for the 2013 Santa Fe

All the engines are mated to Hyundai’s six-speed automatic transmission withmanual control. This transmission offers smooth shifts and a wide ratio spread that suits the engine’s characteristics. An automatic transmission warmer is included to keep the transmission oil at its optimal temperature, which improves real-world fuel economy.

Additionally, all models have an Active ECO System that modifies engine and transmission control to smooth out throttle response and increase real-world fuel economy.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe dimensions

New Hyundai Santa Fe Sport rides on a 106.3-inch wheelbase, with an overall length of 184.6 inches, height of 66.1 inches and width of 74.0 inches.

The larger Santa Fe rides on a 110.2-inch wheelbase, which is 3.9 inches longer than the Santa Fe Sport’s wheelbase. Its overall length is 193.1 inches compared with Santa Fe Sport’s length of 184.6 inches.

The 74.2-inch width is slightly wider than Santa Fe Sport. The LWB Santa Fe’s overall height is 66.5 inches, which is 0.4 inches higher than Santa Fe Sport.

Santa Fe safety

The LWB three-row Santa Fe offers Hyundai’s first Blindspot Detection System (BDS). This system identifies when a vehicle enters the defined blindspot and provides a warning that a vehicle is approaching.

All FWD models have a standard Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, which optimally manages Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and the Motor-Driven electric Power Steering (MDPS). VSM works to control two effects. The first is when a driver accelerates or brakes on a split-mu surface (slippery on one side, dry pavement on the other) and the vehicle wants to pull in one direction.

VSM detects this condition and sends a signal to the MDPS to apply steering assist. VSM counters the pull and automatically provides eight Newton meters of counter-steering. VSM reacts the same way during sudden lane changes or fast cornering. AWD drive models integrate torque and brake vectoring.

Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe feature seven airbags, including side curtain airbags and a driver’s knee airbag. All Santa Fe trims have rollover sensors for the side curtain airbags. When the sensors detect a potential rollover, the control module triggers the head-curtain side airbags and safety belt pre-tensioners to help protect passengers against serious injury.

Santa Fe Sport and LWB Santa Fe also feature a state-of-the-art braking package.

The package includes four-wheel disc brakes (12.6 inch front and 11.9 inch rear), an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist providing maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on vehicle loading conditions.

Additionally, Santa Fe Sport and the longer Santa Fe offer impressive passive safety features including a Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system for children’s seats and three-point seatbelts for all positions.

Hyundai Santa Fe gallery:

Hyundai of USA announced today record March sales of 69,728 units, a  13,0 percent increase over the same month a year ago!

According to the latest sales report, Hyundai Motor America has recorded its best-ever monthly sales result since the brand was introduced to the U.S. consumers back in 1986.

Hyundai reported March 2012 sales of  69,728 vehicles, an increase of 13 percent from the 61,873 vehicles sold during the same month a year earlier.

With a cumulative total of 163,573 units at the end of the first quarter, Hyundai Motor America’s year-to-date sales have increased by 15 percent over the corresponding period in 2011.

In March 2012, best performing Hyundai vehicles included the Sonata mid-size sedan with 23,281 units sold and the Elantra compact sedan and Hyundai Accent with 19,681 and 8,337 units sold, respectively.

The popular 40-mpg Hyundai sedans have experienced an astonishing customer response and so did the all-new Veloster 3-door coupe. The innovative Hyundai Veloster recorded sales of 3,848 units last month and followed the Santa Fe SUV taking fourth spot with sales of 5,853 units.

The sales of the Hyundai Santa Fe remained relatively flat last month, however, the upcoming launch of the all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe will bring increased interest and demand in Hyundai’s crossover vehicle segment.

Speaking of Hyundai crossover vehicles, the Tucson CUV performed pretty well last month with sales totaling 4,197 units; the highest monthly sales this year for the Tucson CUV!

Hyundai’s rear-wheel-drive duo, the Genesis and Equus, posted a 30 percent sales increase over March 2011 sales. Hyundai Genesis, including Genesis Coupe, sales totaled 3,429 units, while the Equus flagship sedan recorded the sales of 352 units! [Source: Hyundai]

Hyundai Sales by model – March 2012:

Hyundai-blog.com brings you first images of the new Santa Fe CUV interior, !

With the official Korean-market release date set for April next month, we are only a few week away from the official public premiere of the all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe.

The 2013 Santa Fe has been spied several times before, but this is the first time when the South Korean car enthusiasts have caught it with a completely undisguised interior.

These latest spy shots give us an unobscured look at the new Santa Fe crossover dashboard, offering a glimpse of what Hyundai Motor Company will show off late next month.

As anticipated, the new interior design is a step up from the current Santa Fe SUV. The dashboard features a very similar “sculpted” design layout as we have already seen on the new Sonata’s and Elantra’s interior.

Enhanced with more edges and swoopy lines, the new Santa Fe gains a pair of deeply set instrument gauges and plenty of new gadgets, which take the interior design a few notches up the scale. Overall, the all-new Santa Fe interior seems to be supremely functional and more eye-pleasing than ever.

Hyundai Santa Fe interior spy shots:

High-resolution Hyundai Santa Fe photos released by Hyundai Motor Company!

Have a look at the high-quality Hyundai Santa Fe photos, which were released only a day after the Hyundai Santa Fe brochure, leaked onto the world wide web.

The brochure photos gave us a glimpse of some of the standard and optional features that will be available in the Korean-specs 2013 Santa Fe crossover.

Those include LED headlights and taillights, 19-inch alloy wheels, sliding 2nd-row seats, 12-way power adjustable driver’s seat and manual rear-window sunshades.

In addition, the new Santa Fe will also have an electronic parking brake with auto vehicle hold system, BlueLink infotainment system with navigation, seven airbags (including driver’s knee air-bag) and lane departure warning system.

Expect more details about the highly-anticipated Santa Fe crossover to bow next month, when the model makes its official worldwide premiere at the New York International Auto Show. The event kicks off on April 4th. Stay tuned!

Hyundai Santa Fe photos:

The all-new Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 (Model Year) breaks cover!

Thanks to Hyundai fans and enthusiasts living in South Korea, the home land of Hyundai Motor Company, we are bringing you exclusive photos of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe brochure!

The leaked brochure, which hit the web today, provides us with the very first good look at the next-generation Hyundai Santa Fe CUV styling details and highlights some of the vehicle’s most notable features.

Salted to make its worldwide debut at the forthcoming New York Auto Show, the all-new Santa Fe CUV embodies a modern design called “Storm Edge” which gives the vehicle a strong and dynamic exterior appearance.

Completing the stylish exterior layout of the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe are advanced safety and luxury features, such as knee airbag, lane departure warning system, smart parking assist system, Blue Link infotainment system and many others.

Apparently, the Korean-market Santa Fe crossover also features a revised 2.0L diesel engine, which achieves 17 km/l (or approximately 5.88 L/100km).

Stay tuned for more 2013 Santa Fe news and information coming out soon as we are closing on its official worldwide debut!

Hyundai Santa Fe 2013 brochure photos:

First official rendering images of the upcoming 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe CUV hit the web!

Hyundai Motor America today released the very-first images of the hotly-anticipated 2013 Santa Fe crossover vehicle, which is scheduled to make its public premiere at the 2012 New York International Auto Show next month.

Ahead of its official unveiling, Hyundai released two official image renderings, which are giving us a better picture of what the next-generation 5-seat crossover vehicle will look like.

It appears from the renderings that the forthcoming 2013 Santa Fe CUV (to be called Hyundai ix45 in Europe) adopted the carmaker’s new “Storm Edge” styling  language, which is recognized as an evolution of the initial “Fluidic Sculpture” styling language that has been used on many Hyundai cars over the past couple of years.

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe image gallery: