Hyundai Motor will start production of its first convertibles at a plant in the Czech Republic to be completed in 2009. A senior source in the company said Monday the firm will produce a convertible mid-size sedan tentatively named FD at the Czech plant. “We are in the midst of discussion with European convertible manufacturer Webasto on the development of the model,” he added. It is the first time a Korean company is getting into mass production of convertible models since Kia Motors produced the Elan in cooperation with Lotus.

Hyundai’s motive is improving its brand image. “Convertible cars are not profitable because the volume of sales is small, but they are effective in bringing the image of high-end products to foreign customers,” a Hyundai executive said.

Hyundai introduced a concept convertible model of the Tiburon at the Frankfurt motor show in Germany back in 2003. Kia Motors developed the Sepia convertible model but abandoned it judging that it was not marketable enough. The FD, which targets the European market, will be a mid-size car with a 1,600-2,000 cc engine. Hyundai plans to produce the standard FD sedan at its Ulsan plant first, and then make the sedan and convertible at the Czech plant once it is finished.

A Field of Dreams! The crack of the bat on a warm spring afternoon, boys in their baseball uniforms pitching and fielding balls, stealing bases, and sliding into home! parents, grandparents, friends and neighbors coming together to watch and celebrate the wins or comfort the losses. Young men learning about the importance of teamwork, discipline, commitment and sportsmanship. This, quite simply, is what baseball and kids is all about.

A Field in Need

The Longmeadow Diamond Club, a group of parent volunteers committed to long-term financial support of Longmeadow High School Baseball, is embarking on a major community-wide initiative to restore our own field of dreams: the Russell Field Baseball Diamond at LHS. Russell Field is well used, by the Varsity and Junior Varsity teams as well as American Legion, Mickey Mantle and adult summer leagues. Over the years, the infield has greatly deteriorated, resulting in conditions dangerous to players. The town budget funds only minimal maintenance, and the many additional hours of volunteer time and expense to groom and repair the baseball diamond before and after games is no longer enough.

The Project

The work has already begun this fall and the new field will be ready in time for the spring 2007 season. The infield will be completely replaced: the soil conditioned and laser-leveled, pitcher’s mound and home plate areas rebuilt, and the infield replanted with hardy Kentucky bluegrass. A comprehensive field maintenance plan will be put into place. The cost of restoration is $18,100. We have already reached a third of our goal.

Will You Help Us?

As a town of Longmeadow resident, baseball lover or business with an interest in the Longmeadow baseball community, we ask for your support in helping us make our dream a reality.

Here is your chance to win a new 2007 Hyundai Sonata SE valued at $18,800 for just $100. Your odds are great with only 500 tickets to be sold. All proceeds will benefit the Field of Dreams Restoration Fund.

Drawing date: May 26th at the Longmeadow Baseball Field. Need not be present to win. No prize substitutions. Taxes and fees are the sole responsibility of the winner.

A minimum of 300 tickets must be sold or all funds will be returned. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold.

Car courtesy of Gary Rome Hyundai. To purchase a ticket, contact Bob Michael at 565-2586. For information on the car, log onto GaryRomeHyundai.com

Just as well the new Hyundai Santa Fe is a sturdy vehicle, with the accolades being heaped upon it.

The glamorous newcomer has now been named Recreational SUV of the Year by New Zealand 4WD Magazine, New Zealand’s leading publication in the specialist market.

Distinct from Utility SUV of the Year, this award normally goes to the vehicle with greater off-road ability, but the magazine says the Santa Fe demonstrates superior all-round performance and simply cannot be ignored.

The diesel version of the stunning new off-roader has already been named SUV of the Year at the NZ Automotive Awards by AutoTrader Magazine.

In the important business market, Santa Fe was chosen as National Business Review’s SUV of the Year.

And the diesel was recognised as the most efficient large lifestyle/leisure vehicle with its victory in this week’s EnergyWise Rally.

This on top of the vehicle’s success in the Fair Go Ad Awards, where its compelling TV commercial featuring the cute surfing toddlers was given Best Ad Award by the programme’s biggest-ever margin.

Hyundai is only now delivering vehicles to New Zealand customers who have had to wait for their new Santa Fe as its popularity pushed orders beyond availability.

“We are honoured the new Santa Fe is being recognised by the major media of New Zealand so soon after its introduction,” commented the Managing Director of Hyundai Automotive NZ, Philip Eustace.

“We always knew this model would be something special, especially for New Zealanders, but its instant popularity even caught us a little by surprise.”

Five different models cover diesel and petrol options of the South Korean masterpiece, which is available with five and seven-seat options for New Zealand families.

Fountain Valley, Calif. (November 6, 2006) – Two of Hyundai’s newest additions to its entirely refreshed model lineup were honored as Edmunds.com Editors’ Most Wanted winners. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, named the 2007 Hyundai Accent the Edmunds.com Editors’ Most Wanted Sedan Under $15,000, and the 2007 Hyundai Azera the Edmunds.com Editors’ Most Wanted Sedan Under $30,000. The dual awards mark the first time that two Hyundai models have been selected to the Most Wanted list in the same year.

“The Editors’ Most Wanted winners provide class-leading performance, quality, style and value,” said Karl Brauer, Editor-in-Chief at Edmunds.com. “These are the vehicles that our editorial team would choose to have in our own driveways.”

In selecting the 2007 Hyundai Accent, Edmunds.com’s editorial staff proclaimed it to be “pleasant to drive and loaded with features.” The 2007 Hyundai Azera was said to “deliver plenty of high-end features and performance…and worth a good look when shopping in this category.”

“Accent and Azera represent the wide range of high quality vehicles across Hyundai’s revamped model lineup,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Strategic Planning and Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. “It’s fitting that these two vehicles would win the Edmunds.com Editors’ Most Wanted honor in the same year, demonstrating the strength of our lineup from top to bottom.”

Garmin has confirmed that Hyundai America will offer the Garmin nuvi 360 portable GPS through its 725 U.S. car dealerships.Hyundai car dealers starting this month will sell the nuvi at prices determined by the dealer and with the option to roll the purchase price into the financing of a car.

Garmin, which has about a 50 percent share of the portable GPS market, said that in less then a year the nuvi has become its most popular line.

The agreement with Hyundai is significant because it is Garmin’s first such U.S. arrangement with a car company and it allows the car dealers to offer state of the art portable GPS to consumers “when they are in a buying mood,” in the words of a Garmin spokesman, and at a price that can be negotiated along with the price of the car. “Customers see the Garmin kiosks at the dealership and it becomes really easy for them to say, let’s roll that into the deal,” he said.