That’s No Lexus, It’s a Hyundai

Forget the myth. Hyundai Motor is not a tiny South Korean manufacturer of cheap little cars. It is a giant — the largest car company in South Korea and, as a part of the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, the sixth-largest car company in the world.

Nuts & Bolts

Complaint: Hyundai’s problem isn’t the Veracruz or any of the other eight vehicle lines it sells in the United States. Hyundai’s problem is its “we’re cheap” image, which hasn’t been helped by marketing that emphasizes price more than it does the quality and integrity of its products.

Ride, acceleration and handling: Excellent ride handling. Acceleration is excellent in the flatlands, where the Veracruz easily cruises at highway speeds. But the engine gets a bit wheezy in the mountains.

Head-turning quotients: Many Californians thought the Veracruz came from one of the traditional high-end manufacturers. At least one such spectator, in La Jolla, thought it was the latest edition of the substantially more expensive Mercedes-Benz R-Class crossover.

Body style/layout: The Veracruz is a front-engine, mid-size, luxury crossover utility vehicle (a station wagon in reality). It has four side doors and a rear lift-gate. It is available with all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, and it comes in three trim levels — base GLS, mid-range SE and high-end Limited.

Engine/transmission: The Veracruz comes with a standard 3.8-liter V-6 engine that develops 260 horsepower at 6,000 revolutions per minute and 257 foot-pounds of torque at 4,500 rpm. It is linked to a six-speed automatic transmission.

Capacities: There is seating for seven in the Veracruz. Maximum cargo capacity is 87 cubic feet. The fuel tank holds 20.6 gallons of recommended regular unleaded gasoline.

Mileage: I averaged 23 miles per gallon in highway driving.

Safety: Standard equipment includes electronic stability control, front active head restraints, side and head air bags, antilock brakes and electronic brake assistance.

Price: Base price on the Limited with all-wheel drive is $34,005. Dealer’s price on base model is $34,909. Price as tested is $37,645, including $2,950 in options and a $690 destination charge. Dealer’s price as tested is $34,909. Base price on the comparable Lexus RX350 is $38,000. With comparable options, the RX350 is $43,570. Prices sourced from Hyundai, Lexus, www.cars.com, www.edmunds.com and www.kbb.com.

Purse-strings note: Compare with Lexus RX 350, Honda Pilot, Subaru B9 Tribeca, Nissan Murano and, I think, the GMC Acadia. Competitors had better start taking Hyundai seriously.

It is a threat to anyone making cars, economy or luxury.

It can topple General Motors. It can upset Toyota. It already has bypassed Nissan and Honda in global vehicle sales. It is as determined as any company to rank No. 1 on the world’s automotive stage.

You can be forgiven for being surprised. Until now, Hyundai has done well faking humility — rolling out economy cars, wagons and compact sport-utility vehicles for budget-minded consumers. It will continue to serve that segment. Money is money. But there is more money to be made serving the rich — upper-income professionals who traditionally shop Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Infiniti, Lexus, Lincoln or Mercedes-Benz.

Hyundai wants those upscale dollars and is implementing an audacious, risky strategy to get them. It plans to build better luxury vehicles than any existing competitor and to sell those models at prices below that of any segment rival.

Cheeky? Yes. Possible? Consider the 2007 Hyundai Veracruz Limited crossover utility vehicle, which easily runs against the likes of the excellent Lexus RX350 — for thousands of dollars less.

I recently did a day-long, head-to-head driving comparison of the Veracruz and RX350 in San Diego and environs. There were obvious differences. The Veracruz, available with all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, has seating for seven people. The RX350, also available with all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, has space for five. The Veracruz has more standard equipment — including some that is usually optional, such as third-row seating — than the RX350.

In terms of crash-avoidance and impact-mitigation equipment, the Veracruz matches or surpasses all mainstream luxury vehicle manufacturers. For example, electronic stability control, side and head air bags, front-seat active head restraints, rear-seat head restraints, antilock brakes and electronic brake assistance are all standard on the Veracruz.

In design and creature comforts, the Veracruz — especially the fully loaded Limited edition — is an undisputed winner. It has a longer, more elegantly sculpted body than the RX350. Inside and out, it simply looks better. Inside, it also feels better — more spacious, less cramped than the RX350. The leather-covered seats are comfortable. (Thankfully, here, Hyundai jettisoned the notion that all drivers’ seats should fit the body as tightly as those in a race car. The Veracruz’s seats recognize that many of us are older and that our bodies are slightly larger than they were in our youth.) The Veracruz has every onboard automotive gadget imaginable, except one. At the moment, there is no navigation system. Hyundai has taken some heat for that. And the company is likely to respond by offering onboard navigation as an option in the slightly updated 2008 Veracruz. I understand the concept of the customer always being right. However, in this case, I believe that both Hyundai and its customers are wrong.

Go to a good consumer electronics shop. Look at the portable, easily attachable navigation systems. Most of them are more advanced and more accurate, and have more usable features than the best onboard navigation systems. But the portables, which can be updated more quickly than the fixed onboard models, often sell for half the price.

It thus makes as much sense for car companies to continue installing onboard systems as it does for them to install car phones, which have been surpassed in features, functionality and value by hand-held cellphones. Hyundai needs to save the money it’s going to waste installing onboard systems and use it to do something else.

But who am I to talk? Hyundai, as represented by the Veracruz, seems to be doing quite well following its own sense of what’s right and what works.

Consider the matter of engineering. The Veracruz comes with an easy-breathing, 260-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6. It uses regular unleaded fuel. The engine is linked to a remarkably smooth six-speed automatic transmission. The comparable RX350 comes with a 3.5-liter, 270-horsepower V-6 that requires premium unleaded fuel. That engine is linked to a five-speed automatic transmission. Put another way, the Veracruz is less expensive to operate than the RX350. But it’s every bit as much fun to drive.

Still, the problem for Hyundai remains consumer perception. It has to get consumers into the Veracruz to make them believe. That won’t be easy to do in the luxury vehicle segment. Prestige is important to luxury bias. Fair or not, for the time being, “Lexus” still sounds better than “Hyundai.”

By Warren Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, April 8, 2007

Hyundai’s New 7-Passenger Veracruz a Sweet Deal

Leave a reply

Hyundai’s new 7-passenger Veracruz a sweet deal

Hyundai is positioning its all-new 2007 Veracruz seven-passenger crossover utility vehicle against venerable competition, models such as Honda’s Pilot and Toyota’s Highlander, boasting a better powertrain performance and more safety features, in addition to high-quality craftsmanship and sophisticated styling. Like other manufacturers, Hyundai clearly envisions a still-growing crossover marketplace in the U.S., as the South Korean manufacturer now includes three CUVs in its product portfolio.

On sale now, the new Veracruz is available in either front-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive configurations. The seven-seater may be optioned at three distinct trim levels. Hardly “entry level” in terms of equipment, base GLS models are outfitted with features such as electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, 17-inch alloy wheels, air conditioning, a multifunctional steering wheel that tilts and telescopes, power windows/locks/heated mirror with turn signal indicators, remote keyless entry and tire-pressure monitoring. This version is impressively priced at $26,995 as a front driver and $28,695 in AWD format.

That same $28,695 entry fee gets you inside a FWD Veracruz SE model, which adds 18-inch wheels, power driver’s seat adjustment, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, auto-dimming exterior mirrors, front fog lights, roof rack and center storage console with the “Cool Box” feature to the already well-equipped base model. Hyundai Veracruz SE AWD models ring up at $30,395.

Anteing up $32,995 (FWD) or $34,695 (AWD) yields the comprehensive Limited package, which brings leather upholstery, power front passenger seat adjustment, heated front seats, a 315-watt Infinity audio system, power sunroof, power tailgate, automatic temperature control, windshield wiper de-icing, a conversation mirror and reverse warning. Chrome and brushed metal enhancements are also thoughtfully designed throughout.

Veracruz GLS models can be ordered with a $1,950 Premium Package that brings a sunroof, power driver’s seat, front seat heaters, leather wrapped steering wheel/shift knob and reverse warning. At the SE level, this package becomes “Premium and Leather,” commanding $3,350 while adding leather seats and an Infinity audio system, in addition to the GLS’s Premium offering. Additionally, a $1,600 Entertainment Package tacks on rear-seat DVD entertainment, a 115-volt outlet and a conversation mirror (to enable front seat passengers to see rear seat passengers when talking. The Premium/Leather gear is required for the Entertainment Package to be checked.

Finally, Veracruz Limited models get exclusive rights to the $2,950 Ultimate Package, which delivers adjustable pedals, memory settings, a power tilting/telescoping wheel, rain-sensing wipers, proximity key, lighted door scuff plates and the 115-volt outlet and the conversation mirror. Another $250 yields Premium Black/Saddle interior materials.

All models are powered by an all-aluminum 3.8-liter V-6 engine shared with the Azera sedan and rated for 260 horsepower and 257 pound-feet of torque in front of a six-speed automatic transmission. Continuously variable valve timing helps optimize intake valve operation, while the variable intake system enhancing cylinder “breathing” at both low and high engine speeds. Semi-active engine mounts decrease motor vibration and, as Hyundai gleefully proclaims, allows the Veracruz to idle with less noise and vibration than a Lexus RX350. The transmission includes sporty Shiftronic manual control, and fuel economy rates at 18/25 city/highway miles per gallon as a FWD vehicle and 17/24 mpg with the AWD system.

That electronic all-wheel-drive setup includes a lock mode splitting torque 50:50 front to rear.

The unibody chassis, MacPherson front suspension, multilink rear independent suspension, gas-charged dampers, front and rear stabilizer bars, 245/65-series 17-inch tires and rack-and-pinion steering ensure carlike composure and crisp handling over a variety of road conditions. The optional 18-inch wheels maintain the same 245mm width tire, but the aspect ratio drops to 60 (lower profile).

Safety equipment is plentiful, including dual front air bags, driver and front passenger seat-mounted side impact air bags, head curtain air bags protecting all three rows, standard electronic stability control with traction control and adjustable active front head restraints that help reduce whiplash.

Three-point seat belts hold all occupants in place and second- and third-row headrests are adjustable. Solidifying Veracruz’s safety are the five-star safety ratings in both front and side impact collisions awarded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

By Sue Mead
SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES
April 6, 2007

Hyundai Looking to Build More Confident Brand

Leave a reply

Hyundai Looking To Build More Confident Brand

Hyundai’s Genesis Concept, unveiled at the New York International Auto Show, is a dissertation in sheet metal about where the Seoul, Korea, company sees itself in the North American market.

The car, a production version of which will see the inside of dealer showrooms next year, is a sleek sedan with design suggestive of BMW and Audi. If the car demonstrates how much the Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Hyundai Motor America wants a piece of the near-premium car market, Hyundai marketers say a larger goal is more consideration among consumers and a more confident brand image.

The company’s new VP marketing, Joel Ewanick, who had been group director of brand planning at Hyundai’s erstwhile agency, Richards Group, says the company is counting on the new agency–to be announced next week–to develop a brand essence that transcends the 10-year/100,000-mile Hyundai Advantage warranty for which the company may still be most famous.

He says the company must increase consideration, while building awareness of the breadth of Hyundai’s offerings, which includes three SUVs, four sedans, a minivan and a sports coupe.

“At the end of the day, we are looking for an agency that can bring an idea,” says Ewanick. “We no longer think we need to make model advertising the sole message.”

He says Hyundai branding needs to close a “perception gap” between the truth about Hyundai vehicles and what consumers think they know about a brand that has relied on price and an industry-leading warranty to battled–mostly with success–collective memories of its shaky past.

“It’s one thing for people to be aware of you and another to put you on the list; that’s what we are working for,” he says. “We have had success, but we need to accelerate the momentum.”

Indeed, after several years of brisk growth in U.S. sales and market share, Hyundai’s 2006 sales were flat, though the company posted record sales for the month just passed, with 41,984 vehicles delivered–a 22% increase versus February, and a 57% improvement versus March 2006.

Steve Wilhite, who became Hyundai Motor America’s COO last August, says the company’s brand efforts need to create a mosaic out of discrete brand truths. “Each piece is wonderful by itself, but in the hands of a mosaic artist, you step back and get a much richer picture of what’s going on.”

Pieces he’d like to include in the big picture are safety technology–“The fact that electronic stability control is standard in 70% of our vehicles”; technological innovation, value and financial security via its 10-year warranty. “We are looking for an agency that knows how to tell those stories in the context of Hyundai; we need to be much more brand-centric than model-centric,” he says.

“If we walk through [the Javitz Center], very few people would be able to name all nine of our products. If I went to the prototypical soccer mom and asked her to tell me the name of our minivan, I’d guess one or two percent would know it. Electronic stability control is the single most important new safety technology since the deployment of seat belts. We haven’t told that story.”

He added that the company hasn’t talked about its gains in active and passive safety or its production quality. “It’s a function of a lack of confidence. And it’s gotta change.”

by Karl Greenberg, Friday, Apr 6, 2007 5:00 AM ET

Hyundai Looking At Diesel Lineup

Leave a reply

Hyundai looking at diesel lineup

Engines would be hybrid alternative

NEW YORK — Hyundai may offer diesel engines across its U.S. lineup of cars and trucks as an alternative to gasoline-electric hybrids if it can clear cost and technical hurdles, the automaker said Thursday.

Steve Wilhite, chief operating officer of Hyundai Motor America, said while Hyundai was developing its own hybrid technology, diesels made better financial sense for its customers.

“The highest priority on my personal wish list is bringing our diesel technology to the United States, and I’d like to bring that across all of our products,” Wilhite said in an interview at the New York auto show. “It just seems like a much more elegant solution to me than a hybrid.”

Every major automaker has been working on new diesel models for the United States as the federal government has finalized strict new emissions rules and lawmakers consider tougher fuel economy standards.

Honda Motor Co. has said it will offer a new diesel engine in 2009, and German automakers have been promising several diesel variants.

Wilhite did not say when he hoped production of Hyundai diesels might start.

Wilhite, who had been global marketing manager for Nissan before taking the Hyundai post in August, said if a diesel option costs about $1,000, it would pay for itself in fuel savings. Diesels and hybrids can post 40% better fuel economy than gasoline engines in some vehicles, but hybrids cost $2,000 to $3,000 more than standard models.

“Fundamentally, you don’t get a payback on a hybrid,” Wilhite said. “In a diesel, you more than cover the premium.”

Wilhite also said that while Toyota Motor Co. has been successful with its Prius hybrid, part of that success has come from government tax incentives and state rules, especially in California, that allow hybrids in carpool lanes.

California ended that benefit last year, and USA Today recently reported that Priuses with permits for carpool lanes were worth $4,000 more on the used car market. Toyota has offered incentives on the Prius this year, and boosted the offers to up to $2,000 on Wednesday.

Hyundai already sells diesel models in Europe and Asia, but Wilhite said the company was still working on ways to meet the strict new U.S. standards.

Wilhite said Hyundai was targeting sales of about 500,000 vehicles in the United States this year, after recording flat sales of 455,000 in 2006. A run-up in the value of the Korean won currency forced Hyundai to raise its prices, which Wilhite said helped transaction prices but stunted sales.

While the company has expanded its lineup steadily and will add a near-luxury, rear-wheel-drive sedan in a couple of years based on the Genesis concept shown at the auto show, Wilhite said he had no desire to jump into the pickup market as Toyota, Honda and Nissan have done.

April 6, 2007
BY JUSTIN HYDE
FREE PRESS WASHINGTON STAFF

Jaguar, Hyundai to Offer HD Radio

Leave a reply

Jaguar, Hyundai to offer HD Radio

Hyundai and Jaguar are adding HD Radio, a digital radio service pioneered by Columbia-based iBiquity Digital, as an option for luxury model vehicles, the automakers said at the New York Auto Show.

HD Radio offers higher quality audio through digital receivers. The two manufacturers are the second and third to adopt the technology — BMW is already including it as an option in its entire 2007 line.

iBiquity launched HD Radio in 2004, and there are 1,200 stations nationwide that broadcast in the format. There are 11 in Maryland.

Radio stations that use HD broadcast both analog and digital signals, so all users can still listen. But HD Radio receivers can produce CD-quality audio because the receivers can sort through interference that occurs when signals bounce off objects, reducing static and fading, according to iBiquity.

Hyundai will include the technology option in its rear-wheel drive sports sedan scheduled for a 2008 release, according to a company release.

Jaguar will offer it in its 2008 luxury XJ sedan.

Baltimore Business Journal – 3:57 PM EDT Thursday, April 5, 2007
by Scott Dance

Hyundai Adds XM as Standard Feature on All-New Veracruz and Future Premium Sports Sedan

Leave a reply

Hyundai Adds XM as Standard Feature on All-New Veracruz and Future Premium Sports Sedan

XM also now available on 2007 Azera, Elantra, Santa Fe and Sonata models

NEW YORK, April 5 — XM , the nation’s leading provider of satellite radio with more than 7.6 million subscribers, today announced its continued expansion as a factory-installed, standard feature across the Hyundai vehicle lineup. New vehicles with standard XM include the all-new Veracruz midsize crossover on sale now and Hyundai’s upcoming premium sports sedan. A concept of the future sports sedan was revealed today at the New York International Auto Show.

XM Radio is already a standard, factory-installed feature on all 2007 Azera, Elantra, Santa Fe and Sonata audio systems.

“Hyundai customers come to expect unique and innovative style and technology, along with performance, comfort and safety across our diverse product portfolio,” said John Krafcik, vice-president of product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The addition of XM Satellite Radio to these models is yet another great feature to enhance the already excellent value offered by all of Hyundai’s vehicles.”

“Hyundai was the first automotive brand to announce plans to make XM Radio standard across the board,” said Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive for XM. “The addition of XM’s coast-to-coast programming is another feature to remind Hyundai buyers that they are enjoying one of the best new car values on the market today. By the end of 2007, all Hyundai factory audio systems will feature XM’s 170-plus channels of commercial-free music, news, sports, talk, and entertainment.”

Every Hyundai model equipped with factory-installed XM Radio comes with a three-month trial subscription.

About XM Satellite Radio

XM is America’s number one satellite radio company with more than 7.6 million subscribers. Broadcasting live daily from studios in Washington, DC, New York City, Chicago, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Toronto and Montreal, XM’s 2006 lineup includes more than 170 digital channels of choice from coast to coast: commercial-free music, premier sports, news, talk radio, comedy, children’s and entertainment programming; and the most advanced traffic and weather information.

XM, the leader in satellite-delivered entertainment and data services for the automobile market is available in 140 different vehicle models for 2007 through partnerships with auto manufacturers, including Infiniti. XM’s industry-leading products are available at consumer electronics retailers nationwide. For more information about XM hardware, programming and partnerships, please visit www.xmradio.com.

Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 755 dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai Sets Record March With 41,984 Sales

Leave a reply

Hyundai Sets Record March With 41,984 Sales

Fountain Valley, Calif., 04/03/2007 Hyundai Motor America today reported its best March ever with sales of 41,984 vehicles, up 22 percent over February. The all-new Santa Fe and Accent were up 109 percent and 57 percent over March 2006 respectively.

“Once again we are pleased to see such a strong March given the continued challenging sales conditions across the country,” said Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai’s vice president of National Sales. “We are excited to finish off the first quarter with such momentum and feel poised for continued sales growth in the second quarter with the launch of our new midsize crossover Veracruz and continued strong performance from one of the freshest product lineups in the industry.”

All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by The Hyundai Advantage, America’s Best Warranty. Hyundai buyers are protected by a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, and a 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty and 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance protection.

Following is the sales breakdown for March 2007:

CARLINE	MAR/2007	MAR/2006	CY2007	CY2006
ACCENT	3,427	2,181	8,727	4,765
SONATA	10,584	17,487	29,997	42,871
ELANTRA	10,343	9,665	22,832	25,785
TIBURON	1,247	1,547	2,903	3,663
SANTA FE	8,470	4,058	21,239	10,452
XG350/AZERA	2,395	2,401	5,864	6,260
TUCSON	3,982	4,427	9,694	12,192
ENTOURAGE	1,358	N/A	3,226	N/A
VERACRUZ	178	N/A	178	N/A
TOTAL	41,984	41,766	104,205	105,988

Hyundai Unveils Concept Genesis Premium Sports Sedan

Leave a reply

Hyundai Unveils Concept Genesis Premium Sports Sedan

Rear-Wheel Drive and V-8 Engine Promise World Class Dynamics and Refinement

NEW YORK, March 4, 2007 – Hyundai presented the world debut of Concept Genesis during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show today. The concept car heralds the future architecture and design of a rear-wheel drive premium sports sedan scheduled to grace the Hyundai lineup in 2008.

“Concept Genesis extends our product range into new territories from a performance, design and packaging perspective,” said Steve Wilhite, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America. “When it arrives in 2008 it will catapult Hyundai into competition against some potent rivals, and Genesis is up for the challenge.”

Concept Genesis rides on a prototype of Hyundai’s all-new rear-wheel drive platform, signaling the brand’s desire to broaden its appeal to discerning driving enthusiasts. Concept Genesis is powered by Hyundai’s newly developed Tau DOHC 32-valve V-8 powertrain. Concept Genesis marks the beginning of premium performance for the Hyundai brand.

“Concept Genesis is a manifestation of Hyundai’s extraordinary desire to deliver world-class products across all model segments,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “With Genesis, we’ve got a unique product position — an all-new, highly capable, rear-wheel drive platform; a high-performance powertrain; and premium, progressive design – all at a price starting well under $30,000.”

New Rear-Wheel-Drive Architechture Is A First For The U.S.

Concept Genesis features a rear-wheel-drive architecture, its first application in a U.S. Hyundai model. Rear-wheel drive provides a 53:47 front/rear weight distribution for optimal handling as well as more refined steering characteristics. Concept Genesis’ premium handling and steering performance is further controlled by Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the industry’s most important new safety technology. Hyundai leads all popular car brands in the standard application of ESC, with more than 70 percent of 2007 Hyundai sales volume featuring this life-saving technology as standard equipment.

ESC continually analyzes road speed, steering input, throttle position, lateral yaw rate and other factors. An onboard microprocessor determines if the vehicle is starting to understeer or oversteer, and can brake appropriate wheels and reduce engine power to keep the vehicle safely on course.

Utilizing ultra high-tensile steel in critical areas in the unibody provides Concept Genesis with a 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body-in-white weight than the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This stiffer, lighter, larger body provides a terrific foundation for world-class dynamics and lowering noise levels inside the vehicle.

TAU V-8 Powertrain

Adding to the Concept Genesis’ performance factor is the all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control and a limited-slip differential. The Tau delivers well over 300 horsepower to fit the demands of performance-oriented consumers. This powertrain combination will launch Genesis to 60 miles per hour in well under six seconds. The Tau engine is built with flexibility for the future. Future Tau variants may offer larger displacement, forced induction options and other technology enhancements.

Innovative And Sophisticated Sport-Tuned Suspension

Genesis features a suspension design that is among the most sophisticated and refined anywhere, at any price. The front five-link suspension features upper and lower arms linking the front wheels to the chassis. This artfully articulated arrangement creates a virtual king pin axis which dramatically reduces unwanted kickback through the steering wheel as well as improving responsiveness. The five-link independent rear suspension is equally sophisticated, enabling precise suspension geometry for an incredible level of ride and handling prowess. The capabilities of the advanced front and rear-suspension are maximized through driver selectable dynamic settings allowing tailored ride and handling characteristics according to need … or desire.

Modern Design

Genesis’ design is a progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan. To match its dynamic powertrain capabilities, Genesis combines strong, sculpted forms which integrate precise details, natural materials and innovative lighting to provide a well-crafted, premium design aesthetic.

Safety Features

Maintaining Hyundai’s emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Concept Genesis boasts world class active and passive safety features to both prevent accidents, and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving active safety technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control, eight airbags and active headrests.

Concept Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The 12.6-inch front rotors have single-piston floating calipers and the rear brakes feature 12.4-inch rotors with single-pistons.

Technology

Advanced adaptive cruise control
Electronic Stability Control
Eight airbags
Heat / cool seats
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with adaptive leveling
Push-button start
Navigation with backup camera
Electric parking brake
Bluetooth technology
USB / Auxiliary input jack
HD Radio™ Receiver
XM Satellite Radio®
Infinity® Discrete Surround Audio System

Genesis Premium Sports Sedan Specifications

Configuration: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports sedan
Wheelbase: 2935 mm / 115.6 inches
Overall length: 5005 mm / 197.0 inches
Overall width: 1863 mm / 73.3 inches
Overall height: 1490 mm / 58.7 inches
Track, f/r: 1575 mm / 62.0 inches, 1580 mm / 62.2 inches
Wheels: 20-inch multi-spoke
Engine type: V8
Estimated horsepower: Well over 300HP
Estimated torque: Over 300 lb. ft.
Displacement: 4.6 liter
Block material: High pressure die casting aluminum block
Cylinder head material: Aluminum
Valvetrain: Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC)li>Valve timing: Continuous variable valve timing
Variable induction system
Fuel delivery: Multi-port fuel injection
Estimated 0-60 mph: well under 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 130 mph (restricted)
Recommended fuel: Unleaded
Transmission type: ZF 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control
Suspension: Front multi-link (5-link) / Rear multi-link (5-link)
Stabilizer bar (front/rear): 26 mm/18 mm
Weight distribution front to rear: 53:47
Brakes: Power-assisted 4-wheel disc
Front brake diameter (mm / in): 320 / 12.6 ventilated disc
Rear brake diameter (mm / in): 314 / 12.4 solid disc
Steering type: Speed-sensing rack-and-pinion
Steering ratio: 14.86

Click on Hyundai’s Online 2007 Veracruz and Take It for a Spin

Leave a reply

Click on Hyundai’s Online 2007 Veracruz and Take It for a Spin

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. & FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif.– April 2, 2007 – Hyundai Motor America has introduced a new way for its customers to research and shop with the launch of the Veracruz interactive video player. Available on the Consumer Guides/How Stuff Works website (http://public.jumpstartautomotive.com/content/detroit_autoshow_hyunda i/player.html), the interactive video player incorporates one main and seven sub clickable videos for the viewer to research features and benefits of the all-new 2007 Veracruz SUV.

While watching the main video that highlights general features of the vehicle, the viewer can select a topic of interest and, when prompted, click on the video to explore additional sub videos highlighting Veracruz’s key features, such as the exterior, interior, performance and safety. When done, the viewer exits the sub video and returns to what they were watching in the main video.

Hyundai and Jumpstart Automotive enlisted Vimation to create the Veracruz interactive player utilizing the company’s VIM(R) clickable video technology.

“The Veracruz interactive video player provides a compelling and innovative way for our customers to research the Veracruz,” said Joel Ewanick, vice president of marketing, Hyundai. “All of the vehicle’s relevant information via videos, audio, images and text is aggregated into one player. The viewer can jump to different topics through the videos and they have control of what they want to watch and research.”

David Hemingway, chief executive officer of Vimation, said companies that utilize interactive video have a distinct advantage over their competitors. “Loyalty is the hardest commodity to earn on the internet. The only way to earn it is to give the user a personalized and relevant experience, one where they can lean forward and investigate while benefiting from the emotional aspect of a video presentation.”

Hemingway said Vimation’s technology makes it possible for Hyundai to syndicate the Veracruz player into any website while still keeping the content centrally administered. More than 40 metrics will be measured on a real-time basis, including repeat visitors, which videos are being viewed the most, how long each video is viewed, every time an interactive element is clicked and the location in the country where each viewer is watching.

“We’re always looking for new ways to push video content created specifically for the web,” said Dave Latham, west coast sales manager at Jumpstart Automotive Media. “Hyundai has given us this great opportunity to create some unique content while the Vimation technology helps us take it to the next level.”

About Vimation, Inc.

Vimation, Inc., (www.vimation.com) located in Newport Beach, California, is a video interactive media company that has developed a unique technology for online videos that allows users to interact directly with high quality video while they navigate, browse, and shop online. Vimation’s interactive video solutions are based on Flash technology and do not require website redesign. This technology encourages users to search actively for the information they need, while providing real time data to the marketers, in turn helping to make website content more targeted and appealing.

About Jumpstart Automotive Media, Inc.

Jumpstart Automotive Media, Inc. (www.JumpstartAutomotiveMedia.com) partners with leading web publishers to create the Internet’s largest and highest quality community of car shoppers. Jumpstart’s targeted reach and innovative marketing programs help automotive manufacturers and dealers improve their advertising results and help web publishers achieve a maximum return on their audience. Jumpstart counts every automotive manufacturer and more than one thousand automotive dealers as customers. Key Jumpstart Network partners include NADAguides, Vehix, Consumer Guide Automotive, JD Power Autos, Shopping.com, Google, and Yahoo. Jumpstart has partnered with leading web sites and ad networks for a Behavioral Auto Channel which uses behavioral targeting to track and serve ads to in-market car buyers across one of the web’s largest aggregated distribution bases.

About Hyundai Motor America

Hyundai Sees Luxury Brand in Its Future

Leave a reply

Hyundai Sees Luxury Brand in Its Future

LA JOLLA, CA – Hyundai Motor America Inc. may consider establishing a luxury brand, a top executive tells Ward’s.

“We’d probably be silly not to look at it,” Wayne Killen, director-product planning, says here during a test drive of the all-new Hyundai Veracruz cross/utility vehicle. “The case could be made that it makes sense for us.”

Hyundai already has “cut its teeth” in the fierce U.S. market by competing head-to-head with U.S., Japanese and European brands – and succeeding, Killen claims.

Hyundai’s share of the U.S. market grew last year by 0.1 percentage points to 2.8%, compared with 2005. However, sales this year were down 3.1% through February, tracking below the industry’s 2.5% decline.

Additionally, the U.S. market is expected to begin seeing Chinese-built small cars, which are bound to be inexpensive and potentially could cut into Hyundai’s value-oriented market segment, Killen says.

“We need to have an option for those customers who want to trade up from their current Hyundai to a more expensive vehicle.”

ut Kille’s conceptual interest should not be interpreted as an official corporate initiative to mimic Japan’s top three auto makers, all of which have been building luxury brands in the U.S. for more than a decade.

At a press conference here Thursday, a journalist asked John Krafcik, Hyundai’s vice president-product development and strategic planning, whether the auto maker is considering a luxury outlet. Krafcik says there have been no such discussions at Hyundai.

And yet, HMA officials, including Krafcik, have made it clear Hyundai needs to move upmarket and appeal to a more affluent customer base.

At next week’s New York auto show, Hyundai will unveil Concept Genesis, a rear-wheel-drive V-8 powered sedan (codenamed BH) that is the same size as the Dynasty sold in South Korea. RWD cars with V-8s have been prevalent in the luxury segment.

In his presentation here, Krafcik says Concept Genesis has a firmer chassis than a BMW 5-Series and is proof that Hyundai can appeal to a market that wants more than reliable transportation and a good value.

“We want to extend to more segments but not leave behind the entry-level buyer,” Krafcik tells journalists.

The RWD sedan will go on sale in second-half 2008, he says. “We think this car will be fully equal to the best European sedans,” Krafcik says, adding the challenge is instilling that message in the minds of consumers.

Pricing for the new sedan will begin under $30,000, which represents the top end of the range for the front-wheel-drive Hyundai Azera sedan.

Ward’s segmentation identifies the Azera as an upper middle car, competing with the Buick LaCrosse, Honda Accord, Chrysler Sebring, Mazda6, Mercury Milan, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry.

Killen sees the production version of the Concept Genesis competing with the Chrysler 300C and Lexus GS 350.

Is Hyundai ready to sell a $50,000 car? “Maybe not today, but we’re not far from it,” he says. “With Genesis and the Veracruz paving the way, that could be in our future.”

Pricing for the new front-wheel-drive Veracruz, derived from the Santa Fe CUV architecture, begins at $26,995 and tops out at $38,000, with saddle leather interior, all-wheel drive and DVD player.

Primary competitors for the Veracruz are the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Subaru B9 Tribeca. But a secondary competitor is the Lexus RX 350.

For comparison purposes, journalists here were offered a chance to drive the RX 350 back-to-back against the Veracruz.

In a series of clever new TV commercials, Hyundai proudly proclaims its vehicles match up favorably with nameplates from Lexus, BMW and Land Rover and cost a lot less.

By Tom Murphy
WardsAuto.com, Mar 30, 2007 11:09 AM