Hyundai moves to fix early 2011 Sonata Turbo hose issue

Hyundai’s eagerly anticipated Sonata 2.0T model has just begun hitting U.S. showrooms, but a small quality issue that cropped up in the first batch of cars is causing some consternation. Conversations have been popping up on internet forums about the issue, and there has been some confusion as to the nature of the problem as well as questions about whether or not a stop-sale has been ordered by the company.

A small rubber hose that feeds oil to the turbo unit in very early 2011 Sonata Turbo models was apparently built to the wrong specification and needs replacement. According to a few user forum reports, some dealers haven’t been allowing customers to test drive the vehicles until the correct part has been fitted. Additionally, at least one of the first 2.0T owners informed Autoblog that his dealer actually flat-bedded his car back for service. However, Hyundai officials tell Autoblog that this issue affects very few units, and they want to make it clear that no stop-sale has been issued.

Hyundai recalling nearly 140,000 new Sonatas

It looks like the Hyundai Sonata is officially taking its place near the top of the midsize car category. We already told you how it has moved into third place in the sales race, and now it moves up the charts again… but on a much less desirable list. Hyundai has issued a recall of 139,500 Sonatas over steering issues.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report at safercar.gov identifies the issue says “the steering column intermediate shaft universal joint connections may have been either improperly assembled or insufficiently tightened.” The consequence could be “a complete separation or compromised attachment of the connections, such that the driver could experience a loss of, or reduction in, steering capability increasing the risk of a crash.”

The recall affects MY 2011 Hyundai Sonata sedans built between December 11, 2009 and September 10, 2010. Dealers should begin sending out recall notices in October. They will inspect and re-torque the assembly, and update the steering software too, at no charge.

Hypermiler Wayne Gerdes: After 2,269 miles and 59 mpg, Hyundai Sonata Hybrid “kicks ass”

Last fall, hypermiler Wayne Gerdes proposed to Hyundai that he drive a 2011 Sonata Hybrid across the country to help the automaker get the vehicle from the media launch location in California to Ann Arbor, MI, saying he thought he could do it with fewer than two tanks of gas. Of course, he proposed it on October, when the temperatures were still pretty warm and before he knew what the Sonata Hybrids’s fuel tank capacity is. Back then, he told AutoblogGreen today, he thought, the car was “worth 65 [miles per gallon] in the summer. In the winter, with the mountains, that’s a crapshoot.”

Gerdes recently finished the drive, which totaled 2,269.3 miles and squeezed out 59.58 mpg. Along the way, Gerdes learned that the car can hold at least 20.6 gallons, because that’s how much he managed to put in at the first fill up. The Hybrid’s official stated capacity is 17.2 gallons (the standard Sonata holds 18.5 gallons), but official numbers are not something that concerns Gerdes too much. The EPA rates the Sonata Hybrid at 40 mpg on the highway, and he would need much more than that to make the drive without filling up three times.

In the end, Gerdes learned that, “This thing, on the highway, will eat up anything. In fact, it came damn near the Prius, but it’s a heavier car. And I’m a big Prius fan.” The Sonata Hybrid is not a great city car, Gerdes said, but he did have plenty more praise for the vehicle that took him coast to coast (he first drove to Georgia before coming north to Michigan), and you can find that after the jump.

2011 Hyundai Equus starts at $58,000

Hyundai has released pricing information for the all-new 2011 Equus, and the full-size luxury sedan we drove earlier this year, will start at $58,000 in Signature form. Option up for the top-tier Equus Ultimate and the sticker swells to $64,500. So what does the extra $6,500 nets you?

• 50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function
• First-Class passenger-side rear seat with leg support and a massage system
• Cooled rear seats, a rear-seat entertainment system with an eight-inch monitor
• Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator
• Rear-seat power up/down head rests
• Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors
• Forward-view cornering camera
• Power trunk lid

All 2011 Hyundai Equus’ features Hyundai’s new “At Your Service” ownership experience, which includes a plethora of service options ranging from valet pick up and drop off to the use of a Hyundai Genesis while the Equus is in for service, not to mention no-cost maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles. Every authorized Hyundai dealership will play host to an Equus Champion; a product expert who is available to answer any questions about the car. New Equus owners also get to enjoy an Apple iPad in place of the traditional owner’s manual.

Hyundai reveals Solaris sub-compact for Russia

The production version of the Hyundai RB Concept has officially been christened the Solaris for the Russian market. A slightly tweaked-on-the-outside version of the sedan known elsewhere as the Verna or the Accent, the real changes took place underneath in order to handle Russian climes. A more powerful battery and enduro headlights, heating vents for rear seat passengers, a four-liter washer fluid tank and mudguards all around will help alleviate concerns in Northern Russia.

Further north, Siberians can add more cold-proofing in the form of heated front seats and mirrors, a de-icer for the wipers, and an emergency stop signal that activates in an accident. Engines are suspected to be a 1.4-liter four-cylinder with 109 horsepower, or a 1.6-liter four with 124 horses, working through either a five-speed manual or six-speed auto.

Hyundai would like to see 85,000 Solaris’ rolling out of its Russian plant and into Russian hands every year between the sedan and a five-door hatch. It is expected to be going against the Volkswagen Polo sedan, launched not long ago and also built in Russia, and the Dacia Logan.

Hyundai-Kia overtakes Toyota as biggest Asian automaker in Europe

European car buyers have a favorite Asian automaker, and its name is no longer Toyota. Hyundai and Kiahave tag-teamed to best the longtime Japanese automaker, with a four percent overall rise in total units through the first ten months of 2010. During that same period, Toyota-Lexus sales have fallen 17 percent, with Hyundai at 521,369 vehicles sold compared to 511,754 for Toyota.

Toyota’s recent tough road, along with the expanding number of quality offerings from Hyundai-Kia, have allowed the Seoul train to slide past the Japanese brand. Unless Toyota picks up the pace, that gap could widen because the Korean company is understood to have a greater number of new models planned for its European portfolio.

Of course, Hyundai has a long road ahead if it wishes to make the same claim here in the States, but it’s certainly moving in the right direction. Overall sales in the U.S. have risen 21 percent and demand for the redesigned Sonata has jumped 64 percent.

Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

At some point, the minds at Hyundai got serious about the company’s mid-sized sedan game. Seemingly in a heartbeat, the Korean manufacturer went from being completely under the radar of the average American family sedan buyer to a viable alternative to default buys like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. That jump fell solely on the shoulders of the all-new 2011 Sonata, a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. But if you want to go the full distance in this segment, you had better come to the fight packing more than just a competent base model.

That’s something you don’t need to tell Hyundai. The company has shored up its Sonata line with a potentturbocharged 2.0-liter model designed to tango with V6-equipped competitors as well as the car you see above – a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Is it enough to put the Sonata Hybrid ahead of the electrified versions of the heavy hitters already prowling the scene? We took the wheel to find out.

Hyundai Elantra offers 40 mpg from $14,830*

The rakish new 2011 Hyundai Elantra hits dealerships in the coming months and will be priced from $14,830 (*excluding $720 for destination) for the base GLS model with a six-speed manual transmission. This represents a $645 price increase versus the 2010 Elantra, though the 2011 model is $1,445 cheaper than a base Chevrolet Cruze and $1,440 less than a base 2012 Ford Focus – the Hyundai’s two main competitors.

All Elantras come equipped with a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine from Hyundai producing 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque, and the six-speed row-it-yourself gearbox is only available on the bottom-end GLS model – a new six-speed automatic is standard with all other GLS and Limited Elantras. What’s more, all Elantras are able to achieve 29/40 miles per gallon (city/highway).

Opting for the GLS Popular Equipment package adds things like 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, cruise control and a telescopic steering wheel, and the higher-end GLS Preferred pack adds alloy wheels and Bluetooth. The Elantra Limited starts at $19,980, and nets you standard equipment like heated leather seats (both front and rear), a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, foglamps and a sunroof. All Elantras are even available with an optional seven-inch navigation system, premium audio system and push-button start (for Limited models).

New Hyundai Azera/Grandeur caught in motion

We’ve seen spy photos of it running through Europe and renderings of what it will look like unmasked. Now we have clear footage of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur as it rolls down the highway. The lines stay very true to what we saw in the rendering and the result is a uniquely-Hyundai, stylish full-size sedan. The big Hyun’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language comes through without being shoved in one’s face and the overall aesthetic of the car is quite appealing, with a look that reminds us of a slightly larger and more refinedSonata.

We’re really looking forward to seeing this one in the flesh, but for now all we have is the video that is waiting for you after the jump.

Hyundai Elantra peeks out ahead of LA Auto Show

Take a look-see at what slipped out of Hyundai HQ via the miracle of Twitter. Despite the best efforts of one very dedicated member of Hyundai’s PR team, the 2011 Elantra managed to show the internet some skin ahead of its debut at the LA Auto Show. The new Korean economy fighter is fabled to break the 40 mpg barrier across the board all while wearing the company’s snappy new design language. Let the Ford Focusand Chevrolet Cruze take this as fair warning; you may have a fight on your hands once the Elantra hits town.

Hyundai Equus Mummbles and Dubs its way to SEMA

Hyundai has already shown us its GoGoGear Racing Genesis Coupe and a Rhys Millen Racing Equus. Now we get two more looks at what they’re bringing to SEMA this week. Hyundai has teamed up with DUB Magazine and Mummbles Marketing on a pair of Equus sedans.

The DUB Equus shows surprising restraint. While it wears 24-inch wheels, they blend in nicely with the body kit. Likewise, the grey-black paint scheme is sinister without being SEMA-shouty. Dare we say it? This is one SEMA ride we wouldn’t mind spending some seat time with.

Mummbles Marketing, a new custom shop of out Harrisburg, PA, has turned the standard Equus into a luxo-custom it calls the “Elegant Equus.” Mummbles didn’t just focus on looks, however; some wrenching was done on the Equus’ V8 engine, too. Thanks to a turbo kit from Legacy Innovations, a nitrous system and a Magnaflow exhaust, the Elegant Equus now produces 450 horsepower. Mummbles also adds an extra iPad (over the stock tablet the Equus comes with) that controls the air suspension, rear curtains, stereo and windows.

MT compares the Bentley Mulsanne to… the Hyundai Equus?!

With the launch of the all-new Equus, Hyundai has taken another step towards the deep end of the luxury carsegment. However, Bentley has a touch more experience in this arena and its new Mulsanne is decadence on wheels. The two companies sit on opposite ends of the automotive spectrum, but Motor Trend seems to think they warrant a comparison. We suspect Bentley will not be pleased…

Two of MT’s scribes hop into the back of both the Equus and the Mulsanne for a chat about the two luxury sedans, and one of them is none other than Autoblog alum Jonny Lieberman, decked out in his fancy new buff-book duds (the other is MT stalwart Ed Loh). Both vehicles pack a fair amount of amenities, but the difference between $70,000 and $330,000 (with $42k in options) is patently obvious. Just check out the cupholders. So, grab some pâté and a jar of Grey Poupon and check out the video after the jump.

Hyundai’s new 5.0-liter V8 to produce 429 horsepower

During a recent powertrain briefing, Hyundai revealed some more details about its new 5.0-liter Tau V8 and 1.0-liter Kappa three-cylinder engines that will be used in a variety of global markets in the near future.

Slated for use in the Genesis sedan as well as the larger Equus, Hyundai’s new V8 will use direct injection to produce 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. That’s a healthy increase of 59 horsepower and 8 ft-lbs of torque over the 4.6-liter V8 it’s replacing, while also increasing fuel economy by one mile per gallon to 18/26 thanks to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai has not mentioned any plans to offer the new Tau 5.0 in any other products, though we’d love to see it shoehorned under the hood of aGenesis Coupe. (Full disclosure: We really want to see a 5.0 battle between the Genesis Coupe andMustang GT.)

On a much smaller level of displacement, Hyundai also detailed a new 1.0-liter Kappa inline three-cylinder engine that will be offered in other markets in the new i10 subcompact. Currently, this engine produces 69 horsepower and returns around 55 miles per gallon on the United States testing cycle. And while this 1.0-liter engine currently isn’t slated for consumption here in the States, future versions of the Kappa engine could come to our shores. Hyundai says that we’ll see a turbocharged, 110-hp version of the 1.0-liter three in 2012, and that a turbocharged 1.2-liter Kappa will be released shortly thereafter. The 1.2T is estimated to produce around 130 to 140 hp, making it more suitable for American-sized vehicles.

Hyundai launches Save the Asterisks campaign for 40-mpg Elantra

Hyundai has noticed an alarming trend: the needless wasting of perfectly good asterisks on window stickers all over the country.

The Korean automaker notes that some competitors create a special trim level for certain models that’s designed specifically to score a great fuel mileage rating from the EPA, while the other volume trim levels return a few miles per gallon less across the board. Since Hyundai won’t name names, we’ll do it for them: Chevrolet Cruze (Eco) and Ford Fiesta (SFE). Every single version of the 2011 Elantra, however, will achieve 40 mpg, as Hyundai likes to keep reminding us. No asterisks required.

It also bears mentioning that starting with the month of November, 2010, Hyundai is the first automaker to specify the actual number of vehicles it sells that achieve or exceed the 40-mpg benchmark on its monthly sales report. For those keeping track, the figure from this past November was 192 vehicles – expect that number to rise dramatically in the coming months when the new Elantra goes on sale.

Great fuel economy is only one part of a much larger puzzle to marketplace success. Fortunately, we’ll have a First Drive report of the new 2011 Elantra to share in short order, so we’ll have a better understanding of what, if any, concessions were made to manage its laudable efficiency metrics. Stay tuned for that, and check out Hyundai’s Save the Asterisks video after the break.

2011 Hyundai Equus starts at $58,000

Hyundai has released pricing information for the all-new 2011 Equus, and the full-size luxury sedan we drove earlier this year, will start at $58,000 in Signature form. Option up for the top-tier Equus Ultimate and the sticker swells to $64,500. So what does the extra $6,500 nets you?

• 50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function
• First-Class passenger-side rear seat with leg support and a massage system
• Cooled rear seats, a rear-seat entertainment system with an eight-inch monitor
• Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator
• Rear-seat power up/down head rests
• Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors
• Forward-view cornering camera
• Power trunk lid

All 2011 Hyundai Equus’ features Hyundai’s new “At Your Service” ownership experience, which includes a plethora of service options ranging from valet pick up and drop off to the use of a Hyundai Genesis while the Equus is in for service, not to mention no-cost maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles. Every authorized Hyundai dealership will play host to an Equus Champion; a product expert who is available to answer any questions about the car. New Equus owners also get to enjoy an Apple iPad in place of the traditional owner’s manual.

Hyundai moves to fix early 2011 Sonata Turbo hose issue

Hyundai’s eagerly anticipated Sonata 2.0T model has just begun hitting U.S. showrooms, but a small quality issue that cropped up in the first batch of cars is causing some consternation. Conversations have been popping up on internet forums about the issue, and there has been some confusion as to the nature of the problem as well as questions about whether or not a stop-sale has been ordered by the company.

A small rubber hose that feeds oil to the turbo unit in very early 2011 Sonata Turbo models was apparently built to the wrong specification and needs replacement. According to a few user forum reports, some dealers haven’t been allowing customers to test drive the vehicles until the correct part has been fitted. Additionally, at least one of the first 2.0T owners informed Autoblog that his dealer actually flat-bedded his car back for service. However, Hyundai officials tell Autoblog that this issue affects very few units, and they want to make it clear that no stop-sale has been issued.

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T rolls up on the dyno

Inside Line put the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T on a dyno to see how much gumption the wheels were actually getting from the flywheel. Not uncommon for Hyundai, there are two sets of numbers to deal with in the beginning: the 2.0T is rated at 274 horsepower and 269 lb-ft on 87 octane, but IL was told that it could get ten more horses from 93 octane. Using 91 octane, the site figured it has about another six to eight ponies in the bag.

Having registered 234 peak hp at 6,100 rpm and 239 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm, driveline losses counted for a 20-percent drain in horsepower (from 280) and about 12 percent of torque. By comparison, when the non-turbo Sonata was tested, the percentage losses were slightly lower in both categories.

The turbo was praised for its consistent pulls and real-world acceleration (especially under partial throttle), as well as seamless boost anywhere in the rev range. Nevertheless, Inside Line’s Jason Kavanagh wonders, “I’m curious as to where a few ponies wandered off.” Follow the jump to watch the dyno test.

2013 Hyundai Elantra Touring going five-door, leaving the wagon train behind

Fear not, hatchback fans. According to Hyundai CEO John Krafcik, the next-generation Hyundai Elantra Touring will debut in late 2012 as a 2013 model. Krafcik tells Autoblog that while the Elantra sedan is styled specifically for the American market, the Elantra Touring is being penned with European customers in mind. The company sells a long-roof version of the Elantra in the old country under the i30 banner, but from what we understand, American buyers will get a taste of the next-generation vehicle in about two years.

“We launched the Elantra touring a couple of years after we launched the Elantra and we’re going to have the same model cycle for Elantra Touring here,” Krafcik said. “We’re going to get the next-generation i30 here in the U.S. market in a couple of years.”

But don’t expect the vehicle to share too much DNA with the old long-roof Elantra. Krafcik tells AB that the new Touring will be significantly different from the model on sale right now: “It’s a great design. The Elantra Touring design actually came out of our California studio. We’re going to go with the shorter five-door hatchback bodystyle instead of the larger wagon style we have now.”

Hyundai Elantra

Were we the betting type, we’d put money on looming CAFE standards as the single biggest issue to keep auto execs awake at night. Organizations from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to the California Air Resource Board and the Environmental Protection Agency have all made noise about increasing corporate average fuel economy standards to lofty figures that reside anywhere between 47 and 62 mpg in around 14 years – a blink of an eye in terms of product development. If you’ve been wondering why manufacturers continue to roll out a bevy of fuel-efficient, economical vehicles despite relatively stable fuel prices and luke-warm demand, wonder no more.

Hyundai, with its small-engined fleet of fuel-savvy bruisers, seems downright giddy at the news. The Korean manufacturer has announced that by the time 2025 rolls around, the company will have a corporate average fuel economy of 50 mpg. The groundwork for that dramatic increase is being laid right now with vehicles like the Sonata Hybrid and the most recent addition to the Hyundai stable, the 2011 Elantra.

The last-generation Elantra debuted four short years ago, but in meantime competition in the American small-car market has increased by leaps and bounds. Additions like the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and the upcoming2012 Ford Focus have proven that domestic manufacturers are just as serious about producing compact, high-quality vehicles with excellent fuel economy as the long-reigning titans of the segment from Honda and Toyota. With its 40 mpg highway, stylish exterior and excellent drivetrain, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is set to put the rest of the segment on notice.

Hyundai CEO targets 50 mpg by 2025, but that figure isn’t as high as you think

The U.S. government is investigating the possibility of raising fuel economy standards to 62 miles per gallon by 2025. The Detroit Free Press reports that Hyundai isn’t yet endorsing that number, but CEO John Krafcik feels 50 miles per gallon is well within reach. The Korean automaker already features two vehicles capable of 40 miles per gallon in the Sonata Hybrid and the new Elantra, and the next 15 years promises to show further gains in efficiency.

And that’s not the only reason Krafcik is optimistic. CAFE fuel economy is actually figured out differently than the formula used by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Freep points out that while the monroney on an Elantra will show 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, the compact’s CAFE number will be 44 mpg. What a difference a formula makes. The outspoken chief executive says that taking a hard look at the CAFE numbers makes 50 mpg seem “a heck of a lot more doable.”

Doable, yes, but 50 mpg still isn’t an easy task. Hyundai’s two best vehicles are still under that number, and the rest of the company’s fleet is far below the magic total. But 15 years is a long time in research and development years, and we’re thinking most automakers will have at least a fighting chance to reach the big five-oh by 2025.