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Hyundai and its dealers plan to contribute $6.8 million this month to Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels, a childhood cancer charity backed by Hyundai U.S. CEO John Krafcik.

Hyundai and its dealers plan to contribute $6.8 million this month to Hyundai’s Hope on Wheels, a childhood cancer charity backed by Hyundai U.S. CEO John Krafcik.

Every time someone buys a Hyundai this month, the charity will get $200. You can learn more and contribute here.

Krafcik became passionate about what he sees as the overlooked problem of kids with cancer after his son had a condition that could have been — but turned out not to be — cancer.

His research showed that 40 children are diagnosed with cancer daily — one or two classrooms worth of kids. And cancer is the leading cause of death by disease of childred age 1 to 4.

The eagerly awaited replacement for Hyundai’s Tiburon sporty coupe will probably debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next January. The car takes its looks from Hyundai’s well-received Veloster concept vehicles.

The inexpensive Tiburon became a favorite among enthusiasts for its low price and eye-catching looks. It was Hyundai’s signature vehicle long before the Korean automaker started building hits like the 2011 Sonata and 2010 Tucson.

The new car will retain the Tiburon’s front-wheel drive layout, leaving rear-drive for Hyundai’s larger and more powerful Genesis sport coupe.

Separately, Hyundai plans to unveil its new Elantra compact at the Los Angeles auto show in November.

Both cars will build on the striking design theme Hyundai began with the Tucson and Sonata. They are to go on sale in 2011.

Read more: Mark Phelan’s corner: Hyundai’s Tiburon to make January debut in Detroit | freep.com | Detroit Free Press

Hyundai Motor Co., which has been gaining market share in the U.S., is moving production of its Santa Fe sport-utility vehicle from its plant in Alabama to a new plant owned by affiliate Kia Motors Corp. in Georgia, a Hyundai spokesman said Tuesday.

The move is intended to help fill Kia’s plant and give Hyundai more capacity to make its Sonata sedan in Alabama.

Production of the Santa Fe will begin sometime this fall at the West Point, Ga., plant that opened in February and now makes the Kia Sorrento. Hyundai owns 34% of Kia, which are both South Korea-based auto makers. The move will free up nearly 100,000 units of capacity at Hyundai’s Montgomery, Ala., plant to build Sonata sedans, which are selling rapidly, said Chris Hosford, a company spokesman.

Hyundai’s U.S. market share has risen to 4.7% through July of this year from 3% at the end of 2008. It was one of only three car makers, along with Kia and Subaru, to post a sales increase in 2009 as the U.S. auto market collapsed.

Hyundai joins other car makers seeking to boost their U.S. production capacity as the vehicle market has rebounded.

Volkswagen AG is building a plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., scheduled to open next year, which will be the first U.S. factory for the German car maker since it closed a plant near Pittsburgh in 1988. Toyota Motor Corp. is finishing a plant to make Corollas in Blue Springs, Miss., and General Motors Co. plans to reopen a plant in Orion, Mich., to make compact cars.

Hyundai is at full capacity at its plant in Montgomery. John Krafcik, chief executive of Hyundai’s U.S. operations, said sales of the Sonata, which was redesigned this year, are being held back by lack of supply. Sonata sales were up 45% this year through July. All Sonatas sold in the U.S. are made in this country.

Mr. Krafcik estimated in an interview last week that Hyundai is likely to need to increase its annual production of Sonatas and other models by 100,000 vehicles within two years, due to rising demand as U.S. auto sales recover. Hyundai made 116,569 Sonatas in the U.S. this year through July.

The Kia plant was built with the ability to make 300,000 cars a year and currently makes only the Sorrento, which is based on the same basic components as Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV. After production of the Santa Fe begins there, the plant still will have excess capacity but there are no announced plans to add other Kia or Hyundai production.

Meanwhile Tuesday, U.S. regulators said they are investigating a reported steering problem with the Sonata. The alleged defect, which affects about 16,300 vehicles, involves the detachment of a steering shaft, resulting in a loss of steering capability, according to documents posted Tuesday on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s website.

No accidents have been linked to the reported defect.

Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor said two Sonata owners reported similar steering problems to dealerships and that the auto maker fixed those vehicles. He said the company plans to cooperate with the government investigation.

The 2011 Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan receives standard Technology Package and 10 more horsepower for new model year.

Hyundai announced it has added more content and a 10 more ponies to its Genesis premium sedan. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis, equipped with 4.6L V8 engine, now packs 385 horsepower on premium unleaded fuel (or 378 on regular fuel). According to Hyundai Motor America, the V8 powered 2011 Genesis luxury sedan propels from zero to 60 miles per hour in only 5,3 seconds – that’s 0,4 second better than 2010 Genesis sedan!

The award-winning 4.6L V8 Tau engine delivers more horsepower and better torque than other V8 engines found on luxury sedans, such as Audi A8 or Lexus GS460. In addition the V8 Tau also delivers more hp per liter than any of these V8 competitors!

For the 2011 model year, Hyundai has further enhanced the astonishing list of standard equipment in the Genesis 4.6 by adding more premium features as standard equipment. The 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 is now available with features that were previously optional.

Those include smart cruise control, heated and cooled driver seat, Lexicon surround-sound audio system with added 17 speakers, navigation System featuring the intuitive Driver Information System (DIS) with 8-inch screen, electronic parking brake, parking assistance system, adaptive front lighting system, Xenon high-intensity discharge headlights and rear-view camera and parking sensors at front and rear.

The 2011 Genesis 3.8 retains the same content as the 2010 Genesis luxury sedan, and great starting price of $33,000, while the 2011 Hyundai Genesis 4.6 now starts at $43.000 (excluding freight). [Source: Hyundai]

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Brand Watch reports that for the first time ever, Hyundai has made the list of top five most-considered brands. In Q2 2010 Hyundai brand consideration surged nearly six percentage points in the non-luxury coupe/sedan/hatchback segment. Hyundai now garners 29 percent of the total consideration among shoppers of this segment, beating out top competitors like Nissan.

Kelley Blue Book’s Brand Watch is an ongoing study tracking and trending consumer perceptions, detailing strengths and weaknesses of makes within each segment.

“Hyundai is truly on a roll,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Hyundai has proven that when you make dynamic, exciting and affordable products that appeal to the new-car shopping masses, consumer perception begins to change and subsequently, sales will follow.”

Kelley Blue Book’s Kbb.com Q2 2010 Brand Watch was fielded to more than 3,000 in-market new-car shoppers on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com from April 6 – June 17, 2010. Q2 findings reveal that new-car shoppers rank durability/reliability, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, driving performance and safety (respectively) as the top five important factors while shopping for their next new vehicle.

“Being named one of Kbb.com’s top five most-considered brands truly demonstrates Hyundai’s continued commitment to delivering stylish, fuel efficient and affordable vehicles,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “As seen with our recent Tucson and Sonata models, Hyundai is committed to providing quality vehicles with class-leading safety technologies and performance features. Add to that our 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty and complimentary Roadside Assistance and it is clear why Hyundai’s consumer appeal is growing.”

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com named Hyundai as the No. 1 “upward-climbing” brand in share of market interest in May. These results come from the latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence analysis of recent kbb.com Web traffic patterns.

Hyundai’s share of new-car shopper activity increased 70 percent from May 2009 to May 2010, and now holds 6 percent of the total new-car shopping activity on kbb.com (up from 4.6 percent in January 2010). Hyundai’s ongoing success is largely attributed to the popularity of the newly redesigned Sonata and Tucson models, which have seen heavy marketing support and consumer interest since the beginning of the year.

“Many brands we see on the top five upward climbers and bottom five downward decliners list for May 2010 would have been shocking to many consumers and industry professionals if you would have shown them this data just a few years ago,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. “These results prove how great product supported by strong marketing, along with consumer confidence and excitement about the brand can alter shopper behavior in the relatively short course of only a year.”

“Hyundai’s increased shopper activity on kbb.com is a direct result of our continued pursuit in achieving industry-leading quality,” said Chris Perry, vice president of Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. “With impressive new vehicles like the all-new Sonata and Tucson customers are taking notice and adding Hyundai models to their shopping lists.”

Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com also recently named the 2010 Genesis Coupe 2.0T as one of its 2010 Top 10 Fast-Lane Four-Cylinders and the 2010 Elantra Touring as one of its 2010 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000.

For the complete story on Kelley Blue Book Market Watch website traffic data from kbb.com, visit http://mediaroom.kbb.com/hyundai-ford-increase-share-market-interest-kelley-blue-book-toyota-honda-decline.

In other words, if you really want to drive in style today—whether it’s on the fairway or on the highway—be sure to swing by your local Hyundai dealership to check out the Hyundai Genesis 3.8 first.

Posted By: GC

Hyundai Motor America today completed the first of a multiphase program to provide customers with more convenience and assurance when planning and scheduling service for their Hyundai. Through an industry-leading customer relationship management platform, the Hyundai Online Service Scheduling Program will not only streamline the process for customers, but will significantly improve scheduling and resource utilization for dealerships, resulting in improved customer service and more efficient service operations. The program effectively extends Hyundai Assurance, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance, through the entire service experience for Hyundai owners.

The first phase of the Online Service Scheduling Program is called Electronic Service Menus (ESM). Electronic Service Menus provide make-, model- and even VIN-specific information about the service requirements for an owner’s vehicle. The online system, available 24/7, will clearly explain different service options, including manufacturer-recommended maintenance and premium dealer offers. Electronic Service Menus have now been rolled out to nearly 800 Hyundai dealerships in the U.S. and are accessible through www.hyundaiusa.com.

Hyundai’s implementation of the Online Service Scheduling Program precedes the launch of its all-new flagship, the Equus premium sedan. With Equus, Hyundai is ushering in new customer relationship management tools that save owners both time and money. Examples include valet service for appointments and an iPad that will contain the entire Equus owner’s manual. Hyundai’s Online Service Scheduling Program is yet another result of this dedicated effort to enhance the customer experience. It will be fully implemented by the end of 2010 across Hyundai’s U.S. dealer network and be available to every Hyundai owner.

“Hyundai’s Online Service Scheduling Program will bring the owner, dealer and manufacturer into alignment when it comes to after-sales service and maintenance,” said Barry Ratzlaff, director of service operations, Hyundai Motor America. “Through the online portal Hyundai owners can access the full range of service options and recommended pricing for their vehicle, providing assurance that their service needs are exceeded. You don’t have to own a luxury car to get treated to the luxury service experience.”

In phase two of the implementation, Electronic Service Menus will be integrated with Online Service Scheduling, management reporting and certified DMS connectivity. This instant connection to local Hyundai dealerships’ service departments ensures that both the expertise and equipment will be available at the dealership when customers make their appointment, eliminating needless delays and improving the utilization of fixed assets in the shop. Owners can also print itemized service menus on demand through an easy-to-use web interface, and sign up for personalized appointment notifications and repair status sent by e-mail and text.

In the final phase, Hyundai dealers will have the option of automating and integrating Electronic Service Menus and Online Service Scheduling with call center and Smartphone scheduling, comprehensive shop control, greeter boards and email/text-based service marketing on a unified web-based platform. By integrating both the customer-facing and back-end technology, Hyundai dealers can further improve the customer service experience and generate increased service and parts revenue by increasing retention and improving efficiency.

Hyundai revealed additional engineering and feature information for the all-new 2011 Equus today. The Equus will be offered in just two configurations, Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate, both lavishly contented.

Equus Signature features the award-winning 385-horsepower Tau® V8 engine, a 608-watt Lexicon® audio system with 17 speakers, electronically controlled air suspension with continuous damping control, Vehicle Stability Management with pre-collision warning, Smart Cruise Control, HID headlamps, front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera, premium leather seating, Alcantara suede headliner, driver seat massage, heated and cooled front seats, heated wood and leather steering wheel, and numerous other premium technologies and features. The Equus Ultimate adds features typically found only in low-volume special-order luxury sedans with six-figure price tags, including a forward-view parking and cornering camera, power decklid, reclining rear seats with powered headrests, cooled rear seats, rear seat massage and leg support, rear seat refrigerator and a rear seat entertainment system.

“When you’re spending this much for a new car, you don’t want to feel like you’ve been shortchanged on engineering, technology or features,” said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. “Equus Signature has the technology and content of fully-optioned flagship models from Lexus and BMW, while Equus Ultimate delivers a specification approached only by our competitors’ low-volume, special-order models.”

This straightforward lineup of just two extremely well-equipped configurations enables a simple and elegant purchase experience, a key aspect of Hyundai’s innovative perspective on intelligent luxury, which also includes “Your Time, Your Place,” the industry’s first at-home vehicle demonstration program, the Valet Service program, which provides at-home pickup for Equus service and maintenance and the industry’s first iPad-based interactive owner’s manual.

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS
Equus’ exterior dimensions match up well to competitive luxury sedan flagships, and provide outstanding interior roominess.

EQUUS SIGNATURE KEY STANDARD FEATURES
4.6L DOHC Tau V8 engine
Six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires
Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with TCS and Brake Assist
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system with pre-collision warning
Nine airbags: Advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags
Electronic active front head restraints with power controls
Electronic seatbelt pretensioners
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
Smart Cruise Control
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED turn signal indicators
Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) with auto-leveling
Fog lights and automatic headlights
Front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera
Dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors w/ turn signal indicators and approach lamps
Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper
Proximity key entry with push-button start
Illuminated scuff plates, inside door handles and door armrest
Premium leather seating surfaces and Alcantara® suede headliner
12-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjustment and 10-way power front passenger seat
Driver seat massage system
Heated and cooled front seats
Heated, wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel
Power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver-side seat, mirror and steering wheel
Leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim
Electroluminescent cluster (Supervision) with 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen
Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold
Power windows with auto-down/up
Navigation system w/ DIS and multimedia controller
Apple iPad interactive owner’s manual
608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers
iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks and iPod connection cable
XM® Satellite Radio & NavTraffic® with trial subscription
Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
Dual automatic temperature control with air quality system
Windshield-wiper deicer, rain-sensing wipers and auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor
Electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass
Acoustic laminated windshield , front and rear side windows
Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof
60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats
Power rear sunshade and rear side-window sunshades
Luggage net
Premium-grade floor mats
Premium-grade trunk cargo mat
First-aid kit (PIO)
FIRSTS FOR HYUNDAI AND CONSUMERS
As Hyundai’s flagship rear-wheel-drive sedan, Equus contains many Hyundai firsts. One innovative new technology is the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, which governs ESC, the electronic parking brake, smart cruise control, the collision warning sensor and the seatbelt tensioning system for optimal safety. The seatbelt tensioning system works through sensors, which detect critical driving situations and retract the seatbelts accordingly to prevent passenger movement. The Equus’ dynamic safety package is further enhanced by the Lane Departure Warning System and driver’s knee airbags.

Beyond safety, the Equus will also debut power rear side-window sunshades, a heated steering wheel, power trunk lid, dual power, heated and cooled front seats, rain-repelling front side windows, a thermoelectric rear console refrigerator, 60/40 split power reclining rear seats and electronically-controlled Air Suspension with dual-mode Continuous Damping Control.

Several new driver information technologies make their debut on the Equus. Driver and passengers can keep an eye on the Equus’ numerous electronic systems through the 3.5-inch TFT LCD vehicle information monitor. Equus also features a forward-view cornering camera and a parking guide system with both top view and rear view perspectives.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
Hyundai’s Tau V8, which has been rated one of Ward’s “Ten Best Engines” for two consecutive years, is a strong technological building block for Equus. It is joined by an unsurpassed standard feature list including Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, a heated steering wheel, power reclining rear seats, heated rear seats and a 608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround sound audio system with 17 speakers. Equus Ultimate adds first-class rear seating and other focused rear compartment features that can only found on low-volume special-order competitive models.

Posted By: GC