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Hyundai i10 now comes with 1.25L Kappa engine!

May 24, 2010 at 12:19 pm By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Local News

The Hyundai i10 now has an additional variant in Malaysia equipped with the more modern and powerful twin cam 1.25 litre Kappa family engine, which supplements the 1.1 litre SOHC and does not replace it in the Malaysian line-up.

This engine complies with Euro 4 emissions regulations and produces 80 PS and 112Nm of torque compared to the 1.1 litre Epsilon single cam engine’s 66 PS.

There are actually two versions of the new aluminum alloy Kappa engine. One is a lower powered 1,197cc with a shorter stroke, but we are getting the European spec 1,248cc version, hence the 1.25 litre displacement instead of just 1.2 litre.

All Kappa engines are twin cam, 16 valve, use distributorless ignition, lightweight ECOFORM pistons, and feature an EPS power steering system. The engine is mated to a 4-speed automatic transmission.

The i10 (1.25l Kappa) is CKD assembled and is priced at RM49,688 (OTR) for the standard spec and RM52,688 (OTR) for the high spec (adds 2 airbags and ABS brakes) in West Malaysia and comes with a 5 years warranty or 300,000km extended warranty.

The Kappa model also has two exclusive colours not available on the 1.1 litre – Oyster Grey and Deepsea Blue.

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Hyundai launches all new Avante in South Korea!

April 30, 2010 at 8:40 am By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hyundai

Just days after launching the brand new Accent in Beijing Hyundai has now unveiled the latest generation Avante or Elantra at the Busan International Motor Show in Korea. Just like other latest offerings from Hyundai the Avante has received the company’s “fluidic sculpture” design language and it looks very good! Definitely much better than the outgoing one.

Among others the new Avante comes with features such as HID headlights, LED taillights along with a TFT LCD information display screen in the instrument panel. It even has heated rear seats.

According to the rather short press release power comes from the company’s latest 1.6 litre Gamma gasoline engine with direct injection. Power output is figured at 138hp while offering 166Nm of torque. This engine also features Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing and a Variable Induction System.

It is mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission which makes this Hyundai’s first GDI engine that is paired with a 6-speeder on a compact sedan. Continue reading to check out some launch photos. Unfortunately there are no images of the interior at the moment.

There is also a short preview animation of the new Avante.
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Hyundai Tucson to be launched next month, price to start from RM126,888!

April 28, 2010 at 12:48 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has announced that the new Tucson will be launched next month with prices starting from RM126,888 OTR for the base 2.0 Low Spec. This model features a petrol Theta-II engine with dual continuously variable valve timing and makes 164hp. There is also High Spec version of the 2.0 litre that costs RM136,888 OTR.

Compared to the Low Spec this version comes standard with ESP with HAC and DBC, semi leather seats, panorama sunroof as well as smart key with engine start stop button. Other standard features available on both models includes 17-inch alloy wheels, front fog lamps, dual airbags, roof rack and iPod connectivity.

For those of you who are willing to spend more you can opt for the range-topping 2.4 High Spec which comes with a 175hp 2.4 litre Theta-II engine. In addition to the equipment list on the 2.0 High Spec this 2.4 variant has power front seat (driver only), automatic air-conditioning with Cluster Ionizer and a luggage net.

This version costs RM152,888 OTR. All variants are offered standard with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Body colour options that are available include Vanilla White, Sleek Silver, Hyper Metallic, Grey Titanium, Phantom Black and Blue Ice. The Tucson comes with a 5-year warranty or 300,000 kilometers extended warranty and is now available for booking.

You can click here to read our initial test drive report and to view more images of the Tucson.

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Hyundai’s new GDI engines revealed in Beijing

April 26, 2010 at 9:19 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans

Other than the new Verna, Hyundai has a few other interesting announcements made at Auto China 2010. First is a new 1.6 litre engine packed full with tech such as direct injection, dual continuously variable valve timing, and a variable induction system.

Everything is in including efficiency tech such as CrN Physical Vapor Deposition (PVD) coating, Diamond Like Carbon (DLC) coating and water jacket inserts to enable a stable temp balance between the upper and lower blocks. The only thing missing is turbocharging. But thanks to all of this technology the engine manages to make 140 PS (138 horsepower) while keeping to the latest emission standards. That’s just about 22 horses short of 100 horsepower per litre of displacement.

Next is a direct injection version of its Lambda V6 engine of 3.3 litre displacement – as a result peak output is 300 PS (296 hp), also from a normally aspirated engine. GDI will later also be added to the 3.8 litre Lambda model. Hyundai also reveals that it will be adding a third variant to the Lambda family – not sure if it will be smaller than 3.3 litres or larger than 3.8 litres. Hyundai also displayed a self-developed 8-speed automatic transmission.

Look after the jump for a video presentation of the new 1.6L GDI.
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New Hyundai Accent premieres at 2010 Auto China

April 25, 2010 at 3:25 pm By Harvinder Sidhu Filed Under Cars, Hyundai

This is the all new Hyundai Accent or Verna as it is known in other markets. It made its debut at the 2010 Beijing Automotive Exhibition and will be first sold in China before being introduced in other markets.

The new Accent is built on a new platform and its being manufactured at the company’s plant in Beijing. The compact is powered by a new Gamma petrol unit with multiport fuel injection. The 1.6 litre all-aluminum DOHC engine makes 121hp at 6300 revs and 155Nm of peak torque at 4200 revs. This engine is linked to a 4-speed automatic slush box.

There is also a 1.4 litre unit that produces 106hp at 6300 revs and 135Nm of torque at 5000 revs. Buyers in China can select between a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed auto. With the former the 1.4 litre version delivers 100 kilometers with 5.7 litres of fuel. The company revealed that the engine has an enhanced Continuously Variable Valve Timing as well as a smart alternator and air conditioning compressor. There is also a motor-driven power steering.

The Accent’s design is inspired by Hyundai’s new design language. The front end looks a lot like the front end featured on the new Sonata. As a whole it looks better than outgoing model but I feel that the front end looks too big for a rather small-sized vehicle. What do you think?

More images are available after the jump.
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New Hyundai Accent spyshots show a downsized Sonata!

April 19, 2010 at 12:32 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Spyshots

Here are some spyshots of the new Hyundai Accent undisguised. It looks like the same car as the untaped red unit we posted before, which could have been either the new Accent or new Elantra/Avante. More likely the former, as the B-segment car is the older of the two – the current MC Accent was launched back in 2005. This new set of spyshots also reveal the car’s rear end, which looks to have the “Verna” badge on the bootlid (it’s quite blur though). The Accent is called Verna in its home market as well as in Singapore.

Hyundai is moving away from dull designs, and Korean entries are becoming design leaders in their segments – the new Sonata and Tucson look so removed from their predecessors, it’s hard to believe they’re only one generation apart in the same model line. This supposed new Accent clearly takes after the Fluidic Sculpture design language from the Sonata, and looks like a downsized version of it. The long headlamps, prominent strakes and lines, they’re all here, and it looks good.

We look forward to the unveiling, possibly at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show, but for now check out the rest of the pics after the jump.

Source
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Hyundai and Kia break UK sales records in March

April 8, 2010 at 5:12 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans


These days, if it’s a story on sales figures, it has to be from the Koreans. This time its Hyundai in the UK. The on-form marque achieved a personal best by selling 15,241 cars in March, beating the previous monthly record of 11,031 set in September 2009.

Tony Whitehorn, Hyundai UK’s managing director puts the achievement into perspective. “This sales total is remarkable considering that we sold 28,036 cars in the whole of 2008. We have now sold more than half that figure in just one month!”

And while the company did very well in 2009 thanks to the UK Government’s scrappage scheme which took £2,000 off list prices, only one in three of the March registrations were to scrappage customers. “Many industry observers have viewed the enormous success Hyundai has had with scrappage and assume that our sales will collapse once the scheme ends. These figures prove that Hyundai has built up a strong following and its success will continue long into the future,” Whitehorn added.

Best seller in the month was the i10 with 6,195 units, followed by the i30 with 4,584 and the i20 with 3,570. The new ix35 crossover (Tucson in our market) scored 500 orders in the first two weeks it went on sale.

UPDATE: Sister brand Kia has just released its March UK figures. It sold 12,277 units, the company’s best ever month since setting up shop in the UK. Once again, small cars lead the charge, with the Picanto doing 7,720 units.

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Hyundai Sonata 2.0T: twin-scroll turbo, 274bhp, 375Nm!

April 2, 2010 at 5:44 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans


Alongside the Sonata Hybrid, Hyundai also unveiled the Sonata 2.0T at the New York Auto Show. As its name suggests, this is a Sonata YF with forced induction, and the unit in question is Hyundai’s 2.0-litre Theta II turbocharged GDI engine. Vital stats read at 274 bhp at 6,000 rpm and 375 Nm of torque from 1,800-4,500 rpm. The resulting performance should be quite amazing; Volkswagen’s latest 2.0 TSI in the Golf GTI makes 207 bhp and 280 Nm, and that engine is no slow poke.

With this engine, Hyundai will no longer offer a Sonata V6. Why? Because there’s no longer a case for one. For instance the Accord 3.5 V6 only makes 271 bhp and 339 Nm. Properly done downsizing is proving the old saying “there’s no replacement for displacement” wrong. Paired to Hyundai’s self-developed six-speed automatic (with steering wheel shift paddles), the 2.0T’s official consumption figures are 7.8 km/l in the city and 12 km/l on the highway, which is decent for the performance on offer.


Twin-scroll turbos have two exhaust gas inlets divided by split walls inside the turbine housing, with both gas passages controlled by a waste-gate (motor-driven in the Sonata’s case, for more precise boost pressure control). Its design separates the cylinders for improved pressure distribution in the exhaust ports and a more efficient delivery of exhaust gas energy to the turbine. Boost pressure is 1.2 bar.

Unfortunately for us in Malaysia, not only is there almost zero chance of us getting the 2.0T, Hyundai is reluctant to even bring in the direct injected non-turbo Theta II GDI due to our fuel quality. Perhaps they don’t feel the need to, as the Theta II in Malaysian bound Sonatas is already highly competitive against what the Japanese offer.

Gallery after the jump.
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Hyundai Sonata Hybrid debuts lithium polymer battery tech

April 1, 2010 at 8:23 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Hyundai, Koreans


Hyundai has unveiled its 2011 Sonata Hybrid, which boasts unique approaches in hybrid powertrain design and battery technology. The car debuts Hyundai’s Hybrid Blue Drive system, which will serve as the foundation for the brand’s future hybrid models.

Hybrid Blue Drive is a full parallel hybrid drive system, which can operate on electric motor, gasoline engine, and a combination of the two depending on driving conditions and driver demands. The internal combustion engine used here is the 2.4-litre Theta II operating on the Atkinson Cycle with 169 bhp and 216 Nm of torque. Major driveline and cooling system components have been optimised to reduce friction, while the crankcase has been filled with low friction oil. Also new is start-stop tech and braking regeneration. All these measures combine for 10% better fuel consumption over the standard Theta II engine.

The electric motor is a 30kW unit pushing out 205 Nm of torque. Combined, the system puts out 209 bhp and 265 Nm and the official combined fuel economy figure is 13.5 km/l. The Sonata Hybrid’s EV-only limit is 100 km/h.


Instead of a CVT, Hybrid Blue Drive uses Hyundai’s proprietary 6-speed automatic transmission as found in the new Tucson and Sonata YF. Mods for this application include replacing the torque converter with an electric motor and efficient oil pump. Hyundai says that the decision to not use a CVT is to “provide a more traditional shift feel that is preferred by customers”, not to mention provide better economies of scale for the self-developed gearbox.

The Sonata Hybrid is the first and only car currently using lithium polymer battery technology, which Hyundai says is superior to nickel-metal hydride and lithium-ion tech. LiPo batteries offer 1.7 times more energy density than NiMH and deliver the same power with 20-30% less weight, 40% less volume and 10% better efficiency. Compared to lithium-ion, LiPo is more resistant to physical damage and can handle more charge-discharge cycles before storage capacity begins to degrade. LiPo batteries also offer advantages in thermal robustness and safety, and is cheaper to make.


For the Sonata Hybrid’s look, Hyundai wanted “at-a-glance” differentiation from the standard car, and has succeeded, thanks mainly to the bold hexagonal grille. The light clusters on both ends are also unique, while the bumpers, side sills and wheels have been optimised for aerodynamics.

Full gallery after the jump.
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Hyundai Tucson test drive report from Oman

April 1, 2010 at 2:53 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Test Drive Reviews


Take a look at the new Hyundai Tucson. The boldness in design seen here is a reflection of the newfound confidence resting within Hyundai and sister company Kia. No longer content to follow the shadows of the Japanese, the Koreans are now daring enough to chart their own course, both in engineering and design, and are aiming at the top of the class no less. But where do these new generation Hyundais really stand in the overall scheme?

Those thoughts were in our minds as we flew to Oman in the Middle East for the launch of the new Hyundai Tucson and Sonata back in February (an embargo is the reason why you’re only reading this now). Here, we’ll focus on the Tucson SUV with our impressions on the Sonata coming next.

Continue reading the report after the jump.
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