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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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What is this – next generation Hyundai Accent/Verna or Hyundai Elantra/Avante?

March 30, 2010 at 10:47 am By Paul Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Spyshots

This is supposed to be the next generation Hyundai Accent/Verna, snapped by Hyundai Blog reader MarkII. But it also does look very much like some taped up cars that were supposed to be the new Elantra/Avante that were spotted and photographed in the past.

The 2nd generation Accent has been around since 2005 and it’s about time for it to be replaced! It’s definitely not time to replace the Elantra/Avante yet since the latest generation was just launched in 2006 and by right it should only be due for a full model change sometime in 2012? The design cues are quite obviously from the new Sonata, resulting in a nice ‘family look’. The current generation Accent was also sold by Chrysler as a Dodge Attitude in certain markets. But now that Chrysler is in bed with Fiat, not sure if that’s going to happen again with the third generation.

Slowly but surely all the mediocre-looking Korean cars of the early 2000s are being replaced by these pretty good looking ones. For Malaysians who like sedans, cars like the Hyundai Accent and the Kia Rio represent the earliest entry price point into the marque’s sedan portfolio, although the current Rio on sale in Malaysia is only available as a hatch. If you impress with your cheapest car, when the owner upgrades his income, he is more likely to go with your brand with his next upgrade. Hyundai-Kia needs great Accents and Rios to turn the owners into future Sonata/Optima buyers

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Hyundai to debut Sonata hybrid at New York show

March 29, 2010 at 10:35 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hybrids and Alternative Fuel, Hyundai, International News, Koreans


Hyundai has released this teaser image of the Sonata hybrid that will be unwrapped at the New York Auto Show, which will open its doors to the press on 31st March. From it, we can tell that Hyundai’s first hybrid doesn’t share the same face with the regular Sonata. The wavy chrome grill is replaced by a big “gaping mouth” with a “winged” blue backed H logo above it, and the shape of the headlights and foglights are also unique. There are also snaky LED driving lamps residing inside the headlamp clusters.

Not much is revealed for now, but the Sonata hybrid is speculated by some to have a 2.4-litre four-cylinder engine mated to a 40 bhp electric motor powered by lithium-polymer batteries supplied by LG Electronics. Apparently it will use a revised version of the Sonata’s six-speed automatic transmission, not a CVT. Stay tuned for more.

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Hyundai’s top US marketing man jumps to Nissan

March 22, 2010 at 8:52 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Hyundai, International News, Nissan

Nissan North America has “captured” Hyundai America’s top marketing man. Joel Ewanick, who was vice president of marketing at the Korean company, is credited with the effective Hyundai Assurance Program, where Hyundai buys back cars from customers who lose their jobs. While at Hyundai, he earned accolades including Chief Marketing Officer of the Year (2009) from Forbes, Grand Marketer of the Year (2009) from Brandweek and Marketer of the Year (2009) from Advertising Age.

Ewanick has been named vice president, Marketing, Nissan Division, effective March 22. He succeeds Christian Meunier, whose appointment as president, Nissan Brazil, was announced Feb. 5. In his new role, Ewanick will be responsible for all facets of marketing activities for Nissan brand products in the US, including marketing communications, C&I, pricing and product management.

Before joining Hyundai, Ewanick held executive positions at the Hinckley Company – Monitor Clipper, Boston; Palmer Johnson LLC in Wisconsin; and Porsche Cars North America in Atlanta. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from California State University, Northridge.

To sell well one needs good products, but skilled marketing people can draw in seemingly uninterested people, just like Hyundai did in a troubled 2009 where it was one of only three brands to record growth. Surely, this is a coup for Nissan.

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Hyundai overtakes Japanese in brand loyalty chart

March 16, 2010 at 10:40 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans

According to the latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence data, Hyundai in the US recently surpassed Honda and Toyota when it comes to making customers happy and retaining them. In addition, Hyundai resale values have been outperforming the car segment average, which is something reserved only for Toyota and Honda in our market. The new Sonata YF was also the fifth most researched car in kbb.com’s Top 10 Most-Researched New Vehicles list.

Comparing February 2010 data to Q4 2009, Hyundai owners looking at new models within the brand increased by 10.4% to 56.3%, good enough for it to top the chart for the first time, up from third place in Q4 2009. In the same timeframe, Toyota fell from top to third spot while Honda held steady at second place. Toyota owners considering a repeat purchase fell by 4.4% to 53.3%. Honda’s score is 55.8%.

At the same time, Kelley Blue Book Values data for Feb 2010 showed that Hyundai outperformed the overall car segment average by a healthy margin, increasing 2% month-over-month, relative to a 0.3% increase for the entire car segment.

“Hyundai is clearly benefiting from ‘a perfect storm’ – a result of introducing passionate new products like the 2011 Sonata and 2010 Tucson, while Honda’s mainstream vehicles like the CR-V and Accord are a bit stale in the marketplace and Toyota is experiencing a huge consumer perception crisis,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

This should be another warning sign for the Japanese carmakers, whose models like the Accord and Camry have deep roots in the US top ten best sellers list. Hyundai, along with sister brand Kia and Subaru, were the only carmakers to have increased market share in a troubled 2009.

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Hyundai Tucson and Sonata local specs confirmed!

March 9, 2010 at 3:24 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans, Local News

Hyundai Sime Darby held a media preview this morning where the specs and variants for the new Tucson and Sonata were confirmed. What’s not confirmed is the pricing of the cars, which are still in the process of being approved by the authorities. The planned launch for the duo is in late April or early May, and we’ll be one of the earliest markets in Asia Pacific to receive right-hand drive cars. As previously revealed by this blog, both the Tucson and Sonata are imported CBU from Korea and will come in 2.0-litre Standard, 2.0-litre High Spec and 2.4-litre variants.

Both cars use the Theta II family of engines with DOHC and Dual CVVT. The 2.0-litre produces 164 bhp and 197 Nm of torque, which compares favourably to the Honda CR-V’s 148 bhp/190 Nm or the Accord’s 154 bhp/189 Nm.

Hyundai’s 175 bhp/227 Nm 2.4-litre beats Camry 2.4 figures and Honda K24A torque ratings, although it’s just shy of the Honda’s 178 bhp (which is made at a high 6,500 rpm). No diesels though, our Euro 2M standards are still not convincing enough for HMC.


Hyundai Sonata dashboard

All models will come with a six-speed automatic gearbox with tiptronic function. Developed in-house by Hyundai, this gearbox is said to be maintainence free. To back up the claim, Hyundai ran the gearbox for one and a half months, 24 hours a day, cycling through all six ratios. In that situation, the transmission lasted 300,000 km, so we can presume that it’ll last even longer with normal use.

For “harsh conditions” (the example given for “harsh” was up and down Genting Highlands full bore every day), you can send it in for service after 100,000 km. It was also mentioned that the A/T is “serviceable”, meaning that a faulty component can be replaced, rather than chucking the whole unit away. Anyhow, a five-year or 300,000 km warranty covers the gearbox, so it should be truly worry-free.


Hyundai Tucson dashboard

The Tucson is available in 2WD and 4WD, but the latter is only for the 2.4-litre. It’s a torque on demand system that automatically sends drive (maximum of 50%) to the rear wheels if slip is detected, and there’s a button on the centre console that locks it at 50:50. High spec 2.0 and 2.4 models are fitted with ESP, Hill Start Assist and Downhill Brake Control – the latter takes over braking duties from your foot in steep off road descents.

They also get keyless entry and start (with start button), a full length panaromic sunroof, semi-leather seats and driver’s powered seat. The only feature on the 2.4 that’s missing from the high spec 2.0 is auto climate control with ionizer.

The spec spread is pretty similar for the Sonata, which high spec 2.0 and 2.4 also get the glass roof and keyless entry/start, but adds on HID headlamps. Curiously, the panaromic roof on the sedan has a one-touch function that’s missing from the Tucson. Wheels of up to 18 inches are available for the two, but Hyundai Sime Darby has opted for 17s to avoid expensive tyre replacement costs. Both cars are yet to be officially crash tested, but Hyundai expects no less than full five stars for both cars in Euro NCAP and North America’s IIHS test after in-house simulations.

Now, all that’s left is the pricing. HSD is not having it easy on this matter; although this new breed of Hyundais meet and exceed class standards, the typical Malaysian customer still wants a substantially lower price than an equivalent Honda or Toyota, so we’ll see!

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Production Hyundai i-flow planned for 2011; showcar previews diesel hybrid system and new eco ideas

March 8, 2010 at 5:35 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under 2010 Geneva Motor Show, Cars, Concept Cars, Hyundai, Koreans

The Hyundai i-flow is one of the significant concept cars at Geneva, not just because it looks dramatic, but because under that heavily sculpted skin is a range of latest tech that could appear in Hyundai’s next generation of cars.

Powering the i-flow is the company’s first diesel-electric hybrid powertrain consisting of a U2 1.7-litre oil burner with two-stage turbocharging and Hyundai’s lithium ion-polymer battery. Coupled to a six-speed, dual-clutch transmission, the drivetrain is capable of 33.3 km/l and a low CO2 output of 85g/km.

The i-flow is also a test bed for new energy harvesting ideas, ranging from a flexible solar panel roofing to a thermo-electric generator developed in partnership with leading chemical company BASF. One such idea is thermal engine encapsulation, which ensures that the engine reaches optimum operating temperature more quickly by retaining heat when the car is idle. Hyundai says that this translates into fuel savings and emissions cuts of 5% during summer and up to 9% in winter. The thermo-electric generator meanwhile recaptures energy from hot exhaust gases and converts it to electrical energy to help power auxiliary systems.

Designed at Hyundai’s European studio in Russelsheim, the i-flow sports the firm’s “fluidic sculpture” design language. With an overall length of 4,780 mm and a 2,800 mm wheelbase, the i-flow is a Honda Accord sized D-segment contender that is set to hit the market in 2011. It remains to be seen how much of the i-flow’s styling is retained for production, but things look promising with the recent Korean realisation that advanced design is as important as making competent cars.

Live pictures from Geneva and official images are after the jump!
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