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Hyundai Veloster arriving in Malaysia Q1 next year

November 9, 2011 at 1:15 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors says it will be launching the Veloster three-door coupe sometime in the first quarter of 2012.

“We have been receiving enquiries about the new Veloster from Malaysian car enthusiasts and I’m delighted to announce that this revolutionary three-door coupe, the first of its kind in Malaysia, will be arriving on Malaysian shores in the first quarter of next year,” said HSDM’s MD Dennis Ho.

The car will arrive here in its 132 hp 1.6 litre Gamma II engine form. Stick shifter fans will be pleased to know that the Veloster 1.6L will be available in both automatic and manual transmission versions.

Complete specifications of the model will only be announced at the launch in Q1 next year, though HSDM adds that it’s currently studying the possibility of bringing in the GDi (Gasoline Direction injection) and Turbo GDI models in the near future, with a consideration of the fuel quality here – a decision will be made upon the completion of this study.

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Hyundai sells 2.95 million units worldwide through third quarter 2011 – sales up by 10% over same period in 2010

October 31, 2011 at 2:17 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News, Koreans

Hyundai Motor Company has reported that it has sold 2,949,914 units worldwide in the first nine months of the year, up 10.5% from the same period a year earlier. Of the total, 510,228 units were sold domestically, while 2,439,686 vehicles were shifted in other global markets. The Korean automaker’s overseas sales rose 11.2% from the same period last year, while its domestic sales increased 7.3%.

The growth has been led by the launch of new models and strengthened product competitiveness throughout its lineup, the company said. New models such as Accent (badged as the Verna in some markets), Grandeur (Azera), Veloster and i40 drove up sales in all regions.

Net profit increased 34.1% to 6.1 trillion won as of the end of September from a year earlier, while operating profit rose 27.1% to 5.95 trillion won. Improved product mix and sales growth boosted sales revenue by 18.2% to 57.28 trillion won.

For the remainder of the year, however, the company said that global demand is expected to be lower than the industry’s original forecast earlier this year, due to unfavourable external factors such as the European financial crisis and slower growth in emerging markets. It added it would strengthen its focus on qualitative growth and implementing innovative marketing strategies to overcome these hurdles.

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Hyundai Santa Fe: standard spec joins lineup, RM151k

October 27, 2011 at 4:41 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Inokom, Koreans, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has introduced a standard specification variant of the Inokom Santa Fe, available only in the vehicle’s 2.4 litre petrol form. This version of the seven-seater SUV rolls in around RM8,000 cheaper than the premium specification model announced recently, being priced at RM150,888 (on-the-road, with insurance).

Again, no difference to the output figures of the 2.4 litre Theta II engine, which are 174 PS and 228 Nm. The vehicle comes with a six-speed maintenance-free automatic transmission and continues to feature an electronically-actuated 4-wheel drive system that changes from two- to four-wheel drive or 4-wheel lock at the touch of a button.

The main differences from the premium variant are in terms of interior trim, and some features have of course been omitted. Off the item list are the Audio Visual Navigator/GPS (AVN) unit, sunroof, smart key/push start button, reverse camera and driver power seat. The standard spec version features black leather seats.

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Hyundai-Sime Darby opens new 3S centre in Penang

October 24, 2011 at 12:34 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has opened its latest 3S centre in Penang, and the Sungai Pinang branch becomes the the third 3S outlet for the brand on the island. The showroom is operated by Sime Darby Auto Hyundai (SDAH), a subsidiary of Sime Darby Motors.

The 31,000 sq ft centre, located at 3, Jalan Sg Pinang, features a total of 11 service bays, enabling a quicker turnaround time, and can accommodate 30 Hyundai vehicles a day.

The outlet features, among other things, a premium customer lounge with free Wi-Fi and refreshments, as well as Quick Service and 24-hour Key Drop to its customers. Quick Service eliminates long waiting hours at the service centre, though it only applies to basic car servicing and doesn’t include repairs.

The 24-hour Key Drop enables customers to leave their car at the service centre at any time of the day for servicing or repair. It’s as simple as filling up a form and dropping off the key at a secured box. Once the envelope is picked up by the Service Advisors, a call will be made to confirm the type of service or repair required.

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Hyundai Motors CEO Steve Yang resigns – his role to be taken up by domestic and foreign sales chiefs

October 3, 2011 at 12:45 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, International News

According to reports, Hyundai Motor has said that its co-CEO Steve Yang has resigned from his role for personal reasons. Following this, the company’s heads of domestic and foreign sales will now split Yang’s role – the new structure sees Kim Choong-ho and Kim Seung-tack promoted to head Hyundai’s domestic business and overseas business respectively.

Yang, who will be 58 this month, stepped down due to health issues and is to take up an advisory role, the reports add. He was one of three CEOs of Hyundai, along with chairman and founding family member Chung Mong-koo, and was also the head of Hyundai’s production at its top plant.

Among the marketing guru’s achievements during his tenure was notching up record sales for the brand in India in 2005 while serving as the company’s sales head there, reports said.

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SEMA 01: ARK Performance 210 hp Hyundai Veloster turbo

September 30, 2011 at 12:10 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans

This mean looking machine is team effort by Hyundai and ARK Performance, to be shown at the 2011 SEMA show in November. The ARK Performance Veloster comes with a custom twin-scroll turbocharger increasing the stock 1.6-litre engine’s horsepower to 210 hp (from 138 hp) and matching aesthetics.

Many other goodies have gone into the coupe, including custom intercooler system with piping, custom oil cooler, turbo manifold, lightweight pulley system, six-pot brake kit, eight-point Chromoly rally style roll cage, DTP track coilover system and GRIP dual exhausts as well as RSEPC downpipes and test pipes.

“The Hyundai Veloster is an ideal car for enthusiasts with its distinctive design and dynamic architecture. At SEMA, our ARK Performance Veloster will bridge the realm between an affordable sports car and an extreme motor sports vehicle. From the first Tiburon, to the Genesis Coupe, and now with the Veloster, ARK Performance continues to uphold the torch as the pioneer of aftermarket performance manufacturing for Hyundai,” said Ted Lee, owner of ARK.

The ARK Performance Veloster will also showcase interior and exterior mods including an open wheel concept with aggressive fenders and Nitto tires. ARK will also develop Veloster specific parts to showcase the tunability of the car to the American Import Tuner crowd. The Veloster was unveiled at this year’s Detroit show. Read all about it here.

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Hyundai self developing 10-speed automatic transmission

September 30, 2011 at 10:46 am By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Koreans

How much is too much when it comes to gears? Cars like the BMW 5-Series come with eight forward ratios now, which is already a lot, but you can count on someone trying to outdo that. That someone is Hyundai, which is reported to be developing a 10-speed automatic transmission. Yes, 10.

Bloomberg News reported Park Seong Hyon, president of Hyundai Motor Group, the umbrella company of Hyundai Motor Co and Kia Motors Corp, saying that they’re developing the said 10 speeder for future luxury vehicles starting in 2014.

These could possibly including the next Hyundai Genesis and Equus luxury sedans. ZF is rolling out a 9-speed auto in 2013, and this one will retake the lead, if no one else joins the race.

Automakers are increasingly using transmissions with more gears to cut fuel consumption and emissions, and this piece of news signals that the Korean carmaker is firmly on the path of developing its own transmissions, instead of picking one off the shelves of ZF, BorgWarner or Aisin.

The 6-speed slushbox servicing the current Sonata and Tucson is an in house effort, and earlier this year, Hyundai launched an self developed 8-speed auto for the 2012 Genesis and Equus sedans. But 10?

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Hyundai Santa Fe goes the premium route – both 2.2 diesel and 2.4 petrol variants get the treatment

September 28, 2011 at 12:22 pm By Anthony Lim Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Inokom, Koreans, Local News

Hyundai-Sime Darby Motors has announced the introduction of a premium variant of the Inokom-badged Santa Fe, with both 2.2 Diesel and 2.4 Petrol seven-seater models now available in the new spec level option.

Externally, the Santa Fe premium gets a subtly enhanced exterior and interior, with a redesigned front grille, black gloss fog lamp rings and front and back skid plates part of the dress-up package. There’s also a chrome tailgate garnish and newly-designed 18-inch wheels for the variant.

Going the Premium route also bags you Downhill Brake Control (DBC); the system receives information from the wheel speed, steering angle and acceleration sensors, and through its hydro-electronic control unit maintains control and speed of the vehicle on steep declines without having to use the brakes. The DBC function can be activated through a push-button located at the gear area.

No revisions to the output of the engines, which are 174 PS and 228 Nm from the 2.4-litre Theta II petrol block and 197 PS and 442 Nm from the “R” 2.2 CRDi turbodiesel mill; both continue to work with the six-speed auto transmission.

The Premium Specification 2.2 Diesel is priced at RM169,258, while the 2.4 Petrol version goes for RM158,517 (both on-the-road, without insurance). You’ll need to be a bit patient to view one though – the variants will only be seen in Hyundai showrooms next week, starting October 7.
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Hyundai and Kia increase European production capacity

September 27, 2011 at 12:20 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, Kia, Koreans


The Koreans have been on form for quite some time now, and they’re even making headway in Europe, the toughest battleground for Asian manufacturers. Demand for new models has pushed Hyundai to increase production at its Czech Republic factory.

Originally, Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech (HMMC) planned to move from two-shift to three-shift production at the start of October, but has been doing so since last week (19 Sept). The company hired 800 new employees to work on this extra shift. In total, Hyundai and its suppliers employ 10,000 people in the Nošovice area of the Czech Republic.

The up in production is thanks to rising demand for the ix35 (Tucson to us) and Frankfurt debutant new i30, which will hit the showrooms early next year. By the way, HMMC has stepped from one shift to three in less than three years.

Sister brand Kia also has plans to increase production. The more youthful brand of the duo will introduce a third production shift at its European production hub in Slovakia along with 1,000 new staff. Three-shift operations are scheduled to start in Zilina by the first quarter of 2012.

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Hyundai Eon launching soon in India, sits below i10

September 21, 2011 at 1:06 pm By Danny Tan Filed Under Cars, Hyundai, India, International News, Koreans

Hyundai is ready to roll out a small car in India that sits below the i10. Called Eon, the affordable five-door hatch will be Hyundai’s weapon against India’s best seller, the Maruti Alto (not to be confused with our Suzuki Alto, which is called A-Star there) as well as high spec versions of the Tata Nano.

These sketches show that although the Hyundai Eon will be a bargain basement model, design is still very much on the agenda. We can see the company’s Fluidic Sculpture design in full play here – familiar cues include Hyundai’s hexagon grille, long headlamps and wavy surfacing on the profile.

The rear end is also unmistakably Hyundai with those long vertical lamps. With such sophisticated design, this is a cheap car that doesn’t look cheap.

The same goes for the interior, which is dual toned and equally curvy. The design, which directs one’s eyes to the centre console, is also in line with Hyundai’s latest products.

Reports from India are speculating that the Eon, codenamed HA, sits on a new platform that’s not shared with the i10. Apparently, it will be powered by a 814 cc SOHC 3-cylinder petrol engine with 56 PS and 75 Nm. The speculated ex-showroom price is 2.5 to 3 lakh rupees, which is roughly equivalent to RM16.2k to RM19.5k.

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