The Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA) named the all-new 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport “Best Compact CUV” during the 2013 Mudfest competition last week in Snoqualmie, Washington. More than 30 NWAPA automotive journalists participated in the event at the 300-plus acre DirtFish Rally School site in Snoqualmie, WA.
"Mudfest gives our members the ability to test the top crossovers, side-by-side, in real-world conditions," said Ryan Douthit, host of Driving Sports TV and this year's event organizer. "Working with the DirtFish staff, we designed a number of test courses that really challenged the vehicles in terms of road-handling and their ability to navigate through very rugged off-road conditions. The fact that our members selected the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport for this honor speaks volumes about what it offers compared to competitive vehicles in its class."
"The Pacific Northwest terrain provided media the opportunity to put the Santa Fe Sport AWD turbo through a number of exercises that included a wet pavement autocross course and a real-world drive through the hills surrounding DirtFish Rally School,” said Scott Margason, director product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “NWAPA members were able to experience the Santa Fe Sport AWD turbo capabilities, including the punch of the twin-scroll turbocharger and the dual continuously variable value timing, which delivered both outstanding performance and fuel economy.”
The 2013 Best Compact CUV award from NWAPA is one in a list of honors the 2013 Santa Fe Sport has garnered since launching during the fourth quarter of 2012. Santa Fe Sport received the honor of “Best New Crossover” in the Midsize and Large Crossovers category in Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, was named to this year’s Ward’s “10 Best Interiors” list for its upscale and highly-functional interior, and was awarded “Crossover of the Year” by the editors of Autobytel.
HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 820 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. On May 16, 2013, Hyundai Assurance will be expanded to include Assurance Connected Care. Assurance Connected Care provides Hyundai owners with proactive safety and car care services made possible by the Hyundai Blue Link telematics platform standard for three years. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and in-vehicle service scheduling.
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Hyundai hit a home run with its current-generation Sonata midsize sedan, so don't expect the Korean automaker to make revolutionary changes when its replacement comes out for the 2015 model year. The four-door sitting in showrooms today was launched in 2010 with radical new lines that marked a big departure from its rather bland predecessor. Even with stiff competition from the Honda Accord, Ford Fusion and Toyota Camry – all newer designs than the Sonata – sales have been strong. Consumers embraced its new design language, taking home a record 230,605 units last year.
"I think we found a design language that works, the 'Fluidic Sculpture' stuff, so I would say (the new styling) is not pulling back in any way. It's more continuing to refine on that same trajectory that we're on," John Krafcik, Hyundai U.S. CEO, told WardsAuto in a recent interview. Consumers don't seem to be fazed by the its age either. "A lot of consumers are just entering (the) midsize (segment) for the first time. They don't see (the Sonata) as a three-year-old car. They see it as, 'Whoa, that's a pretty good-looking midsize car,' so it's doing quite well," added Krafcik.
Automotive News reports Hyundai is set to give its sales strategy for premium vehicles a once-over. Moving forward, each of the automaker's five North American regions will have a premium product operations manager. Those managers will all report directly to a senior group manager based at the Hyundai headquarters in California. To begin with, the group will start by identifying what dealers are currently doing right to sell the automaker's luxury hardware. From there, the group will then help spread those practices to the 320 dealerships currently authorized to sell the Equus. All told, Hyundai has some 800 dealers in the US.
The move comes ahead of the launch of the second-generation Genesis and Equus. Both sedans are slated to hit showrooms by early next year. The Genesis debuted in 2008 with the Genesis Coupe following along in 2009, while the Equus first landed on US shores in 2011.
Luxury Sports Coupe Concept HND-9
- The HND-9 hints at Hyundai's next-generation luxury sports coupe design
- More details to be revealed at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show
Hyundai Motor Company, the fastest-growing automaker by brand, today
unveiled exterior renderings of the 'HND-9', its latest luxury sports coupe concept.
The 'HND-9' represents an evolution of Hyundai's fluidic sculpture design philosophy. The
ninth concept model developed by Hyundai Motor Group's R&D Center in Namyang, Korea,
the HND-9 features sophisticated details in every design element, reinforcing a premium look.
In particular, the HND-9, with its dramatic long hood and wheelbase, is a modern
reinterpretation of the elegant image of a classic premium sports coupe.
Fluidic yet sleek character lines that stretch from headlamp to trunk, voluminous, powerful car
body and a striking, wide hexagonal-shaped radiator grille underscore the high performance
image of the concept.
Furthermore, butterfly doors, spiral-shaped lines connected to the headlamp, softly glistening
silver coating, dual twin muffler and uniquely designed head and rear lamps give the car a
sleek futuristic look.
As a rear-wheel drive, high-performance sports coupe concept, HND-9 is equipped with 3.3-
liter turbo GDi engine and 8-speed auto transmission, delivering maximum output of 370ps.
The HND-9 is set to make its world debut during Hyundai's press conference on March 28
at the 2013 Seoul Motor Show. More details of the concept's design and its cutting-edge
technologies will be revealed at the show.
About Hyundai Motor
Established in 1967, Hyundai Motor Co. has grown into the Hyundai Motor Group, with more than two dozenauto-related subsidiaries and affiliates. Hyundai Motor -- which has seven manufacturing bases outside of South Korea including Brazil, China, the Czech Republic, India, Russia, Turkey and the U.S. -- sold 4.06 million vehicles globally in 2011. Hyundai Motor, which employs over 80,000 worldwide, offers a full line-up of products including small to large passenger vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Further information about Hyundai Motor and its products is available at www.hyundai.com.
