2013 Hyundai Elantra Touring going five-door, leaving the wagon train behind

Fear not, hatchback fans. According to Hyundai CEO John Krafcik, the next-generation Hyundai Elantra Touring will debut in late 2012 as a 2013 model. Krafcik tells Autoblog that while the Elantra sedan is styled specifically for the American market, the Elantra Touring is being penned with European customers in mind. The company sells a long-roof version of the Elantra in the old country under the i30 banner, but from what we understand, American buyers will get a taste of the next-generation vehicle in about two years.

“We launched the Elantra touring a couple of years after we launched the Elantra and we’re going to have the same model cycle for Elantra Touring here,” Krafcik said. “We’re going to get the next-generation i30 here in the U.S. market in a couple of years.”

But don’t expect the vehicle to share too much DNA with the old long-roof Elantra. Krafcik tells AB that the new Touring will be significantly different from the model on sale right now: “It’s a great design. The Elantra Touring design actually came out of our California studio. We’re going to go with the shorter five-door hatchback bodystyle instead of the larger wagon style we have now.”

Hyundai Elantra

Were we the betting type, we’d put money on looming CAFE standards as the single biggest issue to keep auto execs awake at night. Organizations from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration to the California Air Resource Board and the Environmental Protection Agency have all made noise about increasing corporate average fuel economy standards to lofty figures that reside anywhere between 47 and 62 mpg in around 14 years – a blink of an eye in terms of product development. If you’ve been wondering why manufacturers continue to roll out a bevy of fuel-efficient, economical vehicles despite relatively stable fuel prices and luke-warm demand, wonder no more.

Hyundai, with its small-engined fleet of fuel-savvy bruisers, seems downright giddy at the news. The Korean manufacturer has announced that by the time 2025 rolls around, the company will have a corporate average fuel economy of 50 mpg. The groundwork for that dramatic increase is being laid right now with vehicles like the Sonata Hybrid and the most recent addition to the Hyundai stable, the 2011 Elantra.

The last-generation Elantra debuted four short years ago, but in meantime competition in the American small-car market has increased by leaps and bounds. Additions like the 2011 Chevrolet Cruze and the upcoming2012 Ford Focus have proven that domestic manufacturers are just as serious about producing compact, high-quality vehicles with excellent fuel economy as the long-reigning titans of the segment from Honda and Toyota. With its 40 mpg highway, stylish exterior and excellent drivetrain, the 2011 Hyundai Elantra is set to put the rest of the segment on notice.

Hyundai launches Save the Asterisks campaign for 40-mpg Elantra

Hyundai has noticed an alarming trend: the needless wasting of perfectly good asterisks on window stickers all over the country.

The Korean automaker notes that some competitors create a special trim level for certain models that’s designed specifically to score a great fuel mileage rating from the EPA, while the other volume trim levels return a few miles per gallon less across the board. Since Hyundai won’t name names, we’ll do it for them: Chevrolet Cruze (Eco) and Ford Fiesta (SFE). Every single version of the 2011 Elantra, however, will achieve 40 mpg, as Hyundai likes to keep reminding us. No asterisks required.

It also bears mentioning that starting with the month of November, 2010, Hyundai is the first automaker to specify the actual number of vehicles it sells that achieve or exceed the 40-mpg benchmark on its monthly sales report. For those keeping track, the figure from this past November was 192 vehicles – expect that number to rise dramatically in the coming months when the new Elantra goes on sale.

Great fuel economy is only one part of a much larger puzzle to marketplace success. Fortunately, we’ll have a First Drive report of the new 2011 Elantra to share in short order, so we’ll have a better understanding of what, if any, concessions were made to manage its laudable efficiency metrics. Stay tuned for that, and check out Hyundai’s Save the Asterisks video after the break.

New Hyundai Azera/Grandeur caught in motion

We’ve seen spy photos of it running through Europe and renderings of what it will look like unmasked. Now we have clear footage of the 2012 Hyundai Azera/Grandeur as it rolls down the highway. The lines stay very true to what we saw in the rendering and the result is a uniquely-Hyundai, stylish full-size sedan. The big Hyun’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language comes through without being shoved in one’s face and the overall aesthetic of the car is quite appealing, with a look that reminds us of a slightly larger and more refinedSonata.

We’re really looking forward to seeing this one in the flesh, but for now all we have is the video that is waiting for you after the jump.

Hyundai Genesis lines building sales momentum, still not at original goals

When Hyundai introduced the Genesis Sedan, the enthusiast community took notice. Then the Genesis Coupe came to the party with less luxury but with a double dose of dynamic driving characteristics. Hyundai was initially hoping that the well-received, rear drive vehicles would sell at a rate of 40,000 to 50,000 units per year, but Team Genesis hit the market just in time for the global auto market meltdown, so sales haven’t exactly gone according to the script. In 2009, Hyundai sold 21,889 copies of the models, but as the market has improved, so, too, have range’s fortunes.

Hyundai has already sold over 23,000 copies of its halo car twins (fraternal), with three months left in the year. That’s a big jump in sales; one that has led to the Coupe and Sedan capturing year-over-year sales increases for 16 straight months. That’s fairly impressive, and you can’t discount that feat based on the fact that the Coupe entered the market in early 2009 when auto sales were at their bleakest. Why? Genesis sales are up 49 percent in October alone, and less marketing money has been expended than was leveraged in 2009.

And then there’s the icing on the Genesis cake. Automotive Lease Guide predicts that the V8-powered Genesis Sedan will be worth 36 percent of MSRP after five years of ownership, besting the BMW 5 Seriesand Mercedes-Benz E-Class. So while it’s true that the Genesis range still isn’t selling at 50,000 units per year like company execs had originally hope, auto sales are continuing to edge upward, and Hyundai’s premium offerings are on a definite upswing.

Hyundai-Kia overtakes Toyota as biggest Asian automaker in Europe

European car buyers have a favorite Asian automaker, and its name is no longer Toyota. Hyundai and Kiahave tag-teamed to best the longtime Japanese automaker, with a four percent overall rise in total units through the first ten months of 2010. During that same period, Toyota-Lexus sales have fallen 17 percent, with Hyundai at 521,369 vehicles sold compared to 511,754 for Toyota.

Toyota’s recent tough road, along with the expanding number of quality offerings from Hyundai-Kia, have allowed the Seoul train to slide past the Japanese brand. Unless Toyota picks up the pace, that gap could widen because the Korean company is understood to have a greater number of new models planned for its European portfolio.

Of course, Hyundai has a long road ahead if it wishes to make the same claim here in the States, but it’s certainly moving in the right direction. Overall sales in the U.S. have risen 21 percent and demand for the redesigned Sonata has jumped 64 percent.

Hyundai Elantra offers 40 mpg from $14,830*

The rakish new 2011 Hyundai Elantra hits dealerships in the coming months and will be priced from $14,830 (*excluding $720 for destination) for the base GLS model with a six-speed manual transmission. This represents a $645 price increase versus the 2010 Elantra, though the 2011 model is $1,445 cheaper than a base Chevrolet Cruze and $1,440 less than a base 2012 Ford Focus – the Hyundai’s two main competitors.

All Elantras come equipped with a new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine from Hyundai producing 148 horsepower and 131 pound-feet of torque, and the six-speed row-it-yourself gearbox is only available on the bottom-end GLS model – a new six-speed automatic is standard with all other GLS and Limited Elantras. What’s more, all Elantras are able to achieve 29/40 miles per gallon (city/highway).

Opting for the GLS Popular Equipment package adds things like 16-inch steel wheels, air conditioning, cruise control and a telescopic steering wheel, and the higher-end GLS Preferred pack adds alloy wheels and Bluetooth. The Elantra Limited starts at $19,980, and nets you standard equipment like heated leather seats (both front and rear), a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, foglamps and a sunroof. All Elantras are even available with an optional seven-inch navigation system, premium audio system and push-button start (for Limited models).

Hyundai previews next-gen Azera with new batch of renderings

Once derided as a budget brand, Hyundai has been campaigning a relentless march up-market over the past few years with the likes of the Genesis and the Equus. Beneath them sits the Sonata – an impressive new vehicle to be sure – but there exists a wide gulf between these models, and it’s the Azera’s job to fill that gap with a larger-than-Sonata front-wheel-drive sedan.

Now in its fourth generation, the current Azera – also known as the Grandeur in some overseas markets – looks rather dated and unremarkable nestled in between its flashier stablemates and has been on the market since 2005. We’ve seen spy shots of its fifth-generation replacement undergoing testing, but Hyundai has now released the first batch of official images showing us what to expect from the new model.

As you can see for yourself in the gallery below, it looks promising, applying the Korean automaker’s “fluid sculpture” design language to a new shape that’s expected to arrive sometime in the new year as a 2012 model. Accompanying announcement after the jump.

Hyundai CEO targets 50 mpg by 2025, but that figure isn’t as high as you think

The U.S. government is investigating the possibility of raising fuel economy standards to 62 miles per gallon by 2025. The Detroit Free Press reports that Hyundai isn’t yet endorsing that number, but CEO John Krafcik feels 50 miles per gallon is well within reach. The Korean automaker already features two vehicles capable of 40 miles per gallon in the Sonata Hybrid and the new Elantra, and the next 15 years promises to show further gains in efficiency.

And that’s not the only reason Krafcik is optimistic. CAFE fuel economy is actually figured out differently than the formula used by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Freep points out that while the monroney on an Elantra will show 29 miles per gallon in the city and 40 mpg on the highway, the compact’s CAFE number will be 44 mpg. What a difference a formula makes. The outspoken chief executive says that taking a hard look at the CAFE numbers makes 50 mpg seem “a heck of a lot more doable.”

Doable, yes, but 50 mpg still isn’t an easy task. Hyundai’s two best vehicles are still under that number, and the rest of the company’s fleet is far below the magic total. But 15 years is a long time in research and development years, and we’re thinking most automakers will have at least a fighting chance to reach the big five-oh by 2025.

Entire 2012 Hyundai Elantra line to hit 40 MPG on highway

Hyundai has just announced that the 2012 Elantra, which will debut next Wednesday at the LA Auto Show, will achieve 40 miles per gallon on the highway and 29 mpg in the city. The engine behind these impressive numbers will be a 1.8-liter inline four-cylinder producing 148 horsepower and 131 lb-ft of torque. We’re checking on transmissions options, but a five- or six-speed manual and six-speed automatic are the safe bets.

40 mpg highway ratings are “the new black” for small cars these days, with other vehicles like the 2011 Ford Fiesta and 2011 Chevrolet Cruze achieving 40 mpg or more on the highway and letting everyone know about it in their marketing material. The difference between those American small cars and the new Elantra is that only particular models of the Cruze and Fiesta can reach 40 mpg – more specifically the Cruze Eco, whichtops out at 42 mpg, and the Fiesta with a special SFE package. Hyundai tells us that every Elantra model will achieve 40 mpg, from the base model on up, which means that you won’t have to pay extra for the privilege of joining the 40 mpg club.

Hyundai’s new 5.0-liter V8 to produce 429 horsepower

During a recent powertrain briefing, Hyundai revealed some more details about its new 5.0-liter Tau V8 and 1.0-liter Kappa three-cylinder engines that will be used in a variety of global markets in the near future.

Slated for use in the Genesis sedan as well as the larger Equus, Hyundai’s new V8 will use direct injection to produce 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. That’s a healthy increase of 59 horsepower and 8 ft-lbs of torque over the 4.6-liter V8 it’s replacing, while also increasing fuel economy by one mile per gallon to 18/26 thanks to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai has not mentioned any plans to offer the new Tau 5.0 in any other products, though we’d love to see it shoehorned under the hood of aGenesis Coupe. (Full disclosure: We really want to see a 5.0 battle between the Genesis Coupe andMustang GT.)

On a much smaller level of displacement, Hyundai also detailed a new 1.0-liter Kappa inline three-cylinder engine that will be offered in other markets in the new i10 subcompact. Currently, this engine produces 69 horsepower and returns around 55 miles per gallon on the United States testing cycle. And while this 1.0-liter engine currently isn’t slated for consumption here in the States, future versions of the Kappa engine could come to our shores. Hyundai says that we’ll see a turbocharged, 110-hp version of the 1.0-liter three in 2012, and that a turbocharged 1.2-liter Kappa will be released shortly thereafter. The 1.2T is estimated to produce around 130 to 140 hp, making it more suitable for American-sized vehicles.

Hyundai Elantra peeks out ahead of LA Auto Show

Take a look-see at what slipped out of Hyundai HQ via the miracle of Twitter. Despite the best efforts of one very dedicated member of Hyundai’s PR team, the 2011 Elantra managed to show the internet some skin ahead of its debut at the LA Auto Show. The new Korean economy fighter is fabled to break the 40 mpg barrier across the board all while wearing the company’s snappy new design language. Let the Ford Focusand Chevrolet Cruze take this as fair warning; you may have a fight on your hands once the Elantra hits town.

Hyundai Sonata Turbo gets the RIDES treatment

Interesting fact: One of the Hyundai PR folks told us he didn’t even want to bring a tuned Sonata to SEMA, then RIDES magazine showed up with this matte pearlescent Sonata 2.0T and it turned out to be his favorite car on display. Funny how these things work out.

An M Vinyl carbon fiber roof presides over the matter, with carbon fiber also found on the grille, mirror housings and Lux Motorwerks bodykit. Inside, a stitched suede headlliner lords over upholstered black leather and black suede with contrasting red stitching. 20-inch Rennen Monolicht M9 wheels and smoked taillights make it all complete, and it’s ready for your eyes in the gallery of high-res photos below.

2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T rolls up on the dyno

Inside Line put the Hyundai Sonata 2.0T on a dyno to see how much gumption the wheels were actually getting from the flywheel. Not uncommon for Hyundai, there are two sets of numbers to deal with in the beginning: the 2.0T is rated at 274 horsepower and 269 lb-ft on 87 octane, but IL was told that it could get ten more horses from 93 octane. Using 91 octane, the site figured it has about another six to eight ponies in the bag.

Having registered 234 peak hp at 6,100 rpm and 239 lb-ft at 3,500 rpm, driveline losses counted for a 20-percent drain in horsepower (from 280) and about 12 percent of torque. By comparison, when the non-turbo Sonata was tested, the percentage losses were slightly lower in both categories.

The turbo was praised for its consistent pulls and real-world acceleration (especially under partial throttle), as well as seamless boost anywhere in the rev range. Nevertheless, Inside Line’s Jason Kavanagh wonders, “I’m curious as to where a few ponies wandered off.” Follow the jump to watch the dyno test.

Hyundai Equus Mummbles and Dubs its way to SEMA

Hyundai has already shown us its GoGoGear Racing Genesis Coupe and a Rhys Millen Racing Equus. Now we get two more looks at what they’re bringing to SEMA this week. Hyundai has teamed up with DUB Magazine and Mummbles Marketing on a pair of Equus sedans.

The DUB Equus shows surprising restraint. While it wears 24-inch wheels, they blend in nicely with the body kit. Likewise, the grey-black paint scheme is sinister without being SEMA-shouty. Dare we say it? This is one SEMA ride we wouldn’t mind spending some seat time with.

Mummbles Marketing, a new custom shop of out Harrisburg, PA, has turned the standard Equus into a luxo-custom it calls the “Elegant Equus.” Mummbles didn’t just focus on looks, however; some wrenching was done on the Equus’ V8 engine, too. Thanks to a turbo kit from Legacy Innovations, a nitrous system and a Magnaflow exhaust, the Elegant Equus now produces 450 horsepower. Mummbles also adds an extra iPad (over the stock tablet the Equus comes with) that controls the air suspension, rear curtains, stereo and windows.

Hyundai moves to fix early 2011 Sonata Turbo hose issue

Hyundai’s eagerly anticipated Sonata 2.0T model has just begun hitting U.S. showrooms, but a small quality issue that cropped up in the first batch of cars is causing some consternation. Conversations have been popping up on internet forums about the issue, and there has been some confusion as to the nature of the problem as well as questions about whether or not a stop-sale has been ordered by the company.

A small rubber hose that feeds oil to the turbo unit in very early 2011 Sonata Turbo models was apparently built to the wrong specification and needs replacement. According to a few user forum reports, some dealers haven’t been allowing customers to test drive the vehicles until the correct part has been fitted. Additionally, at least one of the first 2.0T owners informed Autoblog that his dealer actually flat-bedded his car back for service. However, Hyundai officials tell Autoblog that this issue affects very few units, and they want to make it clear that no stop-sale has been issued.

Hyundai to be most American automaker by next year?

Which automaker do you think is the most “American”? Some might say Chevrolet, since they’re the self-proclaimed Heartbeat of America. Others might say Ford since the Mustang is as iconic an American image as baseball and apple pie. What if we told you the answer might just be Hyundai? As of next year, 80 percent of the vehicles that Hyundai sells in the United States will be made here as well.

That number puts Hyundai above all other automakers in the United States. Ford and Chrysler don’t have exact figures, but estimates for the two manufacturers puts them both below 80 percent as those two automakers assemble many of their popular vehicles in Canada and Mexico. General Motors says between 60 and 70 percent of vehicles sold in the United States are built here.

The numbers may be quite interesting, but of course they don’t tell the whole story. The Big Three domestic automakers produce a much greater volume of vehicles in the United States when compared to Hyundai. For example, if GM built 66 percent of the vehicles it sold here in the states in 2009, it would triple Hyundai’s projected U.S. output for next year.

2011 Hyundai Equus starts at $58,000

Hyundai has released pricing information for the all-new 2011 Equus, and the full-size luxury sedan we drove earlier this year, will start at $58,000 in Signature form. Option up for the top-tier Equus Ultimate and the sticker swells to $64,500. So what does the extra $6,500 nets you?

• 50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function
• First-Class passenger-side rear seat with leg support and a massage system
• Cooled rear seats, a rear-seat entertainment system with an eight-inch monitor
• Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator
• Rear-seat power up/down head rests
• Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors
• Forward-view cornering camera
• Power trunk lid

All 2011 Hyundai Equus’ features Hyundai’s new “At Your Service” ownership experience, which includes a plethora of service options ranging from valet pick up and drop off to the use of a Hyundai Genesis while the Equus is in for service, not to mention no-cost maintenance for five years or 60,000 miles. Every authorized Hyundai dealership will play host to an Equus Champion; a product expert who is available to answer any questions about the car. New Equus owners also get to enjoy an Apple iPad in place of the traditional owner’s manual.

Hyundai Sonata 2.0T configurator hits the interwebs

Time to get your creative caps and color swatches out, because it’s configurator time again. Next up is theHyundai Sonata 2.0T, the sedan that continues to show a ton of strengths and few weaknesses.

Of course the palette is slightly limited, necessary when the package is so thorough and priced at just $20,865 for the SE. For instance, that trim offers just one interior, gray leather with cloth (nope, not making that up). You have to step up to the Limited trim, for another $2,900, to get one more interior hue. We don’t expect that to stop the car’s assault on the mid-size segment, so get to the configurator and arm yourself.

Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid

At some point, the minds at Hyundai got serious about the company’s mid-sized sedan game. Seemingly in a heartbeat, the Korean manufacturer went from being completely under the radar of the average American family sedan buyer to a viable alternative to default buys like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. That jump fell solely on the shoulders of the all-new 2011 Sonata, a sedan that has so far delivered the kind of styling, efficiency and low MSRP that sends consumers scrambling for their checkbook. But if you want to go the full distance in this segment, you had better come to the fight packing more than just a competent base model.

That’s something you don’t need to tell Hyundai. The company has shored up its Sonata line with a potentturbocharged 2.0-liter model designed to tango with V6-equipped competitors as well as the car you see above – a hybrid model that comes loaded with nearly all of the latest and greatest tech to keep fuel consumption at a minimum. Is it enough to put the Sonata Hybrid ahead of the electrified versions of the heavy hitters already prowling the scene? We took the wheel to find out.

Second Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata 2.0T

Here in the U.S., the mid-size sedan market is thought to be all but impregnable to newcomers. Ruled for decades by models that have become icons of the industry, the segment has enjoyed a long and peaceful reign by the likes of the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. But the funny thing about success is that if you’re not very, very careful, it breeds complacency. While the titans of the four-door kingdom have been sleeping on beds of cash made on the innovations of two decades ago, Hyundai has been busily polishing its reputation and pouring over $550 million into fresh research and development for new and advanced drivetrains for its 2011 Sonata.

One of the long accepted tenants of the mid-size sedan is “Thou Shalt Have a Six-Cylinder Option.” Ironically enough, this mode of thought arose as a challenge to the previously held belief that if you wanted to move four-doors in America, you had to offer a V8 under the hood. But when Japan’s Big Three proved they could dish out V8 horsepower with six-cylinder fuel economy, the eight-cylinder family hauler all but disappeared from the scene. Now, Hyundai is out to repeat history by debuting a turbocharged four-cylinder designed to rattle the cages of Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

MT compares the Bentley Mulsanne to… the Hyundai Equus?!

With the launch of the all-new Equus, Hyundai has taken another step towards the deep end of the luxury carsegment. However, Bentley has a touch more experience in this arena and its new Mulsanne is decadence on wheels. The two companies sit on opposite ends of the automotive spectrum, but Motor Trend seems to think they warrant a comparison. We suspect Bentley will not be pleased…

Two of MT’s scribes hop into the back of both the Equus and the Mulsanne for a chat about the two luxury sedans, and one of them is none other than Autoblog alum Jonny Lieberman, decked out in his fancy new buff-book duds (the other is MT stalwart Ed Loh). Both vehicles pack a fair amount of amenities, but the difference between $70,000 and $330,000 (with $42k in options) is patently obvious. Just check out the cupholders. So, grab some pâté and a jar of Grey Poupon and check out the video after the jump.