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While we are waiting for the first official images and details of the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe, the Korean car maker has dropped a commercial revealing in it the SUV in its full glory. The new Santa, we have to say, looks better in the flesh than what we saw in the official sketches and preview photos.  In fact, 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe seems to have migrated from the average, affordable SUV category to the high-end, luxury class. The lines that make the the serious face of the new Santa Fe, the slim headlights, the sophisticated grille and the whole profile of the car which is entirety new and a lot less ‘generic’ than the previous models, they all point to the fact that with the new model Hyundai is after a different class of customers. [embedded content] And it’s not just the looks, either. As this rather funny commercial clearly shows, the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is also packed with up-to-the-minute technologies. Some of this, like the system that monitors the rear traffic and locks the door if your child suddenly decided he or she has to jump onto the street, are not seen before, at least in the price range to which the Santa Fe belongs. You will also get the latest connectivi, ...ادامه مطلب

Visitors to this year’s Chicago Auto Show got their first glimpse at the new 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Plug-in Hybrid models. The latest version of the green Sonata offers a hard to beat blend of performance and efficiency, enough to cement the car’s position in the market as one of the top players.  Powering the 2018 Hyundai Sonata is a 2.0-liter Nu GDI four-cylinder engine coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission that houses a powerful 38 kW electric motor. The combined output of this system is a very respectable 193 horsepower, corresponding to an average fuel consumption of 39 mpg in the city, 45 mpg on the highway and 42 mpg combined. What’s more, this system offers 27 miles of electric driving (plug-in version) during which you can reach speeds up to 75 mph. Total range of the vehicle is 650 miles for hybrid and 590 miles for the plug-in. [embedded content] As for what sets the 2018 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid family apart from the previous model, the main highlights include revised front/rear fascia design, grille, hood, front fenders, rear deck lid, headlights/taillights, new 16 and 17 inch wheels, LED headlights with coering Dynamic Bending Light (DBL), and ins, ...ادامه مطلب

The official U.S. pricing for the all-new 2018 Hyundai Kona crossover has been announced, and as you would expect the value-for-money element is strong. This quirky little sport utility starts at just $19,500 for the base model, rising up to $28,700 for the fully-loaded model.  In America the 2018 Hyundai Kona is available with two engines and transmission choices. There is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder with 147 horsepower and 132 lb.-ft. of torque paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder turbo (Limited and Ultimate trims only) with a seven-speed EcoShift dual-clutch transmission offering 175 horsepower and 195 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines can be had with all-wheel-drive system. A well-chosen trim will also get you such advanced safety systems as Lane-Keeping Assist system, Blind-Spot Collision Waing, Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Waing, Lane Change Assist, Parking Distance Waing and Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection. [embedded content] 2018 Hyundai Kona MSRP & Trims: Model Engine Transmission Drivetrain MSRP SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® FWD $19,500 SE 2.0L 4-cyl. 6-Speed Automatic SHIFTRONIC® AWD $20, ...ادامه مطلب

It does not come as a surprise that the 2019 Corvette ZR1 in its first track outing has done an amazing thing. After all, this is a 755 horsepower supercar. It would have been a surprise if the car had gone around the Virginia Inteational Raceway circuit not having set new lap record. The time in which 2019 Corvette ZR1 completed a lap of the 4.1-mile Grand Course West at Virginia Inteational Raceway was 2:37.25 which is a new record for production cars at this circuit. The car was in stock form save some necessary safety equipment such as  haess bar and track seats with five-point haesses. It relied for this record on its 755hp and 969Nm LT5 6.2L supercharged engine, its carbon fiber aero kit including an adjustable High Wing, sport suspension and brakes including Magnetic Ride Control tuning, and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 summer tires. [embedded content] It is amazing that a car with such power and performance, which is on the par with some hypercars out there, costs from $119,995. Even if you add the ZTK Performance Package which makes the ZR1 even more track worthy, that will only cost an extra $2,995. But the problem is, 2019 Corvette ZR1 is not an elegant car. So, ...ادامه مطلب

The fourth generation of the popular Korean SUV Hyundai Santa Fe, which has a huge presence in pretty much every market in the world, will make its debut later this year at the Geneva Motor Show. The car maker has confirmed this, releasing a teaser image that shows the part of the silhouette of the new model.  While it is hard to infer anything worth noting from this image, we notice the shape of the head and tail lights have been modified. They seem to be slimmer and smarter than the current version, and brings to our mind at least the design of the latest generation Toyota RAV4. The current model is a bit too round and chubby to be honest and it is a welcome change if the 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is sharper and more angular. [embedded content] Size-wise, there does not appear to be any significant change in the new Hyundai Santa Fe. You will get five and later on a seven-seater version, and two and four-wheel-drive drivertrains. As for the engines, chances are the current lineup of 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injected engine with 185 horsepower and the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower to carry over to the new model. But whether the 290 horsepowe, ...ادامه مطلب

Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus is best known to most of you for their bespoke Ferrari-based supercars and race cars. But they are branching out, and one of the projects they have in mind is this weird and interesting offroad vehicle. This road-legal “expedition” vehicle is being built with the ultimate goal of driving up a volcano and setting a World Altitude Record at 7,000 meters.  That explains the design of the Glickenhaus offroader and the whole arrangement viz-a-viz suspension and wheels and underpinnings. The central driving position could also be justified in the same vein, although we have to wait and see if it makes it into the final production model. There are going to be a couple of different variants of Glickenhaus offroad vehicle, apparenlty nicknamed SCG Boot, with this four four-door Expedition version going for the Volvano record, and a two-door version called Steve for lighter adventures. Both variants will be available for purchase and in fact Glickenhaus says they have already received some inquiries. They have decided on a naturally aspirated V8 engine for this extraordinary vehicle, 20 inch wheels, 4-wheel-drive, and air conditioning as the main comfort ame, ...ادامه مطلب

Hyundai’s CES 2018 exhibit is all about technology features they will be incorporating into their future production models. But they have also brought along a concept car, Hyundai NEXO, which is the firm’s second-generation of commercialized fuel cell electric vehicle, headed for production and release in select markets very soon. A lot of people believe that the whole fuel cell thing probably has no future because the infrastructure needed to make it work is virtually non-existent. But Hyundai keeps working on improving their FCEVs, so they would be ready if, some day, these cars went mainstream. Hyundai NEXO is a much-improved product compared to its predecessor, the Tucson FCEV, with a range of 370 miles, 105 more than the Tucson. It’s also been tested more thoroughly and is just as versatile, says the company, as any gasoline-powered vehicle. [embedded content] Hyundai NEXO is faster, quieter and more efficient than the previous FCEVs and in a class of its own in terms of technology, packaging and safety. The electric motors and battery packs are getting smaller and smaller in every new version, meaning the car’s practicality improves and its light decreases. We have to say, ...ادامه مطلب

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has become in recent years a battle ground for auto makers to show off their latest technologies. So it’s the appropriate place for Hyundai to reveal their next-generation Hyundai FCEV fuel cell Concept, revealed here in this visual preview.  If you don’t like the look of this thing, and who can blame you, don’t worry. This is not a concept to showcase the prowess of the design department, but rather that of the engineering fellas. The Hyundai FCEV Concept is the next-generation hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric vehicle equipped with new Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) technologies. These tech stuff ought to the average CES goer really happy. Hyundai has always been at the forefront of the hydrogen fuel cell game, even in recent times where the outlook is the bleakest for this technology. Not only are they not giving up on the FCEV, the Korean car maker is investing in hydrogen-powered applications in the home via a section of the booth dedicated to the Hydrogen Life Vision. They must see something in this technology, or have some grand plan. Along with the Hyundai FCEV and Advanced Driver Assistance technologies, Hy, ...ادامه مطلب

When the 2017 Ford EcoSport was launched it was an update of the compact SUV that buyers all over the globe were waiting for. And fortunately in many markets it came without any price change. Obviously, the new EcoSport is more feature-rich than the previous version. The biggest deal with the new launch is obviously the five different variants that were introduced with this update. The new Ecosport came with five different variants, namely Ambiente, Trend, Trend+, Titanium, and Titanium+. Let us introduce each of these variants briefly. 2017 Ford EcoSport Ambiente This is the base trim and it comes loaded with an array of new features such as a black shining grille, black fog lamp bezels, a cladding for rocker and bumper, dual reversing lamp, bumper to protect body colour, black door handle and ORVMs. The Ecosport also features a fully equipped cabin with full fabric seats. Furthermore, you would have dark coloured interior, silver and black accents, soothing dim cabin lights and a few others. This basic Ambiente version also comes with a robust audio system fully loaded with Bluetooth, AUX-IN and USB connectivity. This Ford SUV also has 4 power windows, air conditioner, electri, ...ادامه مطلب

Trying to step up their safety game in order to stay ahead of the competition, Hyundai has come up with a new safety feature. The world’s first Panorama Sunroof Airbag system has a simple job. It stops you getting tossed out of the car in the event of an accident that shatters the glass roof or when the car rolls over.   Come to think of it, this is a much needed safety feature and it’s interesting no other car maker had thought of it before. The Panorama Sunroof Airbag is a production of Hyundai Mobis, the Korean car maker’s parts and components arm, who has an affinity for advanced airbags. They made the fourth-generation advanced airbag and inter-passenger airbag systems. The way Hyundai’s Panorama Sunroof Airbag work is the same as the side curtain airbags that protects you from smashing into the glass. It is installed inside the sunroof, and deployed forward from the rear of the car, covering the entire roof surface of the vehicle in just 0.08 seconds using a gas inflation system. So not only does this airbag stops the passengers getting flung out of the car, it also reduces the risk of head injuries. This is most useful for the rear passengers, as they rarely fasten thei, ...ادامه مطلب

Whenever you tu on the news these days, all you hear is war and chaos and silly tweets by politicians. It makes you think the world is on the verge of collapse, and it very well may be. But that is only a matter of conce for us regulars, you see. The top one percent mind it not one bit, as seen by the spike in the number of hypercars they bought this year. Bugatti alone has delivered 70 Chirons, meeting their production plans as though they are making family sedans!  As the ultimate production super sports car, Bugatti Chiron is a must-have accessory for the billionaires the world over. We are prepare to bet next year’s salary not one of them ever uses the full potential of the 1,500 horsepower machine, but that is not the point of this car. The real purpose of the Chiron is to make you look good as pull up at your favorite restaurant or casino or gala event. Bugatti is in fact on its way to make a killing with the Chiron series, setting themselves the goal of selling 500 units, 300 of which has already been marked. That is about 1.5 billion dollars worth. [embedded content] As for who’s buying these Chirons and where, 43 percent of orders have come from Europe, 26 per, ...ادامه مطلب

As if you needed yet another reason to consider the 2018 Hyundai Kona as your next crossover, Euro NCAP has jut named it one of the safest vehicles in the segment. The safety assessment institute has awarded the Kona with the maximum score of 5 stars. The stars were awarded to Hyundai Kona aster a series of rigorous crash tests in which the compact SUV’s numerous safety features were evaluated in simulated scenarios. The Kona features Hyundai SmartSense safety package, the highlights of which were the main force behind its excellent performance.  Lane Keep Assist (LKA), Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB), High-Beam Assist (HBA) with Static Low Beam Assist, Driver Attention Alert (DAA), Blind-Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross-Traffic Alert (RCCA) are among the top features of this car. A clever design and available all-wheel-drive help with the passive safety of the vehicle. So you can add safety to the list of pros for the Kona, a list which also includes affordability, style,good engines, and great equipment. [embedded content] “The five-star safety rating from Euro NCAP for the All-New KONA proves that our newest SUV fulfils the highest standards for the safety of our , ...ادامه مطلب

It is said that the loudest thing you hear in a Rolls-Royce is the ticking of the bespoke clock. That ought to make it a perfect place to record music, apparently. That’s what they’ve been up to lately, lending a new 2018 Rolls-Royce Phantom to British rapper Skepta to record a song in.  Not only does this latest publicity stunt put the quietness of the car in perspective, it also promotes what kind of clientele Rolls-Royce is after these days. Gone are the days when only the exceedingly refined aristocracy drove this make of automobile, or rather were driven in. These days the real money is in the hands of artists like Skepta, or rather these are the wealthy ones with an insatiable desire to blow their cash on fancy, shiny things. The refined and the sophisticated are now fond of discreetness and understated style. [embedded content] At any rate, the Mercury Music Prize and MOBO award-winning musician Skepta, inspired by the unique ambiance of Rolls-Royce Phantom, conceived and recorded a track while sitting in the car. The Skepta RR, as the record is called, came out clean and crisp, thanks in no small part to the Phantom’s aluminium spaceframe, more than 130kg of sound , ...ادامه مطلب

Starting from the 18th January, 2018, customers in UK can purchase the sexy new Hyundai i30 Fastback. Set to spice up the compact segment with a four-door coupe design, the Fastback is an interesting addition to the i30’s range. But it remains to be seen how well it will go down in the hatchback-loving British market. In order to win over customers the 2018 Hyundai i30 Fastback has on its side not just an interesting design with lowered roof and wide stance but also great value. The car is, as is always the case with this Korean models, packed with features. The UK i30 Fastback is available in three trim levels: SE Nav, Premium and Premium SE. Engine-wise, three combinations are ava, ...ادامه مطلب

Yet another feather in Jaguar Land Rover’s SVO division’s cap. The limited edition Jaguar XE SV Project 8 has just destroyed the lap record for four-door sedans at the Nürburgring Nordschleife, going around the 12.9-mile German circuit in 7 minutes 23 seconds. That is a full 11 seconds quicker than the previous record! Of course, Nurburgring records are useless in the real world. All they get you is some bragging rights. But as far as bragging rights go, it’s a good one. Jaguar XE SV Project 8 now has proven credentials, not that anyone would have doubted it if there was not ‘Ring record. After all, the car has a 600 horsepower supercharged V8 engine and is capable of accelerating f, ...ادامه مطلب