More than 280,000 Hyundai Elantras Recalled Over Air-Bag Problems

Hyundai has issued two separate recalls for its Elantra sedans over air-bag related problems. The first action covers approximately 95,783 Elantras from the 2007-2008MY manufactured from July 14, 2006, through August 29, 2007. In this case, the air bag control module may receive an unstable electrical signal from the seat track position sensor and cause the driver's airbag to deploy at a higher pressure than intended. To fix the problem, the South Korean firm’s dealers will reprogram the air bag control module free of charge.

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Hyundai’s Model Naming Conventions: From 0 to Fubar in Just 4 Years

Hyundai is one of the world’s biggest automakers, and the most visible of South Korea’s business and industrial acumen. So you would think a company that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Toyota and pre-bailout GM would be pretty consistent with its model naming conventions, right?

Well, not exactly. When Hyundai first launched the i30 hatchback in Europe, Australia and other markets, it seemed that familiar nameplates such as Elantra and Sonata would soon be dead and buried. Not so. In fact, the i30 CW (basically, the station wagon version of the i30), is still sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring.

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Hyundai to Challenge “Marketing Conspiracy” with Super Bowl XLV Ads

With its three ads programmed to air during the Super Bowl XLV later in the day (Sunday, February 6), Hyundai wants to show the American public that not all compact cars have “uninspired design, cramped interiors and limited innovation”, as marketing portrays them. Two out of the three advertisements showcase the 2011 Elantra sedan, while the third features the 2011 Sonata Hybrid. Videos available after the break.

The first Elantra spot, called “Hypnotized”, will air during the first quarter and it “questions the idea that compact cars are as good as they can be”. It will be followed in the third quarter by the “Deprogramming” ad, which states, among other things, that “compact cars can be more”.

“We love the Super Bowl’s ability to transform over 100 million Americans into advertising aficionados, so we went with a playful theme that ties a marketing-driven conspiracy theory to our fresh take on the compact car segment, the 40-mpg Elantra”, said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “Building from the first two Elantra ads in the AFC Championship Game, and 10 viral spots online right now, the Super Bowl shifts the campaign into top gear with what may be the biggest group therapy hypnosis session ever attempted”.

Last but not least, the fourth quarter will bring the “Anachronistic City” spot starring the 2011 Sonata Hybrid. By creating a sharp contrast between the car and a variety of obsolete devices, Hyundai wants to highlight its commitment to innovation.

All three ads are the creation of Innocean Worldwide Americas and feature the brand’s 2011 “New Thinking, New Possibilities” vision.

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Hyundai Begins Receiving Orders for its First-Ever Hybrid Model

Hyundai has officially started accepting orders in South Korea for its first-ever hybrid model, the Elantra LPI HEV, ahead of the car's market launch on July 8. Billed as the world's first hybrid electric vehicle to be powered by a Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine, the Elantra LPI HEV made its premiere at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show in April. To be sold under the Avante badge in Korea, the Elantra LPI HEV drivetrain consists of a 1.6-liter LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) engine, a 15kW and 105Nm electric motor and a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

The Korean automaker claims that the Elantra LPI HEV emits just 99 g/km of CO2 and 90 percent fewer emissions than an equivalent standard gasoline-powered Elantra. The mild-hybrid car returns an average fuel consumption of 17.8km/l or according to Hyundai, the gasoline equivalent of 22.2km/l which translates to 52.2mpg US and 4.5lt/100km, representing a 47 percent improvement over a conventional 1.6L auto-equipped Elantra.

In Korea, savings for buyers are even greater as the average price of LPG in the country is 50% less than that of gasoline. The Elantra LPI HEV will be followed in August by Hyundai's sister company's, Kia Forte LPI HEV that is powered by the same drivetrain.

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Pricing Released, Starts from $15,550

Hyundai revealed the US-spec version of its all-new 2011 Elantra in LA this week, and now the South Korean automaker has released figures and pricing for its fluidic compact sedan contender. Powered by a 1.8-liter Nu engine backed by a Hyundai-developed 6-speed transmission or a 6-speed manual, the Elantra boasts a 40 mpg highway, and 29 mpg city fuel ratings on any and every model. If you're inclined, scroll down for some comparison charts to see how the Elantra stacks up against the competition.

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Hyundai Santa Fe, Elantra and Tiburon Also Recalled over Rust Problems

No sooner than we told you about the new recall on the MY2001-2004 Sonata, XG300 and XG350 models over corrosion issues of the front subframe, we learnt that Hyundai has also just issued two more separate recalls for a total of three vehicles, again for rust-related problems. In particular, the Korean carmaker issued a recall on 170,610 MY2001-2003 Elantra and MY2003 Tiburon Coupe models for corrosion and thinning of the steel in the lower control arms of the front suspension and another recall on 85,036 MY2001-2003 Santa Fe SUVs, this time for rust problems in relation to the rear suspension trailing arm.

Hyundai said that in both cases, the recalls concern vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the 'salt-belt' states of Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia.

If you happen to own any of the affected vehicles and want to learn more about the recalls, we suggest you contact Hyundai directly at the firm's U.S. customer assistance center at 1-800-633-5151 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-800-633-5151 end_of_the_skype_highlighting.

source: http://carscoop.blogspot.com

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Faux Nissan Advert Pits Toyota Prius against Hyundai Elantra Owner

Though not a real commercial, we really enjoyed watching this faux Nissan Sentra advert from The Midnight Show at UCB (Upright Citizens Brigade theater). Written by James Adomian, the ad pits a Toyota Prius hybrid owner against his neighbor who just bought a Hyundai Elantra. The owners' quarrel over who got the best car / deal ends up with a hilarious driveway shooting. Hit the jump to watch the commercial.

Via: TheTruthAboutCars

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New Hyundai i30 Sport Hatchback and Crossover Wagon Models

Looks can be greatly deceiving as Hyundai proves with its new special edition i30 Sport versions that were launched in Germany today. Despite their sporty appearance and promising name, the i30 Sport Hatchback and Crossover Wagon (sold in the U.S. as the Elantra Touring) only differ visually from their normal siblings as there aren't any mechanical changes. To be produced in a limited run of just 200 units, the hatchback is offered with a 126HP 1.6-liter petrol engine while the Crossover Wagon with a 140HP 2.0-liter turbo diesel.

Both i30 Sport models are offered exclusively in a Crystal White paint finish and come equipped with a design package that includes a faux carbon-fiber grille cover, black inserts around the fog lights (sedan only), a discreet front spoiler, side skirts, roof wing, a rear apron with an integrated diffuser and two chromed exhaust tailpipes plus a set of rather neat looking 18-inch alloy wheels finished in Anthracite.

Inside, the Sport insignia adds leather seats, leather steering wheel and shift knob, an automatic air conditioning with cooled glove box, cruise control, steering wheel audio controls, USB and iPod connection as well as electric windows.

Prices in Germany are set at €20,990 for the i30 Sport hatchback and at €24,490 for the station-wagon variant.

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All-New Hyundai Elantra to join Sonata and Sorento in Alabama, U.S. Spec Model to Debut in LA

For some reason (maybe it's a revolution) Hyundai is just all up in everyone's face lately. Whether it's forging the way Stateside with its new Sonata and Tucson or diving head-first into the Russian market with its new Solaris small sedan, the South Korean automaker just appears in the news non-stop like it's no big thing.

Case in point: the all-new and very Soanata-esque Elantra (called Avante in South Korea) is going to be built in good ol' Alabama at the Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (HMMA) plant.

For the record, that's three (yes, 3) models we've got being built here as "made in America", and all in the past few years. Even Hyundai knows it. The first words of the press release are "Hyundai's three most popular models will now be built in the U.S." And that's that.

Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik says, "Hyundai's philosophy is to build our vehicles where we sell them, and with the addition of the Elantra to our U.S. production mix we now manufacture our three most popular models right here in the U.S."

While we've already essentially seen the Elantra (in various forms), it will make its US debut in L.A. in November. If it's anything like the Sonata, which has just plain been knocking them dead in the market, this new little looker could put the Corolla, Civic, and others in its rear-view mirror.

For more on the next Elantra, check out our previous post and get a look at what we here in the States will soon be getting. Expect to see something along the lines of a directly-injected 1.6-liter four-cylinder making 140-ish horsepower and hooked to either a 6-speed stick or 6-speed automatic tranny.

By Phil Alex

Photo Gallery: KDM 2011 Hyundai Avante / Elantra

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