First Take: 2014 Hyundai Equus

There is no need to rehash the evolution of Hyundai in the American market in the last eight years, that has been done to death.  In that time, Hyundai has built a reputation for quality products that provide excellent value.  Where Hyundai has really shined, is in providing high levels of content compared to it’s competition at the same price or less. 

When Hyundai decided to bring the Equus to the U.S. a few years ago, many said that Hyundai had gone to far, no one would buy a top end luxury car from the brand, they should focus on what they were good at doing, high value cars for mainstream America.

If there was one car in the Equus’ sights it was the Lexus LS series, the original usurper in the top end luxury segment, Hyundai looked at that playbook, and looked to repeat the success.  While the Equus did not take off like the original LS, that was partially due to supply constraints and conservative sales estimate from Hyundai corporate.  While the Equus was good when compared against the LS and Mercedes-Benz S-Class it felt about half to three quarters of a generation behind those two in the quality of materials and some overall refinement.

Come the 2014 mid-cycle refresh and most of the issues have been addressed.  There is an upgrade to the quality of materials throughout, though there are one or two striking misses, the aircraft style map lights in the rear being a noticeable one.

The styling has been tweaked, a nice clean up in removing some chrome trim from the front and rear bumpers along with the tail light lenses, gives the Equus a more refined look, the new 19” turbine style wheels look very striking as well.  Hyundai have also changed out the headlamps and taillights to LED’s as well.

Inside there is an all new dash, instrument panel and center stack.  In Ultimate trim there is a control dial on the steering wheel for the infotainment system’s 9.2” display that provides haptic feedback.

The infotainment system is an up to date system with a 64 gig SSD drive, with 30 gigs reserved for music, videos and photos.  The Nav system has “Junction View” giving you a graphical representation of Interstate interchanges and which lane and route to take.  Also down in the Nav system menus, there is the ability to see how far a rest stops are down the road.

In the instrument cluster there is a 7” display between the speedometer and tachometer,  for additional information, including turn by turn directions from the Nav system.  The Equus also is, in Ultimate trim, equipped with a Heads Up Display.  If you’ve never driven with a modern HUD unit, it is something that is very nice to have.  The HUD unit will display speed, turn by turn directions and blind spot warnings.

If you choose to ride in the back, this is an “Executive Luxury Sedan” after all, there are dual 9.2” displays, power door closure, and four way power lumbar adjustments to the rear seats.

Out on the road the Equus drives well, it feels like a large solid car.  There are two drive modes for the suspension, “Normal” and “Sport”.  Most people will not move out of the Normal setting and that’s fine, the ride and handling are compliant, and there is no float to the ride.  Change to Sport and things firm up, the steering has a little more weight and feel to it, but the change in settings does not transform the Equus into a “Sport Sedan”.

Power for the Equus is the excellent 5.0 liter Tau V8 engine producing 429 horsepower, matched up to an 8 speed automatic transmission.  While one would not call the Equus fast, the power is more than adequate, you never feel as if you are laking for power.  You can get up to speed quickly, on a two lane road you have plenty of torque to get you around slower cars and safely back into your lane.  Merging on to highways is not a problem at at all.  Best of all, unlike some other cars in this class the Equus does not require Premium Fuel.

The Equus comes in two trim levels, Signature and Ultimate.  Pricing for the two models is $61,920 for the Signature and $68,920 for the Ultimate, that is $1,750 more than the outgoing model.  Compared to others in the category the Equus is $11,000 less than the Lexus LS, $33,000 less than the BMW 7 Series and $37,000 less than the Mercedes S-Class.

While many might think that people who would buy a Lexus, Mercedes, Audi or BMW would not be interested in the Equus, according to Hyundai America CEO John Krafcik, they have had a significant amount of conquest business from those other brands.

While at the end of the day the Equus might not be quite as good as the Lexus LS, it’s 95-98% as good and at a much better price point.  The interior and ride quality are on par with the outgoing Mercedes S-Class, at a huge savings, without some of the service headaches that come from owning a German car. 

The Equus is a player in the market and shouldn’t be discounted, we saw 20+ years ago how the German luxury makers dismissed Lexus, and we saw how well that worked out.  Given what Hyundai is doing with their mainstream products, the Equus shouldn’t be dismissed either.

2013 Hyundai Sante Fe Winner of 2013 Family Crossover Comparison

Summer is here and when you’re out there traveling across the country, a three-row family crossover might be the people-mover that provides the best combination of comfort and versatility.

Automobile Magazine compared eight of the best all-wheel-drive, three-row family crossovers available and put them to the test over 5 days. The list includes the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, 2013 Dodge Durango, 2013 Ford Explorer, 2013 Honda Pilot, 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe, 2013 Mazda CX-9, 2013 Nissan Pathfinder, and 2013 Toyota Highlander. To narrow down the list, editors defined the list of eligible finalist as mid-size vehicles intended for passenger use but also capable of weekend adventure which includes the ability to pack a useful amount of stuff and perform some light-duty towing.

Each vehicle was driven at the same time on the same roads and notes were made, facts were listed and points were argued. Matching vehicles in brackets just like in a tournament, each were compared and losers were knocked out one by one until the winner presented itself.

Many might think that all three-row crossovers are the same. Simply combine a car-like body with truck-like SUV styling, then add all-wheel drive to meet the demands of all-weather driving. Yet, the editors at Automobile Magazine strongly believed that the precise blend of car and truck still varies from vehicle to vehicle and that matters. In summary, this is what they had to say about the list of finalists:

“Some vehicles, like the Ford Explorer and Honda Pilot, fall toward the truck side of the spectrum, a little less refined than the others. Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-9 and Toyota Highlander drive exactly like cars, but they give up some utility to do so, notably in the comfortable spaciousness you want, even for the kids in the way-back row.”

“Within the middle, things are evolving quickly, and a vehicle like the Chevrolet Traverse that seemed like an amazing expression of modernity a second ago is now trying to keep up. At the leading edge we find crossovers that match style with refinement, as the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe and 2013 Nissan Pathfinder showed us as we posed them in front of our snappy Euro-style hotel in Holland, Michigan.”

“As a group, we think this is particularly true of the Santa Fe. It has both amenities and the appearance to be a premium vehicle, especially with this model's dramatic saddle-brown seat upholstery and soft-touch trim. The Hyundai also sets itself apart with its exterior styling, since as it maintains the distinctive proportions of a utility vehicle even as it aspires to something more than truckiness.”

The editors at Automobile Magazine strongly believe that the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe points the way forward. It is a vehicle that provides as much utility without sacrificing too much in terms of weight, power and fuel economy in order to do so. Vehicle configurations allow it to adapt whether it be a drive to school, the store, or the tulip farm in Holland, Michigan. Loaded with the technology available to ensure a safe trip for the family, yet at a price that is easy on the pockets. And just as important, the 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe looks and feels great while doing all that

Summer Car Maintenance Tip: Replace Your Windshield Wipers

The summertime is notorious for sudden, violent thunderstorms. When buckets of water are beating against your windshield, you need wipers that really work.  Even more so at night, when a rain storm can decrease visibility to 15 or 20 feet in front of your vehicle.

Winter can be tough on windshield wipers. Ice, snow, salt and extreme temperatures make cracks and tears in the rubber that lower the effectiveness of the wipers. If your wipers are leaving visible streaks or take several passes to clear away light rain, they need to be replaced.

Courtesy of Auto.HowStuffWorks.Com

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Hyundai Motor delivers first 15 hydrogen-powered ix35 Fuel Cell in Europe

Hyundai Motor Company has today delivered the first of its assembly line-produced ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles to the City of Copenhagen in Denmark. They were handed over by Hyundai Motor Europe, Hyundai Motor’s European sales subsidiary, during the opening ceremony of Denmark’s first hydrogen refueling station.

The 15 ix35 Fuel Cell units are the first hydrogen-powered vehicles manufactured on a production line to be introduced in Europe.

Mr. Byung Kwon Rhim, President of Hyundai Motor Europe said, “Hyundai Motor is committed to hydrogen as the fuel of the future for Europe. Delivering assembly-line produced ix35 Fuel Cell is evidence that we have a realistic solution to the region’s sustainable mobility needs.”

The ix35 Fuel Cell produces no harmful tailpipe emissions – only water vapour – and so its use will help the city of Copenhagen achieve its aim of becoming carbon-neutral by 2025.

Since 2011, Hyundai Motor has deployed prototypes of its third-generation ix35 Fuel Cell in a wide range of initiatives to raise awareness of hydrogen’s benefits as an automotive fuel; to support the drive for establishing a pan-European refueling infrastructure; and to demonstrate the cars’ real-world practicality to public and private organizations.

For example, EU policy-makers have access to ix35 Fuel Cell vehicles – via the EU Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU) in Brussels– showing the market-readiness of Hyundai Motor’s technology. And, earlier this year, senior representatives from 100 European businesses learned about and tested the ix35 Fuel Cell at a Hyundai Motor event in Berlin.

Hyundai Motor has been a world leader in the development of hydrogen fuel cell technology ever since research into its first fuel cell began in 1998. The company’s proprietary fuel cell technology is developed at its Eco Technology Research Institute in Korea. Hyundai intends to build 1.000 ix35 Fuel Cell cars by 2015 at its Ulsan factory, also in Korea.

The ix35 Fuel Cell is equipped with a 100 kW (136 ps) electric motor, and can reach a maximum speed of 160 km/h. Two hydrogen storage tanks, located between the vehicle’s rear axle, with a total capacity of 5,64 kg, enable the vehicle to travel a total of 594 km on a single fueling. Filling the storage hydrogen tanks to maximum capacity takes just a few minutes.

Courtesy of Hyundai Newsroom

HYUNDAI GENESIS AND VELOSTER RECOGNIZED IN AUTOPACIFIC VEHICLE SATISFACTION AWARDS

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis and Veloster topped the Aspirational Luxury Car and Sporty Car categories respectively in the 2013 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). AutoPacific’s VSA survey measures how satisfied an owner is with his/her new vehicle.

AutoPacific’s VSAs objectively measure owner satisfaction with 51 vehicle attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance. This study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarizes the results of responses from over 52,000 new vehicle owners.

“Winning AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award confirms that the Hyundai Genesis has joined the big leagues,” said George Peterson, President, AutoPacific. “Out-pointing all other Aspirational Luxury Cars, Genesis has won this award four out of the last five years. This proves that Genesis is a smart buy for drivers wanting an excellent car at an excellent value.”

“The Hyundai Veloster is a sporty car with extremely aggressive styling that resonates with its buyers,” continued Peterson. “With an attractive price point and head-turning styling, Veloster tops the AutoPacific satisfaction ratings with its owners giving very positive reviews.”

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis features a 2.0-liter engine with Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CWT), dual asymmetrical chrome exhaust tips, LED tail lights and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with integrated audio controls. The 2013 Veloster features a three door design along with an all-new turbo model, with a new 1.6-liter, 201 horsepower, direct-injected twin-scroll turbocharged engine, aggressive bodykit and unique 18-inch alloy wheels.

“The AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are an important indicator that Hyundai is continuing to hit the mark when it comes to pleasing consumers,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We are pleased that both Genesis and Veloster owners rank their purchase decisions so highly – an excellent reflection on both of these class-leading vehicles.”
In addition, both the Genesis and Veloster come with advanced safety features and are equipped with Assurance Connected Care powered by the Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics platform. Assurance Connected Care is a suite of safety and car care features providing Hyundai owners with free proactive services including automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, monthly vehicle diagnostics reports and maintenance alerts.

--Courtesy of Hyundai News

2013 Genesis Sedan: Special Financing

$1000 Total Cash OR $1000 Bonus Cash AND 1.90% financing for up to 60 mos, 2.90% for 72 mos.  Offer expires 7/1/2013.  See dealership for details.

Disclaimer- Dealer must verify accuracy of this report before delivery. Information provided by Autodollars, Inc. Copyright Protected. Total Cash amount is the total of all eligible incentives in a specific area- this may include one or more incentives. This is a simple list of current manufacturer programs available to retail buyers based on the location listed at the top of the report. To qualify for programs in a specific location, buyer must live and register vehicle in that location. We do not list all program guidelines, see listed dealer for complete program details and rules. APR is subject to finance approval- Not all buyers will qualify for the lowest APR. If "APR" or "CASH + APR" is chosen, buyer must finance through Manufacturers Credit Institution.