2013 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring - Surprisingly Sporty

Crossovers have become the white bread of the automotive market both for their ubiquity -- more than one out of every five vehicles sold last year -- and for the fact that they're more convenient than they are interesting or enjoyable.

The Mazda CX-5 may, at last, be a crossover with some crust to it. The all-new vehicle replaces two aging products -- the CX-7 and the Tribute -- with a clean sheet design that completely cuts ties with Ford. The result is a great-looking vehicle that nets a segment best combined fuel economy rating of 29 mpg in front-wheel-drive form. It's also as fun to drive as we've come to expect of the company that's been building Miatas for two decades. Although no one will confuse the CX-5 with the MX-5, our early tests have found the trucklet steers and handles better than some sporty cars. The typical crossover features -- 8.5 inches of ground clearance and 65.4 cubic feet of cargo space with the rear seats folded -- are present and much appreciated, but don't define its character.

We thus did not hesitate in making the CX-5 the fifth (!) crossover in our four seasons fleet. We did, however, hesitate over how to equip it. We were sorely tempted by Mazda's inclusion of a six-speed manual transmission -- a very good one, at that. Alas, it's only available on the most basic model in three colors (black, gray, or silver). Our sky blue CX-5 Grand Touring instead has a six-speed automatic and all the trimmings, including nineteen-inch wheels, leather seats, a sunroof, a backup camera, and a nine-speaker Bose audio system. We also opted for a $1325 technology package that adds a navigation system, HID headlights, and keyless ignition. Just about the only extra we skipped was all-wheel drive. That measure of restraint (barely) kept the window sticker under $30,000.

The CX-5 is quickly establishing itself as more than just another crossover in our parking garage, earning early praise for its well-weighted steering and its refined, premium-looking interior. A journey to Boston within a week of arriving indicates the CX-5 is a comfortable road-trip vehicle, as well, though the 155-hp four-cylinder sometimes struggles to keep up with faster highway traffic.

The CX-5 is more than just another crossover for Mazda, too. It represents the first fruit of a huge product investment for a small automaker that just reported its worst annual financial performance in more than a decade. It can little afford for another of its products to fall to the margins of a competitive segment (see: Mazda 6). Only time will tell if the CX-5 can continue to stand out, especially as we get more seat time in the likes of the redesigned Ford Escape.

Read more: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/12_month_car_reviews/1205_2013_mazda_cx_5_grand_touring_introduction/#ixzz1uJ2QerU0

HYUNDAI IMPLEMENTS THROTTLE OVERRIDE CAPABILITY IN ADVANCE OF PENDING GOVERNMENT MANDATE

Hyundai Bolsters Its Safety Leadership Record with all Models Providing Brake Pedal Throttle Override Capability

 

Hyundai continues its practice of providing critical safety technologies to its customers well before government mandates come into effect with all models now offering brake pedal electronic throttle override capability. With virtually all cars using electronic throttle control today, there remains the remote possibility for an unforeseen electronic throttle control malfunction, causing a vehicle to accelerate contrary to driver input. Although very unlikely due to various built-in electronic safety protocols, unforeseen circumstances could still exist that could cause this type of malfunction.

“With Hyundai’s brake pedal throttle override capability, any brake pedal input by the driver, even with a runaway throttle condition, completely overrides any throttle malfunction,” said Robert Babcock, director of certification and compliance affairs for Hyundai’s technical center. “It is no longer possible to have increasing engine power once the brake pedal is depressed by the driver. This adds a reassuring, incremental safeguard of control for Hyundai drivers.”

The government mandate for brake pedal throttle override capability, a component of FMVSS 124 (Accelerator Control Systems), has been under consideration by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) since April 16, 2012. However, its final approval and subsequent timing have yet to be determined. Hyundai development teams have been less concerned about final government mandate timing, focusing instead on the immediate safety and assurance of their customers.

Beginning with May production, fully 100 percent of all U.S. Hyundai models now provide the assuring safeguard of brake pedal throttle override capability. This advanced safety feature implementation by Hyundai remains many months and possibly years before the final government mandate, if approved.

Read More: http://www.hyundaiusa.com/about-hyundai/news/Corporate_2012_THROTTLE_OVERRIDE-20120502.aspx

Illinois Hyundai Dealers

Mazda Extends Production of Special Edition RX-8 SPIRIT R

- An extra 1,000 RX-8s are on their way due to popular demand - 

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has decided to extend production of the Mazda RX-8 SPIRIT R by 1,000 units. Mazda initially intended to make 1,000 units of the special edition four-door, four-seat rotary engine sports car, but will extend production due to a large number of orders. Sales of the RX-8 SPIRIT R, the final special edition model, were launched in November of 2011.

Mazda has received orders for the special edition RX-8 SPIRIT R from a variety of customers of all ages including sports car fans and rotary engine enthusiasts. The 6-speed manual transmission version is proving most popular, constituting 66% of orders. It features aero parts and Bilstein dampers as well as RECARO bucket seats and 19-inch bronze-painted forged aluminum wheels. Orders are almost equally divided between the three available body colors, Aluminum Metallic, Sparkling Black Mica, and Crystal White Pearl Mica.

Mazda commenced sales of the RX-8 in April 2003, and as of the end of March 2012, has produced 192,094 units (figure includes those intended for overseas sale). Mazda plans to end production of the RX-8 in June 2012.

Read More: http://www.mazda.com/publicity/release/2012/201204/120426a.html

40-mpg Hyundai Elantra named one of the Best Green Cars

The 40 mpg Hyundai Elantra 2012 (Model Year) named to KBB’ 10 best green cars list.

Hyundai has spent the last few years forging a reputation as being the biggest up and comer in the automotive world, so they must have been delighted when their 2012 Hyundai Elantra was named as one of the 10 Best Green Cars of 2012 on the Kelley Blue Book website at kbb.com.

The timing of the announcement was perfect, coming as it did when gas prices were soaring and Earth Day was right around the corner. Fuel-efficiency was the number one consideration that the KBB editors took into account when making their decision.

The editors at kbb.com were quick to point out that the elusive 40 mpg mark was one that many non-hybrid cars simply couldn’t attain.

They went on to say that Hyundai Elantra 2012 was easily able to hit that mark, regardless of trim level, with the majority of that success being down to the fuel-efficient 1,8L 4-cylinder engine.

They also praised the overall look and price point of the 2012 Elantra, which also helped push it into the top 10. That lets the competition know that fuel-efficiency alone isn’t enough to catch their eye, and a top 10 car has to be more than just a gas sipper.

That 40 mpg mark is something that is extremely important to Hyundai, as they have set affordability and fuel-efficiency as the benchmarks they look to set with every vehicle in their line-up.

Read More: http://www.hyundai-blog.com/40-mpg-hyundai-elantra-named-one-of-the-best-green-cars

Hyundai Elantra Dealers

Hyundai's U.S. sales could top 700,000 in 2012, Krafcik says

DETROIT (Reuters) -- Hyundai Motor Co. could see U.S. sales top 700,000 vehicles this year despite the Korean automaker's tight vehicle supplies, a top executive said today.

Hyundai Chairman Chung Mong-koo, who is credited with leading a focus on quality at the automaker since he took over in 2000, has capped production capacity globally, so plants will need to squeeze any added output from the current production schedule, said John Krafcik, head of Hyundai's North American operations.

Last year Hyundai sold 645,691 cars and SUVs in the United States, an increase of 20 percent from 2010.

"What (Chung) wants to do is assure we're all focused on quality," Krafcik said. "When he is satisfied that we've achieved this steady state from which we can grow, then we'll have some opportunity" for adding capacity.

Hyundai, which has capped annual global capacity at around 7 million vehicles, has a U.S. plant in Montgomery, Ala. Hyundai affiliate Kia Motors also builds Hyundai cars at its factory in West Point, Georgia.

Hyundai will continue to shift more sales from fleet customers, like car rental companies, to retail customers, Krafcik said.

Fleet sales, which are less profitable, accounted for 10 percent of U.S. sales last year, and Krafcik said the company plans to move that to as low as 5 percent, which could help shift as many as 100,000 sales to retail.

Fleet accounted for as much as 26 percent of the Korean automaker's U.S. sales in 2009.
Krafcik, at an event to show off the new Azera car and redesigned Genesis coupe, said he did not know what Chung's time frame might be for allowing capacity to start rising again.

The Hyundai brand ended the first quarter with a 4.7 percent share of the U.S. new-car market, down from 5.1 percent in 2011. Krafcik believes it is unlikely the company will lose more market share.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120412/COPY01/304129853#ixzz1rvr64Ca1

Mazda3i SkyActiv review from Consumer Reports

The Mazda3 has always been fun-to-drive. It's SkyActiv 2.0-liter four-cylinder makes it one of the most fuel-efficient small sedans you can buy. Find out more about the Mazda3 and other small cars on our website: http://bit.ly/kSwuc8

Read More: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=7g9PDbVBufc

Illinois Mazda Dealers

2013 Hyundai Santa Fe: Now In Regular and Three-Row! [New York Auto Show]

Hyundai unveiled a redesigned Santa Fe at the New York auto show, the first major makeover for this mid-size five-seat crossover since 2007, and second since it was introduced in 2001. What was not expected was the second unveiling, which revealed a bigger Santa Fe, on a stretched wheelbase, with three rows of seats and a V-6 engine. Having two Santa Fes in the same garage required some nomenclature adjustment. Thus the five-seater becomes the Santa Fe Sport, while the bigger version will be known as LWB Santa Fe. At least for now.

Santa Fe Sport

Although the wheelbase of the five-seat Sport model is unchanged at 106.3 inches, pretty much everything else is new. Overall length stretches a half-inch, to 184.6 inches, width shrinks 0.4 inch to 74.0, and height diminishes 1.8 inches, to 66.1.

Combined with yet another iteration of Hyundai’s “fluidic sculpture” design language, which seems to be dedicated to eliminating the slab-sided look of yesteryear, the revised dimensions lend more sleekness to the Santa Fe’s profile, continuing the crossover trend away from the blocky look once so popular in this class.

More significant from a performance point of view, the design team has substantially pared the Sport’s curb weight, partly by the increased use of high-tensile steel—30 percent more, contributing to a 16 percent improvement in torsional rigidity, according to Hyundai—and partly by installing new engines. Hyundai claims that the basic front-drive Santa Fe is 266 pounds lighter than the current model, remarkable in an age of rising curb weights, and vastly lighter than rivals such as the Ford Edge and Chevy Equinox.

The basic Santa Fe Sport gets Hyundai’s 190-hp, 2.4-liter direct-injection four-cylinder, and a 264-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four is offered as an option. Both engines are from the Sonata inventory, and they replace the previous 175-hp, 2.4-liter four-cylinder base engine and an optional 276-hp, 3.5-liter V-6. Both engines are paired with six-speed automatic transmissions and both are expected to generate improved highway mpg numbers—33 for the 2.4-liter, 31 for the 2.0 turbo. And as before, all-wheel drive is an option.

Inside Santa Fe

The inner Santa Fe features a redesigned dashboard, higher quality materials, electroluminescent gauges, Pandora audio, HD radio, and standard Blue Link, Hyundai’s telematic connectivity system. Other highlights include: seven airbags, including one to protect the driver’s knees and side airbags bags that deploy in a rollover crash; driver-selectable steering effort; a panoramic sunroof option; heated rear-seats that split 40/20/40 and offer separate fore-aft adjustability. Hyundai claims improved rear-seat legroom, and 35 cubic feet of cargo space behind the rear seats.

Read More: http://www.caranddriver.com/news/2013-hyundai-santa-fe-photos-and-info-news