The world can’t have enough rear-wheel-drive sedans with turbo V6 power, right? Here’s the latest challenger to the likes of the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes C-Class: Meet the Genesis G70. Europeans might be scratching their heads right now, but Americans will be nodding knowledgeably and saying “Of course, the latest project from Hyundai’s premium offshoot, aiming to leapfrog Lexus and Infiniti”. The G70 is aiming at Korean, US and Russian markets first, slotting in beneath the G80 and G90 sedans in the Genesis lineup, just like BMW offers a 3-, 5- and 7-Series to choose between. And first off, it looks rather handsome. Check out that front wing vent, the AMG-style wheels, and how short the overhangs are. Maybe it’s not as gorgeous as an Alfa Romeo Giulia, but a Jaguar XE looks quite dated all of a sudden. Audi designers might be having a wry look at the enormous front grille right now. Pity half of it is actually blanked off to hide the front anti-collision and cruise control radar, but that’s par for the course among rivals, too. Underneath the G70, if you were to break out the angle grinders, you’d find the same rear-drive platform as the Kia Stinger. The engine lineup is shared too: You can have a 2.0-liter gasoline, a 2.2-liter turbodiesel, or a 3.3-liter turbo V6 with 350hp. But this isn’t supposed to be a cannibalization that’ll accidentally chomp the Stinger. The Kia is meant to be the sporty one, and the Genesis is the more luxurious one. It has more soundproofing, and you can spec diamond-quilted upholstery inside. Fine, but there are also red brake calipers and gaping oval exhausts on the G70 Turbo Sport. Wonder if Kia’s pleased about that. Inside, there’s plenty of European influence. A BMW-style tablet infotainment screen, an Audi-esque dash sweep, and more knurled switches than you can shake a Bentley brochure at. Doesn’t look like there’s much Hyundai parts-sharing going on either. There’ll be no wagon or coupe: Like the Giulia or XE, the G70 is a standard sedan, and Genesis says this is the third and final in its range. Next priorities are SUVs as well as adding electric and hybrid models to the lineup as Genesis aims to start pinching premium German marque sales worldwide. Top Gear UK will be grabbing an early drive in the G70 soon. In the meantime, let us know if you reckon it deserves a place among the old guard below. ARTICLE BY TOP GEAR PHILIPPINESAfter releasing several teasers, Hyundai has finally pulled the wraps off its new vehicle, the Kona. This funky model will sit below the popular Tucson compact crossover SUV. Like its siblings, it too is named after a place. In this case, a Hawaiian district popular among adventurous tourists.
It’s clear that the 4,165mm long, 1,800mm wide, and 1,550mm tall Kona was designed to go up against the more stylish B-segment crossovers like the new Toyota CH-R and the Nissan Juke. Up front, its familiar 'Cascading Grille' is probably the only thing that links it to its siblings. To create a distinct face, its slim daytime running lights and turn signals are positioned high up on each corner. The main LED headlights are separate units positioned low on matte black panels that blend with the front wheel arch trims. Bulging fenders, prominent rear haunches, and sculpted door panels give it a muscular look. The front styling theme is mirrored at the back—its slim taillights are mounted high, while its turn signals and reversing lights are paired on the protective matte black panels, which blend with the rear wheel arch trims. Like most trendy new vehicles, it features a contrasting roof color that begins from the bottom of the A-pillars. Inside, it features a sleek dashboard with horizontal lines and a vertical floating screen at the center. On the tech end, it’s available with a premium infotainment system which features Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. Depending on the trim or market, you’ll have the option of a 5-, 7-, or 8-inch display. It also features a heads-up display and wireless charging for compatible smartphones. The Kona will be offered with three gasoline powerplants: a 147hp 2.0-liter MPI Atkinson mill paired to a 6-speed automatic transmission, a 175hp Gamma 1.6-liter turbocharged T-GDI lump mated to a 7-speed dual-clutch, while Europeans also have the option for tiny 118hp 1.0-liter turbocharged T-GDI 3-cylinder unit coupled to a 6-speed manual. A 1.6-liter oil-burner will also be offered in select markets. It rides on a new platform and is available with front-wheel and all-wheel drive, each featuring its own rear suspension. FWD models get a rear torsion beam while AWD models get a multi-link independent rear set-up. A Kona Iron Man Special Edition will also be displayed at Hyundai’s Motorstudio in Soul. As the name suggests, it gets its inspiration from Tony Stark’s powered armored suit. The Kona will hit Korean showrooms later this month, followed by export markets like America and Europe. Will it reach out shores? Seeing how closely positioned the Creta and Tucson are to each other currently, you shouldn’t hold your breath. Unless Hyundai makes room for it, the Kona’s addition to the local lineup is seemingly uncertain. If you're viewing this on a mobile device and can't see the video, please click here.
The Hyundai Veloster is at a strange crossroads at the moment. Like its Genesis Coupe stablemate, it looks fast and sporty but it's more comfortable being a touring car. Under the hood is a 1.6-liter turbocharged engine that puts out 201hp. At P1,588,000 it should be considered a bargain compared to sports cars in its price range like the Toyota 86 and the Mazda MX-5. But the sporting nature of those two Japanese models is what distances them from this Korean hatchback. However, if you want a head-turning three-door vehicle (as you may know, this has a unique door configuration) that you can drive for hours comfortably, the Veloster should be on your shortlist. I did a quick drive to Pampanga with it and it was a pleasant road companion. The ride is smooth, the NVH is good, and the cabin feels much more premium than the typical Elantra or Tucson. In other words, you do get what you're paying for, as long as you know what to expect. For a better look at this unique offering from Hyundai, click play on the video above. Hyundai Kona set to make world debut on June 13 After releasing several teaser images of their all-new crossover, Hyundai has just announced that the Kona will make its world premiere on June 13. Set to take on other B-segment crossover stalwarts, the Kona features a funky design that is unlike the company has ever come up with. Based on the teaser video, the Kona will have a double headlight design that gives it a distinct face. From the looks of things, the top portion of the front fascia will have LED daytime running while the bottom section will be fitted with what appear to be LED or HID headlights. While not yet fully revealed, the Kona will likely have an updated Cascading Grill reminiscent of the one used in the all-new i30. Black body cladding, directional alloy wheels and flared wheel arches are also likely to be present on the Hyundai Kona. Topping it all off are what appear to be thin eye-catching LED taillights. Recently, our spies were able to take photos of the upcoming Kona in heavy camouflage. Based on images provided, the prototype looks a lot like the production vehicle teased in the video. In addition, our spies suspect that its platform may be derived from the next-gen i20 hatchback while engines could be borrowed from the all-new i30. Front-wheel-drive will come as standard while all-wheel-drive will be available as an option.
If you've been spotting more and more Hyundai vehicles on the road lately, there's a good reason. The year 2016 was a fruitful one for the Korean carmaker. Hyundai Asia Resources (HARI), the official distributor of Hyundai in the country, ended the year with a 53% growth in sales.
Its success can be attributed in part to the Eon and the Accent, which are still some of the top-selling passenger cars (PC) in the country. The strongest category for Hyundai was the subcompact segment, of which it sold 12,360 units. Mini PC sales, meanwhile, stood at 9,675. The light commercial vehicles (LCV) weren't far behind, with the Grand Starex leading the brand to a 52% growth in the segment. Hyundai's LCV sales grew by an astonishing 127% year-on-year compared to the last quarter of 2015. In all, HARI sold 33,695 vehicles in 2016. “Emulating the vitality of the country’s economy and its fast-growing automotive industry, 2016 proved to be a promising year for Hyundai. We can only look forward at 2017 with endless potential, as the company will continue to please the market with its line-up of modern premium products and services,” said HARI president and CEO Ma. Fe Perez-Agudo. How do you guys think Hyundai will fare in 2017? |
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