Hyundai Spends Big for the Oscars

Hyundai is slated to be the most high-profile automaker during Sunday's broadcast of the 82nd annual Academy Awards. But there's a twist, since strict rules for TV ads mean the Korean automaker can't use its usual pitchman: Jeff Bridges.

Bridges is a best-actor nominee for the movie Crazy Heart. But the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prohibits actors who are in the show from participating in commercials during their part of the show. This was a bit of a problem, since Hyundai has eight ads scheduled for its new Sonata and Genesis sedans.

Filling in for Bridges by reading voice-over copy will be Kim Basinger, Richard Dreyfuss, David Duchovny, Catherine Keener, Mandy Patinkin, Michael Madsen and Martin Sheen.

"It took seven stars to fill the void, but we're excited about the cast we've lined up for Oscar night," said Joel Ewanick, Hyundai Motor America vice president of marketing, in a statement.

Each 30-second spot is valued at over $1.2 million, meaning the ambitious Korean automaker spent over $10 million in stealing the spotlight at this year's Oscars. Hyundai is in the second year of a three-year contract as the national automotive sponsor of the event.

Inside Line says: Hyundai takes center stage at what observers are

[Source: Hyundai]

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Geneva: Hyundai's i-flow Concept previews upcoming European D-segment entry

Making its global debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Hyundai i-flow concept car has carried forward the company's evocative new form language, "fluidic sculpture". The flowing, elegant lines not only create a bionic, futuristic shape, but also contribute to exceptional aerodynamics, helping to reduce the car's CO2 output to just 85g/km and fuel consumption to only 3l/100km.

Hyundai's first diesel hybrid powertrain is also a key factor in delivering such an environmentally-conscious return, as is the application of next-generation materials and technologies developed in cooperation with leading chemical company BASF.

With an overall length of 4.780mm and a 2.800mm wheelbase, the i-flow brings new ideas and a pioneering form to the traditional European D-segment. The dramatically-sculpted forms of the interior and exterior make for a striking sports sedan, and its width and height (1.850mm and 1.420mm respectively) give it an athletic stance.

The name i-flow reflects the exceptionally aerodynamic shape and the flowing lines of the concept car's eye-catching styling, and retains the 'i' prefix of Hyundai's established alphanumeric nomenclature for Europe. In 2011 Hyundai will bring into production a new challenger in the segment, drawing on the i-flow's sleek styling and innovative technology.

Thomas Buerkle, chief designer at Hyundai Motor Europe, appraises the design concept of i-flow, or HED-7, the seventh in a series of daring concept cars to be born in the Russelsheim styling studio:

The cockpit's main interface centers around an expansive, contoured screen, which recognizes not only touch but also gestural inputs along its fascia-wide display. The fluidic forms of the exterior are echoed in the i-flow's cabin, where continuous lines sweep from the dashboard, through the doors to the open storage area at the rear.

The i-flow is a test bed for new energy harvesting ideas, ranging from flexible solar panel roofing to a thermo-electric generator. The key technical components of the vehicle have been developed by Hyundai under the Blue Drive™ banner in cooperation with BASF. Blue Drive remains at the heart of Hyundai's product development strategy, and continues to drive the company towards its target of global leadership in environmentally-sensitive technologies.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Kia Celebrates Grand Opening of Plant in Georgia, US

WEST POINT, Ga. Feb. 26, 2010 – Officials with Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG), Inc. were joined by dignitaries from the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group, the State of Georgia, local city and county officials to celebrate the official grand opening of Kia’s first-ever U.S. automobile manufacturing plant in West Point, Georgia, capable of producing 300,000 cars annually for the North American and global markets.

The ceremony was attended by approximately 500 VIPs from Korea and the U.S., including Chairman of the Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Mong-Koo Chung; Group President and CEO of KMMG and Kia Motors America (KMA) Byung-Mo Ahn; Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue; and a number of other high-ranking Korean government and State of Georgia officials.

“Kia is proud to call West Point, Georgia home and we look forward to many years of growing together,” said Ahn. “Continued diligent work has helped elevate Kia to one of the fastest growing automobile brands around the globe. With the successful launch of the 2011 Kia Sorento CUV and establishment of our first manufacturing plant in the United States, the Kia brand is well positioned for further growth and to become a worldwide leader in quality and innovation.”

[Source: Kia Motors America]

Continue reading for the complete press release.

Representing a $1 billion investment by Kia Motors Corporation, the sprawling, new 2.2 million-square-foot automobile manufacturing plant is situated on more than 2,200 acres of land between Exit 2 and Exit 6 along Interstate 85 in West Point. KMMG consists of four main shops: stamping, welding, paint and assembly. The site also includes a transmission shop, module shop and a two-mile test track where every vehicle produced by KMMG will be thoroughly tested. KMMG’s general assembly area is outfitted with more than a half mile of height-adjustable conveyors to achieve the most favorable installation position for each team member and reduce physical fatigue. It is outfitted with wood flooring, which provides a more comfortable and forgiving work environment for team members.

Governor Perdue noted today’s event meant the continuation of a mutually beneficial partnership between the State of Georgia and Kia that will mean many great things for the State in years to come.

“This is a momentous day for Georgia as Kia Motors has brought thousands of new jobs to this area, and is truly delivering as a tremendous corporate citizen,” said Governor Perdue. “We value our relationship with Kia and pledge to continue providing specialized training through the Kia Georgia Training Center that will guarantee a quality workforce and the future success of this plant in Georgia.”

The massive Kia automobile manufacturing plant and its supplier companies have already provided thousands of jobs. KMMG currently employs more than 1,200 team members and is expected to nearly double that number by the end of the year, while onsite and nearby suppliers will create up to 7,500 additional jobs in the region.

Randy Jackson, director of human resources and administration, said he was glad that KMMG could help give back to the local community through job creation, community development and tourism.

“The Grand Opening marks a new milestone for Kia,” Jackson said. “Beginning this spring, we are pleased to open our doors to the community and have them see firsthand the quality and craftsmanship that is built into every Kia vehicle. We hope every Kia owner, and anyone thinking about purchasing a Kia, will visit us."

Mass production of the all-new 2011 Kia Sorento CUV began on Nov. 16, 2009 with the product officially going on sale in the U.S. in January of this year. Selling 7,398 units in its first month, the 2011 Sorento was Kia’s best-selling vehicle in January.

“The outstanding early performance of the first vehicle produced from our West Point, Georgia plant is a significant achievement for KMMG, KMA and the Kia brand as a whole,” said Ahn. “As we grow we will continue to expand our line of vehicles here and abroad while staying true to the Kia brand tenets of value, quality, safety and technology; and KMMG will play a prominent role in achieving our goals.”

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More Images of New Kia Optima (TF) Leaked

More images have trickled out into the web of the upcoming all-new Kia Optima. Code-named "TF" during testing stages, the latest addition to the Kia line-up will officially be called "K5" when it first goes on sale in Korea this May. The K5 is a significant departure in terms of design and mechanics from its predecessor, as Kia plans to rock the highly competitive mid-size car segment with its all-new entry.The K5 is the latest embodiment of Kia's family-look pioneered by the brand's design guru Peter Schreyer. The sleek front fascia that incorporates Kia's corporate look is a testament to the brand's particular emphasis on design as of late, as well as a distinctive side profile complete with a unique C-pillar design that arguably sets out the K5 from its competition.

In addition to an attractive design, the K5 will also be available in a choice of two impressive powertrains: a 2.0L CVVT and a 2.4L GDI 4-cylinder (gasoline direct-injection) that produces 198 horsepower. The K5 shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai YF Sonata and the Kia K7 (Cadenza).

The K5, which will most likely retain the Optima name in the United States, will make its global premiere at the 2010 New York International Auto Show on April 2nd.

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Hyundai Issues Recall and Sales Halt of 2011 Sonata

Hyundai Motor America has informed regulators that the front door-lock modules on 2011 Sonatas can stick, and will notify customers of a recall. Consequently, the brand has followed suit with a temporary sales halt on its most popular offering. The recall affects 1,300 sold units of the 2011 Sonata in the United States, as well as 46,000 units manufactured and sold in South Korea. The new Sonata has been available in South Korea since September 2009, and was launched in the U.S. this month.

Hyundai said it has received complaints from customers but there haven’t been any reported accidents or injuries related to this problem. Hyundai hopes to rectify this issue quickly and not have a repeat of Toyota’s misfortune.

With the 2011 model going on sale two weeks ago in the U.S. 5,000 cars have been made in total and of that 1,300 have been sold. It is not known how many of the 1,300 will have faulty locks.

The problem occurs when the front seat passenger tries to open the door from the inside while holding down the lock button. When this happens the interior door handle doesn’t return to its normal position and the door will not shut completely. Pressing the lock button again will reset the handle allowing the door to work correctly.

With replacement parts reaching dealerships tomorrow the stop-sale will be lifted as soon as the repairs are made. The repairs consist of the replacement of the front door-lock mechanism.

[Source: Hyundai]

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Official: Kia Releases "K5" Sketches, Debut in NY

Kia Motors has released the first official sketches (side and front renderings after the jump) of the upcoming successor of its mid-size Optima (Lotze/Magentis in other markets) sedan today. Code-named "TF" during testing stages, the latest addition to the Kia line-up will officially be called "K5" when it first goes on sale in Korea this May. The K5 is a significant departure in terms of design and mechanics from its predecessor, as Kia plans to rock the highly competitive mid-size car segment with its all-new entry.

The K5 is the latest embodiment of Kia's family-look pioneered by the brand's design guru Peter Schreyer. The sleek front fascia that incorporates Kia's corporate look is a testament to the brand's particular emphasis on design as of late, as well as a distinctive side profile complete with a unique C-pillar design that arguably sets out the K5 from its competition.

In addition to an attractive design, the K5 will also be available in a choice of two impressive powertrains: a 2.0L CVVT and a 2.4L GDI 4-cylinder (gasoline direct-injection) that produces 198 horsepower. The K5 shares its underpinnings with the Hyundai YF Sonata and the Kia K7 (Cadenza).

The K5, which will most likely retain the Optima name in the United States, will make its global premiere at the 2010 New York International Auto Show on April 2nd.

[Source: Kia]

CONTINUE READING FOR ADDITIONAL OFFICIAL SKETCHES.

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