For 2013, the base GLS with the ‘Popular Equipment Package’ gains standard fog lights and heated front seats, with pricing set at $21,720. The SE model now comes with standard heated front seats and the Limited gets a standard traditional sunroof, while a panoramic sunroof is now part of the Limited Premium Package for 2013.

There are no other changes or upgrades to the Sonata, which continues to be available with two gasoline engines, a 198hp 2.4-liter Theta II GDI (200hp in SE trim with the dual exhaust) and a 274-horsepower 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged GDI engine, plus a 206hp Hybrid variant.

Two of the new photos provide us our first glimpse at the luxury model’s interior including the instrument panel and part of the steering wheel as well as Kia’s very BMW-like automatic transmission shifter and parking brake button and infotainment system control knob.

Kia says that the K9 will be equipped with an array of technological and safety features such as a latest generation, full-color heads-up display, full adaptive LED headlamps and a large 12.3-inches LCD screen for the infotainment system.

Furthermore, Kia revealed that the K9 will launch in South Korea this summer with two engine options, a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 296HP (300PS) and a 3.8-liter V6 producing 329HP (334PS).

More details are to be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, head down to watch Kia’s four new commercials for the K9.

Speaking at a press event in Beijing, Hyundai Vice President Seung-Tack Kim said: “A decade ago, Hyundai was known for making only small cars. Today, our Equus and Genesis luxury cars compete with the best vehicles that Europe can make. Ten years ago, we were a follower in the auto industry. Today, we are a leader – and ready for the future.”

The first concept model at Hyundai’s stand is the Shouwang BHCD-1, a luxury sedan prototype from the sub-brand established by the joint venture between Hyundai and its Chinese partner, Beijing Automotive. The BHCD-1 was first revealed at the Guangzhou auto show last November.

The second concept is the i-oniq, a range-extended electric sports car first seen at the 2012 Geneva Salon in March.

The Chinese market version of the Elantra, the Langdong, will be produced at Hyundai’s new, third plant in Beijing in the second half of this year. Engine options include a 1.6-liter petrol with 126hp (128PS) and a 1.6-liter unit producing 144hp (146PS), linked to either 6-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

As for the all-new Santa Fe, sales in China will begin in the second half of this year.

The revamped Korean supermini sports Hyundai’s new face with the hexagonal front grille, while you’ll also find changes at the rear with the redesigned bumper and taillights. Inside, Hyundai says it has improved the quality with soft-touch plastics, plus a revised center console along with updated seat trims.

Under the skin, the new 1.2-litre petrol engine is not only cleaner but also more efficient and powerful than the model it replaces. Peak output reaches 84hp (85PS) instead of 78hp (79PS) while fuel economy has improved from 55.4mpg to 57.7mpg UK on the combined cycle and CO2 emissions have dropped from 119g/km to 114g/km.

The most fuel efficient model in the range is the Blue variant, which is powered by a new 1.1-litre “U-ll” three-cylinder diesel engine combined with Intelligent Stop and Go and low rolling resistance tyres. It emits only 84g/km and is capable of returning 88.3mpg UK on the combined cycle.

The latest i20 is offered in three main trim levels. Beginning with the Classis, it includes remote central locking, six air bags, air conditioning, ESP and, for the first time on the i20, Vehicle Stability Management as standard.

Moving up to the Active grade adds 15-inch alloys, Bluetooth with voice recognition, electric/heated door mirrors, front fog lights, leather steering wheel and gear knob and electric rear windows for the five door models.

Finally, the top of the range Style trim is equipped with 16-inch wheels, automatic headlights, rain sensing front wipers, climate control along with an automatic dimming rear view mirror with an integrated reversing camera.

RMR has coaxed more than 600 horsepower out of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe’s engine, which features the production block and heads—much-needed power for drifting competition.

“This begins the fourth year of our racing relationship with Hyundai, and we want to continue to build upon our success in both developing and racing Hyundai’s race-proven products,” Millen said in a release.

RMR is also campaigning a turbocharged Hyundai Veloster in the 2012 Global RallyCross Championship Series. The Veloster rallycross car will go head-to-head against entries from Ford, Subaru, Dodge, and Citroen. The 2012 Formula Drift season kicked off in Long Beach over the weekend and the 2012 Global RallyCross season will begin its sophomore year in Las Vegas on April 21.

Source: Hyundai

Well someone decided to find out.

“The Veracruz is going away,” Hyundai CEO John Krafcik said in an interview with Autoblog. “It ends production around November.”

The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe introduces a two-row, five-passenger Santa Fe Sport, Santa Fe Sport 2.0T and larger three-row, 7-passenger LWB Santa Fe. The Hyundai Santa Fe Sport will get an all 4-cylinder lineup including a 2.4 liter GDI engine making 190-hp and a 2.0 liter turbo GDI engine making 190-hp. The 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe LWB is powered by a Lambda II 3.3-liter GDI V6 engine with 290 horsepower.

The five-seater Santa Fe Sport rides on a 106.3-inch (2,700mm) wheelbase, and has an overall length of 184.6 inches (4,690mm), height of 66.1 inches (1,680mm), and width of 74.0 inches (1,880mm).

The larger Santa Fe sports a longer wheelbase of 110.2-inches (2,800mm), with increased overall length of 193.1 inches (4,905mm), height of 66.5 inches (1,690mm), and width of 74.2-inch (1,885mm). The three-row Santa Fe’s cargo volume is 41.0 cubic feet.

Aside from differences in the exterior dimensions and interior space, the LWB Santa Fe also sports changes to the front and rear end designs.

Both Santa Fe models adopt Hyundai’s “Fluidic Sculpture” styling language inside and out.

The five-seat Santa Fe Sport will launch in the States with two gasoline engines, including a 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder with 190hp and 181 lb-ft of torque that manages an estimated 23mpg city, 33mpg highway and 26mpg combined, and a 2.0-liter turbocharged four rated at 264hp and 269 lb-ft that returns an estimated 22mpg city, 31mpg highway and 25mmpg combined.

The LWB model will be offered exclusively with the same 3.3-liter V6 GDI gasoline unit rated at 290-horsepower that’s used in the Azera sedan.

All three engines are mated to Hyundai’s six-speed automatic transmission and can be equipped with all-wheel drive as an option.

The Kia facility produced more than 252,000 cars and 359,000 engines in 2011, representing increases of 10 and 12 per cent respectively over the previous year.

Kia also invested heavily through 2011, recruiting an additional 900 employees to staff a third production shift in January 2012. The new staff members take the total workforce at Zilina to more than 3,900 employees.

Expansion of Zilina’s engine shop to a maximum capacity of 450,000 units per year saw Kia invest EUR 200 million in the facility, and the company also donated EUR 400,000 to a range of environmental and community welfare initiatives in the region during the past 12 months.

“Last year was very successful for the Kia brand in Europe, with sales outperforming the market,” commented Benny Oeyen, Vice President Marketing and Product Planning, Kia Motors Europe. “At this moment we are the fastest growing brand in Europe.”

The increased demand for Kia products, at a time when the wider automotive industry is experiencing a drop in sales, is testament to the consumer appeal of its products’ striking design, low running costs, excellent value and build quality.

This year will see Kia invest an additional EUR 110 million in its Zilina facility and launch production of the all-new Kia cee’d. The dynamic newcomer is expected to play a key role in lifting total vehicle production at the facility to 285,000 units this year.

At Zilina in 2011, Kia produced more than 101,000 Sportage SUVs, representing 40 per cent of total production, and 103,000 cee’d (five-door, three-door and wagon) models, accounting for 41 per cent. Production of Kia Venga began in October 2011, and the B-segment MPV totalled 11,000 units and around 4 per cent of production, with the Hyundai ix35 SUV (produced at Zilina until June 2011) making up the remainder.

Consumer Reports found the Kia Rio a solid and well-equipped car with nimble handling, simple controls and plenty of features for the price. Their test vehicle was a Kia Rio EX sedan ($17,275 as tested) with a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine making 138-hp with 30-mpg overall. They noted that the six-speed automatic transmission shifts smoothly while both ride and noise were tolerable for a subcompact. They were also pleased with the braking performance of the Rio and found the trunk to be roomy.

The hatchback, on the other hand, came in third place behind the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa in the subcompact hatchbacks category. Despite the Versa having a strong showing among the hatchbacks, the sedan plunged from being at the top of Consumer Reports’ ratings to the bottom. Complaints from Consumer Reports include the engine’s whirring, jittery ride on the highway and unimpressive interior.

Even with its redesign, the Toyota Yaris continued to garner very low scores from Consumer Reports, which calling it “bare-bones transportation.” They reported that the Yaris is noisy, has a choppy ride, poor handling and slow acceleration.

The biggest surprise is probably the new Chevrolet Sonic getting high marks for its quiet cabin, agile handling, and excellent braking. What hurt the Sonic was its fuel economy, which Consumer Reports said is mediocre for the class. Even though Consumer Reports tested a fully-loaded Sonic LTZ turbocharged hatchback, they found that it was too expensive and “didn’t live up to its sporty aspirations.”