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Don’t call it a Hornet. Dodge has released a slew of shadowy teasers for its new compact sedan, the 2013 Dodge Dart. The company is planning a slow reveal, with snippets of the four-door’s exterior and interior trickling out between now and the vehicle’s full unveil at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show. Specifics are still murky at the moment, though we do know Dodge will grace the 2013 Dart with a variety of engine options, including a turbocharged version of the 1.4-liter four-cylinder Multiair engine found in the Fiat 500. If the Fiat 500 Abarth is any indication, that means we’re looking at somewhere around 160 horsepower.

The 2013 Dodge Dart makes use of the same bones as the beautiful Alfa Romeo Giulietta, though the chassis has been both stretched and widened to accommodate the wider britches of American buyers. Chrysler says that a full 68 percent of the vehicle’s architecture is comprised of high-strength steel, which means the 2013 Dart should retain much of the rigidity that’s made the Giulietta a favorite among buyers and critics alike in the EU.

We’re plenty excited to get our hands on the 2013 Dodge Dart to see how it stacks up against the likes of the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra among other winners in the segment. Hit the jump for the full press release and then mosey on over to the car’s official teaser site.

Continue reading 2013 Dodge Dart aims for center of compact sedan segment

2013 Dodge Dart aims for center of compact sedan segment

We’re almost ready to record Episode #259 of the Autoblog Podcast. Check out the topics below and you can join us live via UStream, as well, and we’ve embedded our UStream player after the jump. Thanks for listening!

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #259

• Tokyo Motor Show highlights
• Hyundai fuel economy controversy
• GM builds 100-millionth small block
• Honda exec admits disappointment with Crosstour sales

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #259 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

Autoblog Podcast #259 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

Regardless of what we may think of Honda’s current styling direction or the excitement level of its latest models, we have the utmost respect for the automaker’s engineering talent. So, when Honda sets itself a goal to achieve “top-of-industry fuel efficiency in every vehicle class within three years”, it catches our attention.

Honda’s so-called Earth Dreams Technology will encompass everything from gasoline and diesel engines to transmissions (including a CVT that will supposedly be both fun to drive and highly fuel efficient) and, of course, hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

Acura will get knee-deep in the efficiency game as well, as parent company Honda is also promising a hybrid SH-AWD system that will feature two 20kW electric motors that will independently drive their own wheels along with a 30kW electric motor to assist the 3.5-liter V6 engine and seven-speed gearbox (more on this soon).

Of course, Honda will have some stiff competition in hitting top efficiency scores in every category, as both Hyundai and Ford have made similar overtures over the last few years. That said, all it takes is one look at the comprehensively outlined plan in the press release after the break to realize the seriousness with which Honda is making this pledge.

Continue reading Honda plan calls for best fuel economy in every segment within three years

Honda plan calls for best fuel economy in every segment within three years

We record Episode #259 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #259

• Tokyo Motor Show highlights
• Hyundai fuel economy controversy
• GM builds 100-millionth small block
• Honda exec admits disappointment with Crosstour sales

[UStream] Interact LIVE at UStream – 10PM Eastern on Monday, December 5, 2011
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #259 LIVE

The United Auto Workers protested outside Hyundai dealers in the U.S. last week, though not for the reasons you might think. Automotive News reports that the UAW picketed key U.S. Hyundai dealerships yesterday in response to an incident that took place halfway around the world.

The protest was in support of a Korean union employee who was reportedly fired for reporting sexual harassment at a Hyundai subcontractor. UAW spokeswoman Michele Martin was quick to point out that the union was not picketing Hyundai, and added that the move was not part of the organization’s drive to organize transplant automakers.

The Hyundai dealership protest can be looked at as a warm-up for the UAW, which previously stated that it would organize U.S. operations of a foreign automaker in 2011. (That target has since been pushed further into the future.) The union has reportedly been training protesters how to demonstrate at auto dealer showrooms.

UAW pickets Hyundai dealerships to support Korean worker

Right when it looks like Hyundai can do no wrong, we have this: A consumer protection group is asking the United States Environmental Protection Agency to look into claims that the Elantra has exaggerated fuel economy numbers.

Consumer Watchdog sent the EPA a letter citing a litany of public criticism of the compact Elantra’s real-world fuel economy, and asking the EPA to “re-test the 2011 and 2012 Elantra models in its own facility, to seek an explanation for the MPG disappointments of so many Elantra buyers.”

Except that many Elantra buyers are actually satisfied with their mileage. When we asked Hyundai for a response to the allegations, its public relations staff pointed us to a J.D. Power APEAL study showing that, “Elantra owners are the happiest in the entire compact segment competitive set in terms of fuel economy.”

Hyundai did note that real-world fuel economy results often differ from EPA label values, but stopped short of writing the whole thing off as “your mileage may vary.” According to Hyundai, when Consumer Reports put the Elantra through its tough city cycle test regimen, the results were consistent with other compact cars, all of which underperformed compared to the EPA test. Hyundai said the Elantra achieved 20 mpg, which was higher than Honda Civic at 19, Ford Focus at 18, and Chevrolet Cruze at 17. “These results show rank-order consistency with the EPA results of Elantra (29), Civic (28), Focus (28), and Cruze (22),” said Hyundai.

The Elantra was redesigned for the 2011 model year, and when we tested one, we averaged 31 mpg over a week of mixed driving, compared to EPA numbers of 29/40/33 city/highway/combined. For 2012, Hyundai has actually added its ActiveECO system that it says can improve fuel economy by up to seven percent. Sales of the Elantra were up 44 percent in November.

Click past the jump to read the full press release.

Continue reading Consumer group cries foul on Hyundai’s 40-mpg claim

Consumer group cries foul on Hyundai’s 40-mpg claim

U.S. auto sales during the month November were up on the backs of companies like Chrysler, Volkswagen and Kia, all three of which reported major gains for their respective brands. The Chrysler Group in particular posted positive numbers for all four of its brands, including a spectacular 92.23-percent rise in sales for the Chrysler brand itself. Volkswagen and Kia didn’t perform quite as well, but each managed gains of around 40 percent.

This time, Honda stands alone as the only major automaker to post a sales decline in November. The Japanese automaker’s brands (Honda and Acura) together posted a drop of 6.35 percent. Toyota, which had been keeping Honda company they each struggled with restoring production after this year’s series of natural disasters, had a relatively decent November with identical gains of 6.68 percent for both Toyota and Lexus.

Being the second-last month of the year, you may be interested to know how some close model-to-model sales races are shaping up. Here are the year-to-date sales races that will be decided in the last month of sales, as well as always-interesting Camaro versus Mustang numbers.

• Best-Selling Minivan: Toyota Sienna (99,865) vs. Dodge Caravan (98,983)
• Best-Selling Pony Car: Chevrolet Camaro (81,495) vs. Ford Mustang (65,381)
• Best-Selling Small Car: Toyota Corolla (219,250) vs. Chevy Cruze (215,057)
• #3 Best-Selling Mid-Size (behind Camry and Altima): Ford Fusion (226,445) vs. Honda Accord (217,958)

*Brands and companies are displayed in descending order according to their percentage change in volume sales. There were 25 selling days in November 2011 and 24 selling days in November 2010, so the change in monthly sales volume will be different than the change in average daily sales rate (DSR) for each brand/company.

November 2011: Black Friday Edition

Subaru and Toyota have certainly set the internet afire with the BRZ and GT86. Critics and naysayers are already deriding the vehicles as too low on power to survive in a world where the Ford Mustang V6 packs over 300 horsepower and the base Hyundai Genesis Coupe boasts a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine good for 210 ponies. But you know what? They can stuff all that nonsense. At the end of the day, curb weight has as much to do with a vehicle’s fun factor as any horsepower figure, and given that the Subaru BRZ tips the scales at a shave under 2,700 pounds, the machine should be a blast to fling around a road course.

Now Subaru has given us a glimpse of what that might look like with a new video of the vehicle. While the clip is set to some seriously painful adult contemporary tunes, images of the 200-horsepower boxer-four coupe getting sideways are what dreams are made of. Hit the jump to check it out for yourself.

Continue reading Subaru BRZ gets sideways to some adult contemporary in first film

Subaru BRZ gets sideways to some adult contemporary in first film

I’ll be honest – I don’t love our 2011 Hyundai Equus. It’s a perfectly fine luxury sedan, but as a daily driver, it has about as much personality as the new sofa I bought last month. Autoblog Editor-in-Chief John Neff, on the other hand, is quite fond of our long-termer, and in my conversations with him, the vast majority of his praise was concentrated around the Hyundai’s behavior on really long road trips – something that, even after our team collectively put nearly 20,000 miles on the car, I had yet to experience, aside from a few quick jaunts between Detroit and Chicago.

Earlier this month, I needed to make a trip from Detroit to southern Illinois and back – 1,200 miles in total that would be covered over two 9.5-hour stints. And since my route would only take me along the hardly scenic, decidedly boring interstates of the midwest (looking at you, I-75, I-70 and I-57), this was clearly a job for the Equus.

Continue reading 2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011

2011 Hyundai Equus Ultimate: November 2011

Who will want to buy a brand-new, nicely equipped 2013 Chevy Malibu Eco for $25,995? If you peruse General Motors’ press release, then you may think it’s people who are cross-shopping a Volkswagen Passat TDI or a Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, a Toyota Camry Hybrid or a Ford Fusion Hybrid. These are the vehicles that GM helpfully points out cost more than the new Malibu, and the green competition is completely intentional. The Eco trim level, coming in the first quarter of 2012, will be the first 2013 Malibu released and gets 26 miles per gallon in the city and 38 mpg on the highway (GM estimates). The other trim levels for the 2013 model year – LS, LT and LTZ – are not coming until the summer. Until then, the 2012 model will still be produced.

As it was getting the new Malibu Eco ready, GM looked at who buys green cars, and they found are people who tend to like a little bit of fancy technology inside. That’s why, Russ Clark, GM’s Director of Marketing, Midsize and Performance cars, told AutoblogGreen, the main marketing message will be that the Malibu Eco offers a compete technological package, combining good fuel economy (thanks to eAssist) and an infotainment system that is more commonly found in higher-end models. “It really is an outstanding package of fuel economy and price,” Clark said.

Nonetheless, even with the Eco label, the 2013 Malibu Eco certainly doesn’t have the same green cred that a car with the hybrid label does. Clark said that “Someone who is dead-set in their mind that they have to have a hybrid,” will be difficult to persuade, but that, “this kind of technology [eAssist] will continue to grow over time. It’s something that people will become more familiar with.”

This is similar to how the Chevrolet Volt is being received. People don’t necessarily know everything about the Volt’s powertrain, but they may come into the dealership to find out. Once there, they may purchase a Volt or a Cruze or, soon, a Malibu Eco. “With new technology, you will attract people to your products,” Clark said.

*Pricing includes a $760 destination charge.

Continue reading 2013 Chevy Mailbu Eco will start at $25,995* and offer 38 highway mpg

2013 Chevy Mailbu Eco will start at $25,995* and offer 38 highway mpg

While BMW (and by relation, Mini) have been pioneering in-car connectivity for the last few years, Hyundai is still playing catch-up. The Korean automaker’s focus has been squarely set on bringing world-beating products to market, but consumer demand for infotainment systems isn’t abating. So Hyundai is joining BMW and a range of technology companies to work on the next generation of in-car networking solutions.

Broadcom, NXP, Freescale and Harman have banded together to create the OPEN (One-Pair Ether-Net) Alliance special interest group and BMW and Hyundai are the first two automakers to sign on.

The group will be working towards ethernet-based automotive connectivity, but that doesn’t mean you’ll be running a CAT5 cable out your house and into car.

The SIG is backing Broadcom’s BroadR-Reach cable – specifically developed for automotive applications – that’s able to transmit up to 100 Mbps over a single, unshieled wire. This should reduce internal networking costs and also shave a few pounds from production vehicles in the process. If you want to geek out on the details, hit the jump for the release.

Continue reading BMW and Hyundai work with tech consortium on in-vehicle networking

BMW and Hyundai work with tech consortium on in-vehicle networking

The 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine under the hood of many Volkswagen models has never been a favorite of ours, and it appears VW may finally be over it as well. Car and Driver reports that a pair of VW sources have indicated that the 2.5 will be replaced with a 1.8-liter turbo four.

The smaller, boosted engine would reportedly be based off the tried-and-true 2.0-liter turbo that we’ve come to know and respect. The 1.8 is already part of VW’s European engine lineup, and it pumps out a middling 158 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque. Fuel economy should be improved compared to the 2.5, which returns a respectable 33 miles per gallon on the highway in a manual-equipped Jetta, but nothing like the 40 mpg numbers achieved by competitors like the Hyundai Elantra and Ford Focus.

C/D claims that the move to the 1.8 could also have something to do with manufacturing efficiencies. Since the 1.8 and 2.0 are from the same engine factory, VW could build both models at the same facility.

VW to replace unloved five-cylinder base engine with turbo four

That’s it, ladies and gentlemen. It’s time for the media to exit the building and let these nice Los Angelinos enjoy their international auto show. We’ve had fun covering every major debut and announcement at this year’s show, all of which and more you’ll find below, but we’re spent. Thanks for watching and we’ll see you back here in two weeks for the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show.

2013 Ford Shelby GT500	2012 Fiat 500 Abarth	2012 Jaguar XKR-S Vert
2013 Ford Mustang GT	2013 Nissan GT-R	Ford Fiesta ST Concept
2012 Mercedes ML63 AMG	2012 Jeep Wrangler Arctic	Nissan NV2500 Food Truck
2013 Lincoln MKS	2013 Lincoln MKT	Volvo C70 Inscription
Lambo LP550-2 Spyder	2013 Chevy Spark	Honda Fit EV
Jaguar C-X16 Concept	2013 Cadillac XTS	Subaru BRZ Concept STI
2012 Honda CR-V	2013 Infiniti JX	2013 Ford Escape
2013 Camaro ZL1 Vert	Mastretta MXT	2012 Panamera GTS
2012 Hyundai Azera	Buick LaCrosse GL Concept	2012 VW CC
2013 Ford Flex	Land Rover DC100 Concept	2013 Mazda CX-5

We obsessively covered the 2011 LA Auto Show

Take that, LA Auto Show! We’ve emerged from Day 1 of the show having covered the biggest debuts of the day, all of which are assembled below for your easy perusal. Take a look and we’ll be back tomorrow to give this auto show the second of our patented one-two punch.

Jaguar C-X16 Concept	2013 Cadillac XTS	Subaru BRZ Concept STI
2012 Honda CR-V	2013 Infiniti JX	2013 Ford Escape
2013 Camaro ZL1 Vert	Mastretta MXT	2012 Panamera GTS
2012 Hyundai Azera	Buick LaCrosse GL Concept	2012 VW CC
2013 Ford Flex	Land Rover DC100 Concept	2013 Mazda CX-5

We obsessively covered Day 1 of the 2011 LA Auto Show

John McElroy and our friends at Autoline LIVE are broadcasting live from the floor of the LA Auto Show today beginning at 3PM EST, and they’ve got a great list of guests lined up for interviews. Check out the lineup below and follow the jump to watch them get their interviewing on.

• Mark Reuss, GM Pres. NA
• John Krafcik, CEO Hyundai Motor America
• Jim O’Sullivan, Pres. and CEO Mazda NAO
• Ben Poole, VP, Infiniti
• Anthony Foulk, Product Mgr., Audi
• Michael Bartsch, COO, Porsche Cars NA
• Derek Kuzak, VP, Global Product Dev., Ford Motor Co.

Continue reading Autoline LIVE from the LA Auto Show at 3PM EST

Autoline LIVE from the LA Auto Show at 3PM EST

The 2006 Azera was the first shot that Hyundai took at going upmarket, a big, soft, front-wheel-drive sedan packed with content and offered at a bargain price compared to the Toyota Avalon and Buick LaCrosse. But today, this Korean import seems more like it comes from the Island of Misfit Toys. Azera has quietly persisted while Hyundai has launched several well-received models, from the Genesis to the 2011 Sonata to the brand-new Veloster. Now comes the Azera’s 15 minutes of fame, in the form of a complete overhaul for 2012 designed to make the Azera more of a premium offering.

The new Azera adopts Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture design language that we’ve loved on the Sonata, but in this application something went amiss. Everything looks good up front, as the Azera’s Fluidic front fascia looks similarly aggressive. But follow the attractive chrome trim strip back from the headlights and something goes bump in the night. The Azera’s rear quarter panel retains a bulging character line similar to the old model, except that in the new sheet metal the flanks are even more pronounced – and Buick-like. Things get better out back, as the new Azera has an elegant decklid and rear taillights that wouldn’t look out of place on any luxury car.

Underhood, the second-generation Azera gets a new 3.3-liter V6 with direct injection. This “Lambda II” powerplant is good for 293 horsepower and 255 lb-ft of torque, while providing an estimated 20 miles per gallon in the city and 29 on the highway. Hyundai has also fitted the new Azera with its Active Eco mode, which should be good for a five-percent boost in fuel economy, according to the automaker. Like the old Azera, power is fed to the front wheels through a six-speed transaxle.

Standard Azera equipment includes some formerly optional content, like a navigation system with rearview camera, and Hyundai is also equipping Azeras with its Blue Link telematics system. Leather interior with heated front and rear seats, 18-inch alloys, and Vehicle Stability Management are all included, as well.

The 2012 Azera goes on sale in February, and while we will admit to being more excited about some of Hyundai’s other launches next year (that’s you, Elantra coupe) we’re certainly not going to complain when we get our opportunity to chew up some comfortable highway miles, Azera style.

We’ve got the official press release from the LA Auto Show after the jump, as well as a full gallery of Azera images.

Continue reading 2012 Hyundai Azera goes Fluidic, gets direct injection power [w/video]

2012 Hyundai Azera goes Fluidic, gets direct injection power [w/video]

Why is this man smiling? Well, it could be because hotcakes only wish they were selling as well as Hyundais. Or perhaps that grin says he knows something we don’t – like when and where his company plans to build a second North American assembly plant.

Yet Hyundai CEO John Krafcik told reporters last week that the Korean-based automaker has no plans to expand its U.S. production, which is currently running at literally 110 percent. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama has the capacity to build 300,000 Elantra and Sonata models, a number that’s been boosted by another 30,000 units this year by way of increased efficiencies. (Hyundai is also getting Sante Fe crossovers from corporate cousin Kia, which operates a plant in Georgia).

Despite the boost in production, Hyundai inventory levels dipped to an extremely low 21 days supply this summer, even as sales continued to grow. Hyundai has already blown past its 2010 numbers, and year-to-date sales are up 21 percent.

This leads Edmunds AutoObserver.com to conclude that it isn’t necessarily buying Krafcik’s no-new-factories line. “It seems inevitable Hyundai must address its stretched-to-the-max production,” says the report, which predicts that Hyundai will announce a plan for U.S. expansion early next year.

Even with thin inventories and growing demand, Hyundai not looking for second U.S. plant

2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Lexus HS 250h, Chevrolet Spark, Cadillac XTS

Episode #256 of the Autoblog Podcast is here a day late but still fresh, with Chris, Dan and Zach this week. Topics include the heavily revised Hyundai Genesis Coupe, the possible death of the Lexus HS 250h, the U.S. Chevrolet Spark and the Cadillac XTS. Your questions and comments power the end of the ‘cast, and for those of you who hung with us live on our UStream channel, thanks for taking the time. We’ve embedded our Q&A module after the jump for you to scroll through and follow along, too. Thanks for listening!

Autoblog Podcast #256:

• Revised Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Lexus HS 250h may be getting the axe
• U.S. Chevrolet Spark
• Cadillac XTS

In the Autoblog Garage
2012 Chevrolet Volt
2012 Volkswagen Beetle
2012 Ford Edge EcoBoost

Hosts: Dan Roth, Chris Shunk, Zach Bowman

Feedback
Email: Podcast at Autoblog dot com
Voicemail: 734-288-8POD (734-288-8763)

Review the show in iTunes and take our survey

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #256

Autoblog Podcast #256

We’re almost ready to record Episode #256 of the Autoblog Podcast. Check out the topics below and you can join us live via UStream, as well. We’ve also embedded our UStream player after the jump. Thanks for listening!

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #256

• Revised Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Lexus HS 250h may be getting the axe
• U.S. Chevrolet Spark
• Cadillac XTS

Continue reading Autoblog Podcast #256 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

Autoblog Podcast #256 goes LIVE at 10PM Eastern

We record Episode #256 of the Autoblog Podcast tonight, and you can drop us your questions via our Q&A module below. Check out our discussion topics or chime in to help determine what else the crew chats about this evening. Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes if you haven’t already done so, and if you want to take it all in live, tune in to our UStream (audio only) channel at 10:00 PM Eastern tonight.

Discussion Topics for Autoblog Podcast Episode #256

• Revised Hyundai Genesis Coupe
• Lexus HS 250h may be getting the axe
• U.S. Chevrolet Spark
• Cadillac XTS

[UStream] Interact LIVE at UStream – 10PM Eastern on Monday, November 14, 2011
[iTunes] Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes
[RSS] Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator

Submit your questions for Autoblog Podcast #256 LIVE