Hyundai Kicks Off Countdown to 2010 World Cup with i10 Football-Themed Cars

Being the official car supplier of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, Hyundai is doing its best to associate its cars with the sporting spectacle that kicks off on June 11. This time Hyundai's UK arm commissioned the build of two football-themed cars.

Interestingly, these two i10s were previously used by Jeremy Clarkson in his DVD 'Duel' and ended up damaged. Instead of repairing the creased panels, Hyundai decided to give both cars a second shot at fame.

Both promotional i10s are covered in artificial turf while the centre circle on the roof is home to a giant 1.5 meter-tall football. Other exterior features include the goal posts on the bonner, the soccer ball wheels and the football shoe mirrors.

Each car has a unique interior, with one featuring a 'grass' look to match the exterior, and the other a football theme, right down to the soccer-ball headrests.

Hyundai said that the i10 football cars will be used for promotional World Cup activity at various events up and down the country.

Hyundai Officially Denies Ram-Based Pickup Truck Rumors

There was a rumor floating around this week that Hyundai is in talks with Chrysler LLC to sell a version of the Dodge Ram pickup under its own brand in the States.

Today, the South Korean-based automaker vigorously denied the story through an official statement made from its U.S division.

"Hyundai Motor Co. denies that there are any current plans to bring a pickup truck of any type into the U.S. now or in the foreseeable future," the company said in its statement.

"Hyundai is not in discussion with Chrysler in regard to a selling a rebadged Chrysler Corp pickup truck, or any other vehicle, in the U.S," the automaker concluded.

Shane Baxley Renders the Aebulle, the Hyundai Future-Cycle

How would everyone feel if Hyundai built a Matrix-meets-Akira lightcycle? If you have eyes and can see this, then the answer should be "Pretty darn good".

Called the Aebulle - Korean for "cocoon" - designer Shane Baxley says the magnesium-framed trike was inspired by the cocoon of the European Peacock Butterfly (Inachis io, for all you lepidopterists).

A student at Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, Shane says, "The main idea was to design a personal vehicle that delivers the mobility and speed of a motorcycle while offering the safety that a cocoon offers a butterfly. The Aebulle is targeted for the Los Angeles region where it would utilize the commuter lanes allowing its occupant a quick commute."

Much like concepts for the near-future, in-wheel motors provide motivation while energy is stored in floor-mounted lithium ion batteries.

The Aebulle's two independently-mounted front wheels allow it to lean into turns by means of separate swing arms.

That tinted windshield / green house would theoretically be constructed of aluminum oxynitride, a transparent ceramic that's reminiscent of the clear aluminum from Star Trek. To improve ingress / egress, the front lifts open and brings the steering column with it.

Inside, relevant information chosen by the driver (speed, fuel economy, GPS, etc) would be visible using e-ink technology incorporated into the glass. Think of it like an Amazon Kindle dashboard.

Shane - here is clearly a man with big dreams, and this is a step in a hugely right direction. When's the last time anyone really tried to revolutionize the mass-market motorcycle?

By Phil Alex

Images: Shane Baxley , Via: CBD

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Report: Hyundai May Build New Elantra in U.S., Move Santa Fe Production to Kia Plant

A Korean newspaper has reported that Hyundai plans to build the North American market version of its new Elantra saloon (otherwise known as the Avante) at its Alabama plant starting from April 2011 in order to reduce costs.

The report from The Chosun Ilbo, which cites a Korean Hyundai spokesman as its source, goes on to say that the Elantra will replace the current Santa Fe SUV at the Alabama factory adding that the Santa Fe's replacement, which is due in mid-2011, will be moved to sister company Kia's plant in Georgia.

It is also noted in the report that for the first time, Hyundai will install engines made by its China-affiliate in the U.S.-spec Elantra.

Now, Hyundai produces only the Sonata sedan and Santa Fe in the U.S., with the current versions of the Elantra and Accent being imported from South Korea.

If true, the move to build the Elantra in the U.S. is said to drastically reduce exports from the firm's Korean plants as last year, Hyundai shipped around 103,000 units of the car to the States.

Source: Chosun

VIDEO: 2011 Hyundai Elantra / Avante Sedan gets Animated

Earlier today, Hyundai pulled the wraps off the all-new 2011 Avante, or as we will come to know it, the next generation of the Elantra sedan. Along with the first details and photos, the South Korean automaker also released an animated film on the new Elantra that you can check out right after the jump.

The news of the 2011 Elantra comes only days after the unveiling of its smaller brethren, the new Accent saloon. Both cars pick up styling cues from their bigger brother, the Sonata, which is already on sale in the U.S. For more details on the latest generation of the Elantra, click here to read out previous post.

All-New Hyundai Elantra / Avante Sedan Unveiled at Busan Motor Show

Only days after the unveiling of the new Accent small sedan (Verna for South Korea) in Beijing, Hyundai rolled out the next generation of its Elantra saloon - badged as the Avantre in its home market- at the 2010 Busan International Motor Show today.

Boasting a much sportier look than its rather dull predecessor, the new Elantra continues Hyundai's 'fluidic sculpture' design philosophy in a package that most automakers would describe today as a "four-door coupe".

There are no photos of the new Elantra's cabin, but we assume that the interior styling will be heavily influenced by the larger Sonata.

Hyundai has kept most technical details to itself, but the South Korean maker did reveal that the front-wheel drive Elantra / Avante will be offered with a new 1.6-liter Gamma Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine and a 6-speed automatic transmission.

The four-cylinder unit is rated at 140-horsepower and 166Nm or 122 lb-ft of peak torque, and according to Hyundai, "it's about 10 percent more fuel efficient than its closest competitors."

Tech goodies will include HID (High Intensity Discharge) headlamps, LED combination lamps in the rear, heated rear seats, puddle lamps and a color TFT LCD information display nestled in the gauge cluster.

"The new Avante encompasses Hyundai's latest ambitions, featuring the best styling and performance in its class," Steve S. Yang, President & CEO of Hyundai's Global Business Division, said at the Busan Exhibition and Convention Center (BEXCO) today. "We're confident that it will once again redefine the compact segment worldwide."

South Korean sales of the Avante are expected to start in the second half of 2010, with the rest of the world to follow either towards the end of the year or early 2011.