new cars in new generation for you: Hyundai Genesis Sedan and Coupe Storm SEMA

The Hyundai Genesis sedan, out now, and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe that will drop in the spring of 2009, is proof in pudding of Korean automaker Hyundai's rise to creating real, serious performance machines. The Genesis sedan and coupe are the culmination of a trend at Hyundai toward quality and driver engagement, without giving up the high value that has catapulted the brand from bottom-of-the-barrel economy to high on many prospective car buyers' lists.

To be taken seriously among the performance tuning community, Hyundai has touted the performance potential of the rear wheel drive Genesis Sedan and Genesis Coupe by commissioning several of the world's top tuning houses to upgrade the already more-than-adequate Genesis performance and styling to a new level.

The natural venue to showcase what can be done with this exciting brand new platform is the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show that hits Las Vegas each fall. Genesis Sedan tuners DUB, RIDES Magazine and RKSPORT showcased the luxury sport sedan's urban image, with tuning packages comparing it to say, the tuned Chrysler 300C or Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The Genesis Coupe is a very different animal, though they are based on the same platform. HKS, Street Concepts and Rhys Millen Racing were chosen as most appropriate to bring out the best custom car potential in Hyundai's exciting new pony car competitor. Particularly noteworthy is the Rhys Millen Racing Genesis Coupe, which has been outfitted with a full autocross-ready track package, demonstrating just how much performance the new 2.0 Turbo from Hyundai is good for.

After the Tiburon has hung on always just outside of the sport compact tuning limelight, will Hyundai finally hit mainstream in the performance tuning world with the Genesis Sedan and Coupe? Both very different cars have the goods to deliver, and it is now up to the market as to just how far Hyundai has come.

"The seven custom Genesis Coupes and sedans to be unveiled at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show demonstrate Hyundai’s commitment to its rear-wheel drive performance platform. From the Genesis sedan’s more luxurious take on performance, to the more overtly athletic nature of the Genesis Coupe, Hyundai has a wide range of performance and capability covered with the Genesis platform. The seven Genesis SEMA cars highlight this wide-ranging capability, from Rhys Millen’s 2.0T Genesis Coupe, inspired by the Japanese Super GT series, to the Euro-inspired RKSport Genesis sedan, with its Hyundai-engineered 460-horsepower supercharged 4.6-liter V8 engine concept. "

Peugeot, Mercedes diesel hybrids en route for 2011 !

Peugeot's 3008 Hybrid4 diesel-hybrid car is set to go on sale in Europe in spring 2011, and that would beat Mercedes' E300 BlueTec hybrid to market by a few months.

(Credit: Peugeot)

Once again, European drivers will have access to cars with better gas mileage than their U.S. counterparts.

Peugeot announced Tuesday that its 3008 Hybrid4 diesel hybrid car will be available in Europe in spring 2011 and will get roughly the equivalent of 62 miles to the gallon.

Many have been skeptical of a diesel hybrid, since a diesel engine's high torque does not lend itself easily to incorporation with an electric motor. Peugeot tackled that issue by giving the car two separate power trains that can operate solo or in tandem. The two systems are controlled together electronically, but are not in any way connected mechanically.

The 3008 Hybrid4's 2.0-liter, 163-bhp HDi diesel engine powers the car's front wheels, while the rear axle is powered a 37-bhp electric motor with nickel-metal hydride batteries. The car can be completely powered by electricity when going 35 miles per hour or slower. The electric engine also kicks in to recharge its battery when the vehicle decelerates via regenerative breaking. The 3008 Hybrid4 can also run on diesel engine alone, or work both engines in tandem in a four-wheel drive mode or when an extra power boost is needed to accelerate.

Pricing has not yet been announced for the 3008 Hybrid4, which will initially only be produced by two of its factories in France, according to Peugeot.

The diesel hybrid version will likely cost Peugeot more to produce, at least in terms of development. Peugeot did say in a statement that the two-power-train system will make implementation of the electric motor into the 3008 Hyrbid4 and other existing Peugeot models easier.

It's unclear at this point whether the company plans to absorb the new technology cost or pass it on to the consumer. The existing diesel version of the 3008 already starts at about 22,000 euros ($28,000), so consumers should expect at least that for the hybrid version.

Diesel engines already use 30 percent less fuel than their gasoline equivalents. So infusing a diesel with hybrid capability is a big deal to European consumers who pay the equivalent of about $7 a gallon. It's unclear, however, whether it would be a worthwhile deal to Americans whose biggest fear is prices rising to $4 a gallon.

Peugeot's Tuesday announcement is also significant in that it means the French automaker will beat Mercedes-Benz to market.

Mercedes and Peugeot have each made claims of becoming the first automaker to mass-produce a hybrid-dieselcar, but with Peugeot now announcing a spring release it seems likely to race ahead of Mercedes by a few months.

Pricing for the E 300 BlueTec diesel hybrid, which Mercedes touted at the Geneva Motor Show in March, has not yet been announced. The German company has said that the car will be available for purchase in Europe in late 2011. 

Diesel hybrids have been in the works for years, with a renewed interest showing itself in 2007 as automakers like Mercedes and Audi unveiled diesel hybrid prototypes at the auto shows, and even FedEx announced plansto use them in fleet upgrade. BMW and Volvo also showed off diesel hybrids in 2008, with tentative plans for 2012 releases. Hyundai also announced a diesel hybrid concept at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai unveils its first EV

The BlueOn is an electric version of the Hyundai i10 hatchback. Hyundai first showcased an all-electric i10 prototype at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show.

(Credit: Hyundai Motors)

At a ceremony on Thursday, Korean automaker Hyundai Motors unveiled the BlueOn, its first highway-legal all-electric vehicle.

The car is an electric version of the Hyundai i10 hatchback which was showcased as an electric concept car at the2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The BlueOn is so named because it's a version of Hyundai's Blue Drive eco-friendly lineup that you can "switch on," according to Hyundai.

The BlueOn can be driven up to 140 kilometers (about 87 miles) on a single charge, and has a maximum speed of 130 kilometers per hour (80 mph).

The car will fully recharge from a 220-volt outlet, the Korean household standard, in six hours. It will also charge up to 80 percent capacity in 25 minutes when charged from a 380-volt fast-charging station, according to Hyundai.

Power comes from a lithium-ion polymer battery made by Korean battery maker SK Energy, which also makes similar batteries for Mitsubishi Fuso's hybrid electric vehicles. Hyundai claims its battery for the BlueOn weighs 30 percent less than a standard nickel-metal hydride battery.

The BlueOn also has a few new features not seen on most EVs currently being sold. In addition to showing charging status, the car comes equipped with a telematics system that alerts the driver to the location of the nearest recharging station. In addition, it has what Hyundai refers to as a Virtual Engine Sound System (VESS), an artificial engine sound intended to let pedestrians know the BlueOn is approaching.

Present at the unveiling ceremony was Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, who took the car for a test drive with Hyundai Vice Chairman Hyun-Soon Lee.

"Consumers' interests and demand for eco-friendly cars are rising and securing such advanced technology is critical in becoming an industry leader. Hyundai is dedicated to reducing its carbon footprint and satisfying market needs," Lee said in a statement.

Hyundai will have 30 BlueOn cars in place with various Korean government agencies by October for a pilot program, with plans to produce 2,500 cars for sale to the general public by 2012. The pilot program will be used to promote awareness, as well as test Korea's charging infrastructure, according to Hyundai.

The Korean automaker estimates that it spent 40 billion won ($34 million) in research and development over a one-year period to develop the BlueOn.