HYUNDAI’S SANTA FE WINS WINTER VEHICLE AWARD FOR BEST AFFORDABLE CROSSOVER

Hyundai’s 2014 Santa Fe proved it can weather the storm, earning the distinction of Best Affordable Crossover under $28,000 in the 2014 Winter Vehicle Awards. For the second year in a row, the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA) acknowledged the Hyundai Santa Fe as one of the best in its class for winter driving in New England. This year the Santa Fe tied with the 2014 Kia Sorento.

“This award from NEMPA recognizes the careful detail our engineers put into building the Santa Fe,” said Trevor Lai, Product Manager, Hyundai Motor America. “With features like the Active Cornering Control All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, Santa Fe drivers can operate their vehicles in confidence in a wide range of weather and road conditions.”

NEMPA members evaluated numerous vehicles during the winter months to determine which ones offer the best winter driving in New England. Vehicles selected for the Winter Vehicle Awards offer a combination of winter-specific features and options plus the dynamic qualities that make for safe, enjoyable and competent all-weather driving.

“Every year during Official Winter Vehicle of New England judging, NEMPA members are looking for vehicles that perform well in a number of different segments. Competitors in this particular segment have it tough,” said Craig Fitzgerald, NEMPA President. “Not only do they have to offer outstanding winter performance, but they have to provide all the qualities New England drivers are looking for in a crossover – cargo capacity, room for six-plus – and then do it at a price under $28,000. That’s a tall order that Hyundai managed to pull off with the Santa Fe.”

The 2014 Santa Fe comes equipped with new safety technologies and premium features including blind spot detection, rear parking assistance, standard vehicle stability management, anti-lock braking system and seven airbags. The Santa Fe is equipped with Active Cornering Control All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system, which cooperatively helps control torque and braking in conjunction with the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system. The 2014 model is powered by the highly acclaimed 3.3-liter V6 engine offering ideal fuel economy, drivability and a towing capacity of 5,000 lbs.

Source:  http://www.hyundainews.com/

2015 GENESIS: THREE GREAT FEATURES

There’s so much to love about the all-new 2015 Genesis. From its embodiment of Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 styling to its liberal use of high tech safety and infotainment technology, we could write about it all day. Luckily for you readers, I’m just going to focus on three great new features.

For years we’ve all been spoiled by truly hands-free vehicle access, where the car keys remain in a pocket or purse for unlocking doors or starting the engine. I can personally say it’s a feature I truly love. Over the last few years, automakers have found new and creative ways to extend the use of this technology for situations for when both hands are occupied. For example, someone carrying a full load of groceries can leg-kick under the rear of the vehicle to activate a power tailgate or trunk. While this does come in handy, we wanted to take it a step further with the new Genesis (and avoid any awkward stares from people wondering if the leg-kick is a new dance move). With Smart Trunk, our engineers made it simple. It allows the driver to keep both feet comfortably on the ground, simply standing by the trunk for a few seconds, waiting for it to open automatically. The system also provides an audible warning and flashing lights prior to opening. No leg kicking or special dance moves required.

2015 Genesis will be the first in the Hyundai lineup to offer our second-generation Blue Link system. Blue Link offers over 30 features, from safety and security to remote control with the Blue Link app. Our second-generation system has been designed with speed and accuracy in mind, which is why we worked with Google to bring Destination Search to our customers. This powerful destination search engine can be accessed through the Blue Link button (voice recognition) and navigation display, or throughmyhyundai.com and the Blue Link mobile app, to send a destination to the car. I’ve spent some time with the feature and it really is as good as it sounds.

Another feature that really sets the Genesis apart from the others is the Genesis Intelligent Assistant^® App. As they say, “time is the ultimate luxury.” Our teams worked hard to create a proactive app for Genesis designed to save the driver time and add more convenience to the ownership experience. The app combines Blue Link features along with data from the vehicle, the owner’s smartphone and the internet. Multiple layers of intelligence allow the app to send proactive notifications and recommendations to the Genesis owner in preparation for their drive. One notification that will come in handy is a reminder to remote start the car on a hot or cold day. My personal favorite is the suggested departure time which uses traffic data to suggest when it would be best to get on the road, in order to make an appointment on time.

So there you have it – three great features available in 2015 Genesis that are sure to impress.

What are your favorite features of the next Genesis?

Source:  http://www.hyundailikesunday.com/