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This is the year of Hyundai N Performance. After three official launches, the division's leadership has made imprecise noises about a halo car since this summer. Brand boss Albert Biermann said, "Right now, we don't need a halo car in N. We have to get in a routine with N cars, and not just hit a peak." Around the same time, VP Thomas Schmera said, "Rest assured we are coming up with something," that something being a halo car. Reports expected either a two-seat coupe or a four-door sedan like the Kia Stinger. In a recent interview with AutoRAI, Schmera narrowed the focus, saying, "Think of the Hyundai RM16 and you have a bit of an idea of ​​what is possible."

The RM16 is the third iteration of the mid-engined Veloster RM first showed at the Busan Motor Show in 2014. In 2015 the RM15 debuted at the same motor show, followed in 2016 by the RM16. By then, the performance specs listed a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder with 296 horsepower, an electric compressor and electronic differential, rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual. The bodywork, draped on an aluminum spaceframe, channeled the spirits of other outrageous mid-engined hatchbacks like the Renault 5 Turbo, Renault Clio V6 Renault Sport, and Lancia Delta S4.

Four months after showing the RM16, Hyundai took a running prototype to the Nürburgring (pictured). Earlier this year we heard tale of a new Theta III engine suited for front- and rear-wheel drive, and mid-engined applications. With the ability to be tuned to 350 hp, this led to suspicion that there could be a mid-engined Hyundai sports car on the way. The evidence is circumstantial, but now we have Schmera telling us to consider a long-lived mid-engined concept as the potential template for a future N Performance halo car.

The idea of Hyundai rolling out a mid-engined coupe sounds crazy. It sounds doubly crazy when Biermann has said of the i30 N, "This is a halo car that can make [the company] money, so what better halo can we get?" Hyundai knows its math better than we do, but we don't see how the carmaker makes money in a segment ruled by the Porsche 718 twins under $100K, and by a number of storied brands above that figure. The triple crazy comes when Schmera told the Dutch outlet in the same interview, "This is going to be a great machine, something nobody expects from Hyundai, something really exotic," and, "It will be a car in the super sport segment...."

Whatever is on the way, it could be a limited edition, it might include a hybrid system, and it likely won't break cover for a couple of years, but we're already looking forward to it.

Source:
Autoblog

Hyundai Motor Company has been named 'Red Dot: Brand of the Year 2018.' The title pays tribute to a brand that has created innovative design solutions on a very high level and recognizes its design quality and decisiveness in brand management. In the 2018 Red Dot Award: Communication Design, the South Korean car manufacturer succeeded in winning four Red Dots and three 'Red Dot: Best of the Best' distinctions together with several agencies.

"Of all the prizes given in the Red Dot Award: Communication Design, the honorary title for the brand of the year stands out," commented Professor Dr. Peter Zec, founder and CEO of the Red Dot Award. "I am truly delighted that this unique tribute is being paid to Hyundai Motor Company, as the manufacturer performs convincingly not only with its well-designed cars, but also with elaborate communication design.

"In a highly saturated market, Hyundai succeeds in addressing its customers in a creative manner over and over again, and manages to convey the technical background of its cars in a way that can be easily understood. The company's innovative design approaches are both creative and high quality, providing customers with a virtually unparalleled 360-degree brand experience. It is with great pleasure that I congratulate Hyundai on its well-deserved title of honour 'Red Dot: Brand of the Year 2018'."

Article source: Dexigner

Volkswagen has reached into the past and is bringing back the iconic microbus in two new fully-electric vans slated to be released in the early 2020s. 

While Volkswagen announced earlier in the year the expected production of the I.D. Buzz concept microbus, the German automaker unveiled its plans last month for the I.D. Buzz Cargo, an electric, commercial panel van version of the microbus. 

According to Fox News, the I.D. Buzz Cargo may hit the road before the I.D. Buzz concept, which first made its debut at the 2017 Detroit Auto Show and is expected to become available in showrooms in 2022. 

RELATED: Take a look at some vehicles being discontinued in 2018: 

 

According to Volkswagen, the I.D. Buzz Cargo will have a battery with range of up to 340 miles per charge, with a large solar roof panel that can extend the daily range an additional nine miles. The van will have the ability to charge to almost 80 percent capacity in only 15 minutes, and is a fully-connected vehicle with a cargo tracking system that makes it possible to track orders and manage online supply networks from inside the cockpit. 

Once an icon of the care-free counterculture lifestyle of the 1960s and '70s, the Volkswagen's microbus was discontinued in 2013 due to safety concerns centered around a lack of air-bags and anti-lock breaks.

Bringing back a passenger and commercial van is a step in a different direction for Volkswagen.  The Wolfsburg-based automaker last offered its imported Transporter van to U.S. buyers 15 years ago and it hasn't had a van in the U.S. market since 2014. 

Volkswagen hopes the I.D. Buzz and I.D. Cargo will have the ability to transition toward fully integrated autonomous driving modes by the mid 2020s. 

Source: Aol.

suzu revealed the Concept X, Isuzu Team D-MAX-tuned monster trucks based on top of the Isuzu D-Max truck and the Isuzu MU-X SUV. Created in Australia for promotional and market research purposes, the Isuzu Concept X trucks feature a comprehensive set of off-road additions that make them exceptionally capable on rough terrain and challenging surfaces. EMG director Wayne Boatwright said; “We didn’t set out to build a racer, a rock crawler, or yet another version of the ultimate 4WD tourer.” He added, “It would have been easy just to bolt on a lot of accessories, but we really wanted to ‘go our own way,’ so most of the build — the guards, bull bars, bonnet, brakes, suspension and chassis mods — are all in-house custom work.”

Off-Road Accessories

Just by looking at them, the Concept X trucks seem to be perfectly suited for off-roading adventures. Created with great help from Isuzu Ute Australia and Toyo tires, EMG almost managed to turn the popular D-MAX truck and the MU-X SUV into proper monster trucks. Ok, I did exaggerate a little bit, but the fact is that these Isuzu passenger vehicles have massive tires. I am talking here about the 38×15.5-inch Open Country 20LT off-road tires as Australian Motoring reports. They have also said each of them costs a minimum of $1,000.

It seems that EMG did not experiment with different setups here. In fact, both of these trucks have the same basic layout with additions like the 7-inch lift kit. This alone, in conjunction with massive tires, increased the ground clearance to an amazing 370 millimeters. This is easily enough for some serious off-road shenanigans. Bespoke suspension parts do complement the new shock absorbers and the lift-kit as a whole. As these are made for ultimate off-roading capability with formidable fording capacity, EMG fitted the Concept X machines with a winch capable of pulling 10,000 pounds. Each has two - one in the front and one in the rear.

Considering all the additions, the Concept X trucks seem to be perfectly adapted for Australian wilderness. All with powerful 3.0-liter 4JJ turbo diesel engines linked with a six-speed automatic transmission. Of course, the Americans aren’t that much into diesel, but the sheer torque of such machines makes them perfect for all sorts of off-road shenanigans. This three liter develops 180 horsepower and 330 pound-feet of torque. EMG officials are smitten by it:

“Their [Isuzu] diesel engines are simply the best in the business, and the whole package has been outstanding in terms of reliability.” This coming from a man who has been working with Toyota and many other companies.

How They Were Made

EMG was largely responsible for the Concept X’s development. The company worked on them for 12 months continuously improving the design as the new parts come in. It seems that the biggest issue was fitting the tires as Boatwright of EMG actually noted that tires of this size have never before been fitted on an Isuzu. As a pioneer, the company faced another issue after the tires were fitted. The Concept X truck looked quite funny with them installed. In that regard, the company started with a massive redesign and ended up forming an all-new body-kit.

“It just started with the tires, no one that we know has put 38-inch tires on an Isuzu and you can’t even get them in Australia. I imported the wheels at almost $10,000 for one car and all of a sudden we just started redesigning the whole thing because they looked so tough,” Boatwright told Drive at National 4x4 Outdoors, Fishing & Boating Expo in Melbourne where EMG revealed the trucks.

The end result seems to be quite impressive. Some of the 3D printed parts ended up on the Concept X offroaders, but I find the wide-body kit the meanest of them all. Both trucks received a steel-built body-kit. As tough as the trucks themselves. The bumpers are also all-new, as is the bonnet and the whole front end. Obviously, all in the name of ruggedness.

I like it.

“It would have been easy just to bolt on a lot of accessories, but we really wanted to go our own way, so most of the build; the guards, bull bars, bonnet, brakes, suspension and chassis mods are all in-house custom work,” said EMG CEO Wayne Boatwright. In my mind, this only elevates the uniqueness and the exclusivity factor of the Isuzu Concept X trucks.

Thanks to the all-new front and back end, as well as more clearance, the approach, and departure angles,  have been further increased to 50 and 38 degrees, respectively.

Despite the rather dramatically changes to the exterior, the Isuzu D-Max and the MU-X remained the same inside. Nothing changed there which means that you could have the full comfort of the LS-T spec while trying to tackle the next impossible obstacle.

Conclusion

The Isuzu Concept X truck is actually an effort created to test the market interest for the possible development of a Concept X inspired kit.

It is simple - Isuzu, just make it. This thing is rad.

However, EMG does not have any plans for developing or offering vehicles like this on the market. If it did, I could see some choosing the Isuzu D-MAX Concept X instead of, say, the Ford Ranger Raptor.

Source: Top Speed

In an automobile-happy society like the United States, where many still don’t know how battery-powered electric vehicles (EV) operate or the reasons why they exist, the debut of Hyundai Motor Co.’s latest fuel-cell vehicle (FCV) – a more advanced and complex environmental technology -- may draw limited consumer demand.

But give Hyundai credit for boldly and courageously playing a long game, one that eventually could deliver the South Korean automaker big advantages if and when hydrogen-powered fuel cells become a mainstream automotive technology. The 2019 Hyundai Nexo, a handsome SUV, effectively illustrates the case for hydrogen rather than gasoline or diesel fuel – or even batteries – as a means of automotive propulsion.

Nexo’s fuel cell stack converts hydrogen into electricity, with an electric motor driving the wheels. The car, like all fuel cells, emits only a bit of water vapor – making it a favorite of environmental advocates who oppose carbon dioxide and other emissions from combustion as harmful to the earth’s atmosphere.

Most hydrogen filling stations are found in California, at least for the time being.

Nexo goes on sale shortly in the U.S., mainly at Hyundai dealers in California, the only state where ownership of a hydrogen car is practical for the time being.  (Built in South Korea, the model also will be available in that country and in Europe.) About 35 hydrogen filling stations are scattered from San Diego to San Francisco. With a state-sponsored $200 million incentive program, operators have slowly been opening hydrogen fueling points, rendering Nexo and a few other fuel-cell models like the Toyota Mirai and Honda Clarity practical for some Californians. By 2020 the number of filling stations is expected to rise to 59, Hyundai estimates.