Hyundai Genesis

67, 2018 automotive world recap, cars of the year

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:26 — 51.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWith the end of one year and the beginning of another, it’s always a good time to look back at what happened in the automotive world in the past 12 months and pick cars of the year. It was an ideal time to be part of an industry in 2018. Alternative fuels, ride-sharing platforms, alternative fuel, and the increasing interest in vintage cars and trucks. It was a whirlwind year. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia recap the year in Episode #67 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We focus on the top-10 cars of the year I selected as editor and publisher of www.theweeklydriver.com.

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Genesis shines in 2018 Cars of the Year honors

The end of 2018 designates my 15th anniversary as an automotive journalist. It’s an ideal time to be part of an industry. Safety innovations, alternative fuels, ride-sharing platforms, autonomous driving and a rekindled appreciation for vintage vehicles all share in the whirlwind of change. Not everything is right. More manufacturers are making more alternative fuel vehicles. But the public still hasn’t embraced the idea nearly 20 years after the Toyota Prius launched the segment. Carmakers continue to make vehicles safer, but there’s so much technology, innovation arguably causes as much anxiety as peace of mind behind the wheel. Most industry publications and organizations select vehicles of the year in the preceding calendar year. At the Los Angeles Auto Show last

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Episode 63, LA Auto Show, Day 3: Genesis, Rivian

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:49 — 25.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDay 3 of the LA Auto Show was the last of the Media Days. The public show opened its 10-day run today (Nov. 30) and will continue through Dec. 9. A handful of vehicles attracted a vast amount of attention, and representatives of two of those companies are our guests on Episode #63 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich produced the show remotely from interviews I had from the show. Our guests are Kevin Smith, a Senior Group Manager of Public Relations and Corporate Social Responsibility for Genesis, and Sethu Gopal, Senior Director of Connected Car and Digital Experience for Rivian. A third

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2019 Genesis G70 debuts with Car of the Year honors

The 2019 Genesis G70, the entry-level compact luxury sport sedan new to the two-year manufacturer morphed from Hyundai, has been named Car of the Year by MotorTrend. Held in conjunction with the opening of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the award is presented annually by the esteemed publication. The Genesis G70 competed against more 19 vehicles in the publication’s determination of the most competent, desirable and capable vehicle to debut for the 2019 model year. MotorTrend editors examine each contending vehicle in street and track testing. Genesis to date in 2018 has won highest-ranked brand in the automotive industry awards for quality and owner satisfaction from industry experts such as J.D. Power, AutoPacific and Strategic Vision. Hyundai launched Genesis Motors two years

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2018 Hyundai G90 sedan offers luxury, value price

Particularly in upscale vehicles, loyalty is a thing. If you’re an Audi, BMW, Lexus or Mercedes-Benz owner, chances are you’re a repeat customer or you will be. The Hyundai G90 doesn’t have the pedigree of its competitors, but it’s making a strong effort to change buyers’ habits. Two years ago, Genesis joined (Lexus) Toyota, Infiniti (Nissan) and Acura (Honda) as a stand-alone brand emerging from its founding family. Genesis was formerly part of the Hyundai lineup and it was positioned on the price plateau one notch below the top-line Equus. The latter is gone; the former is finding its with an expanding presence and well-deserved praise. As the brand’s flagship, the Hyundai G90 is a five-passenger sedan available with a new

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Episode 28, Rats eating cars, winter driving, Genesis shines

If you live near a river and your vehicle is parked outside and near trees, there’s likely one more reason to be concerned about its welfare — rats. Owners of cars from several manufacturers are increasingly reporting that rodents are eating their vehicles from the inside out. Reports in several states by owners of Honda and Toyota vehicles, as well as other carmakers’ models, are claiming rats are devouring the wiring in their cars and causing major costly repairs.  The problem, owners claim, is that “green car” concerns have resulted in manufacturers using soy-based engine wiring and coverings. Several lawsuits have been filed, with Honda and Toyota stating the litigations have no merit. But several years ago, Honda introduced a

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Genesis cruises past Audi, tops Consumer Reports’ best car list

Genesis, the newcomer luxury brand from Hyundai, has accelerated past Audi and is now top-rated by Consumer Reports in its annual ranking of automotive brands. Audi was ranked No. 2, followed by BMW, Lexus and Porsche in the top 5. The remainder of the top 10 in order: Subaru, Kia, Tesla, Honda and Toyota. The magazine’s annual report card ranks brands based on road and safety tests, owner satisfaction and reliability. Lexus stood out in the rankings more for its reliability and standard advanced safety features than its road test scores, which often have trailed rivals. The magazine reported every Audi model tested, which totaled eight in the latest survey period, and every Genesis tested, just two models, are all

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TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2017 Best Cars of the Year

TheWeeklyDriver.com presents its 11th annual best cars of the year list. For the past two years, we selected 12 vehicles instead of 10 because we couldn’t decide what cars to leave off the lists. The selection was more clear-cut this year, so we’ve again chosen 10 vehicles. Volvo is the only manufacturer with two vehicles on the 2017 best cars list. Bentley, Genesis, Honda, Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Volkswagen and Toyota are also represented. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017 model years for at least a week. Most of the vehicles I drove in the calendar year; some 2017 models in 2016. I also drove at least a half-dozen other vehicles

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Newcomer Genesis gets top J.D. Power quality honors

Genesis, the first-year automaker formerly top-line model in the Hyundai lineup, earned the highest ranking among 13 premium brands in the just-announced J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Initial Quality Study. The 31st annual study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership.   The 2017 study s based on responses from nearly 80,000 purchasers and lessees of new 2017 model-vehicles. The study uses a 233-question survey designed to provide manufacturers with information to facilitate the identification of problems and drive product improvement. “Receiving this award in our very first year in the U.S. market is a strong testament toward the commitment and meticulous work of Genesis,” said Head of Genesis Brand, Manfred Fitzgerald. “We are

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2017 Genesis G90: A new luxury sedan star is born

Like other manufacturers initiated years ago, Hyundai now has a new luxury spinoff brand. It’s the 2017 Genesis G90. Gone are the Hyundai Genesis and the Hyundai Equus in favor of the Genesis lineup, currently the G90 and G80. The 2017 Genesis joins Toyota (Lexus), Nissan (Infiniti) and Honda (Acura) with its upscale Hyundai relative, a sedan ready for a tough gig. It’s entering a car segment where brand loyalty is difficult to shatter, particularly when the competition includes Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available with a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 with 365 horsepower or a 5.0 liter V8 with 420 horsepower, the Genesis is a fully loaded upscale luxury sedan. Both options are available with rear-wheel

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Honda dominates TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2016 Best Cars List

For the 10th straight year, TheWeeklyDriver.com is selecting its top vehicles of the year. In 2015, we included 12 vehicles instead of 10 on the end-of-the-year list. And we’re doing the same this year. Honda has four cars on the list, the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Fit and Honda Odyssey. Toyota is represented by the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and Toyota Sienna. Lexus also has two cars on the list, the Lexus IS 200t and the Lexus RC-F. Kia, Lincoln, Mazda and Scion are also represented. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2016 model years during the 2016 calendar year. I also drove several other vehicles briefly at manufacturer preview days.

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TheWeeklyDriver.com names Best 12 Vehicles of 2015

For the ninth straight year, TheWeeklyDriver.com has selected its Best 12 Vehicles of the Year. Ford, Honda and Hyundai each have two vehicles on the 2015 list, which this year has expanded from the usual top-10 list to a dozen selections. As editor and publisher of the TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I fully reviewed 38 cars and trucks with 2015 model years. I also drove a half-dozen other cars briefly at manufacturer preview days. This year’s list has expanded to a dozen vehicles for one simple reason: Manufacturers keep making better machines. For the first time since the end-of-the-year list began, our list includes a pick-up truck. For the 2014 list, we selected a single top vehicle, the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

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IIHS safety rankings for 2016: American cars shunned

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released its annual list of automotive safety awards. Japanese carmakers dominated the top picks while only one American vehicle received the top rating in the 2016 ratings. Among 48 vehicles that received the IIHS “Top Safety Pick Plus” rating, 23 were from Toyota, Honda and Subaru. Toyota and Honda, including their subsidiaries Scion, Lexus and Acura, were the top two automakers, overall. Volkswagen came in third with seven VW and Audi models on the list. The Chrysler 200 was the only vehicle from a domestic brand to get the top safety rating. To be a “Top Safety Pick Plus,” vehicles must get the top score in all five of the group’s crash

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Super Bowl hype begins as Hyundai reveals ad campaign

Let the Super Bowl hype begin. Hyundai will do its share. In its first year as an official NFL sponsor the carmaker will have four commercials televised before, during the broadcast and at haltime of Super Bowl 50 next February. Hyundai, a long-time Super Bowl advertiser, will run two in-game 30-second spots before halftime, with the new creative appearing during the first and second quarter of the game. Hyundai also secured the coveted pre-kick slot and will run a new 60-second ad as viewers are primed for the start of The Big Game. The pre-game show will also feature another all-new 60-second Hyundai spot. Hyundai did not advertise in this year’s Super Bowl, but the Koream manufactur will be part

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2015 Buick LaCrosse: Flagship sedan a success

General Motors has a lot invested in the Buick LaCrosse. It’s the carmaker’s flagship, full-sized sedan, and it has replaced some well-established styles, the Buick Century, Buick Regal and Buick Lucerne. Now in the sixth year of its second generation, the 2015 Buick LaCrosse offers several updates as it advances steadily into its second decade. It’s the brand’s best-selling vehicle in North America. Advanced technology and additional comfort highlight the updates for the 2015 LaCrosse. With the exception of the base model, the Onstar system now offers 4G LTE and WiFi, there are a rearview camera and four-way adjustable headrests as standard equipment. Further new technology in the infotainment system now includes the ability to read text messages and Siri

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2015 Hyundai Genesis: A luxury sedan star is born

It doesn’t seem like seven years since the Hyundai Genesis debuted in the United States. But with the redesigned 2015 edition, the underdog luxury sedan has finally arrived. The genesis of the Genesis didn’t start well. From its mid-year unveiling about 6,000 units were sold through the end of 2008. But sales increased to nearly 22,000 in 2009 while the upstart tried to compete in a tough, high-end segment. It features well-respected stalwarts from the BMW 5 Series to the Mercedes E-Class. As years have advanced, the Genesis has remained a steady alternative to the major players. But with its complete redesign for 2015, Hyundai is seeking to expand its reputation. It no longer wants to be just a less

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