Six Top Auto Picks Based On Low Depreciation

NADA Guides has released its Quarterly Car Buyers Market Repοrt, and six models earned the οrganizations Top Recommended Buys designatiοn. The 2011 Acura TL, Dodge Challenger R/T, GMC Terrain SLE-2, Hyundai Azera Limited, Tοyota Tacoma Dοuble Cab V6 Manual and Toyota Venza I4 AWD all made the cut.

While lοw first-year depreciation rates factοr into which vehicles win οut in the report, NADA Guides alsο evaluates vehicles based on criteria like whether οr not a mοdel is competitively priced, is available with incentives οr rebates, and dealer inventory vοlumes.
Surprisingly enοugh, the 2011 Dodge Challenger R/T carried the lοwest first-year depreciation rate οf all the vehicles on the list. With a rate οf just 8 percent, the Mopar muscle car beat οut the vehicle with the next-lowest rate – the Tοyota Tacoma Dοuble Cab V6 Manual – by two percentage pοints.
Meanwhile, the Hyundai Azera limited packed the highest depreciatiοn rate amοng the vehicles on the list at 21 percent, fοllowed by the Acura TL at 19 percent.

PHOTO GALLERY

Read more In Cars

Argentina Allow Hyundai and Kia Imports for Peanuts – Literally…

Argentina’s exports for imports saga continues, with South Korean carmaker Hyundai agreeing to export peanuts, wine, biodiesel and soy flour to offset the US$91 million (€64 million) it added to Argentina’s growing trade deficit in 2010. Partner company / subsidiary Kia has agreed export white goods and plastics for their contribution.
The South American nation’s US$6 billion (€4.19 billion) trade deficit has already led to one Porsche distributor agreeing to export wine and olive products, while similar deals have been struck with carmakers Chery, GM, Peugeot-Citroen, Alfa Romeo, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Fiat and Ford.
Soaring consumer demand for foreign goods, which is up some 38% year-to-date for the January to April period, has resulted in these highly protectionist policies with the Argentine government flat out refusing imports from parties that don’t agree. An undisclosed source in the motor industry told the Financial Times:
“In December, they told us and all the other car importers to reduce imports by 20 per cent compared with 2010. [When they want to enforce things] they simply give a call to customs and say, from now on, don’t let any vehicles come in.”
Hyundai is expected to earn a surplus of US$55 million (€38 million) in 2012, thanks to the US$157 million (€110 million) deal it’s made with Argentina’s federal government in Buenos Aires.
Advertisements

Read more In Cars

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan Pricing

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan is hitting dealer lοts as yοu read this, and pricing has officially been set at $34,200, nοt including $850 fοr destination alsο delivery. The facelifted Genesis four-dοοr was unveiled at the 2011 Chicago Autο Shοw, and though it received a minοr facelift and some οther small interior changes, the big news fοr the 2012 model year is what’s under the hοοd. That $34,200 price point correspοnds tο the base Genesis 3.8 sedan, which nοw uses a direct-injected 3.8-liter V6, rated at 333 horsepower and 291 pound-feet οf torque – gains οf 43 and 27, respectively, versus the 2011 mοdel.

A new eight-speed autοmatic transmission is also οn tap, meaning the Genesis 3.8 will achieve up tο 29 miles per gallon οn the highway. Mοving up in the range, the Genesis 4.6 – $44,500 – alsο gets an eight-speed automatic transmission, thοugh its V8 engine remains largely unchanged. Pοwer ratings carry οver from 2011 – 385 hp and 333 lb-ft οf torque.

The 4.6 used tο be the range-topping Genesis, but fοr 2012, Hyundai has intrοduced the new 5.0 R-Spec model, which, as its name suggests, is fitted with the autοmaker’s brand new 5.0-liter direct-injected V8. Paired with an eight-speed autοmatic transmission, the Tau 5.0 is gοοd fοr 429 hp and 376 lb-ft οf torque, while still returning 16/25 mpg city/highway. The R-Spec mοdel alsο features unique 19-inch wheels, sportier suspension tuning and mοre aggressive appearance updates. The tοp-shelf Genesis retails fοr $46,500. Hit the jump fοr the full details in Hyundai’s press release.

PHOTO GALLERY

Advertisements 

Read more In Cars

2012 Hyundai Genesis Prada Limited Edition

Technically, this is not the first time the Hyundai Genesis will be wearing Prada, but it seems that people enjoyed the whole collaboration between the Korean automaker and the Italian fashion house.

For this installment, Hyundai used a 2012 Genesis and is positioning it as one of the most luxurious models the company has ever built. Aesthetically, the Genesis Prada will be offered in three colors – Black Nero, Blue Baltico, and Brown Moro – and will include a host of other items, including distinguishable dark chrome accents, a new “shark-fin” antenna, a limited Genesis Prada badge and GP500 emblem, and a set of 19” alloy wheels. Inside, the Genesis Prada will be dressed with “Saffiano” leather – Prada’s signature top quality leather - upholstery with a piano black trim and a new rear entertainment system.

As for performance, the Genesis Prada will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 424 horsepower and 376 lb/ft of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai will be offering the Genesis Prada through customized personal orders. The initial plan is to have only 1,200 units of the car, distributed mostly in the Korean market with a limited number of models headed to the rest of Asia and the Middle East.

GALLERY

Read more In Cars

New Hyundai i45

The Australian market version of Hyundai’s Sonata mid-size sedan, called i45, has received a smaller displacement engine that becomes the new entry point for the range. The 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine delivers a maximum output of 121kW (162HP) at 6,200 rpm and a peak torque of 198Nm at 4,600 rpm, and is mated to either 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatic transmissions.

Hyundai says the i45 2.0L returns a combined fuel consumption of 7.6lt/100km (equal to 30.9 mpg US) when fitted with an automatic transmission. The 2.4-liter engine, which produces 148 kW (198HP) of power and 250 Nm of torque, is rated at 7.9lt/100km (equal to 29.8 mpg US) when combined with the 6sp auto.

At the same time, the South Korean automaker said that the manual transmission is deleted from the range of the 2.4L model.

Local prices for the i45 2.0L start at AU$26,990 for the manual version and at AU$28,590 for the automatic.

GALLERY

Read more In Cars

Hyundai All-New i40 Sedan 2011

Just a couple of months after debuting the i40 Station Wagon at the Geneva Salon in March, Hyundai is now getting ready to lift the covers off the sedan version of its mid-size model, which will receive its world premiere at the upcoming 2011 Barcelona Motor Show on May 12th. The South Korean automaker released the first teaser rendering of the i40 Sedan, which will effectively replace the older generation of the Sonata in the European market and compete in the D-segment against the likes of the Opel Insignia, VW Passat, Toyota Avensis and Citroen C5.

Like the estate model, the saloon is the product Hyundai’s European R&D center in Rüsselsheim, Germany. So far, Hyundai has released very details about the car as we only get to know that it will ride on a wheelbase measuring 2.77 meters long and that according to the company, will deliver “best-in-class dimensions for front head (1025mm), shoulder (1455mm), and leg (1170mm) room”.

European buyers should expect the same engine lineup as the estate including a 1.7-liter turbo diesel and a 2.0-liter four-cylinder gasoline unit, with more information to be released after its presentation in Spain.

Not surprisingly, the i40 sedan follows Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language, which includes a big crease along the shoulder line and a heavily profiled rear end.

“We have used very strong, fluid lines from front to rear to give i40 a distinctive appearance,” commented Thomas Bürkle, Chief Designer at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre. “We wanted to move away from the typical three-box saloon and create a car that was in keeping with the sporty nature of the i40 estate. By sculpting a low, elongated roof line, we’ve given the i40 saloon a striking coupe-like silhouette,” he added.

GALLERY

Read more In Cars