Hyundai revealed additional engineering and feature information for the all-new 2011 Equus today. The Equus will be offered in just two configurations, Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate, both lavishly contented.

Equus Signature features the award-winning 385-horsepower Tau® V8 engine, a 608-watt Lexicon® audio system with 17 speakers, electronically controlled air suspension with continuous damping control, Vehicle Stability Management with pre-collision warning, Smart Cruise Control, HID headlamps, front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera, premium leather seating, Alcantara suede headliner, driver seat massage, heated and cooled front seats, heated wood and leather steering wheel, and numerous other premium technologies and features. The Equus Ultimate adds features typically found only in low-volume special-order luxury sedans with six-figure price tags, including a forward-view parking and cornering camera, power decklid, reclining rear seats with powered headrests, cooled rear seats, rear seat massage and leg support, rear seat refrigerator and a rear seat entertainment system.

"When you're spending this much for a new car, you don't want to feel like you've been shortchanged on engineering, technology or features," said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. "Equus Signature has the technology and content of fully-optioned flagship models from Lexus and BMW, while Equus Ultimate delivers a specification approached only by our competitors' low-volume, special-order models."

This straightforward lineup of just two extremely well-equipped configurations enables a simple and elegant purchase experience, a key aspect of Hyundai's innovative perspective on intelligent luxury, which also includes "Your Time, Your Place," the industry's first at-home vehicle demonstration program, the Valet Service program, which provides at-home pickup for Equus service and maintenance and the industry's first iPad-based interactive owner's manual.

EQUUS SIGNATURE KEY STANDARD FEATURES

• 4.6L DOHC Tau V8 engine
• Six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®
• Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)
• Electronically Controlled Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)
• 19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires
• Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD
• Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with TCS and Brake Assist
• Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system with pre-collision warning
• Nine airbags: Advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags
• Electronic active front head restraints with power controls
• Electronic seatbelt pretensioners
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)
• Smart Cruise Control
• High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED turn signal indicators
• Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) with auto-leveling
• Fog lights and automatic headlights
• Front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera
• Dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors w/ turn signal indicators and approach lamps
• Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper
• Proximity key entry with push-button start
• Illuminated scuff plates, inside door handles and door armrest
• Premium leather seating surfaces and Alcantara® suede headliner
• 12-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjustment and 10-way power front passenger seat
• Driver seat massage system
• Heated and cooled front seats
• Heated, wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver-side seat, mirror and steering wheel
• Leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim
• Electroluminescent cluster (Supervision) with 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen
• Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold
• Power windows with auto-down/up
• Navigation system w/ DIS and multimedia controller
• Apple iPad interactive owner's manual
• 608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers
• iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks and iPod connection cable
• XM® Satellite Radio & NavTraffic® with trial subscription
• Bluetooth® hands-free phone system
• Dual automatic temperature control with air quality system
• Windshield-wiper deicer, rain-sensing wipers and auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor
• Electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass
• Acoustic laminated windshield , front and rear side windows
• Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof
• 60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats
• Power rear sunshade and rear side-window sunshades
• Luggage net
• Premium-grade floor mats
• Premium-grade trunk cargo mat
• First-aid kit (PIO)

FIRSTS FOR HYUNDAI AND CONSUMERS

As Hyundai's flagship rear-wheel-drive sedan, Equus contains many Hyundai firsts. One innovative new technology is the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system, which governs ESC, the electronic parking brake, smart cruise control, the collision warning sensor and the seatbelt tensioning system for optimal safety. The seatbelt tensioning system works through sensors, which detect critical driving situations and retract the seatbelts accordingly to prevent passenger movement. The Equus' dynamic safety package is further enhanced by the Lane Departure Warning System and driver's knee airbags.

Beyond safety, the Equus will also debut power rear side-window sunshades, a heated steering wheel, power trunk lid, dual power, heated and cooled front seats, rain-repelling front side windows, a thermoelectric rear console refrigerator, 60/40 split power reclining rear seats and electronically-controlled Air Suspension with dual-mode Continuous Damping Control.

Several new driver information technologies make their debut on the Equus. Driver and passengers can keep an eye on the Equus' numerous electronic systems through the 3.5-inch TFT LCD vehicle information monitor. Equus also features a forward-view cornering camera and a parking guide system with both top view and rear view perspectives.

COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

Hyundai's Tau V8, which has been rated one of Ward's "Ten Best Engines" for two consecutive years, is a strong technological building block for Equus. It is joined by an unsurpassed standard feature list including Smart Cruise Control, Lane Departure Warning System, a heated steering wheel, power reclining rear seats, heated rear seats and a 608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround sound audio system with 17 speakers. Equus Ultimate adds first-class rear seating and other focused rear compartment features that can only found on low-volume special-order competitive models.

EQUUS COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES

• Tau V8 engine, rated one of Ward's "Ten Best Engines" for 2009 and 2010
• First-class seating available on Equus Ultimate (competitors' best seating options come only on the long-wheelbase variants)
• Standard Smart Cruise Control
• Standard Lane Departure Warning System
• Standard heated steering wheel
• Standard power reclining rear seats
• Standard heated rear seats
• Standard premium Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround sound audio system with 17 speakers
• Available rear console refrigerator (only available on some competitors' LWB models)

EXTERIOR FEATURE AND PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY COMPARISON

Compared to its primary competitors, the Lexus LS460, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8, the Equus delivers a remarkable advantage in technology and feature content. Air suspension, 19-inch wheels, a collision warning system, nine airbags including rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, a Lane Departure Warning System, Smart Cruise Control, HID headlights, AFLS, front and rear parking sensors, a rear backup camera and a proximity key with push-button start come standard on Equus Signature and Equus Ultimate.

INTERIOR FEATURE COMPARISON

Equus delivers an extraordinary package of interior technologies and features including an Alcantara suede headliner, heated and cooled front seats, heated steering wheel, memory system, electronic parking brake, auto vehicle hold, navigation system, iPod connection, dual fully automatic temperature control, sunroof, power rear side-window shades, driver-seat massage, power reclining rear seats (60/40), heated rear seats and a power rear sunshade.

Of special appeal to audiophiles is the Equus' standard, industry-leading 608-watt audio unit, the Lexicon® 7.1 Discrete surround sound audio system featuring 17 speakers.

EQUUS ULTIMATE ADDS ULTRA LUXURY FEATURES

Equus Ultimate adds or replaces:

• 50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function
• First-class passenger-side rear seat: leg support and massage system
• Cooled rear seats
• Rear-seat entertainment system w/ eight-inch monitor
• Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator
• Rear-seat power up/down head restraints w/ manual tilt
• Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors
• Forward-view cornering camera
• Power trunk lid

The Equus Ultimate takes the luxury mandate of the Equus Signature and enhances it with a package of high-end amenities new to this price class. In the rear, the power-adjustable right-side seat provides passengers a generous 84 degrees of leg support, with the capability to move the front passenger seat forward and out of the way for full leg extension.

The Equus Ultimate replaces the 60:40 rear seat of the Equus Signature with a 50:50 power reclining seating configuration.

The seat-back of this 50:50 seat massages and vibrates with heat -- the perfect relaxation therapy for extended cruising. It is operated by its own remote control unit.

Ample, first-class-style headrests also contain wings that can be adjusted for perfect comfort and support, ideal for napping or mere relaxation.
The rear seat experience in the Equus Ultimate is further upgraded by an eight-inch LCD screen.

This individual entertainment system will play DVDs for rear-seat passengers, as well as demonstrate audio features and report on HVAC status. The rear multimedia monitor can be controlled from the rear console, which also houses the remote control seat massage function.

These controls also activate the heated and cooled rear seats and the rear console refrigerator.

Other Equus Ultimate features include rear-seat power up/down head restraints with manual tilt, rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors, a forward-view cornering camera to help drivers navigate around tight corners and a power trunk lid.

THE HEART OF HYUNDAI'S FLAGSHIP – SOPHISTICATED POWERTRAIN AND CHASSIS TECHNOLOGIES

The Equus is powered by Hyundai's two-consecutive-year award-winning 4.6-Liter DOHC Tau V8 engine, mated to a ZF® six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®. The overall driving experience is enhanced by Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS) and an electronically-controlled Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC) and Smart Cruise Control. Stopping power is provided by four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD. The Equus rides on 19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires.

STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT

Equus features standard ESC with TCS and Brake Assist. A new Hyundai safety innovation comes in the form of the Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with pre-collision warning. VSM ties all of the active and passive safety features together, making sure that they perform optimally and in conjunction with one another.

Other safety features include a total of nine standard airbags (advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags), electronic active front head restraints with power controls, electronic seatbelt pretensioners and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). In addition to these, a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) makes its Hyundai debut on the Equus.

COLORS

Equus offers four exterior color choices and three interior theme choices. Exterior colors are White Satin Pearl, Black Noir Pearl, Granite Gray and Platinum Metallic. Interior themes are Cashmere with genuine Birch Burl wood, Jet Black with genuine walnut wood and Saddle with genuine walnut wood.

At the New York Auto Show this week, automaker Hyundai did the expected by announcing its 2011 models. But Hyundai surprised everyone by announcing it's 2011 Equus sedan will come with a free Apple iPad that will serve as the car's owners manual.

"The plan is to have a complimentary iPad with each vehicle," Miles Johnson, Product Public Relations Manager for Hyundai, told TechNewsDaily.

The announcement, which is unprecedented in the auto industry, was downplayed in the announcement partly, Johnson said, because the iPad has yet to be officially released and Hyundai's plan is still in the concept stage of development.

Hyundai has yet to even decide if the Equus will include a Wi-Fi only or 3G model of the iPad, but Johnson says the company already sees several uses for it.

"There are several concept applications," Johnson said. "The owner's manual would live on the iPad, could be updated easily and display pictures and video as explanations. The online application would be an asset. Owners could use the connection to schedule maintenance, schedule pickup and delivery, things like that."

Even though Hyundai's plan is in the early stages, the company is already hard at work on it.

"We have an ongoing relationship with Apple to purchase the iPads and create the apps," Johnson said.

Apps - short for "applications" - are what would house the owner's manual and provide features like maintenance scheduling.

Johnson said that more details will be forthcoming as the plan progresses.

The Equus itself will be Hyundai's attempt to "break down the barriers of owning a luxury car" according to the announcement and is expected to sell somewhere in the $50,000 range.

The only son of Hyundai Motor chairman Chung Mong-Koo was Friday appointed to the board of South Korea's top carmaker, fuelling speculation he is being groomed to succeed his 71-year-old father.

Shareholders at their annual meeting approved the appointment of Chung Eui-Sun, 39, a company spokesman said.

The younger Chung was a director of Hyundai's smaller affiliate Kia Motors before assuming the vice chairman's post at Hyundai last year.

Hyundai achieved a record net profit of 2.96 trillion won (2.61 billion dollars) last year despite the global economic downturn. It sold a record 3.11 million vehicles in 2009, up 11.7 percent from a year earlier.

Chung senior told shareholders: "Strengthening product quality is the most important task this year, and we aim to increase global sales by keeping quality," he said. He did not mention the woes of Japan's Toyota which has recalled millions of vehicles worldwide due to safety concerns.

SEOUL: South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor said Wednesday it would recall its flagship Sonata sedan in the United States and the domestic market due to a door lock problem.

The firm said in a statement that 1,300 Sonata sedans already sold in the United States and another 46,000 cars in South Korea would be recalled.

Hyundai said the move was in response to reported defective front-door locks on some of its modified Sonatas launched last September. It said it ordered its US dealers on Tuesday to stop selling the model.

The recall was announced on the same day that Toyota's top US executive admitted that global recalls by the Japanese giant had "not totally" fixed dangerous safety flaws.

After making solid gains in 2009, South Korean automakers Hyundai and Kia are predicting more gains in market share in 2010 as they roll out more new vehicles.

John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America's acting president and chief executive, said Thursday he expects car sales in the United States to grow next year, and Hyundai's market share to grow with it.

"Sales should be up about eight percent to 10 percent next year," he said. "The first and second quarter will be more like this year but things should pick up in the third quarter," Krafcik said.

Overall sales in the US market should grow beyond 11 million units in 2010. Hyundai's market share also will continue to grow, he said.

Hyundai, which sold over 401,000 cars so far in 2009, boosted its market share by a third this year and more gains are expected next year with introduction of the all new 2011 Sonata and new Tucson.

Both models were unveiled during the press previews leading up to the official opening of the Los Angeles auto show Friday.

The Sonata was designed to compete in the mid-sized segment, which is at the heart of the US car market.

Scott Magnusson, Hyundai's director of product planning, said the new Sonata offers efficiency, excellent packaging and solid driving dynamics at less than $20,000. "But it's also well styled," he said. "You still have great efficiency and great packaging and not have to drive a boring car thanks to our fluidic styling."

The same sculptural styling also was used in the design of the new Tucson, which Hyundai hopes will appeal to consumers who in the past have tended to go for the major Japanese brands -- Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

"We're being cross shopped much more frequently now with the Japanese," said Magnusson.

"Both vehicles are very, very nice both inside and out," said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with Auto Pacific.

Tom Loveless, vice president of sales for Kia Motor America, a Hyundai subsidiary which markets its own brand in the US, also said the value message resonates with US consumers.

Kia also has posted double digit sales increases since mid-summer and will finish the year with a substantial increase in market share, Loveless said.

Kia's biggest market share-gains have come in the northeastern United States, where it as jumped 80 percent.

Loveless said Kia also has added dealerships, placing some on prime real estate in major urban areas that were abandoned by other carmaker.

He said he expects Kia to make greater gains in sales and market share next year as it rolls out new models.

During the LA Auto Show preview, Kia rolled out the 2011 Sorento, which is being built at a new Kia assembly plant in West Point, Ga.

The introduction of Kia Soul and Kia Forte earlier this year also raised consumer awareness of the Kia brand with their aggressive styling, Loveless said. "The Soul was a real game changer for us," he said.

Ed Kim, an analyst with Auto Pacific, said the styling on the Sorento is more conservative than the Soul or the Forte but it is still solid and the vehicle has been designed to reflect American taste and preferences.

So far this year, Hyundai Group sales have grown by more than 6 percent in a soft market and Kia and Hyundai combined now hold nearly 6.2 percent of the US market, the highest share ever, according J.D. Power & Associates.

Hyundai's market share has grown to 3.76 percent from 2.58 percent in 2008, while Kia's has increased to 2.41 percent from 2 percent in 2008.

South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor Thursday reported its highest-ever quarterly net profit despite the global economic downturn.

Hyundai said net profit in April-June was 811.8 billion won (648.4 million dollars), a 48 percent rise on 546.9 billion won for the same period in 2008.

Operating profit fell 0.8 percent year-on-year to 657.3 billion won from 662.5 billion, due to higher marketing costs and lower exports due to the global recession.

Declining exports also dragged sales down 11 percent to 8.08 trillion won from 9.107 trillion.

The record net figure was aided by shareholding gains from affiliates in China and India and tax incentives that boosted sales at home.

Hyundai's domestic sales rose 15 percent year-on-year to 63,718 in May and 55 percent to 74,685 in June thanks to the tax breaks.

The company, which had 51 percent of the domestic automobile market in the first half, is targeting 52 percent in the second half by focusing on sales of new models such as the midsize YF Sonata sedan.

South Korea's largest automaker Hyundai Motor has reached a deal with its union to end a protracted dispute which has cost more than 600 million dollars in lost production, according to the company.

Some 95 percent of the 45,000 union members voted on the deal covering working conditions and wages and endorsed it by a 54-43 margin.

Since early July workers have been staging sporadic walkouts to press their demands. The union has gone on strike every year but one since it was founded in 1987.

"This year's negotiation was tougher than ever as we had some difficult issues to resolve," a Hyundai Motor spokesman said on Friday.

"We will continue our efforts to improve labour-management relations and establish a mature negotiating culture by further developing a spirit of mutual understanding and conciliation between the two sides."

Under the deal, the company will abolish its all-night shift system in September next year.

It also agreed to raise the monthly base salary by 5.61 percent and pay a bonus equivalent to three months' salary. Workers will also receive a lump-sum payment of three million won (almost 2,600 dollars).

The company's second-quarter net profit fell 10.6 percent year-on-year despite record sales, due to foreign exchange losses on debt repayments.

Net profit was 546.9 billion won (475 million dollars) in April-June, down from 611.5 billion a year earlier.

The 2008 Hyundai Veracruz ranked above the competition in the Large Crossover Sport Utility Vehicle category in AutoPacific's 2008 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). AutoPacific's VSA, based on owner survey results, is an industry benchmark for objectively measuring how satisfied owners are with their new car or light truck.

"Today there are more nameplates and fewer buyers than a decade ago and the 2008 calendar year is the most challenging year for the American auto industry since the mid-1990s," said George Peterson, president, AutoPacific, Inc. "This extremely competitive situation means that automakers need to use any advantage they have to get their vehicles considered and purchased."

"We are pleased and honored to have been recognized with such an influential industry award," said Scott Margason, national manager of Product Development at Hyundai Motor America. "Veracruz is an exceptionally well-equipped vehicle, boasting the latest safety technologies like Electronic Stability Control, convenience features like a proximity key, and a quiet, comfortable ride. Veracruz is a prime example of Hyundai's commitment to achieving maximum customer satisfaction."

AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are driven by data collected from more than 34,000 buyers and lessees of new vehicles acquired during September through December 2007. Buyers and lessees rate 46 attributes related to a vehicle's operation, comfort, safety and overall purchase experience. The awards recognize vehicles in 28 different categories. A complete description of scoring methodology and a list of all winners can be found at www.autopacific.com.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 790 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.

Hyundai Motor said Sunday it would begin mass producing hybrid cars next year amid growing demand for fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly vehicles.

The first mass produced model will be a compact sedan, known as "Avante", the company said in a statement.

The hybrid models will then expand into mid-size vehicles in 2010, with fuel-cell cars also being produced in 2012, it said.

Hyundai has produced about 2,800 compact hybrid cars since 2004, largely for government agencies, while Japan's Toyota Motor has dominated the global hybrid car market.

Global demand for hybrid cars is rapidly growing, with 390,125 units sold in 2006 and 517,911 last year, Hyundai said, adding that the figure was likely to grow to 750,000 this year and more than a million by 2010.

Hyundai Motor America announced plans to advertise during the nation's largest sporting event, the National Football League's Super Bowl. Hyundai's purchase of two 30-second spots during the third and fourth quarters marks the company's first Super Bowl advertising effort since 1989. The ads will air on the game broadcast Sunday, February 3, 2008.

"The Super Bowl is a must-see event for nearly 100 million people and we want every one of them to know that Hyundai is America's next great car company," said Joel Ewanick, vice president of Marketing for Hyundai Motor America. "Hyundai marketing continues to step out in big ways, and the Super Bowl is as big as it gets."

Goodby, Silverstein & Partners led the creative development. The two all-new spots are consistent in theme and tone with the

"Think About It" campaign launched in September 2007. Focused on the all-new Hyundai Genesis rear-wheel drive luxury sedan, the ads challenge traditional assumptions about the luxury category, and position Genesis as a new standard in the upscale sedan category.

"Unlike the majority of Super Bowl advertising which attempts to make the audience laugh, Hyundai's ads are intended to make the audience think," said Ewanick. "We want to challenge consumers to continue to see Hyundai in new light. We feel that the unique tone and theme of our two spots will differentiate us from the crowd on Super Bowl Sunday."

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif. is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced by more than 780 Hyundai dealerships nationwide.