If anyone remembers seeing the Azera, the full-sized sedan from Hyundai that was based and heavily resembled a modified previous-generation Sonata, they would gladly confirm that it wasn’t the best premium car around. Being one of their flagship models, Hyundai had put a lot of faith in it, but the Genesis came along, and so did the next generation Sonata, wiping out whatever buzz it had.
As part of our Hyundai dealer-sponsored trip to Korea, we were given a quick tour of the Research and Development centre in Namyang, mostly to see the wind tunnel facility. The place was so secretive that cameras and phones were confiscated before entry, and even inside, all we saw were prototype cars in camouflage. Lots and lots of prototype cars in camo, all playing around their testing grounds.
“Real” journalists with Western passports fly to foreign destinations every other week, fully paid for by carmakers, with 5-star hotel stays and business-class flights. For that, all they have to do is “review” a car. Of course, third-world jerks like me don’t get foreign invites all that often, especially since I reveal more than just the test-drive itself. The couple of invites that I did get, I couldn’t go mostly due to visa hassles. So when Hyundai’s UAE dealer invited me for a three-day trip to South Korea to test-drive the all-new 2012 Hyundai Elantra, I agreed of course.
Hyundai seems to have quietly launched the all-new 2012 Elantra in Oman, though their website has not yet been updated. The vehicle in these pictures was spotted when parked in front of a hotel located in a residential area of Sharjah known for its thriving used car market. The vehicle is registered in Oman and seemed to be some mid-option model with fog lamps. Oman has traditionally received new Hyundai and Kia models several months before the UAE, due to their massive popularity there.
The 2012 Hyundai Accent isn’t a car anyone was anxiously waiting for. That isn’t to say no one anticipates sub-compact cars with sweaty palms. The launch of the next-generation Toyota Yaris is going to be a big event in the lives of many in the UAE. Nothing else comes close to the Yaris in popularity. The Accent has always been sidelined. However, we just drove the all-new 2012 Hyundai Accent from Dubai to Fujairah and back, and it’s a car that can give Toyota some sleepless nights.
Hyundai has released first photos of the European-market 2012 Hyundai i40, an all-new station-wagon that looks oddly familiar.
The 2012 Hyundai Genesis debuted at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show with minor exterior design changes, new direct-injection technology for its Lambda V6 engine, new 8-speed automatic transmissions and better chassis tuning. A modern 5.0-litre direct-injection V8 engine is now available with the new 5.0 R-Spec model, which includes unique 19-inch machined-finish alloy wheels, and sport-tuned transmission, suspension and steering calibrations.
The 2011 North American International Auto Show held in Detroit saw the official reveal of the 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the oddball-yet-cool hatchback with three doors, not counting the tailgate.
Our frequent photographer, Faisal “Chunky” Khatib, caught this Dubai-registered camouflaged prototype on the streets of the UAE. The design cues suggest it is the 2012 Hyundai Elantra that has already been unveiled elsewhere, but is still undergoing hot-weather testing in the Middle East, even though it’s now winter.
Here are all the photos of the 2012 Hyundai Azera, leaked online well before its official debut.