Honda's CEO Takanobu Ito recently stated that he sees Hyundai as a major threat to the Japanese automakers.

"Hyundai is awesome," said Takanobu. "They are undoubtedly a threat because their products are cheap, and the quality is improving."

Hyundai's sales have been improving, while many of its other competitors have seen its sales decline in the last year. Obviously new products like the Genesis are changing the perception of the brand and it's no longer seen as the throw away car brand of the 80's.

Hyundai has developed a stretched version of its flagship Equus sedan. The Equus Limousine is 300 mm longer than the regular version and is longer than most of its competitors in Korea. To differentiate it from the Equus sedan, the stretched version features a new horizontal cross-bar grille. The Equus Limousine can be powered by either the Lambda 3.8L V6 or the Tau 5.0L V8 that puts out 400 horspower.

When Hyundai unveiled the all-new Sonata in Korea, a V6 engine was not mentioned in the press release. Only 2.0L and 2.4L 4-cylinders were mentioned for the Korean market. Well it looks like when the US-spec Sonata is unveiled it will also not receive a V6. According to Hyundai only 15 percent of the Sonatas currently sold are equipped with the V6.

The 2.4L that will be offered will feature direct injection, which is expected to have more power and better fuel economy numbers than the current 2.4L (it's currently rated at 175hp and 22/32 mpg).

Hyundai is also deleting the V6 option from the new Tucson. Expect the 2011 Sonata to be unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Kia has officially released photos and info about the changes to the 2011 Sorento. The biggest change is that the Sorento will ditch its current body-on-frame design for a unibody structure. The overall length and width have been increased giving the Sorento the ability to hold up to seven passengers.

The 2011 Sorento will offer the choice of two engines, a 172-hp 2.4L 4-cylinder or a 273-hp 3.5L V6. Both engines are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel-drive being optional.

The Sorento will be the first vehicle to be built at Kia's new manufacturing facility in West Point, Georgia. It will hit showrooms in January 2010.

Hyundai has officially unveiled the KDM-spec 2010 Sonata in Korea.

We've seen spy photos of the new Sonata for a while now, so everything shown here is what was expected. The new Sonata ditches the bland styling of the current generation for a sedan with more coupe-like styling. The base engine in Korea will be a 165-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder. Once the car is released in the US next year as a 2011 model, the base Sonata will be powered by a direct-injected 2.4L instead of the 2.0L in Korea.

The sales numbers for August 2009 are in and thanks to the Cash for Clunkers program sales were up for a few of the automakers. Toyota, Honda and Ford saw sales increase by 10.5%, 14.2% and 17%, respectively. Although GM was down 20.2% and Chrysler by 15%.

The Toyota Camry surpassed the Ford F-Series to become the best selling vehicle in the US last month, although the F-Series also had a good month. New to the list for August was the Hyundai Elantra, likely due to increased sales from the Cash for Clunkers program. The Honda CR-V also made a return this month, surpassing the Ford Escape, which is missing this time.

* Toyota Camry: 54,396
* Ford F-Series: 45,590
* Honda Civic: 43,294
* Toyota Corolla: 43,061
* Honda Accord: 39,726
* Chevy Silverado: 32,421
* Honda CR-V: 30,284
* Nissan Altima: 26,833
* Ford Focus: 25,547
* Hyundai Elantra: 21,673

More shots of the 2010 Hyundai Sonata have hit the internet before its official launch in South Korea.

The all-new Sonata ditches its conservative styling for a more curvaceous body with a longer nose and coupe-like roofline. Hyundai claims that the all-new Sonata expresses Hyundai's "fluidic sculpture" design language.

Stay tuned for the official launch in Korea on Sept 10th. The US should receive the new Sonata sometime next year as a 2011 model.

Hyundai's newest flagship, the 2009 Genesis sedan has brought a lot of attention to the Hyundai since its launch. Much of the attention has been in the form of awards, which started with the 2009 North American Car of the Year. That was the first time a Korean brand ever received that award. After receiving the car of the year award, the Genesis has gone on to receive more than 20 top honors from publications and automotive organizations.

According to Hyundai the Genesis is "the most decorated new car launch of the 2009 model year."

"Genesis was developed to rival the world's best luxury sedans so we knew it would be a great car, but we didn't know how it would be received by the automotive community," said Scott Margason, director of Product & Strategic Planning for Hyundai. "As the awards accumulated, we realized not only how well designed the Genesis was, but how far the Hyundai brand had come. Consumers and automotive industry influencers really embraced the idea of Hyundai producing a luxury product."

Check out the full list of awards after the jump.

Hyundai has taken the wraps off the 2010 Hyundai Tucson ix for the Korean market.

The new Tucson, which although it is dubbed the Tucson ix in Korea (ix35 in Europe), will still be named simply Tucson in the US, features all new, more upscale styling than the last gen. The Korean market has the choice of 2.0L gasoline and diesel engines that are mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The diesel engine puts out 184-hp, while the gasoline powered engine only puts out 166-hp. All-wheel-drive is only available with the diesel engine. It's not yet known what will power the US-spec Tucson.

The new more upscale styling also includes more upscale features like a panoramic sunroof, rear backup camera, Hill-Start assist.

Expect more details when the Tucson aka ix35 is unveiled in Frankfurt. The new Tucson is expected in the US sometime next year as a 2011 model.

These spy shots may be our first look at the undisguised 2011 Hyundai Sonata. These photos were obviously taken from a photo shoot (note the cutaway).

The 2011 Sonata is definitely going after more market share in the midsize sedan segment with its new more expressive style and coupe-like roofline.

Stay tuned for the first official photos..soon.

Hyundai is set to unveil the ix35 aka Tucson and a revised Santa Fe at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. We've seen spy photos of the new Tucson, but now Hyundai has officially released two renderings of it before its official unveiling.

The new Tucson was designed at Hyundai's design center in Frankfurt and embodies Hyundai's new design language "fluidic sculpture." Although the Tucson is officially being dubbed the ix35 in Europe, the Tucson name will continue in the US when the next-gen launches early next year.

Hyundai has announced plans to sell its flagship sedan, the Equus in the US next year.

"We showed the car at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, and the response was fantastic," says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. "Since then, we've had a fleet travelling around the country, capturing input from our dealers and consumers. Here, too, the response was extraordinarily positive, and similar to the market reaction to the award-winning Genesis, so we've decided to bring it to the U.S."

The Equus shares its platform with the Genesis and will be powered by the same 4.6L V8 when it comes to the US in late 2010.

Kia is set to finally be a key competitor in the compact sedan and coupe market with the introduction of the Kia Forte and 2-door Forte Koup. Kia has already released the details of the sedan version and now the automaker has released the details and stats about the coupe.

As expected the Forte Koup has the same engines as the sedan with the base 156-hp 2.0L that is available with either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission and the more powerful 173-hp 2.4L that is available with either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic.

The Forte Koup rides on the same 103.4 inch wheelbase as the sedan and also seats five. The good thing is that the Koup features sportier handling than the sedan.

It has been previously announced that Hyundai is working on a replacement for the Tiburon that will be sold alongside the rear-wheel-drive Genesis. In a recent interview with Inside Line, Hyundai's President and CEO John Krafcik gave more details about the upcoming coupe.

According to Krafcik the final version will look 70-80 percent like the Veloster concept and will feature a "surprise body style."

"It might be doors or a unique roof or something with the hatch. But it won't be like anything out there before in the small car segment."

Krafcik also stated that the coupe is about the same size as the Accent. "Think of it like a four-passenger Honda CRX," he said. "It'll be a little car you can take out and wring its neck and still get good mileage. Fun and economical, with a great power-to-weight ratio."

The coupe is also expected to be powered by a direct-injection 1.6L with 140 horsepower that also returns over 40 mpg.

The official name of the coupe is still being decided.

Just like Chrysler did when gas prices were out of control, Hyundai has announced a new incentive called Assurance Gas Lock, which locks in gas prices for buyers of new Hyundai vehicles at $1.49 per gallon for up to a year. With gas prices expected to be over $3 a gallon this summer, Hyundai is hoping this new incentive will bring in more buyers.

"Our research shows that nearly 40 percent of potential new car buyers are staying out of the market specifically due to uncertainty around future gas prices," said John Krafcik, CEO and president of Hyundai Motor America. "With Assurance Gas Lock, we're empowering consumers with gas price stability so they can make a confident vehicle choice. And for those buyers out there driving older gas-guzzlers that qualify for the new government CARS program, we think our fuel-efficient lineup of award-winning vehicles, combined with Assurance Gas Lock, makes Hyundai an unbeatable combination."

The program compliments Hyundai Assurance and its 10-year warranty. In addition it is available with special rebate and financing options on individual models.

Assurance Gas Lock is available on Accent (excluding base model), Tiburon, Elantra, Elantra Touring, Entourage, Sonata, Azera, Santa Fe, Tucson and Veracruz models purchased or leased between July 1 and August 31, 2009 . The program reduces any available rebates by $1,000.

Hyundai is determined to move up market with the introduction of the Genesis and now the automaker is currently evaluating its Equus luxury sedan that is expected to be introduced here next summer.

The rear-wheel-drive Equus is based on the Genesis platform, but is 7.2 inches longer at 203.1 inches. In Korea it is powered by the same 3.8L and 4.6L engines as the Genesis, but according to sources the US will only get receive the V8 powered Equus.

Hyundai is aiming the Equus squarely at the Lexus LS 460, which starts at 64,700.

"We plan to keep the price under $60,000," said the Hyundai insider.

Kia is going to offer a special edition version of its recently introduced Soul for the 2010 model year. The Soul Denim Special Edition will be offered in a special "denim" exterior color and production will be limited to only 1,200 units.

In addition to the denim paint scheme, the exterior will also feature white side view mirrors and 18" alloy wheels. There is also a white racing stripe across the top of the car. A wing-type rear spoiler, fog lights and front fender mounted turn signals are also included. The interior of the Special Edition Soul is all black with Soul logo inserts on the seats.

The Kia Soul Denim Special Edition with the five-speed transmission starts at $17,300 and the automatic starts at $18,250.

More bad news for Detroit's automakers, a new study from Grant Thornton LLP's Corporate Advisory and Restructuring Service estimates that by 2012 they will produce less vehicles on US soil than their Asian and European competitors.

Although domestic automakers are expected to return to profitability by 2012, their production will be outpaced by import automakers like Toyota, VW, Hyundai and Honda. The estimated projection is that domestic automakers will reduce production in the US by 35 percent, while import automakers will increase US production by 20 percent. The final total from Chrysler, Ford and GM is estimated at 7.5 million with all other automakers coming in at a combined 8 million units.

Grant Thornton Principal Kimberly Rodriguez stated "Suppliers largely dependent on Detroit OEMs will have to present a new value equation to potential customers from Europe and Asia if they want to participate in the accelerated shift that is coming."

J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2009 Initial Quality Study (IQS) with Lexus taking the lead this year with only 84 problems per 100 vehicles.

This year's top five nameplates were Lexus followed by Porsche, Cadillac, Hyundai and Honda. Hyundai managed to move up to the number 4 spot from 13th position in 2008 and Cadillac moved up from the 10th spot in 2008.

Suzuki managed to have the most gains this year moving up to the 9th spot from the 32nd spot last year.

The study also claims that domestic automakers improved their quality by 10 percent compared to 2008, which is higher than the 8 percent industry average.

Kia has announced the pricing for the all-new 2010 Kia Forte. The base Forte LX starts at $13,695 plus destination charges. The Forte EX begins at $15,795 and the top of the line SX trim begins at $17,195.

The base Forte LX and EX models are powered by 156 hp 2.0L four-cylinder that can be paired to either a 5-speed manual or a 4-speed automatic transmission. The top SX model is the sportiest model and is powered by a 173 hp 2.4L engine and is mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic. Fuel economy numbers are competitive for its class with 26/34 mpg for the 2.0L and the 2.4L gets 22/32 with the manual transmission and 23/31 with the automatic transmission. The 2.0L EX model has an optional Fuel Economy Package, which improves its numbers to 27/36 mpg.

Over the weekend some of the best spy photos to date of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata surfaced and now today we have our first shot of the interior.

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is going to feature a coupe-like roofline and more curvaceous styling than the current generation. The interior has a dual cockpit design that is similar to the Genesis Coupe. Obviously this photo of the interior is of a pre-production model. The production Sonata will have higher quality materials.

Although the new Sonata will officially be a 2011 model, you can expect an unveiling soon.

Kia has chosen the 2009 New York Auto Show to unveil the 2-door variant of the new Forte.

The 2010 Kia Forte Koup draws many styling cues from the KOUP Concept that was unveiled last year. The 2-door version of the Forte gets sportier styling out front with a more aggressive lower intake and outback the taillights are wider and thinner with a larger rear fascia and dual exhaust tips.

The powertrain options are the same as the sedan with the base model being powered by a 156-hp 2.0L mated to either a 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic and the SX model being powered by a 173-hp 2.4L engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 5-speed automatic transmission.

After many of photo leaks, Kia has officially unveiled the all-new 2010 Kia Sorento at the Seoul Motor Show.

The 2010 Kia Sorento officially moves from a body-on-frame design to a more popular unit body platform. The new body is longer to make room for a new third row seat. Headroom and legroom have also been increased.

There are a range of engines offered in the new Sorento for the Korean market. A 2.7L V6 that runs on (liquefied petroleum gas), a 2.4L four-cylinder and a 2.2L diesel engine. In the US it is expected that the Sorento will have the option of the 2.4L four-cylinder and a 3.8L V6. The engines will be paired with a range of five and six-speed transmissions.

The all-new Sorento is expected to have its US debut at the New York Auto Show next week.

Hyundai is remaining very tight lipped on the Nuvis concept that is going to be shown at the New York Auto Show next week. Besides showcasing the brand's cutting-edge capabilities it also hints at a possible design direction of a future crossover...

The Nuvis concept is the 11th concept car designed at the Hyundai's California Design Center in Irvine, California.

Hyundai has unveiled the "Genesis Prada" ahead of its debut in Seoul.

The partnership with Hyundai and Prada has yielded three Genesis sedans painted in matte metallic midnight blue, combined with metal parts in titanium, and the dark matte plated gold replaces the existing shining chrome for the radiator grill, the emblem, and the outer handles. The 20-inch alloy wheels are new and were designed by Prada.

Inside the seats are covered in "saffiano" leather.

Out of the three produced, one will be kept by Hyundai as a milestone of the Genesis history and the other two will be auctioned off for charity.

Hyundai's CEO John Krafcik recently revealed some of Hyundai's future product plans at a press conference.

Hyundai is going to fully focus on building fuel efficient cars and crossovers. But unfortunately the plans also revealed that the slow-selling Entourage minivan will be dead by the end of the year.

"We weren't a big player to begin with, and the segment continues to shrink," said Hyundai spokesman Chris Hosford to Automotive News.

Hyundai is going to unveil the BLUE-WILL concept car at the Seoul Motor Show next week.

Hyundai's new plug-in hybrid concept car features a 1.6L direct-injection engine, which is mated to a CVT and a 100kw electric motor. The concept also features lithium-ion batteries that are located under the rear seat.

The concept also features dye-sensitive solar cells, which can generate power for the batteries without impeding visibility.

Kia has officially unveiled its first mass production hybrid model that is based on the new Forte sedan, the Forte LPI hybrid.

The Forte LPI hybrid is powered by a mild-hybrid system that features a 1.6L engine mated to an electric motor. The Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) engine generates 114 hp and the electric motor generates an extra 20 hp. The hybrid system is mated to a continuously variable transmission and achieves 41 mpg. The Forte LPI hybrid is also the world's first hybrid to use a lithium polymer (Li–poly) battery.

It's unlikely that we'll see an LPI hybrid from Kia anytime soon in the US, but we can expect a Forte hybrid with a gas powered engine at some point.

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has launched a new roof strength rating system and has chosen to put 12 small SUVs up to the test.

More than 10,000 people are killed a year in rollovers and SUVs rank higher compared to cars and minivans.

In the Institute's roof strength test, a metal plate is pushed against 1 side of a roof at a constant speed. To earn a good rating, the roof must withstand a force of 4 times the vehicle's weight before reaching 5 inches of crush. This is called a strength-to-weight ratio. For an acceptable rating, the minimum required strength-to-weight ratio is 3.25. A marginal rating value is 2.5. Anything lower than that is poor.

Only 4 of the small SUVs earned the top rating of good: VW Tiguan, Subaru Forester, Honda Element and Jeep Patriot. the VW Tiguan had the strongest roof out of all the SUVs tested. The Suzuki Grand Vitara, Chevrolet Equinox, Toyota RAV4, Nissan Rogue, and Mitsubishi Outlander are rated acceptable. Roofs on the Honda CR-V and Ford Escape are marginal, and the Kia Sportage received a poor rating.

Kia World has managed to get some more photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento.

The all-new Sorento ditches its old body-on-frame design for a unit-body platform. In the US engine choices should include a 2.4L 4-cyl and a 3.8L V6 mated to six-speed transmissions.

The all-new Sorento is expected to have its world debut at the Seoul Motor Show and its official US debut will be at the New York Auto Show shortly after.

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe has been one of highly anticipated cars for this year. With a choice of a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder or a 300+ hp 3.8L V6 and standard RWD the Genesis Coupe has a lot of enthusiast appeal. According to Hyundai USA CEO John Krafcik early sales are "simply smoking."

According to Krafcik early sales of the Genesis Coupe have been better than the luxurious Genesis sedan, with significantly less marketing. The 2.0T have just begun to hit dealerships, so its too early to see what the product split will be like. But among the 3.8L models, over 50% leaving the lots are the Grand Touring models. The Grand Touring model starts at $28,250 with a manual transmission and $29,750 with an automatic gearbox (including a $750 destination fee).

It will be interesting to see what happens when the $24,000 performance-tuned 2.0T R-Spec model starts arriving. The entry-level 2.0T starts at $22,000.

Kia World has posted the first official photos of the 2010 Kia Sorento.

The overall styling of the Sorento is in-line with the styling of the new Forte and Optima. It's more stylish than the last generation and is expected to now have room for seven passengers. The Sorento is expected to have its public debut at the Seoul Motor Show next month. In the US it will be powered by a 170 hp 2.4L 4-cyl and a 260 HP 3.8L V6.

The Sorento will most likely have its US debut at the New York Auto Show.

Kia has released two more teaser photos of the 2010 Sorento following last week's teaser.

The 2010 Sorento is going to move from a body-on-frame design to a unit-body design. It's overall look is much sportier than the current generation and features some of the same design cues as the new Kia Forte. It is expected that the Sorento will be powered by either a four-cylinder or the 3.8L Lambda V6 engine.

The 2010 Sorento will be officially unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show in April.

Next week Kia is going to officially unveil the No 3 MPV Concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

Kia hasn't released many details about the new car other than the fact that it features a unique extended windscreen and a panorama glass roof. The concept is also 4045 mm long.

Expect more details next week.

Hyundai has announced that its popular Assurance Program now includes 90 days of payment relief if a buyer is laid off within the first year of vehicle ownership.

The Hyundai Assurance program that runs from Feb 23rd to April 30, 2009 allows buyers to return their vehicles if they lose their jobs within the first year that they own them. The Assurance Plus program takes the step one step further by providing a one-time 90-day payment relief benefit.

The Assurance Program is credited with Hyundai's sales increasing 14.3 percent while almost every other automaker was down last month.

Kia has released an official teaser image of the 2010 Kia Sorento that is going to be officially unveiled at the Seoul Auto Show.

The all-new Sorento ditches its old body-on-frame design for a more up to date unibody platform, which will improve the Sorento's ride and handling. The Sorento will be powered by a variety engines including a 2.2L diesel, and a 2.4L and 3.8L gas powered engines. A a 2.7L LPI (Liquefied Petroleum Injection) engine is also expected for the Korean market. A new six-speed automatic transmission is also going to be offered.

The 2010 Kia Sorento will be unveiled in April with sales starting in the US by the end of the year.

Hyundai is going to unveil the HED-6 Concept early next month, but we've got the first official photos of the concept.

The concept stays true to the sketch that was released last week. The concept is powered by a turbocharged 175 hp 1.6-liter GDi four-cylinder. The engine is expected to eventually be offered in Hyundai's lineup. The HED-6 is expected to make it into production alongside the Kia Sportage, which means it could eventually become the next Hyundai Tucson in the U.S.

Expect more details soon.

The first two official images of the 2010 Hyundai Equus have been released ahead of the vehicle's official unveiling at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The Equus is 7 inches longer, 1.5 inches wider and has a 4.5 inch longer wheelbase than the Genesis. The Equus is powered by the same 3.8L and 4.6L engines as the Genesis. A more powerful 5.0L V8 with over 420 horsepower is expected after the Equus is launched.

It's not known if Hyundai plans on selling the Equus in the U.S.

Kia chose the 2009 Chicago Auto Show to officially unveil the 2010 Kia Forte, which will replace the Spectra in Kia's lineup.

The forgettable and boring Spectra is being replaced by a more stylish and powerful Forte this summer. The 2010 Forte features Kia's new design language and is powered by either a 156 horsepower 2.0L or a 173 horsepower 2.4L engine. The 2.0L can be mated to either a five-speed manual or a four-speed automatic transmission. The 2.4L can be mated to either a six-speed manual or a five-speed automatic.

Pricing will be announced closer to the on sale date.

Hyundai has announced the pricing for its much anticipated 2010 Genesis Coupe.

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe starts at $22,000 for the base model with the 210 horsepower turbocharged 2.0L engine. The model with the 306 horsepower 3.8L V6 starts at $25,000. The base model comes standard with a six-speed manual transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, Bluetooth, AM/FM/XM/MP3/CD audio system with six speakers, A/C, cruise control, power windows, mirrors and locks and Electronic Stability Control with Traction control, ABS, Electronic Brake Force Distribution and Brake Assist.

A 2.0T R-Spec model has just been unveiled with a starting price of $23,750 and comes with Brembo brakes, a stiffened suspension, a Torsen limited-slip differential and 19-inch alloy wheels with summer tires.

Hyundai has released an official sketch of the HED-6 Concept that will be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show next month.

The HED-6 was designed at Hyundai's European Design headquarters in Rüsselsheim, Germany and provides a new look for Hyundai's SUVs. The concept features a muscular design with its hexagonal grille, angular style lines and piercing back-swept front headlamps, with the bold look completed by 21-inch, mirror-polished alloy wheels.

The HED-6 is powered by a 175 horsepower 1.6-liter GDi turbocharged engine.

The sales numbers from last month have been released and they are not good. Nearly every major automaker was down in January compared to January 08'.

Chrysler lead the pact with a 55 percent drop last month. GM's sales were off by 49 percent and Ford declined 40 percent.

Japan's major automakers didn't escape the dismal auto sales with Toyota being down 32 percent, Nissan's sales were down 30 and Honda's were off by 28 percent.

The news wasn't bad for everyone though with Subaru posting an 8 percent increase, its second month in the row of sales increases. Hyundai also posted a 14 percent sales increase. Hyundai attributed its sales improvement to its new program which will take a owner's car back if they lose their job in the first 12 months of ownership.

"This program gets to the root cause of today's economic concerns — fear of job loss," Hyundai regional general manager Peter DiPersia said in a statement.

The Kia Soul'ster concept immediately recalls such fun "open-air" cars like the old Isuzu Amigo and Jeep Wrangler (although this concept could never hit the trail like a Jeep).

The Kia Soul'ster concept is based on the new Kia Soul, but with only two doors and a two-piece canvas roof. There are no frills in this concept either, which means no power windows and a manual gearbox.

Kia describes the concept as a “fun, affordable convertible for active people who like to share good times with friends.”

The concept is powered by either a 120 horsepower 1.6L or a 140 horsepower 2.0L engine. Fuel economy for both engines is estimated at 30 mpg.

The Kia Soul will be in dealerships this spring, it's not known if Kia is actually going to produce the Soul'ster. It could be just what Kia needs to make the brand more appealing to 20-somethings.

Consumer Reports has announced that the 2009 Hyundai Genesis has managed to take the top score in its list of upscale sedans.

The Genesis managed to beat out 4 other new sedans this year, the Pontiac G8, Acura TL, Nissan Maxima and Lincoln MKS in addition to just outscoring the Lexus ES350.

Consumer Reports had this to say about the V6-powered Genesis:

"Spacious and well appointed, the rear-wheel-drive Genesis offers good value and is a compelling alternative to luxury vehicles costing thousands more. "

More good news for Hyundai!

Hyundai has killed any speculation or rumors that a convertible version of the upcoming Genesis Coupe is in the works. Hyundai officially unveiled the Genesis Coupe last March and sales are expected to start this spring.

According to Miles Johnson, manager of product public relations, a Genesis Convertible was never in the works.

“It’s never been in the plan,” Johnson told Inside Line. “There was some internal discussion early on, but since we unveiled the coupe in New York, there’s been no talk.”

Johnson stated that the Genesis Coupe was never designed with a convertible in mind. Instead it was designed as a global car. In addition Koreans are not really into "the wind in your hair" and Hyundai doesn't have enough traction in the U.S. for a convertible.

He also stated that there are no plans for Hyundai convertibles in the future, although sources are saying otherwise. There are rumors that the use of retractable hardtops are in the works.

Hyundai has released two official sketches of its 2010 Equus sedan. The Equus is a large luxury sedan that is sold in South Korea, Europe, China and the Middle East.

The 2010 Equus is expected to be powered by either a 420 horsepower 5.0L Tau V8 or a 4.6L Tau V8. Both engines will put the power to the ground via the rear wheels. Hyundai's new eight-speed automatic transmission is also expected to be offered.

The next-generation Equus is expected to also feature a Lane Departure Warning System, Pre-Safety Seatbelt System, and LED-equipped headlights and taillights.

The 2010 Hyundai Equus is expected in South Korean dealerships next month. Don't expect it to hit U.S. shores anytime soon, since it could cannibalize Genesis sales.

Hyundai has announced that it is going to debut its the 2010 Genesis Coupe in two Super Bowl ads during the Super Bowl on February 1, 2009.

Both commercials share a common theme, "The Epic Lap." The first commercial will feature the Genesis Coupe being driven by Rhys Millen with background music provided by cellist Yo-Yo Ma. The second commercial will feature different driving footage and music.

The 2010 Genesis Coupe is powered by either a 210 horsepower turbocharged 2.0L engine or a 306 horsepower 3.8L V6. Both engines put the power to the ground via the rear wheels.

Ward’s Automotive Group has announced its 2009 10 Best Engines list.

The list is compiled by Ward's editors and 2009 is officially the 15th year of the Ward’s 10 Best Engines program.

This year the list of winners is very broad with hybrid engines as well as high output turbocharged engines receiving the award.

“A decade ago, few consumers in the U.S. paid serious attention to hybrids or diesels. This year, they have to, if they don’t want to be pinched the next time fuel hits $4 a gallon,” says Tom Murphy, executive editor of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.”The diesels from VW and BMW and the Ford Escape Hybrid all got better than 30 mpg (7.8 L/100 km) during our testing, and often they topped 40 mpg (5.8 L/100 km),” he says. “And the diesels meet the strictest emissions regulations in the world. If Americans want to find a vehicle that consumes less fuel and is fun to drive, our list is a great place to start.”

Last week it was reported that GM had suspended all talks with Chrysler about an apparent merger after the U.S. treasury denied GM's request for aid to buy Chrysler. Now it're being reported that Hyundai may be interested.

According to Reuters, Hyundai and Chrysler's owners, Cerberus Capital Management, have been in talks about Hyundai acquiring the Jeep brand. Both automakers have not released an official statement about the discussions.

Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) has unveiled an RMR-designed "Art of Speed" Hyundai Genesis Coupe at the SEMA show.

To create the coupe Hyundai delivered its first prototype Genesis Coupe 2.0T 12 weeks ago. RMR employees stripped the car to bare metal and then began creating new aftermarket parts and accessories for the new Genesis Coupe.

Inside all comfort and convenience items were removed to make way for a custom-fabricated eight-point safety cage and firewall. In addition a single Sparco racing seat was added for the driver.

On the outside Millen replaced hood, deck lid, roof, doors, fenders, front fascia and side skirts with lighter carbon fiber pieces. Under the hood the 2.0L turbocharged engine was enhanced with a Turbonetics turbocharger, waistgate and blow-off valve to provide more horsepower and torque.

Hyundai has partnered with Street Concepts to create a modified Genesis Coupe for the 2008 SEMA show in Las Vegas.

The Street Concepts Genesis Coupe will debut at the SEMA show on November 4, 2008 alongside other coupes designed by Rhys Millen and HKS.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has announced that the 2009 Kia Borrego SUV has earned their highest crash safety rating in front and side impacts.

Hyundai has been slightly behind its major competitors with no hybrids in its lineup, but that is soon going to change with a new Sonata hybrid. Hyundai is also going to unveil the Santa Fe Hybrid concept this month at the Paris Motor Show.

Hyundai is going to unveil the 2009 Hyundai i20 five-door hatchback at the Paris Motor Show this month.

Kia has officially taken the wraps off the all-new 2009 Kia Soul that is going to be officially unveiled in Paris next month.

Hyundai is recalling about 65,000 2008 Elantras to fix a problem with the fuel pump.

Hyundai's first rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, the Genesis has just received the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s five-star crash test rating, the highest possible.

Kia released more info and photos of the all-new 2009 Kia Forte (Spectra replacement) last week and now we have even more images thanks to a leaked brochure for the new car.

Kia has officially released the details of the all-new 2009 Kia Forte, which will eventually replace the Kia Spectra in the US.

Hyundai's first entry in the rear-wheel-drive luxury segment, the Genesis is just hitting dealerships. Next year Hyundai is also going to launch the Genesis coupe and together Hyundai is hoping to sell 50,000 units combined in the US.

Kia has released more images and info about the all-new Kia Soul that is going to have its world premiere at the Paris Motor Show on October 2nd.

Kia released an official teaser image of its all-new Forte last week and now the automaker has released the first official photos of the Spectra replacement.

Kia has released a single teaser image of the all-new 2009 Spectra aka the Kia Forte.

Hyundai has officially announced the pricing for its all-new 2009 Genesis sedan.

Kia is going to bring its new Soul small car to the US in early 2009 to go head to head with Scion.

Hyundai unveiled the all-new rear-wheel-drive Genesis coupe at the New York Auto Show last month. It was rumored that the new coupe would eventually replace the Tiburon in the lineup, although Hyundai execs eventually said it would not. Well John Krafcik, Vice President of product development for Hyundai recently told the Automotive News that the this is going to be the last year for the Tiburon.

Hyundai has issued a recall of 394,000 Sonatas model years 2006-2008 to check the front seat sensors.

Hyundai is going to unveil a revised 2009 Hyundai Elantra at the Beijing Auto Show later this month.

Hyundai took the wraps off of its Genesis luxury sedan this January at the Detroit Auto Show, but now Hyundai execs are stating that Europe will not get the new sedan.

Who knew that they were actually working on a fourth version of the Fast and Furious movie series, but it looks like they are and the all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe will have a starring role.

Kia has unveiled the KOUP Concept this morning at the New York Auto Show.

In addition to the KOUP Concept, Kia also used the show to unveil its redesigned 2009 Optima sedan.

Today Hyundai finally took the wraps of its all-new 2010 Genesis Coupe. There have been so many photo leaks of the car, but now we finally got to see the final car in person and we have all the specs.

Kia is going to bring three special versions of its upcoming SOUL to the Geneva Auto Show.

The restyled 2009 Hyundai Sonata was officially unveiled this week at the Chicago Auto Show. Hyundai has announced that it will start at $18,795 when it reaches dealerships later this month.

Hyundai has unveiled the refreshed 2009 Sonata that will be officially unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in a few days.

Hyundai has officially unveiled the 2009 Elantra Touring, which is also known as the Hyundai i30 in Europe.

Hyundai is going to officially unveil its new Genesis sedan next week at the Detroit Auto Show.

Well this was already rumored last month when the first photos of the unmasked RWD Genesis coupe surfaced, but now Hyundai has confirmed that the Genesis will be offered with a turbocharged 4-cylinder .

Hyundai has unveiled the Genesis emblem that will only be on the model that is sold in Korea and China. The US spec. Genesis will have the same Hyundai emblem as the rest of the lineup.

Photos of Kia's new 7-passenger Borrego SUV have shown up on the internet ahead of its official release at the Detroit Auto Show.

Hyundai's upcoming Genesis RWD sedan has been caught driving in Korea without any camouflage.

Hyundai unveiled the Concept Genesis Coupe at the LA Auto Show today.

The revised Hyundai Sonata has just gone on sale in Korea. For the new model year Hyundai has made very subtle changes to its Camry fighter.

Yesterday photos surfaced all over the internet of Hyundai's upcoming RWD coupe.

Hyundai's much anticipated RWD coupe has been caught at a recent market research event.

Kia has released a single image of its upcoming 7-passenger SUV.

Hyundai has released the first official photo renderings of the automaker's upcoming rear-wheel-drive coupe.

The upcoming Kia Mesa SUV has been caught with its rear camouflage falling off, thus exposing its rear end to the world.

Spy photos of Hyundai's new 380 horsepower flagship sedan, the Genesis have been circulating for months. Now we have the first photos of the interior of the RWD car that Hyundai hopes will move the automaker up market.

Hyundai has unveiled a new hydrogen powered crossover, the i-Blue that will be officially unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show this month.

According to the guys over at HyundaiExchange.com, the new flagship Genesis sedan is going to be powered by a 380HP V8. Hyundai's R&D boss, Hyun-Soon Lee provided the stats on the 4.6L V8 to a group of Korean executives.

Or Maybe not... According to BusinessWeek Volkswagen takes the award for having the most recalled 2007 models. VW recalled just over 1 million New Beetles because of faulty brake light switches.

We've seen several spy photos of Hyundai's new RWD Tiburon coupe in the past few months. Now we have an "official" photo rendering of the new coupe. The rendering looks very close to test mules that have been spotted, but it gives us a glimpse of what the front end may look like.

Spy photographers have caught the upcoming Kia Mesa SUV testing with the front-end exposed. What has been revealed is a very bland SUV that looks no better than any of the other body-on-frame SUVs in its class.

Hyundai is planning on bringing a production version of the 5-door in this sketch next year as a 2009 model. The new model will be named the Elantra Touring and will use the same 2.0L 4-cyl that is currently in the Elantra sedan.

Hyundai and Hyundai's sister company Kia have been setting their goals incredibly high by going after BMW, Lexus and Mercedes. Hyundai is going to go head to head with them with the new Genesis sedan and upcoming RWD coupe. Now Kia is looking at Audi with its new coupe concept.

Forbes has put together a list of the top 20 most dangerous vehicles on the road. The Buick Rendevous SUV/ Minivan topped their list as possibly the worst car to buy right now in terms of safety. Compared to other minivans the Rendevous is up to three times more likely to cause a fatality.

Hyundai's upcoming rear-wheel-drive coupe has been caught testing in Korea. Hyundai has many new vehicles in the works including the new rear-wheel-drive Genesis sedan and this upcoming coupe. These two vehicles alone will move Hyundai into new segments that the automaker has never been in before.

Spy photographers have caught a refreshed Hyundai Sonata during hot weather testing. The main changes to the car are the front and rear fascias. The restyled Hyundai Sonata is going to adopt many of the same design cues from the new Santa Fe, Veracruz SUV and the upcoming Genesis sedan.

TheCarBlogger has posted photos of what is believed to be a new body-on-frame full size SUV from Kia. The SUV shown here was spotted in South Korea and due to the fact that it looks almost production ready, we should see it in showrooms soon.

Lately it seems that hybrids get all the attention for being fuel-efficient, but there are a handful of non-hybrid cars that get close to the same levels as the hybrids. In the US this list is dominated by Honda, Toyota and Nissan. Only one European model made the list, the MINI. The big question is: Why aren't there any models from Ford, GM or Chrysler on this list?

Kia has announced that they are going to use "XR" to badge their upcoming performance models. Kia unveiled the Cee'd XR in South Korea last week. The five-door hatchback had larger wheels and various body refinements. Kia is still working on possible turbocharged engines for the Euro market and a supercharged engine for the U.S. market.

Hyundai has plans to become one of the top 5 automakers by the end of the decade. The automaker is planning on releasing a whole new line of V8 rear wheel drive vehicles and a new budget minded vehicle for emerging markets.

Spy Photographers have caught what appears to be Hyundai's new 2009 RWD Coupe in South Korea. It has been reported that the automaker plans on releasing numerous vehicles that will be built on the BH platform. That includes the new Genesis sedan, this coupe and a possible truck.

Edmunds.com has posted a list of the most wanted cars in 2007 based on reader feedback. Out of the 32 categories you may be surprised which automaker took home the most awards....

April's auto sales numbers have just been posted and almost every major automaker had a sales decrease last month. Even the Asian automakers that have been making headlines for their sales gains, took a hit.

Hyundai has announced plans to sell its new i30 wagon in the U.S. sometime in early 2008. The 2008 Hyundai Elantra Wagon will be positioned as a "sporty handling vehicle" according to Wayne Killen, director of product planning at Hyundai Motor America.

Kelly Blue Book has compiled their list of the top 10 coolest cars under $18,000. Today as the average car price is well into the $20,000's it is good to know that there are cheaper alternatives that are still cool to own.

Toyota's sales increased 9% last month compared to March 2006. This was largely driven by sales of the new Camry, the RAV4 and the Prius.

Recently Hyundai released photos of their upcoming rwd sedan, the Genesis concept car. This car is the automaker's first attempt at trying to sell a "premium" vehicle.

Only a few days before the actual unveiling, Hyundai's Genesis Concept pictures have been released. The concept will be officially unveiled at the New York Auto Show next month.

Hyundai has just announced that it intends on building a new engine plant in the U.S. at its sole production facility in Montgomery, Alabama. The addition will cost Hyundai $270 million and add 520 new jobs to the facility.

Hyundai is going to show reveal the Concept Genesis at the New York Auto Show in April. The sedan is bigger than anything in their current lineup and is rumored to offer V8 power and RWD.