2013 Hyundai Santa Fe | Epic Playdate | Rebecca Woolf

Mommy blogger Rebecca Woolf introduces her kids to the joys of storytelling. Start your own story with the Hyundai Santa Fe at http://www.EpicPlaydate.com.

Hyundai NA CEO Krafcik awarded Automotive Executive of the Year

Hyundai North America CEO John Krafcik is this year's Automotive Executive of the Year. DNV Business Assurance presents the award each year, and this year, Robert Djurovic, executive director of the award program, said Krafcik won the nod because he "reshaped the way Hyundai approaches the market with consumer focus, compelling design and enduring value." While speaking at the award ceremony, Krafcik said that he was humbled by the recognition and that he accepted the accolade on behalf of Hyundai team members, dealers and suppliers.

Krafcik joined Hyundai in 2004 as the vice president of product development and took on duties as chief executive in 2008. Since then, the automaker has seen a flurry of new products and a substantial jump in market share. His efforts have also helmed Hyundai to two North American Car of the Year awards in 2009 and 2012 for the Genesis and Elantra, respectively. Krafcik also helped Hyundai navigate through the company's fuel economy debacle that began late last year, in which the automaker admitted it overstated the efficiency ratings of many of its automobiles.

The Automotive Executive of the Year Award has been recognizing industry leaders since 1964.

Courtesy of Autoblog

Maintenance Monday tip: check your tires!

Tires are one of the most overlooked parts of a car. According the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA), only one out of 10 drivers checks his or her tire pressure correctly, compared with almost seven out of 10 who wash their cars regularly. But the truth is that an under-inflated, over-inflated, worn down or misaligned tire can be extremely dangerous, particularly in hot summer weather.

Courtesy of How Stuff Works

Brilliant Dynamics

 
Experience the 'Brilliant Dynamics’ that create values that go above and beyond customer expectations. All the images in this video are made from internal Hyundai sites. Live brilliant.

Weekly “Maintenance Tip”: Check the Coolant and Radiator!

Cars are designed to run hot, but there's a limit to how hot they should run. A combustion engine is most efficient at around 200 degrees Fahrenheit. But if an engine is allowed to get too hot, moving metal parts can actually start to melt and fuse together, causing a variety of internal problems for your engine -- and, you guessed it, a hefty repair bill.
Courtesy of How Stuff Works

Hyundai Genesis and Veloster Recognized in Autopacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis and Veloster topped the Aspirational Luxury Car and Sporty Car categories respectively in the 2013 AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA). AutoPacific’s VSA survey measures how satisfied an owner is with his/her new vehicle.

AutoPacific’s VSAs objectively measure owner satisfaction with 51 vehicle attributes ranging from interior comfort and convenience to fuel economy and performance. This study by the Southern California-based automotive research firm summarizes the results of responses from over 52,000 new vehicle owners.

“Winning AutoPacific’s Vehicle Satisfaction Award confirms that the Hyundai Genesis has joined the big leagues,” said George Peterson, President, AutoPacific. “Out-pointing all other Aspirational Luxury Cars, Genesis has won this award four out of the last five years. This proves that Genesis is a smart buy for drivers wanting an excellent car at an excellent value.”

“The Hyundai Veloster is a sporty car with extremely aggressive styling that resonates with its buyers,” continued Peterson. “With an attractive price point and head-turning styling, Veloster tops the AutoPacific satisfaction ratings with its owners giving very positive reviews.”

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis features either 3.8-liter or 5.0-liter direct-injection engines, optional eight-inch Driver Information System (DIS) display and an ultimate navigation system with Blue Link® telematics. The 2013 Veloster features a three door design along with an all-new turbo model, with a new 1.6-liter, 201 horsepower, direct-injected twin-scroll turbocharged engine, aggressive bodykit and unique 18-inch alloy wheels.

“The AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are an important indicator that Hyundai is continuing to hit the mark when it comes to pleasing consumers,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We are pleased that both Genesis and Veloster owners rank their purchase decisions so highly – an excellent reflection on both of these class-leading vehicles.”

In addition, both the Genesis and Veloster come with advanced safety features and are equipped with Assurance Connected Care powered by the Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics platform. Assurance Connected Care is a suite of safety and car care features providing Hyundai owners with free proactive services including automatic collision notification, SOS emergency assistance, enhanced roadside assistance, monthly vehicle diagnostics reports and maintenance alerts.

Courtesy of Hyundai Newsroom

Apple and Hyundai Navigation Intergration

Apple users… How many of you are excited about the new iOS7? Starting next year, your navigation can duplicate your iPhone's screen. Ask Siri something and it will tell you through your navigation.

Exclusive Facebook Coupons!

Have you checked out our 'Special Offer' tab on our Facebook page? We have great savings waiting for you. Take a look here: http://on.fb.me/YUpV8g

Hyundai to Launch EV for U.S. Market

 Hyundai is finally giving in and developing a battery-electric vehicle (BEV) for the U.S.

There are absolutely no details about the upcoming BEV, such as features or when it will be available. But Hyundai CEO John Krafcik confirmed the company's intentions.

“Our primary zero-emission vehicle focus is fuel cell right now, but we will certainly field a BEV at some point,” Krafcik said.

Hyundai certainly is focusing on fuel cells at the moment, with its hydrogen-powered version of the ix35 finally for sale in Europe last week and a fuel-cell-powered Tucson crossover in the works. However, finding hydrogen isn't so easy, and that could be a big problem for consumers.

Another reason for Hyundai to consider BEVs is because of strict California rules. The state will require all major auto manufacturers to include some form of zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) among their vehicle options. Some automakers have already released vehicles that fit this description, such as Nissan's Leaf and Tesla's Model S.

Hyundai already offers a battery car in South Korea called BlueOn. It's powered by a 16.4-kilowatt/hour lithium polymer battery that has a range of just under 90 miles per charge. Its top speed is 80 MPH and can reach 0 to 60 MPH in 13.1 seconds.

Courtesy of Digital Trends

Road trip tip: Keep your credit card company in the loop!

Before leaving, call your credit card company and/or bank to let them know you'll be traveling. That way they'll be less likely to reject the charge when you coast into a gas station on fumes in the middle of nowhere, aching to refuel. This leads to another tip: Always carry cash in case of an emergency.

Courtesy of AOL

Thank You so Much for Four Amazing Google+ Local Reviews!

"We would recommend Paramount Hyundai of Hickory to all of our friends and family and will definitely be back in the future when it is time to look for another vehicle!" - Jarod

"I cannot say enough about their politeness, courtesy and consideration of me as a customer. " - Roy

"Knew his product, was professional, low-key, patient and put us in a new AZERA which we love." -  Pat

"Answered questions quickly." - James

Thank you for taking the time to leave us these reviews. We are delighted to hear that you all had such wonderful shopping experiences at Paramount Hyundai of Hickory. Click HERE to read all our amazing Google+ Local reviews. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with us at the dealership. 

2013 Hyundai Veloster | Dual Clutch Transmission

Performance and fuel efficiency come together with the Hyundai Veloster's Dual Clutch Transmission. Learn more at https://www.hyundaiusa.com/veloster/.

Thank You for Another Excellent Google+ Local Review!

"He was able to meet our expectations. We are very pleased with our new car." - Jose H.

Jose, thank you for taking the time to share your experience with us as well as your kind words. Please do not hesitate to let us know if there is anything else we may assist you with. Click HERE to read all our amazing Google+ Local reviews. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date with us at the dealership. 

Hyundai Motor America Sets All-Time May Sales Record With Fastest Daily-Selling Rate Ever

Hyundai Motor America today announced sales of 68,358 units, up two percent versus the same period in 2012 and up about eight percent over a very strong April. It was the company's second-best sales month of all-time, second only to March 2012, and the fastest daily-selling rate ever.

"May was a high-velocity sales month for us, with the post-Memorial Day frenzy leaving us well positioned for the summer selling season. An across-the-board strengthening of key economic indicators and our strong Assurance Connected Care message drove prospective customers to our showrooms in droves to check out the strongest lineup of cars and CUVs in our history," said Dave Zuchowski , executive vice president of national sales. "Our core products – Elantra, Sonata and Santa Fe – all performed exceptionally well. We're selling each of these three U.S-built products as fast as we can build them."  

Elantra sales at 25,090 units were up 33 percent over last May and up 30 percent year-to-date, representing the shift in U.S. production mix to meet surging Elantra demand. Sonata sales remain strong, with demand constrained only by production mix in Alabama. Both Elantra and Sonata are selling at sales velocities significantly higher than their competitors, with incentive levels and fleet mixes significantly lower than competitors. The all-new Santa Fe continues its capacity-constrained torrid selling rate, exceeding the 7,000 unit mark, up 21 percent on a year-to-date basis and in short supply across the country. Demand for the Equus, the industry's highest customer satisfaction model (according to J.D. Power's 2013 Customer Satisfaction Index) and Genesis models remains exceptionally strong, with inventory levels low as changeover to 2014 models is underway. This had a significant impact on Genesis and Equus sales in May. 

"Our plants continue to work at maximum capacity to meet record demand levels across our lineup," said John Krafcik , president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.  "Elantra and Sonata remain extremely hot sellers for us, with that duo exceeding 45,000 combined sales for the first time ever. Our new complimentary Assurance Connected Care telematics program is clearly resonating with customers, with record website traffic and signup activity for all of our telematics services. And our premium customers have a lot to look forward to as the updated 2014 Equus will be arriving in dealerships later this month, joining the high-performance Genesis for a strong one-two punch at the top of our lineup."

In mid-May, Hyundai announced Assurance Connected Care, an innovative suite of consumer-focused programs featuring unsurpassed connected-car solutions and enabling remote car control features.  Three years of Assurance Connected Care are now standard on all Blue Link-equipped vehicles.  

Fleet mix registered about 18 percent for the month, among the lowest in the industry. Certified Pre-Owned vehicle sales were 6,696, a May record, up 17 percent over May 2012. Hyundai continues to have one of the lowest fleet mixes and lowest incentive spending levels in the industry. These two factors, along with strong CPO sales, have driven Hyundai residual values to be among the very best in the industry according to ALG. 

Courtesy of PR Newswire

Maintenance Monday tip: Don't forget about your spare tire!

There's no point in having a spare if it's in worse condition than the rest. Make sure the spare is properly inflated and has ample tread depth.