William Maley

Auto Express had the chance to speak with Byung Kwon Rhim, Hyundai's global head of sales at the reveal of the 2019 Santa Fe last week. The topic of the N performance division came up and Auto Express asked if there are plans for expansion. "Tucson is under development, and other models will come after that,” Rhim said. We first heard about a fast Tucson last May when the head of N, Albert Biermann expressed interest in building one. "We started with the [i30] C segment and the Fastback [coupe] will follow and we are already working on some other concepts for the B segment [Accent] and SUV also. Right now we are open," said Biermann. Auto Express thinks the Tucson N could debut sometime in 2019. It may feature the 275 horsepower, 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder found under the hoods of the i30 N and upcoming Veloster N Source: Auto Express View full article

More and more automakers are beginning to turn away from diesel due to demand for the fuel dropping and the rising costs of making engines compliant. The latest automaker that could be leaving the diesel fraternity is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. The Financial Times has learned from sources that FCA plans on eliminating diesel engines from their passenger vehicles by 2022. This will be announced during the reveal of FCA's new four-year plan expected to take place on June 1st. FCA will continue to utilize diesel engines in commercial vehicles (including Ram Trucks), though it is unclear for how long. FCA declined to comment on this report when asked by Reuters. Source: Financial Times (Subscription Required), Reuters via Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article

During the press reveal of the Volvo V60 earlier this week, Volvo CEO Håkan Samuelsson and his colleagues took the time to answer some questions concerning the future of the Swedish brand. Road & Track jotted down some of the interesting bits from this. End of the road for Gas Engines Volvo made a surprising announcement last year with plans to electrify their entire lineup beginning in 2019. This includes mild-hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and electric vehicles. It seems this plan will also mark the end of development of gas engines. The current line of turbo and twin-charged engines represent the last new gas engines from the brand. Instead, Volvo will add more powerful electric motors to boost overall power. Down the road, Volvo hopes to follow Polestar by only offering pure EVs. Next-Gen SPA Platform to Lose Weight Volvo's current SPA modular platform isn't what you would call light. The V90 wagon can weigh as much as 4,561 pounds. The next-generation SPA platform, due out in 2021 will shed some weight. More Polestar Tuned Volvos Are Coming When Polestar was spun off to be its own brand, there were a number of people worried that it was end of the line for models like the S60/V60 Polestar. Not so according to Road & Track. A team of Polestar engineers will continue to operate in Sweden while the rest of the company sets up shop in China. They'll be tasked with making the next-generation Volvo models go fast and handle. No mention of when to expect new Polestar models or what they'll be based on. Other tidbits, The next-generation S60 sedan will begin rolling off the company's new Charleston, South Carolina assembly plant towards the end of this year. We're expecting to see Volvo debut the new model sometime before then, possibly the late summer or early fall. Volvo will also be conducting more design and R&D work in the U.S. This is partly due to the U.S. playing a crucial role in Volvo's future plans. The next-generation Sensus infotainment system, due in 2019, will be based on Google's Android smartphone OS. We hope this means a simpler user interface. Source: Road & Track View full article

While automakers are going crazy in terms planning new crossovers, Kia is showing some restraint. Speaking with Wards Auto, Orth Hedrick, vice president of product planning for Kia Motors America said the company doesn't see an opportunity to introduce an A-Segment crossover. “I don’t think we see an opportunity there. We have a lot of coverage in the marketplace now, and that is not a priority at this point. I think we would see more opportunity in C-segment (CUVs) then we would in A- or B-(segment models),” said Hedrick. Kia will also not join Hyundai with entering the pickup truck market. “It’s a big step to take and I think it’s a major commitment.” Hedrick points out that Nissan and Toyota have had issues in trying make a dent into the stronghold of large pickups by Ford, GM, and Ram. "It’s a fierce battle. You have to go into it eyes wide open,” said Hedrick. One interesting tidbit from Ward Auto's piece is that Kia is considering doing something similar to Hyundai's N performance sub-brand. Source: Wards Auto View full article

BMW has announced today that it has signed a “letter of intent” with Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor on producing electric-versions of the Mini in China. The German automaker in a statement said the next steps will be agreeing on the details of a possible joint venture and clarifying various aspects such as a location for production. The two have been in talks for almost the past two years - Great Wall confirmed the talks back in October. It is expected that the electric Mini will be similar to the concept that debuted last year at the Frankfurt Motor show. BMW also confirmed that production of the electric Mini will also take place at their Oxford, Great Britain plant starting next year. Source: Reuters via Automotive News (Subscmiription Required), BMW Press Release is on Page 2 BMW Group plans joint venture for MINI electric vehicles in China MINI brand set for growth with local partner No plans for additional sales organisation in China Expansion of BMW Brilliance Automotive joint venture Munich. The BMW Group is in advanced discussions to ramp up the global success of its MINI brand through a new joint venture in China. A key element of the brand’s continued strategic development will be local production of future battery-electric MINI vehicles in the world’s largest market for electromobility. To this end, the BMW Group has signed a “letter of intent” with the Chinese manufacturer Great Wall Motor. In addition to production of the first battery electric MINI at the main plant in Oxford starting in 2019, this signals a further clear commitment to the electrified future of the MINI brand. Next steps will be to agree on the details of a possible joint venture and cooperation agreement and clarify aspects such as the choice of production location and concrete investments. The BMW Group has no plans to set up an additional sales organisation in China. The company is firmly committed to continuing the successful cooperation with the established sales structure. Independently of its strategic considerations towards the MINI brand, the BMW Group will further expand its highly successful BMW Brilliance Automotive (BBA) joint venture in China with its partner, Brilliance. In addition to its two automobile production locations, BBA already runs an engine plant, which includes a battery factory for electrified BMW brand vehicles produced locally in Shenyang. This is the first battery factory operated by a premium automobile manufacturer in China. In recent years, BBA has become a cornerstone of the BMW brand’s success in its largest market and serves as a model for the continued development of MINI in China. Around 560,000 BMW brand vehicles were delivered to customers in China in 2017 – more than in the next two largest markets, the US and Germany, combined. In 2017, China was MINI’s fourth-largest market, with around 35,000 units delivered. This underlines the brand’s additional global potential. The successful strategy for expansion of the BMW Group’s global production network obeys a clear rule: Production follows the market. However, expansion of the BMW brand in its largest markets, such as China, has not led to a decrease in production at the company’s German plants. On the contrary, between 2007 and 2017, production in Germany increased by close to a quarter to around 1.15 million vehicles per year. At the same time, almost half of all BMW production now takes place at plants outside Germany. A similar growth strategy could accelerate development of the MINI brand significantly without questioning the BMW Group’s commitment in the UK. The company has made significant investments over the years to step up its involvement in the country. View full article

Cadillac's infotainment system has been the bane of automotive writers and owners. CUE has been described as being difficult annoying to use, part of this due to the touch-sensitive 'buttons' which doesn't always recognized when pressed. But it seems Cadillac is going back to basics in terms of their infotainment system. Spy photos of the upcoming XT4's interior have made their way onto various sites today. Underneath the infotainment screen, there are rows of physical buttons for the climate control and various safety functions. We can also make out a controller behind the transmission, which may provide another method of controlling the infotainment system. Other details that can be made out include stitching around the touchscreen and paddle shifters behind the wheel. We're expecting to see Cadillac unveil the XT4 next month at the New York Auto Show. Source: Autoblog, Motor1 View full article

Just a day after Ford's former North America president, Raj Nair left due to 'inappropriate behavior”, the company has announced his replacement. Kumar Galhotra, the head of Lincoln since 2014 and Ford's chief marketing officer has been named as the new North American president effective March 1st. “Kumar is an incredibly talented executive with a special feel for product and brand. He is also a seasoned leader who knows how to drive a business transformation. Kumar is the right person to lead our North American business to new levels of operational fitness, product and brand excellence, and profitability,” said Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president and president, Global Markets in a statement. Succeeding Galhotra in the roles of Ford's chief marketing officer and head of Lincoln will be Joy Falotico. She is currently the CEO and chairman of Ford Credit. Ford also made some additional appointments today, David McClelland will take over as CEO of Ford Credit. McClelland was most recently the executive vice president for Asia Pacific and Marketing. Stuart Rowley will become the COO of North America. Previously, Rowley was Ford's vice president of strategy, John Lawler will succeed Rowley as the vice president of strategy. He was recently the company's corporate controller Cathy O'Callaghan will succeed Lawler as Ford's corporate controller. Source: Ford Press Release is on Page 2 Ford Appoints Senior Leaders; Galhotra To Lead North America, Falotico To Head Lincoln, Marketing; McClelland To Lead Ford Credit Kumar Galhotra named group vice president and president, Ford North America Joy Falotico named group vice president, Lincoln and Chief Marketing Officer David McClelland named vice president of Ford and CEO of Ford Motor Credit Company Stuart Rowley named vice president and chief operating officer, Ford North America John Lawler named vice president, Strategy, Ford Motor Company Cathy O’Callaghan named vice president and corporate controller, and CFO, Global Markets DEARBORN, Mich., Feb. 22, 2018 – Ford Motor Company today announced key changes to its senior management team as it continues to strengthen its automotive business, improve the company’s operational fitness, and accelerate a strategic shift to capitalize on emerging opportunities. In announcing the leadership changes, Ford President and CEO Jim Hackett said Ford is “very fortunate to have an experienced and committed executive team in place driving every day to significantly strengthen our business while building toward our vision of becoming the world’s most trusted mobility company, designing smart vehicles for a smart world.” Kumar Galhotra, 52, is appointed group vice president and president, Ford North America, effective March 1. Galholtra will be responsible for leading all aspects of Ford’s North American business. He will report to Jim Farley, Ford executive vice president and president, Global Markets. Galhotra, a 29-year veteran of the company, has served in a variety of senior-level engineering and product strategy positions around the world. In addition, since 2014, he has led Lincoln Motor Company, revitalizing the luxury brand’s model lineup and developing a world-class customer experience. He also has been serving as the company’s chief marketing officer since last year. “Kumar is an incredibly talented executive with a special feel for product and brand. He is also a seasoned leader who knows how to drive a business transformation,” Farley said. “Kumar is the right person to lead our North American business to new levels of operational fitness, product and brand excellence, and profitability.” Reporting to Galhotra will be Stuart Rowley, 50, who is named vice president and chief operating officer, Ford North America, effective March 1. Rowley, who was previously vice president, Strategy, Ford Motor Company, will be responsible for driving the redesign of the North American business to improve its overall fitness. Joy Falotico, 50, is named group vice president, Lincoln Motor Company and chief marketing officer, succeeding Galhotra. Her appointment is effective March 1. In this role, Falotico reports to Farley and is responsible for leading the continued evolution of Lincoln as a world-class luxury brand. She oversees all Lincoln operations globally, including product development; marketing, sales and service; and all team members supporting the brand. She will also lead the company’s Marketing function and efforts to connect more closely with customers by identifying new opportunities to serve them. Falotico will remain chairman of the Ford Motor Credit Company board of directors. Since October 2016, Falotico has been group vice president and chairman and CEO, Ford Motor Credit Company, a leading global automotive financial services company with $151 billion in receivables and Ford’s second-largest profit contributor. In 29 years at Ford Credit, she has served in a number of executive positions around the world, including leading Marketing and Sales, working side-by-side with Ford to support sales and dealer success, and strengthening consumer and dealer service. “Joy has been a driving force behind not only Ford Credit’s consistently strong financial performance but also its business model innovation and transition to a digital customer platform,” Farley said. “She brings marketing experience and a deep customer focus as Ford enters a very busy new product launch period to drive growth in revenue and profitability.” Succeeding Falotico is David McClelland, who is named vice president of Ford Motor Company and CEO, Ford Credit. A 25-year veteran of Ford Credit, McClelland, 48, has served in a variety of leadership positions, including most recently as executive vice president, Marketing and Asia Pacific. McClelland has been instrumental in Ford Credit’s growth in China, as well as Ford Credit’s move into new fintech and mobility initiatives, such the Canvas vehicle subscription service and online financing. His appointment is effective March 1 and he will report to Bob Shanks, executive vice president and chief financial officer. John Lawler is appointed vice president, Strategy, succeeding Rowley. Lawler, 51, who joined Ford in 1990, brings a deep background in finance and general management into the strategy role, including his current position as Ford’s corporate controller. Lawler also previously served as chairman and CEO, Ford China. He will report to Shanks in the new role effective March 1. Lawler will support Hackett in advancing the global initiatives underway to dramatically improve Ford’s operational fitness. He also will help lead the company’s execution of strategic choices that define where Ford allocates capital in the future to win and grow. Cathy O’Callaghan, 49, is named vice president and corporate controller, and CFO, Global Markets, succeeding Lawler. O’Callaghan, who joined Ford in 1990, brings a wealth of finance experience having held several senior level positions globally. She is currently chief financial officer, Ford South America. O’Callaghan will report to Shanks in her role as corporate controller and Farley in her role as CFO, Global Markets. Her appointment is effective June 1 and her replacement will be the subject of a future announcement. View full article

Hyundai has finally released more details on the next-generation 2019 Santa Fe crossover. Like the current-generation Santa Fe, Hyundai will offer two variants. The standard Santa Fe will offer seating for up to five people, while a larger Santa Fe XL will likely carry up to seven. Hyundai is making the new Santa Fe look more SUV-like than crossover. It features a boxy shape with muscular lines. Overall length measures out to 187.8 inches, up 2.8-inches over the Santa Fe Sport. The interior looks quite handsome with an updated dash design, optional leather upholstery, a large screen for the instrument cluster, and a seven-inch infotainment system. Three engines will be on offer for the Santa Fe, including a 2.2L turbodiesel. 2.4L four-cylinder: 185 horsepower Turbocharged 2.0L four-cylinder: 232 horsepower Turbodiesel 2.2L four-cylinder: 200 horsepower, 320 pound-feet of torque. All engines will come paired with an eight-speed automatic, and the choice of front- or all-wheel drive. Interestingly, the turbodiesel will have three-row seating - though we would hate to put anyone back there. There will be a wide range of active safety features available on the Santa Fe including blind-spot monitoring, high beam assist, adaptive cruise control, a backup camera, rear seat alert, and safe exit assist. The 2019 Santa Fe will arrive at Hyundai dealers this summer. Source: Hyundai Press Release is on Page 2 Hyundai Celebrates World Debut of the All-New 2019 Santa Fe Bolder design language for Hyundai’s best-selling SUV in the United States New safety, comfort and convenience technologies Increased visibility, cabin and storage space Introduces diesel engine option Santa Fe Sport name dropped SEOUL, Feb. 21, 2018 – Hyundai Motor today celebrated the world premiere of the fourth-generation Santa Fe at its Motorstudio Goyang. As the best-selling SUV in the brand’s 32-year history in America—with sales of more than 1.5 million units—the Santa Fe represents Hyundai’s strong SUV heritage and continues its success story. Going on sale in the U.S. in the summer of 2018, the fourth generation 2019 model builds on this success using its family-oriented interior, loaded with practical cutting edge technologies and bold exterior looks. The third and fourth of eight new or re-engineered crossover utility vehicles (CUVs) Hyundai is debuting by 2020, the 2019 Santa Fe and Santa Fe diesel are bold SUVs that build on previous generations with outstanding driving dynamics and features aimed at technology and comfort. Naming The five-passenger Santa Fe Sport will now be called Santa Fe. The current long wheelbase three-row, seven-passenger model called Santa Fe will be renamed Santa Fe XL for the 2019 model year. An all-new three-row, eight-passenger SUV is currently under development with an all-new name. The diesel version of the 2019 Santa Fe will also get an occasional-use third-row seat with one-touch folding second-row seats for easy entry into the third-row by children. The third-row seat will only be available on the Santa Fe diesel. A Bold New Look The face of the new Santa Fe is highlighted by Hyundai’s signature Cascading Grille and a Composite Light design comprising LED Daytime Running Lights positioned on top of the LED headlights. The exterior design is characterized by a powerful wide stance and an athletic, bold look that makes a statement from 100 feet away, featuring refined lines that reinforce the car’s status in Hyundai’s SUV lineup. In profile the Santa Fe’s dynamic character line goes all the way from the headlights to the taillights, while a larger daylight opening (DLO) with a satin surround provides better visibility and a sleek impression. Featured diamond-cut 19-inch wheels illustrate strength, as does the car’s rear appearance, now featuring a muscular high and taut shape. Interior Design: Graceful Surfaces Embrace Strong Structure The Santa Fe interior design combines premium quality with a horizontal and roomy layout and enhanced visibility. The instrument panel has a three-dimensional appearance providing a feeling of openness and enhances the natural light created by the larger DLO. Stitching around the IP and color-contrasted seat piping ensures a high level of luxury within the cabin. The driver will also see several improvements including: The audio/visual/navigation system screen has been tilted and positioned to reduce glare The window switches and grab handles have been moved forward for more elbow room The door map pockets have been reduced in size for more legroom. Cup holders in the center console have been repositioned for ease of use and the height and length of the center armrest has also been increased Comfortable Ride, Steering Feel and Stable Handling Improved ride comfort, handling and stability are achieved through key developments in the suspension geometry of the 2019 Santa Fe. The biggest change sees the rear shock moved upright from an angled position, improving the ride and handling no matter the driving conditions. An optional self-load-leveling suspension provides the Santa Fe with a continuous ride height regardless of cargo or trailer tongue weight. This allows Hyundai engineers to tune the rear suspension for comfort and avoid making it too firm for occasional trailer use. Smart Sense Technologies Hyundai Smart Sense technologies are now standard on Santa Fe SE trims and higher. Below are the key features: Category Acronym Feature Visibility HBA High Beam Assist Collision FCA Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist BCW Blind-Spot Collision Warning SEA Safe Exit Assist LKA Lane Keeping Assist Driver DAW Driver Attention Warning Driving Convenience SCC with Stop & Go Smart Cruise Control with Stop & Go Parking Safety RVM with PG Rear View Monitor with Parking Guidance and tailgate safe-open guide and high definition camera AVM Around View Monitor RCCA Rear Cross-Traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist PDW Parking Distance Warning Reverse Safety Features Hyundai’s Rear Cross-Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist (RCCW) puts eyes and legs in the back of drivers’ heads. Using the Blind Spot Detection system’s radar sensors when backing up the system not only can warn the driver if vehicles approach from the side – it also applies the brakes automatically. Additional safety features include Rear Seat Occupant Alert, which Hyundai is debuting with the Santa Fe. The system monitors the rear seats using an ultrasonic sensor that helps to detect the movements of children and pets. The system first reminds drivers to check the rear seats when exiting the vehicle with a message on the center instrument cluster display. If the system detects movement in the rear seats after the driver leaves the vehicle it will honk the horn, flash the lights and send a Blue Link alert to the driver’s smartphone via Hyundai’s Blue Link connected car system. In addition to being forgotten in the car, tragedies have also occurred in cases where children accidentally locked themselves in a car. The 2019 Santa Fe also gets Hyundai’s first Safe Exit Assist. This feature temporarily prevents doors from being opened when a motorcycle, bicycle or vehicle approaches from behind even when the doors are unlocked. Safe Exit Assist works even if the driver has used the button to turn off the child lock feature. When the Safe Exit Assist detects an approaching object rearward it sounds an alert for passengers, a warning pops up on the driver’s center cluster and most importantly the doors remained locked. Interior Space and Visibility Interior cabin space has been enhanced on the 2019 Santa Fe. Inside, there is now more room behind the second-row seats, when second-row seats are folded and the leg room has been lengthened to be best-in-class. The H-point for the second-row seats has been moved back and the floor has been lowered for even more comfort. Engineers also have incorporated one-touch folding second-row seats. Volume Comparisons (Cubic Feet) 2018 Santa Fe Sport 2019 Santa Fe 2018 Tucson Passenger Volume 108.0 110.7 (2-row) 139.1 (3-row) 102.2 Total Interior Volume 143.4 147.3 (2-row) 150.7 (3-row) 133.2 Cargo – Behind FR seats 71.5 71.3 (2-row) 70.7 (3-row) 61.9 Cargo – Behind 2nd row 35.4 36.6 (2-row) 35.9 (3-row) 31.0 Cargo – Behind 3rd row - 11.6 - Head Room 39.6 / 39.1 / - 40.0 / 39.2 / 36.1 39.6 / 39.2 Leg Room (7P) 41.3 / 39.4 / - 44.1 / 40.4 (39.4) / 29.4 41.5 / 38.2 Shoulder Room 59.4 / 58.3 / - 59.1 / 58.3 / 52.9 57.1 / 55.5 Hip Room 56.7 / 55.4 / - 57.5 / 56.3 / 61.7 55.6 / 54.5 Exterior Dimensions Its exterior dimensions make the new Santa Fe appear even more prominent. With a length of 187 inches, a width of 74 inches and a longer wheelbase, it also provides more comfort for passengers than the outgoing 2018 Santa Fe Sport. (Inches) 2018 Santa Fe Sport 2019 Santa Fe 2018 Tucson Length 185.0 187.8 176.2 Width 74.0 74.4 72.8 Height (w/ side rails) 66.1 (66.5) 66.1 (67.1) 64.8 (65.0) Wheelbase 106.3 108.9 105.1 Visibility was also emphasized with the next generation Santa Fe. To help the driver, the outside mirrors are mounted lower and further rearward and the A-pillars have been reduced in size. For the driver and rear seat passengers alike, the rear quarter glass has been increased by more than 40 percent. Powertrains The 2019 Santa Fe line-up offers a choice of three proven powertrains. There is a 2.4-liter inline four-cylinder GDI engine with an estimated 185 horsepower or a more powerful, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 232 horsepower (estimated). And the 2.2-liter CRDi turbodiesel engine is the 2019 Santa Fe’s biggest surprise, with around 200 horsepower at 3,000 rpm and 320 lb. ft. of torque at 1,750 rpm (estimated). All engines are mated to a brand new eight-speed automatic transmission. New Eight-Speed Automatic Transmission The newly developed transmission provides quick and crisp shifts for a more engaging and efficient driving experience via the available column-mounted paddles. Despite having two extra gears, the eight-speed transmission, which was designed in-house, is lighter than the outgoing six-speed model. The automatic transmission adds ratio range at both the top and bottom of output speeds allowing for extra thrust off-the-line and a quieter, more fuel-efficient dash down the interstate. A direct control valve body and a multi-plate torque converter improve responsiveness while a double ball bearing minimizes friction loss. All the changes added up means that Santa Fe’s new transmission will improve economy by more than three percent. HTRAC Advanced AWD System The 2019 Santa Fe has Hyundai’s HTRAC® All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) system. The HTRAC AWD system was developed as a multi-mode system, providing an electronic, variable-torque-split clutch with active torque control between the front and rear axles. The driver-selectable HTRAC Normal, Sport and Smart modes help provide confident control in all-weather conditions. The Sport setting gives a more agile feel by sending more available torque to the rear wheels, for a sporty dynamic feel when desired. This system has a wider range of torque distribution variability than many competitive systems and has been tuned to variable conditions such as straight-line acceleration, medium- and high-speed cornering, and hill starts. Infotainment and Sound Systems The 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe is loaded with technology, including Hyundai’s latest AVN 5.0 navigation system with Android Auto™ and Apple CarPlay™ offered with higher level trims. The base level trim gets a standard 7-inch user interface, also equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. And to eliminate the need for a charging cord, there’s an available Qi wireless charging pad for compatible Android devices, as well as Apple iPhone 8 and iPhone X. When it comes to audio technology, the available premium sound system is well-suited to the Santa Fe’s upscale interior. The 630-watt, 12-speaker new Infinity branded stereo system with an 11-channel amplifier features Clari-Fi technology and QuantumLogic™ Surround Sound technology. Clari–Fi works in real-time to rebuild audio details lost in digitally compressed music, while QuantumLogic™ extracts signals from the original recording and redistributes them into an authentic, multidimensional soundstage for playback that is clear, refined and full of detail. The result is a more robust and enjoyable on-road listening experience. Smart Speed-Dependent Volume Control provides the capability to control the gain of individual channels based upon the vehicle’s speed and the system’s volume setting. The gain will change proportionally to the vehicle’s speed to overcome associated noise masking effects of the vehicle and thereby reducing the need to adjust the volume while driving. Additionally, the volume setting will taper the gain applied as the volume setting increases. This avoids the unnatural condition of having additional gain applied when the volume output of the system is so high that it exceeds any of the vehicle generated road noise. BLUE LINK® Connected Car System Santa Fe Blue Link-equipped models include three years of complimentary Blue Link services, with enhanced safety, diagnostic, remote and voice guidance services. Blue Link brings connectivity directly into the car with technologies like Remote Start with Climate Control, Remote Door Lock/Unlock, Car Finder, Enhanced Roadside Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Recovery. Blue Link features can be accessed via buttons on the rearview mirror, the MyHyundai.com web portal, the MyHyundai with Blue Link smartphone app, the Amazon® Alexa Blue Link skill and the Blue Link Google Assistant app. Some features can also be controlled via Android Wear™ and Apple Watch™ smartwatch apps. The latest release of the Blue Link smartphone app includes: Widgets for easy access to remote features Ability to send Point-of-Interest data to vehicle navigation system (if so equipped) Access to Blue Link notification settings Heads-Up Display (HUD) Taking inspiration from aircraft technology, an available Heads-Up Display (HUD) projects an 8.5-inch virtual image onto the windshield, enabling the driver to keep his or her eyes on the road using a system of mirrors combined with a TFT LCD display. The system features adjustable brightness to ensure both excellent daytime and nighttime visibility. Driving information such as speed, Smart Cruise Control status, navigation, Blind Spot Collision Warning, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist, speed limit, Lane Departure Warning and audio system data is projected at a perceived virtual distance approximately seven feet ahead of the driver for maximum legibility while driving. View full article