2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo: 274 HP, 34 MPG, No Manual

 

Hyundai used to be an automotive punchline, but with the new Hyundai Sonata Turbo dishing up a cracking 274HP and 269 lb-ft of torque and 34 MPG from a twin-scroll turbocharged 2.0-liter direct-injection four-cylinder we wonder: who's laughing now?

The 2011 Hyundai Sonata is striking a new pose in the hyper-competitive midsize family sedan market, abandoning the V6 in favor of an all inline-four-based lineup. The basic Sonata comes with a 200 HP 2.4-liter direct-injection four making 35 MPG, and the newly announced Sonata Hybrid uses a combo of a 2.4-liter 169 HP gas engine, 40 HP electric motor and lithium ion battery good for 37 MPG city/39 MPG highway (seems a bit disappointing), but the turbo model certainly spices things up.

The addition of a twin scroll turbo to a 2.0-liter direct-injection four pushes output to 274 HP with 269 lb-ft of torque while returning 22 MPG city/34 MPG highway— that's on regular 87 octane by the way (black magic). The Mazdaspeed3 makes 263 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque at 25 MPG if you want to put that in context. Somewhat sadly, a new six-speed automatic is the only available transmission, so dash those fantasies of a proper four-cylinder turbocharged family sport sedan.

Thanks go out to Ben, the author of this post, ben@jalopnik.com.

Scott Vruggink

Elhart Nissan
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$850 Million investment would create jobs

$850 Million investment would create jobs

2006 Volvo XC90 - Suggested Retail Value - Kelley Blue Book

Blue Book Suggested Retail Value

Kelley Blue Book Suggested Retail Value is representative of dealers' asking prices for a used car, and the starting point for negotiation between a consumer and a dealer. This Suggested Retail Value assumes that the vehicle has been fully reconditioned and has a clean title history, but has not been certified in accordance with any Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) program the automaker may offer (for which it may or may not qualify, according to factors such as vehicle age and mileage). This value also takes into account the dealers' profit, costs for advertising, sales commissions and other costs of doing business. The final sale price will likely be less depending on the vehicle's actual condition, popularity, type of warranty offered and local market conditions.

Vehicle Condition Ratings

www.carfax.com%2fcfm%2fgeneral_check.cfm%3fpartner%3dkbb_7%26price%3d30885%26year%3d2006%26make%3dVolvo%26model%3dXC90&transactionamount=0&SICustTransType=16056&jscript=0&x1=uchubrt&x2=">Check Vehicle Title History

Excellent

$30,885

• Looks new, is in excellent mechanical condition and needs no reconditioning.
• Never had any paint or body work and is free of rust.
• Clean title history and will pass a smog and safety inspection.
• Engine compartment is clean, with no fluid leaks and is free of any wear or visible defects.
• Complete and verifiable service records.

Less than 5% of all used vehicles fall into this category.

* California 08/07/2010

via kbb.com

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10 lessons start-ups can learn from 'Super Heroes'... thanks James A. Ziegler

http://bit.ly/9Ai7Vb

Scott Vruggink

Affordable Automotive
Elhart Nissan
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.ElhartImports.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com

Contact Me

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% PERCENTAGE % UP / More Sales in 2010 vs 2009

Ford F-Series Pickup

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +34.9

Chevrolet Silverado Pickup

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +8.5

Toyota Camry (Solara)

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +1.6

Honda Accord

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +14.6

Toyota Corolla

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +16.6

Honda Civic

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +9.9

Nissan Altima

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +20.1

Ford Fusion

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +39.3

Chevy Malibu

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +36.1

Ford Escape

Change % vs. YTD 2009: +36.7


Scott Vruggink

Affordable Automotive
Elhart Nissan
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.ElhartImports.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com

Contact Me

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What we spend a year on our cars

The average American spends 72 minutes per weekday in transit.  The average U.S. household spent $5,477 on gas and other auto expenses last year, according to Bundle data, an amount that accounts for about 14.5% of daily spending, not including mortgage or rent. That's more than we spent on groceries or utilities. And it's more than we spent on travel, entertainment, clothes and shoes, and hobbies -- combined. Connecticut household spent $7,652 on its automobiles in 2009, Detroit resident spent ($2,124). TOP US city,  Austin, Texas, the top-spending U.S. city, residents spent $10,128 on their cars.

Scott Vruggink

Affordable Automotive
Elhart Nissan
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.ElhartImports.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com

Contact Me

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Flying Car Slated For Sale Next Year

If cars had wings, they could fly – and that just might happen, beginning next year. The company Terrafugia, based in Woburn, Mass., says it plans to deliver its car-plane, the Transition, to customers by the end of 2011. It recently cleared a major hurdle when the Federal Aviation Administration granted a special weight limit exemption to the Transition.

"It's the next 'wow' vehicle," said Terrafugia vice president Richard Gersh. "Anybody can buy a Ferrari, but as we say, Ferraris don't fly."

The Transition is a long way from cartoon dad George Jetson's flying car zooming above traffic, or even the magical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.

"There is no launch button on the (instrument) panel," Gersh noted.

Rather, the car-plane has wings that unfold for flying – a process the company says takes one minute – and fold back up for driving. A runway is still required to takeoff and land.

The Transition is being marketed more as a plane that drives than a car that flies, although it is both. The company has been working with FAA to meet aircraft regulations, and with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to meet vehicle safety regulations

Scott Vruggink

Affordable Automotive
Elhart Nissan
616-581-9195
800-750-9008
www.ElhartImports.com
www.affordableautomotive.biz
scott@elhart.com

Contact Me

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