Hyundai’s popular Sonata midsize sedan has received a handful of revisions as part of a mid-cycle update for the 2014 model year, even though an all-new model is likely just a year or two away.

Introduced for the 2011 model year, the Sonata made waves in its segment by providing a high level of equipment with a more evocative look. That style returns for 2014, albeit with a new grille design, LED tail lamps, available HID headlamps and revised 17 and 18 inch wheel designs. Those wheels, by the way, were designed specifically to transmit less road rumble into the cabin.

In addition, Hyundai says it has added foam into the A-pillars and B-pillars, as well as upgraded the car’s carpeting, moves that should reduce noise levels even further.

Underneath, the Sonata gains an additional dynamic damper designed to boost the car’s NVH refinement, while a driver selectable steering system will let operators choose between three levels of resistance for the car’s electronic power steering.

For the most part, the Sonata’s 2.4-liter naturally-aspirated four-cylinder and 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine choices carry over unchanged. SE models equipped with the automaker’s turbo mill gain a sport-tuned exhaust system. 

Although the Sonata’s interior retains its general look and feel, the automaker upgraded SE and Limited models with features like a full-leather steering wheel (replacing a urethane/leather unit), a color audio screen with rearview camera integration and a color LCD screen in the gauge cluster. Limited models go further with a newly standard driver’s seat ventilation system. SEs, on the other hand, add a carbon fiber-style interior trim. 

On the tech front, a blind spot detection system is newly optional on SEs and standard on Limiteds. All models gain a tire-specific tire pressure monitor system and a Vehicle Stability Monitor that works with stability control and the electric power steering unit to improve handling in adverse conditions. 

Despite all the changes, Hyundai says that prices increase only $155 on the base model Sonata GLS, which now starts at $21,350 plus a mandatory $795 destination charge. Opting for a fully-loaded Sonata Limited 2.0T boosts that figure to $32,445. <![CDATA[
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1{
color: #000000;
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
font-size: 15px;
line-height: 1.333em;
margin-bottom: 16px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1 ul li
{
list-style:disc !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
div.post-content1 ol li
{
list-style-type: decimal !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;

}
#editorial_graph ul li
{
list-style:none !important;
margin-left:0px;
}
]]>

Gesture-based controls have already arrived on our smartphones, and now tech giant Google is hoping to bring that kind of technology into the interiors of our cars.

A recent patent unearthed by Engadget has revealed Google’s plans for an in-vehicle gesture recognition system. No, not the kind of gesture that you might give to that car that just cut you off, but rather gesture controls that would work with a car’s electronics.

For example, Google’s proposed system – which would rely on a high-mounted camera and a laser scanner – would allow the drive to roll up or down the vehicle’s windows with a hand swipe. The gesture-based system would also control heating and ventilation controls, windshield wipers, cruise control and radio functions.

It remains to be seen if Google has any actually plans to bring gesture controls to the automotive world, but the company recently acquired a gesture control startup firm, indicating there could be some purpose behind the patent filing. Given the struggles of touch-based infotainments systems like Ford’s MyTouch and General Motors’ CUE, Google would be wise to fully perfect the system before releasing it to the masses, however.

 <![CDATA[
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1{
color: #000000;
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
font-size: 15px;
line-height: 1.333em;
margin-bottom: 16px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1 ul li
{
list-style:disc !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
div.post-content1 ol li
{
list-style-type: decimal !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;

}
#editorial_graph ul li
{
list-style:none !important;
margin-left:0px;
}
]]>

Fiat dealers are starting to feel the strain as the Italian brand continues to struggle to find a foothold in the United States market. Fiat recently doubled its lineup from just one vehicle to two, but dealers are starting to lose their patience with the slow-selling brand.

Demand for Fiat vehicles was inching upward this year, but a 24 percent decline in September erased any forward progress for the year. Many dealers are now starting to question Chrysler’s loyalty to Fiat and the brand’s future in the U.S. Moving forward.

“I think most dealers have been disappointed in the performance of their Fiat dealerships,” said Alan Haig, president of automotive services for Presidio Group

A dealer contacted by Automotive News concurred that sentiment.

“It’s sad to say, but it’s become a stepchild. Chrysler doesn’t want to hear that, but that’s the reality,” the dealer, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

Making matters worse, just 45 percent of Fiat dealers are profitable at this point. Moreover, most of Fiat’s money-making franchises are tied with other Chrysler dealerships, meaning many more might be losing money if they weren’t linked to other storefronts.

Fiat dealers will have to make the best of a two product lineup – which includes the 500 city car and the larger 500L – for the foreseeable future. Fiat says a new model that will help dealers “take the next step” is in the works, but that vehicle isn’t scheduled to arrive until 2015.

Photo by Mark Elias.<![CDATA[
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1{
color: #000000;
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
font-size: 15px;
line-height: 1.333em;
margin-bottom: 16px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1 ul li
{
list-style:disc !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
div.post-content1 ol li
{
list-style-type: decimal !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;

}
#editorial_graph ul li
{
list-style:none !important;
margin-left:0px;
}
]]>

Chevrolet’s all-new 2014 Corvette Stingray will remain in short supply through at least the early part of next year as demand for the sports car continues to outstrip supply.

Chevy is now cranking out about 160 units of the Corvette Stingray per day at its Bowling Green, Kentucky, production facility, but even at that clip the automaker won’t be able to stock dealer showrooms until at least next spring. The Bowling Green plant is currently running on just one shift, but Chevy will hold off on adding a second to meet demand.

“We’ve seen this again and again. You bring out a new Corvette and the demand is sky-high at the beginning, and then it tapers off,” Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter told Automotive News. “It’s not worth making that investment [of a second shift], even though for awhile we make a lot more money getting those cars out there.”

At the factory’s current production rate, Chevy will build 30,000 units of the 2014 Corvette during its first year. In comparison, Chevrolet built 14,960 Corvettes in 2012.

General Motors hasn’t commented on Corvette orders, but some say the company has at least six months worth of orders in hand. GM will soon add Corvette Convertible production to the mix in Kentucky, which could initially slow the manufacturing process and extend customer waiting periods. 

GM invested $131 million into the Bowling Green plant to ready it for C7 Corvette production.

 <![CDATA[
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1{
color: #000000;
font-family: Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;
font-size: 15px;
line-height: 1.333em;
margin-bottom: 16px;
margin-top: 10px;
}
/* @Himanshu 09-01-2013 New code to work with br tag, p tag and /n */
div.post-content1 ul li
{
list-style:disc !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;
}
div.post-content1 ol li
{
list-style-type: decimal !important;
margin-left:20px;
color:#000000;

}
#editorial_graph ul li
{
list-style:none !important;
margin-left:0px;
}
]]>