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Hyundai readies Elantra LPI Hybrid for 2009 Korean launch
'Tis a shame we North Americans, Europeans, Australians, et al. won't be seeing the Elantra LPI Hybrid in 2009, but those in South Korea have a reason to celebrate. Hyundai is gearing up to launch the company's first LPG-electric hybrid vehicle next July, which also happens to be the planet's first hybrid vehicle to be "powered by liquid petroleum gas (LPG) and adopt advanced Lithium Polymer (Li–Poly) batteries." Said automobile will pack a 1.6-liter Liquefied Petroleum Injected (LPI) Gamma engine, a 15kW electric motor and a continuously variable transmission, and while the outfit isn't releasing hard mileage numbers just yet, the car should prove to be around 50% cheaper to operate than a gas-only Elantra (pictured). C'mon Hyundai, we know you've got plans to take this thing worldwide -- just let it out of the bag already.[Via FarEastGizmos, image courtesy of Autoblog]
Hyundai's W220S LCD: Google Earth, now in 3D!
Bust out the Aqua Net and tease-up your beehive because 3D is once again the rage. Hyundai just announced its W220S TriDef 3D LCD which packs the standard list of specs we expected in a 22-inch monitor: 1,680 x 1,050 WSXGA+ resolution, 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 300cd/m2 brightness and 5-ms response. Unfortunately the viewing angle is a mere 150-degrees up/down or 160-degrees side-to-side. Should you be bold enough to step into a pair of included polarized glasses then you'll also be treated to a suite of bundled 3D-apps including Google Earth 3D, a pair of 3D games, and TriDef media player for 3D video content. The W220S launches in Japan tomorrow for ¥98,000 (about $913). Pics of the face-specs after the break.
Microsoft's Sync tech to come to Hyundai and Kia, Ford asks "but what about us?"
Once thought to be the exclusive domain of Ford, Sync-like technology looks to be coming to Hyundai and Kia cars by 2010. While Microsoft and Hyundai aren't calling the technology Sync officially, the new "music and information system" will be a voice-controlled interface that links mobile devices to car stereos, complete with remote firmware updates. Sounds a lot like Sync to us. Interestingly, only later versions will include multimedia and navigation-related features. This is a curious omission -- why would Hyundai need Microsoft's help just to plug in some iPods? The product will be made official at a ceremony in Seoul attended by Bill Gates and Hyundai Kia Automotive Group Chairman Chung Moon-koo. Cocktail hour and family photos to follow immediately.
Dealership uses Wii to sell cars
Heck, we can't think of a smarter way to market your product. With the Wii being the hottest item on the planet, this is sure to bring some folks in, with the hopes that they'll hit some homers and knock the price of their car down.Of course, to take advantage of this offer, you first need to desire to drive around in a Nissan or Hyundai, since that's what kind of dealerships these are. And we're sure nobody ever paused to reflect on how great their life would be behind the wheel of an Accent. Unless you're a cafeteria worker at an elementary school or something.[Via Go Nintendo]
World's first 46-inch stereoscopic 3D TV from Hyundai on sale in Japan
3D baby, that's what we've wanted from home television for 50 years. Now it's yours... if you live in Japan anyway. Introducing the world's first 46-inch 3D stereoscopic television. Built by Hyundai, the 1,920 x 1,080 set is capable of grabbing BS11 3D broadcasts pumped by Nippon BS in Japan for the last few months. The ¥498,000 (about $4,857) LCD brings 2x HDMI and 3x composite inputs (to name a few) and apparently works fine for traditional 2D broadcasts. Unfortunately, you'll have to wear what appear to be 3-feet wide, 3D glasses judging by the image provided above. Perhaps they're meant as a radiation shield since the set is also the world's first TV with built-in "nuclear reactor" according to the machine translated text. Be careful out there kids, it's just television.[Via Impress]
Hyundai shows off W-100 watch phone
Remember that mysterious CECT cellphone watch we peeked back in July? Unless our eyes (badly) deceive us, that very piece has morphed into Hyundai's W-100, the latest watchphone in town. Reportedly, this device sports a 1.3-megapixel camera, a 176 x 144 resolution touchscreen, Bluetooth, support for English / Chinese languages, an integrated MP3 player and a microSD slot for loading up your tunes. Regrettably, no pricing or release information was readily available, but feel free to click on through for a couple more looks.[Via AkihabaraNews]
2009 Hyundai Elantra Touring to feature USB port
It's no secret that vehicles hoping to get Microsoft's Blue&Me system integrated in aren't scared of rocking a USB port, and while Hyundai hasn't stated whether or not the technology will indeed be a part of the 2009 Elantra Touring, the USB port will still be along for the ride. Deemed the first Hyundai to come equipped with such a connector, the vehicle will also come standard with an auxiliary jack and XM radio, which is apt to be called something a bit different by the time it's released. Nevertheless, it's refreshing to see such a nicety being added to a lower-end ride, and while we can only assume that it will enable MP3 playback, Hyundai's remaining mum on the details for now.[Via GetUSB]
Hyundai Mobis intros MDN7300 GPS / DMB device
Hyundai's Mobis subsidiary looks set to bust out yet another GPS/PMP/DMB device for the Korean market (which sure is lacking for such things), with its new MDN7300 model offering much of the usual fare in a nice enough package. That includes a 7-inch widescreen display (480x234), an Intel PXA 270 520MHz CPU, the de facto SiRF Star III GPS module, and an included 2GB SD memory card (presumably loaded with the usual compliment of maps). You'll also get a remote, a built-in FM transmitter to pump tunes through you car stereo, and a picture-in-picture feature for double the distraction while you're driving. No word on price, it seems, nor is there any indication of exactly when it'll be available.
Save some power with Hyundai's 46-inch 1080p LCD
Hyundai has announced a Korean 46-inch LCD with 1080p support that consumes 7% less power than a comparable LCD, and uses S-PVA technology for a wider 178-degree viewing angle. From scrutinizing the images at AVING it has a two pairs of HDMI and component connects. The Vuon E465D also supports the capability to use an image from the built-in USB port as a placeholder during the boot sequence, so you can replace the standard boot logo with whatever you like -- say, the Engadget logo?
Keepin' it real fake, part XXXVII: China car makers strike again
This isn't your daddy's China. After CMEC almost succeeded in building a total rip-off of a Smart Car (Autoblog china post)and then shipping it into Smart's own home turf (now CMEC claims it was unaware of how well it was duping Smart), Haunghai Automobile has managed do a fair bit of infringing on Hyundai's Santa Fe (pictured left) with its new SUV look-alike (right). The best part is the two cars recently shared a show floor at the Beijing Auto Show, where most industry insiders agreed that pretty much the whole front of the car is a replica of the Santa Fe. Oddly enough, the rest of the car apparently apes another Korean SUV: the Kia Sorento, but it's Hyundai Motor that is currently threatening legal action over the design theft. Apparently the Korean car giant will wait to see how its Santa Fe sales in China are effected by Haunghai's "homage" before it lays down a lawsuit -- though we can't believe its odds are good at doing anything but keeping this thing from being exported anywhere else; this is China we're talking about here. Update:check autoblog china's post in Beijing Auto Show 2006:Qisheng CUV.
Hyundai's S90D 19-inch LCD from outer space
We really haven't been surprised by an LCD monitor design in a while -- there are only so many ways you can slap that panel onto a stand and still have it pointed in the right direction -- but Hyundai's new S90D manages to look deliciously awkward. Hynundai has managed some pretty crazy specs as well, most notably a 1 ms response time. The 19-inch display also has a 1280 x 1024 resolution, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 300 nits of brightness and a DVI port, along with a plain ol' D-Sub plug. There are also some built-in speakers, and the display can handle VESA mounts if you ever get tired of the creepo E.T. look. No word on price or availability, but we're guessing this one won't venture far out of Korea.
