2011 Hyundai Equus vs 2011 Bentley Mulsanne

Source:  Motor Trend

HYUNDAI ACHIEVES TOP BRAND VALUE GROWTH IN AUTO INDUSTRY

• Hyundai rises four notches to No. 65 in the Best Global Brands 2010 by Interbrand, compared to last year
• Hyundai outperforms its peer group in brand value growth

Hyundai Motor Company, the fastest-growing automotive company by brand, saw its brand value increase by 9.3 percent from a year earlier in the Best Global Brands 2010 by Interbrand, outperforming the industry’s average growth rate.

Hyundai, which has been included in the Best Global Brands for six consecutive years, ranked No. 65 out of 100 brands this year, a steady increase from the No. 84 position in 2005. The growth rate of 9.3 percent this year significantly outperformed the industry’s average growth rate of 2.8 percent.

“A deeper look into the change indicates that Hyundai has been successful in functional attributes such as quality and design, has a strong new vehicle line-up, and received substantial global exposure during the World Cup and Super Bowl. Hyundai’s strategies have paid off,” Interbrand said.

In fact, Hyundai’s brand recognition was largely strengthened in major automotive markets such as China and the U.S., as well as emerging markets, thanks to the company’s diverse market portfolio, high quality products and aggressive marketing activities. In the U.S., the all-new Sonata pushed Hyundai’s sales volumes to a record, while in China, Hyundai doubled its sales in 2009 from the previous year.

Hyundai continues to make large investments in innovative marketing programs to enhance its brand power and will keep introducing new models that reflect its latest design identity, ‘fluidic sculpture.’

Source: Hyundai Motor America

2011 HYUNDAI SONATA EARNS TOP SAFETY RATING FROM NHTSA

Sonata One of Only Two Models to Earn Five-Star Overall Vehicle Score in Updated Testing Procedures


The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded an overall five-star crash test rating, the highest government ranking under the agency’s New Car Assessment Program, to the all-new 2011 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata withstood the agency’s more rigorous 2011 testing procedures to receive the top safety rating. Sonata is built from the ground up with safety in mind, with a hot stamped ultra-high-strength steel body structure, advanced airbag technology and Electronic Stability Control (ESC), delivering on Hyundai’s commitment to both active and passive safety technology leadership.

The 2011 Sonata launched earlier this year with Hyundai’s first-ever Gasoline Direct Injection engine, producing a segment-best 35 miles-per-gallon highway fuel economy rating. Two new Sonata variants – a 2.0-liter turbo and Hyundai’s first-ever hybrid – will hit showrooms this fall. Sonata sales, up nearly 60 percent over 2009 through September, prove that its combination of standard safety, fuel economy and sleek design are hitting the mark with consumers in the highly competitive mid-size sedan segment.

“The Sonata nameplate has historically raised the bar for safety in the mid-size sedan category, dating back to the introduction of standard Electronic Stability Control on the 2006 Sonata,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America. “The 2011 Sonata furthers our commitment to safety with a suite of equipment and third-party test results that are unsurpassed in the category.”

NHTSA’s upgraded ratings system will now evaluate side pole crash testing and crash prevention-technologies. And, for the first time, it will use female crash test dummies to simulate crash scenarios involving women, not just men. Sonata comes standard with six airbags—including dual front, front seat-mounted side-impact, and front and rear side curtain airbags—along with active front-seat head restraints.

Sonata was not only built to withstand accidents, it was designed to help drivers avoid them all together. The Sonata’s state-of-the-art braking system exemplifies its suite of active safety technologies. The package includes four-wheel disc brakes and an Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) including Brake Assist, which provides maximum braking force when a panic stop is detected, and Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to automatically adjust the braking force to front and rear axles based on the vehicle loading conditions.

Other safety features include shingle-style rear-seat head restraints for improved visibility, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, front-seat seatbelt pretensioners and load limiters, and a rear-seat Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) system for child seats.

One of the most significant changes to the ratings program for consumers is the addition of an Overall Vehicle Score. The Overall Vehicle Score combines the results of a frontal crash test, side crash tests and rollover resistance tests and compares those results to the average risk of injury and potential for vehicle rollover of other vehicles. The 2011 Sonata scored well in all phases of the testing including five-star side-impact, five-star rollover and four-star frontal crash test, resulting in an overall five-star performance. This pertains to Sonatas produced from June 2, 2010 to September 7, 2010.

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
NHTSA is dedicated to achieving the highest standards of excellence in motor vehicle and highway safety. The agency strives to exceed the expectations of its customers through its core values of Integrity, Service and Leadership. NHTSA provides leadership to the motor vehicle and highway safety community through the development of innovative approaches to reducing motor vehicle crashes and injuries.

Source: Hyundai Motor America