The original Hyundai Genesis sedan made quite the entrance into the premium car market, but the automaker’s luxury offerings will only become more ambitious in the next few years. Automobile Magazine recently talked with Hyundai’s John Krafcik, who shared a few interesting details on the automaker’s future in the U.S.
The continued success of the Hyundai Genesis sedan will start with available all-wheel drive. Krafcik says the new Genesis sedan that’s unveiled at the 2014 Detroit auto showwill feel more “German.” In a Second Take review of a 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec sedan, we noted that the R-Spec model “lacks the high-speed handling feel that its name indicates, but not once was it difficult to keep the car on its intended course.” We also had minor issues with the quality of certain interior parts of the R-Spec sedan, which accelerated from 0-60 mph in 4.8 seconds.
Krafcik told Automobile that the new Genesis will be more traditional — perhaps making that possible is a boldly styled coupe-like four-door. Using a few basic design elements from the controversial HCD-14 concept from the 2013 Detroit auto show, a coupe-like four-door Hyundai priced right could help the automaker steal customers away from cars like the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLS, and Audi A7.
Those who want a real coupe, however, may still consider the Hyundai Genesis two-door. While the current car can’t fit a V-8 under its hood, Krafcik says the next-gen Genesis Coupe may offer power from a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 or even a naturally aspirated V-8. Though Hyundai doesn’t distinguish sales of the Genesis coupe from the sedan, Genesis sales pale in comparison to other rear-drive coupes like the Chevrolet Camaro and Ford Mustang as well as the Dodge Challenger.
For more on Krafcik’s visit to Automobile Magazine‘s offices, including what brand Hyundai looks up to and why it isn’t pursuing EV technology, head to the full story here.
More than just a smartphone – Xperia™ Z captivates from the very beginning.
Features
Display
A screen as impressive as HDTV – Full HD Reality Display Feel like you’re there with the razor sharp and super bright full HD screen. Xperia Z brings you the highest level of HD available – 1080 progressive scan, for incredibly crisp pictures and no jagged edges. Expertise from our BRAVIA® TV engineers goes into our mobile screens, to bring you the same quality you’d expect from a top quality HDTV. The 5” full HD Reality Display also has very high pixel density – 443 pixels per inch, for razor sharp pictures – and superior brightness. And with the wide colour gamut it gives you the widest colour spectrum, so you can view every detail in vivid colour.
Camera
The world’s first Exmor RS™ for mobile with HDR video HDR for photos and videos captures natural colours in any light. HDR (High Dynamic Range) is an imaging technology used to capture clear photos against strong backlight. With HDR, the camera captures the same image at different exposure levels and layers them to create one optimised photo.
Xperia Z introduces HDR to video, so that you can film even in high contrast situations, like in front of a window or with the sun behind your subject.
Always the right setting – Superior Auto
Now it’s always easy to get a great shot. With Superior Auto, you don’t have to know the ins and outs of camera settings to make use of them. In Superior Auto mode, the camera combines Scene Recognition with high quality and high performance image processing technology (HDR and noise reduction) to automatically shoot with the optimal settings. And your device is automatically optimised for 36 different scenes, so you always get the best shot.
Stunning shots in any light — 13 MP camera with Exmor RS™ for mobile
The 13 megapixel camera is built with the same modules as leading Sony cameras. Exmor RS™ for mobile is an evolution of our Sony image sensor technology, with a next-generation BSI light sensor. By adopting the technology of luminance and colour noise reduction, we’ve created a camera that snaps highly detailed shots with low noise – even in challenging lighting conditions. You’re now also able to reproduce objects in more vivid colours and capture night images and faces in stunning clarity. Exmor RS™ for mobile includes HDR video, for clear shots even when your subject is backlit.
(1) Without Exmor RS™ for mobile
(2) With Exmor RS™ for mobile
World’s only dual Exmor R for mobile camera
We’ve included the Sony Exmor R™ for mobile sensor on the full HD front camera, so you can take self-portraits or chat in lowlight conditions as well. And both the front and rear cameras support HDR photos.
Design
Minimal yet distinctive – OmniBalance design With Xperia Z, we introduce our new OmniBalance design. The design is focused on creating balance and symmetry in all directions. Xperia Z has subtly rounded edges and smooth, reflective surfaces on all sides, which are held together by an innovative skeleton frame.
Both the front and back are made of glass, with a seamless surface. Together with enhanced reflection coating on the top, bottom and sides, Xperia Z actually mirrors the world around you. OmniBalance design balances technology vs. design, letting you get so totally immersed in the content that the hardware disappears.
Quality craftsmanship
Xperia Z was designed in collaboration with Sony consumer electronics experts, for quality craftsmanship and consistent attention to details. Only premium materials were used throughout, like aluminium for the power and volume buttons and durable tempered glass for the front and back.
Super slim
We’ve eliminated a layer of air and brought the display closer to the lens, for added touch sensitivity and a smaller size. This construction, along with a new component layout and skeleton frame allows for a slimness of 7.9 mm.
Water and Dust Resistant
We tested the Xperia Z to make sure it can keep going even after 30 minutes under water. It can even withstand water jets. The high IP55 & IP57 rating means you can use it in the rain, take photos by the pool and easily clean it off from everyday spills and dirt.
We even put Xperia Z in a dust chamber for rigorous testing, to make sure its operations were unaffected.
Quick benefits:
Water resistant up to 1 meter
Resistant to water jets
Dust resistant
Conectivity
One-touch connectivity from Sony
Sharing with friends and connecting your world has never been easier. Based on NFC (near field communication), our One-touch functions connect one device to another in a single tap. No wires, cables, or fiddling with settings necessary.
One-touch sharing
Share photos, music and more between two phones,
or between your phone and an NFC- enabled laptop.
One-touch listening
Play the music on your smartphone through a wireless speaker or wireless headphones.
One-touch mirroring
See movies, games and photos from your phone on your TV. Simply touch your smartphone to the remote from your BRAVIA® TV to activate screen mirroring.
How One-touch sharing works – learn more in the video.
From your smartphone to the big screen
Want to continue watching movies in HD quality when you get home? Or go from headphones to speakers? “Throw” content from your smartphone to your Wi-Fi-enabled TV through screen mirroring or DLNA, or send your tunes to a speaker via Bluetooth. Using “Throw”, your device finds the best way to wirelessly connect your smartphone to other devices. With an MHL cable, you can also mirror your phone’s full user interface on your TV and enjoy movies, games and more while charging.
Smart Connect
Make your life simpler by setting up how your smartphone behaves when it connects to other devices. Open your music player when you connect your headphones, organise your SmartWatch, or activate your alarm clock when your phone touches the charging dock. Smart Connect is the software that lets you manage all your smart accessories.
Processor & Battery
Lightning speed performance – Quad-core processor
We’ve matched the latest Sony software with the powerful Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ S4 Pro processor. This advanced quad core processor gives you maximum performance and speed without draining your battery – run multiple apps simultaneously, surf the web with no loading time, and stream videos without a break. The Snapdragon S4 Pro processor is asynchronous, which means each core is powered up and down independently. So you get the precise amount of power when you need it, without wasting power when you don’t.
Quick benefits:
Super-fast performance
Better battery life
Improved multitasking
Outstanding graphics
With the Adreno 320 GPU (graphics processing unit) you play the most advanced and visually stunning 3D games, and browse the web quickly and smoothly.
Quick benefits
Twice as fast for gaming*
Stutter-free web surfing
* Compared to previous version of Adreno
Ultra-fast LTE/4G technology
Snapdragon S4 Pro has a built-in LTE/4G modem. With it there are fewer dropped calls and speeds up to 10 times faster than 3G internet connections. Together with Sony’s expertise in radio technology, Snapdragon S4 Pro also ensures better reception in more places.
Better reception
Fewer dropped calls
Network speed (up to):
Always loud and clear — HD Voice
HD voice*eliminates background noise to improve voice clarity. That means that you can talk normally and be heard clearly, without having to raise your voice, even in noisy environments. Now you don’t have to shout to be heard, or try to find a quiet place for your conversation.
What’s the difference in sound?
* HD voice functionality is operator-dependant.
Significantly improve battery life with Battery STAMINA mode
Smartphones use a lot of power, even when you’re not actively using them. All those apps that you’ve had open are still running in the background, using unnecessary battery. Battery STAMINA mode saves you wasted battery drain by recognising when your display is off and turning off functions you don’t need, while keeping the notifications you want. As soon as you touch the screen and wake up your phone, everything is up and running again.
Get only the important notices
With Battery STAMINA mode, Wi-Fi and data traffic are disabled during standby, but you still receive incoming calls, texts, and alarms. And since everyone has different needs, you can easily customise which apps you want to receive push notifications from even in standby mode. Facebook notifications on or off? It’s up to you.
As Chrysler's second-best seller behind the Ram -- and one of its most-recognizable offerings -- the Jeep Grand Cherokee is a vehicle that doesn't receive updates without anybody noticing, especially if they're significant. And while the cosmetic changes made to the Grand Cherokee for 2014 are minor, the powertrain changes are anything but. The big news is the updated fuel economy. Thanks to the addition of an eight-speed automatic as standard equipment, the Grand Cherokee's 3.6-liter V-6's fuel economy gets a bump to 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, an improvement of 1 mpg in the city for the 4x2 models, and a 2 mpg highway improvement for all models. The 5.7-liter V-8-powered model gets a 1 mpg bump in both city and highway fuel economy to 15 mpg city for 4x2 models and 14 mpg for 4x4 models, with highway fuel economy going up to 21 mpg combined. Fuel economy isn't the only thing that improves. Maximum towing capacity on the V-6 model goes up to 6200 pounds, while the bad-boy SRT model goes from an unremarkable 5000 pounds to 7200.
More significant for the 2014 Grand Cherokee's fuel economy is the arrival of the long-awaited diesel model. It's powered by a 3.0-liter, turbodiesel V-6 sourced from Italy's VM Motori that's good for 240 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque, which comes at just 2000 rpm. Like the gasoline models, it's mated to eight-speed automatic. The powertrain combination results in impressive fuel economy figures of 21/30 mpg city/highway for 4x2 models and 20/28 mpg city/highway for 4x4 models. It can also tow up to 7400 pounds. On the technical side, the engine features a 60-degree cylinder bank angle for optimum balance, a high-pressure 29,000 psi common-rail injection system, and a water-cooled turbocharger. It is B5 compliant. It also gets a fluid-based SCR catalyst system to make it Tier II, Bin 5 emissions-compliant, meaning that the diesel Grand Cherokee will for the first time be available in all 50 states.To optimize efficiency even further, the 2014 Grand Cherokee offers an available Eco Mode. On models equipped with the air suspension, it lowers ride height at speeds above 56 mph and optimizes the transmission's shift schedule. On the Hemi model, it also engages cylinder deactivation more aggressively to save fuel.
That air suspension system, dubbed Quadra-Lift, also gives the driver the choice of three ride-height settings. The normal setting gives the vehicle 8.7 inches of ground clearance. Off-Road 1 lifts the vehicle 1.3 inches for a total of 10 inches of clearance, and Off-Road 2 raises it another 1.3 inches for 11.3 inches of clearance. Aero mode lowers the vehicle 0.6 inches below normal ride height for optimal aerodynamics. The three four-wheel drive systems, Quadra-Drive I, Quadra-Drive II and Quadra-Track II carry over from 2013, with Quadra-Track II adding an electronic limited-slip rear differential. Cosmetically, changes are numerous enough to make the 2014 Grand Cherokee stand out as a new model. Up front, it gets thinner-profile front light clusters with bi-xenon HID headlights and LED driving light surrounds standard on the Overland and new Summit trim, and optional on the Limited trim level. The fog lights have been repositioned and get new surrounds for a more upscale look. In the back, all 2014 Grand Cherokees get LED taillights, and the Jeep logo on the tailgate is moved up and enlarged as a stand-alone detail. The Summit model adds additional exterior accents in the form of a mesh grille and unique exterior badging. The high-SRT model gets a menacing blackout grille treatment to help it stand out from its non-performance-oriented siblings.
Interior changes are limited. All 2014 Grand Cherokee models get the stubby T-bar electronic shifter first seen in the Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger, plus a new three-spoke steering wheel, with the SRT getting a unique flat-bottomed version. All come with paddle shifters. The SRT also receives a launch control feature for optimum power and acceleration. It all adds up to a seemingly minor yet quite substantial update that should give the Grand Cherokee a significant sales boost. We can't wait to get behind the wheel and on the trail with the 2014 Grand Cherokee, especially the new diesel model. Stay tuned.
Krafcik told Automobile that the new Genesis will be more traditional — perhaps making that possible is a boldly styled coupe-like four-door. Using a few basic design elements from the controversial HCD-14 concept from the 2013 Detroit auto show, a coupe-like four-door Hyundai priced right could help the automaker steal customers away from cars like the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe, Mercedes-Benz CLS, and Audi A7.
