Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Hyundai Sonata Honored As 2011 International Car Of The Year

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Consider it another major coup for the all-new Hyundai Sonata: A jury of 12 renowned automotive journalists recently chose the Sonata as the 2011 International Car of the Year, honoring the sophisticated sedan as “the most emotionally compelling” vehicle of the new model year. The award, now in its 15th year, was given out during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

It was an impressive recognition for a car that was Hyundai’s best seller in 2010, attracting 196,623 customers, including 35 percent more retail buyers than in the previous year.

“That marks the biggest retail sales increase of any car in the entire industry, and it shows how well consumers have responded to our high-tech four-cylinder lineup, dynamic new design, and the mid-size segment’s first 5-star 2011 NHTSA crash test result,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.

That cutting-edge I4-powered trio includes:

  • Hyundai Sonata, which boasts the most powerful naturally aspirated four-cylinder engine in its class (200 hp)—as well as the highest EPA-estimated highway mpg rating (35 mpg).
  • The turbocharged Hyundai Sonata 2.0T, packing 274 hp and 33 mpg highway—numbers that top those of the V6 Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima.
  • Hyundai’s first hybrid, the Sonata Hybrid, set to debut as offering the best highway fuel economy of any mid-size sedan.

“While we’re proud of the Sonata from a technical and engineering standpoint, this award addresses the fact that our cars are now the sorts of vehicles that appeal to the lifestyle set,” added Krafcik. “With sales up more than 110 percent from last year, the Sonata and its all four-cylinder lineup has been a game changer for us, and we’re thrilled to be recognized by the ICOTY awards.”

Read more: http://www.hyundaiinthenews.com/hyundai-sonata-honored-as-2011-international-car-of-the-year/#more-835

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Check out these fun facts and may the luck of the Irish smile upon ya!

Fun Facts about St. Patrick's Day

St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17 because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is believed that he died on March 17 in the year 461 AD. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history. St. Patrick’s Day is a national holiday in Ireland, and a provincial holiday in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador.

The actual color of St. Patrick is blue. Green became associated with St. Patrick's Day during the 19th century. Green, in Irish legends, was worn by fairies and immortals, and also by people to encourage their crops to grow.

St. Patrick did not actually drive snakes out of Ireland; the snakes represent the pagans that he converted to Christianity.

The very first St. Patrick's Day parade was not in Ireland. It was in Boston in 1737.

In Chicago, on St. Patrick's Day, the rivers are dyed green.

In Seattle, there is a ceremony where a green stripe is painted down the roads.

Most Catholics attend mass in the morning and then attend the St. Patrick's Day parade.

Shamrocks are worn on the lapel on this day.

In Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day, people traditionally wear a small bunch of shamrocks on their jackets or caps. Children wear orange, white and green badges, and women and girls wear green ribbons in their hair

Many young people dye their hair green for the special day.

Many people wear green on this holiday to avoid being pinched.

The phrase, "Drowning The Shamrock" is from the custom of floating the shamrock on the top of whiskey before drinking it. The Irish believe that if you keep the custom, then you will have a prosperous year.

Many bars in the United States, and abroad, serve green beer to celebrate St. Patty's Day.

Fun Facts about the Irish

34 million Americans have Irish ancestry, according to the 2003 US Census. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

Nine of the people who signed our Declaration Of Independence were of Irish origin, and nineteen Presidents of the United States proudly claim Irish heritage -- including our first President, George Washington.

Some American towns have “Irish” names. You could visit: Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia; Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio.

The harp is the symbol of Ireland. The color green is also commonly associated with Ireland, also known as “the Emerald Isle.”

The Irish flag is green, white and orange. The green symbolizes the people of the south, and orange, the people of the north. White represents the peace that brings them together as a nation.

The name “leprechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which means “shoemaker.”

Fun Facts about Clovers

According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the highest number of leaves found on a clover is 14.

One estimate suggests that there are about 10,000 regular three-leaf clovers for every lucky four-leaf clover.

Legend says that each leaf of the clover means something: the first is for hope, the second for faith, the third for love and the fourth for luck.

Read more: http://www.whsv.com/seasonal/misc/40129602.html

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Hyundai Premieres All-New Veloster Coupe, Curb Concept In Detroit

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After a record-shattering sales performance in 2010, Hyundai is preparing to take things to the next level this year: The company introduced a new branding statement at the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, along with two equally new vehicles. It marks an important change in direction for the automaker, according to Hyundai vice chairman Euisun Chung.

“Today, customers do not believe that expensive cars with unnecessary technology are premium,” he said in a speech given in Detroit. “Instead, they want their core needs fulfilled at an accessible price and with a car that exceeds their expectations; a car that reflects their values and the times in which they live.

“Hyundai is not just a company that makes cars. Hyundai is a company that creates new possibilities. Our goal is not to become the biggest car company. Our goal is to become the most-loved car company and a trusted lifetime partner of our owners.”

That’s the impetus behind Hyundai’s fresh guiding principles, which are expressed as “New Thinking. New Possibilities.” The first fruits of this new strategy? The 2012 Hyundai Veloster three-door sports coupe and the Curb show vehicle, designed to showcase the look of a potential new Hyundai crossover.

Read more: http://www.hyundaiinthenews.com/hyundai-premieres-all-new-veloster-coupe-curb-concept-in-detroit/#more-811

Daylight Savings Time Begins on March 13

 

Daylight savings time is coming up this weekend.  Don’t forget to set your clocks forward!

Every year, daylight savings time seems to take people by surprise. In the United States, daylight savings time begins on March 13 at 2 a.m. local time except in parts of Arizona and Hawaii. As the popular saying goes, clocks need to "spring forward" to observe the change. In other words, clocks need to be set ahead by one hour when the clock strikes 2 a.m.

Daylight Savings Time Begins on March 13 in the U.S. - Yahoo! News

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