Well past the morning rush, traffic flows at a brisk clip along the I-35 expressway as we head north out of San Antonio on a course that will eventually reach Fredericksburg, but not before meandering through the Texas Hill Country.
Objective of this jaunt is to assess the poise and capability of a new subcompact sedan promoted as the bottom-dollar car in the country.
Out of the box with no frills attached, the Rio sedan by Kia of Korea carries a bottom-line price of $8,595. Tack on the unavoidable delivery fee of $450 and the figure bumps to $9,000 plus change.
Then add air conditioning and an audio package, the two options that would be difficult to do without in any car, and still the price seems sparse at $10,115.
A fast clip running north of San Francisco on the 101 freeway — teeming in multiple lanes with commuter cars and freight-hauling trucks — quickly illuminates the quiet nature of Optima, a new mid-size sedan crowning the 2001 line of Korean automaker Kia.
Optima does such a good job of damping mechanical vibrations and insulating the cabin from external noises that passengers can converse in subtle voices and still hear one another easily above the din of traffic.
And our backseat rider — B. M. Ahn, president and chief executive office of Kia Motors America — has something to say that illustrates the role of Optima in Kia’s rapidly expanding lineup of car models: “We expect Optima not only to enhance Kia’s reputation for developing well-built vehicles at high-value prices, but also move the Kia brand upward to a new level of refinement and luxury.”
2002 Hyundai Santa Fe AWD GLS V6
Base Price: $21,050
As tested: $30,445
Many people I talked with were anticipating what Hyundai will offer in this market niche. Here we are in year two of Hyundai?s existence in the Canadian SUV market, so here?s the scoop on the 2002.
I got the Powwa **
Well sort of. The GLS V6?s 2.7 litre 24 valve aluminum motor delivers 181 horsepower with 177 lb. of torque. This engine is coupled with a 4-speed Shiftronic transmission. The Hyundai Integrated Vehicle Electronic Control (HIVEC) is governed by a computer chip that will always find the appropriate gear when driving up or down hill and it may skip a shift to deliver more power, or to apply engine braking when slowing down. This feature gives the Santa Fe extra performance when needed.
When Hyundai redesigned its compact Elantra for the 2007 model year, the company Dropped the hatch back body style, keeping only a four-door since. At the 2008 Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai announced that a hatchback is returning back to the Lineup in the form of the 2009 Elantra Touring.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is svelt new two-door that goes Wednesday sale in early spring 2009 as a 2010 model. 
Hyundai’s Coupe concept was a hit at the greater Los Angeles auto show last year (Fall 2007). It piqued the interest of those looking for a sharp looking rear-drive sports car at an affordable price.
Now, the unveiling of the production version of this car at the April 2008 New York Auto Show was no let down as it grabbed the headlines when two examples Slide, with wheels spinning under the expert skills of a couple of stunt drivers, onto a make shift indoor drifting stage. Rock music and fireworks added to the Razzmatazz. You’ve got to do something outlandish to make the headlines in the Big Apple and Hyundai did just that.
When the 2009 Hyundai Genesis then took home the North American Car of the Year, some doubters thought it a Fluke,
Hyundai attack each portion of the market in recent years and continues its momentum in 2008 and 2009. After the Sonata, the Accent, Santa Fe, Veracruz and the recent Genesis, Elantra is now the family. The latter will have a significant impact in Canada saw the disappearance of the Focus family.
The South Korean manufacturer Hyundai has just introduced its new sedan Verna, better known outside its native country, as the Hyundai Accent.
The newcomer is the current model by a slight overhaul its aesthetic grants bumper took the style associated with a new grille and larger headlights and slender, not to mention the arrival of mirrors modern. Obviously, at the back we find new redesigned lamps.
