Veloster, Hyundai’s new and innovated 3 door car

The all new 2012 Hyundai Veloster sports a third door and earns the coolest name around. The front doors are designed to different lengths, where the passenger door is shorter to accommodate a front hinged third door behind it. This is unlike all other three door cars whos rear door can’t be used without opening the front door first. As revieled in the 2010 Beijing Auto Show, Hyundai’s new Gamma direct-injected 1.6-liter four, putting 138 horsepower and 123 pound-feet of torque to a six-speed manual or “EcoShift DCT” six speed dual clutch automatic. Suspension is struts up front with a twist-beam rear. Four wheel disc brakes pull the stops inside 17 or 18 inch aluminum wheels. All models include a touch screen display with reverse back up camera integration. The widely anticipated turbo version will likely will appear sometime in 2012.

Are you ready for the winter? How about your car?

There are three key elements for safe winter driving.
1. Stay alert 2. Slow down 3. Stay in control

Drive according to highway and weather conditions. Keep a safe distance between you and the vehicle in front of you to avoid situations where you may have to brake suddenly on a slippery surface.

Now that you’re ready, your vehicle is equally important.

Get your vehicle winter ready with a maintenance check-up. Don’t wait for winter to have your battery, belts, hoses, radiator, oil, lights, brakes, tires, exhaust system, heater/defroster, wipers and ignition system checked.

You’ll want to keep your fuel tank over half full is always recommended in extreme cold temperatures.

Make sure you have sufficient windshield washer fluid in the reservoir that is rated a minimum of -40°C temperature range and even keep an extra jug in the trunk.

Clear snow and ice from all windows, lights, mirrors and the roof. After starting your vehicle, wait for the fog to clear from inside the glass so you’ll have good visibility all around.

You should have your tires checked or replaced before winter begins. Remember to check tire air pressure frequently as it tends to decrease in cold weather.

The condition of your vehicle’s tires is important. Worn or damaged tires can affect your ability to drive safely. For safety reasons, drivers are always encouraged to replace their tires when the tread depth reaches 3mm, rather than wait until the tread no longer meets the legal 1.5mm requirement. Alternately, you can also check the manufacturer’s wear indicator mark on your tires to see if they need replacing. All tires have tread wear indicators, which are small bars of rubber found between the tread blocks of a tire. When the tread is worn flush with the tread wear indicators, the tire has reached its wear limit and must be replaced as it likely does not provide enough traction in the rain or snow.

While regular or “all-season” tires, including wide and high-performance tires, may be adequate in some areas, they may not be suitable for driving in the snowbelt regions of southern Ontario and throughout the north. If you live and drive in these areas, consider using winter tires. They improve driving safety by providing better traction, braking and handling during frost, snow, slush and particularly in icy conditions. Installing four winter tires provides greater control and stability. Never mix tires of different tread, size and construction.

It’s a good idea to keep a winter survival kit in your vehicle. Some recommended items include:

• Ice scraper/snowbrush
• Shovel
• Sand or other traction aid
• Tow rope or chain
• Booster cables
• Road flares or warning lights
• Gas line antifreeze
• Flashlight and batteries
• First aid kit
• Fire extinguisher
• Small tool kit
• Extra clothing and footwear
• Blanket
• Non-perishable energy foods – e.g., chocolate or granola bars, juice, soup, bottled water
• Candle and a small tin can
• Matches
Having these supplies can provide some comfort and safety for you and your passengers should you become stranded.

Although winter driving can be a bit of a challenge, you should be okayt if you can remember the 3 key elements for safe winter driving.

1. Stay alert 2. Slow down 3. Stay in control

Hyundai Elantra Beats All Rivals In Motor Trend Comparison

With all new models on sale from most automakers, today’s compact car segment just may offer some of the best small cars to ever hit the road. With that said, you can consider the Hyundai Elantra to be the cream of the crop since coming out on top after a recent Motor Trend comparison tested it against the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford Focus, Volks Wagen Jetta and Honda Civic. All of which were completely redesigned within the past year, including the Kia Forte, Toyota Corolla and Mazda 3.

The Hyundai Elantra is the only car among the group capable of achieving 40 mpg on the highway in all model configurations and an impressive 29 mpg in the city.

If you happen to live in the greater Toronto area, you’ll be pleased to know that Stouffville Hyundai has recieved the first few shipments of 2012 Hyundai models, which includes the Accent Hatchback, Accent Sedan, Elantra Touring, Elantra Sedan, Sonata, Sonata 2.0 Turbo, Sonata Hybrid, Genesis Sedan, Genesis Coupe, Equus, Tucson, Santa Fe and Veracruz.