Vanity Plates: The 411 on Those CRZE PL8S

Want to make your own amazing vanity plate? Check out the article below, then use the vanity plate dictionary to put one together!

You see a vanity plate on the car ahead of you. Perhaps it's on a Ford Mustang, a Volkswagen New Beetle or a Mini Cooper— cars that just beg for vanity plates. You read it over and over, wracking your brain to decipher its meaning, wondering if you're missing a good joke.

It helps if you know "the code." Like the abbreviations and symbols used in e-mail and instant messaging ("BTW," "LOL," "TTYL"), there is a shorthand for vanity plates (also known as "personalized license plates" or "custom plates"). Fortunately, there are dictionaries that will tell you, for example, that "U4IC" means "euphoric," and "6S" means "success."

Dennis Cowhey, author of What Does That Mean? The Personal Stories Behind Vanity License Plates, calls himself the "world's greatest expert on vanity plate meanings." Cowhey traveled the U.S., stopping total strangers to hear their stories. He also distributed questionnaire cards and got about 850 cards back, many with full explanations.

The responses are a testimony to human creativity. It's not easy to invent a meaningful, one-of-a-kind label for your wheels within seven or eight letters and numbers.

"You wouldn't believe how clever the plates are," Cowhey said. "Some are touching, heart-rending, hysterically funny and everything in between. People wear their hearts on their sleeves."

Apparently so: Cowhey's personal favorite is a series of two plates, held by a married couple. His says, "TYED-UP"; hers says, "KEENKY2." The pair intentionally drives alongside each other as they commute each day to their family-owned business, taking great enjoyment from the shocked faces of pedestrians and other drivers.

On most days, it's not hard to find vanity plates that express the nature of the car or driver ("XCLR8TR"), occupation ("HV A SLCE," on the car of a pizzeria owner) and personal statements ("WAS HIS").

Many Edmunds.com readers have vanity plates as well. Burt and Jacquie Harwood of Washington bought their vanity plates with safety in mind. (Attention, parents!)

"Each time I provided a car for one of my children, the car had a vanity plate with their first name on it, front and back," said Burt. "Living in a small town, their driving habits were more easily reported to me, and they knew it."

Though Harwood's kids did get into a few scrapes, he's convinced that the vanity plates made a difference in their driving.

Reader Brian Bear's family likes to play on their last name. "I have two plates — 'SU BEAR U' and '4 BEARRS'," he said. "The 'SU BEAR U' one is on my '04 Subaru Forester XT (and my previous '00 Subaru Outback)," he said. "'4 BEARRS' is on our '02 Mazda MPV. We are a family of four, plus the last name. I've always had some sort of plate with the word 'BEAR' in it over the years." Even his parents and other relatives have vanity plates that incorporate the Bear name.

Wisconsin reader Robert Hammen chose his vanity plate in order to defend his car: "I own a 2004 Pontiac GTO, and got a lot of flak from traditional GTO owners who didn't think the car was worthy," he said. "So I got the plate, 'REAL GTO' just to rub it in."

"CNSRSHP" OR "FRESPCH"?

Unlike bumper stickers, which aren't issued by state governments, vanity plates are subject to significant legal controversy. Columnist Ken Paulson of The Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan foundation dedicated to first amendment rights, describes some of the legislative battles waged over the censorship of vanity plates. Many states, for example, ban vanity plates related to obscenity ("SHTHPNS"); hate speech ("ARYAN-1"); references to alcohol, tobacco or drugs ("VINO"); religion ("ROMANS5"); or the implication of violence ("GLOCKEM," which refers to Glock, a semiautomatic handgun manufacturer). Paradoxically, this last plate was stripped from the car of a Tennessee law enforcement officer.

Each state determines which vanity plates will pass muster. A California vanity plate request, for example, is thoroughly reviewed by several people with both foreign language and slang dictionaries. The Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has the right to refuse or recall any plate that may be considered "offensive to good taste and decency, which could be misleading, or conflict with any license plate series currently issued," according to the state's vehicle code.

What constitutes good taste and decency, however, is up to the screeners and open for speculation. What's more, once a plate is issued, anyone who finds a plate offensive for any reason can submit a written request to the DMV to have that plate rescinded. (The latest one to be recalled in California as a result of a complaint letter was "FDUBYA.")

The state's right and ability to censor vanity plates is vague territory. When the Cal Berkeley football team was knocked out of the running for the Rose Bowl (many say unjustly), fan Paul Lewis ordered a plate online which said "IH8 BCS" ("I hate the Bowl Championship Series"). The initial order was processed and accepted, but when Lewis went to pick up his plates, he was told by the DMW that he couldn't have them, because of the "H8."

Ironically, Lewis didn't intend to use the plates for his everyday driving.

"I was going to drive with them for a day, or save them for football season, but then eventually give them to Cal football," he said.

Lewis appealed in a letter to Sacramento, explaining that because the BCS wasn't a person, his plate shouldn't qualify as "hate speech," and that educational scholarships were lost as a result of Cal's contested elimination. He's still waiting to hear back. In the meantime, Lewis sold T-shirts featuring a mock-up of the plate — and donated all the profits to Cal Berkeley's athletics department.

REAL MONEY, REAL CRAZIES

Car-crazy California issued its first personalized plate in late 1970. As of July 2007, there are over 1.4 million such plates on California roads. During that time, the state has raised more than 1 billion dollars from vanity plate sales, according to the DMV. Nationwide, vanity plates can cost anywhere from $10 to $65 per year, depending on the state. California calls them "environmental plates," because it uses the revenue to fund programs that preserve and protect the environment, such as the purchase of land for preserves, studies of endangered species and public education.

The U.S. doesn't hold a monopoly on being plate-crazy, though. In February 2005, a Hong Kong man, wearing a mask to protect his identity, paid HK$7.1 million — then $910,000 — for a license plate which said, simply, "12." Why would anyone pay that much for a license plate? Because the number, when pronounced in Cantonese, sounds like "certainly easy."

But $910,000 wasn't even close to the highest price ever paid for a vanity plate in Hong Kong. In 1994, business magnate Albert Yeung paid HK$13 million (US$4 million) for the number nine, which sounds like "everlasting" in Cantonese. Yes, 4 million. Which makes one wonder: What's up with these guys?

One man is capitalizing on the plate craze without buying or selling a single plate. Richard Barnett has just launched Great Plate Exchange, an online forum where users can purchase or sell active vanity plates, similar to an eBay auction. Barnett gets a small fee for listing the plate, and a commission on the transaction. Once a deal is struck, he links the parties to the appropriate DMV to make the legal transfer. Although there are only a handful of plates on the site so far, the concept is one that could take off once enthusiasts discover it.

Collector Mania

Like other hobbyists, plate enthusiasts buy, sell and trade plates on eBay and any number of plate-specific sites, such as PL8S.com. This includes not only vanity plates, but rare plates, plates for a certain color or type of car, and plates from all 50 states. A member of the Automobile License Plate Collectors Association (ALPCA)built an incredible Web site, "License Plates of the World", which illustrates plates from every corner of the planet, as well as special-issue military plates and U.N.-issued plates. ALPCA has just issued its own book, A Moving History — 50 Years of ALPCA, 100 Years of License Plates, to celebrate its golden anniversary.

One of Edmunds.com's own programmers, David Haber, developed CALPL8S to highlight his collection. He notes that, unlike some other hobbies, plate collecting appeals to both young and old.

"You see them all the time: kids play games, spot states on license plates on long trips and get little plates with their name on them for their bicycles," said Haber. "I've always been interested in plates, and about six years ago I discovered other collectors sold plates on eBay. Before then I had never considered they were something you could collect."

Haber's car sports a creative plate that includes a symbol of a hand, one of four symbols available for use in California. It reads, "G(hand)DALF," for Gandalf the wizard, of Lord of the Rings fame. Other available symbols are a star, a plus sign and a heart, leading to all sorts of imaginative combinations.

If you enjoy the challenge, you can find a way to express just about any opinion or passion in a vanity plate. The rest of the world will enjoy laughing at what you said — or puzzling over what you meant.

Read more http://www.edmunds.com/driving-tips/vanity-plates-the-411-on-those-crze-pl8s.html

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Laurel Hyundai!

2012 Hyundai Sonata Takes Market By Storm

Check out this review from Kelly Blue Book on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata!

If ever there was a car that proved that if you build it well, they will come (and buy it), it's the 2012 Hyundai Sonata. The Sonata was once was just a low-priced midsize sedan with a great warranty, but the current Sonata has taken the market by storm. From its stunning sculpted exterior, to its modern and feature-filled interior, to a suite of powerful yet fuel-efficient 4-cylinder engines, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata hits every target with pin-point accuracy. Up against heavy hitters like the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry, the Sonata comes out smelling like rose, and a very inexpensive rose at that. Its engine uses the latest gasoline direct-injection technology to deliver some of the best fuel economy figures in the segment, and there is even a hybrid model to appeal to the super-green consumer who still needs the practicality of a big, roomy sedan.

If you're looking for a midsize sedan that is fresh, stylish and loaded with the latest technology for less than $30K, the 2012 Hyundai Sonata is a must drive. Its base price starts around $20,000, but it won't cost much more to move to the higher trim levels, which include a turbocharged model and a super-efficient hybrid.

Unless you're turned off by the 2012 Hyundai Sonata sedan's looks or untested long-term repair history, there isn't much not to like about a midsize sedan that looks like a high-end luxury car, has a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty and touts resale figures just a few percentage points behind the segment-leading Honda Accord sedan.

Read more: http://www.kbb.com/hyundai/sonata/2012-hyundai-sonata/#survey

Driving on Snow and Ice: 10 Safety Tips

Follow these tips to stay safe this winter.

The best tip for winter driving: Sometimes it's best to stay home, or at least remain where you are until snow plows and sanding crews have done their work. If you crash on a snowy or icy road, you'll certainly be late — or worse. But since you can't always call in to work claiming a "snow day," it's better to learn how to correctly deal with driving in the snow.

I've battled snow- and ice-covered highways in two-dozen states behind the wheel of both passenger vehicles and 18-wheelers. I've performed hundreds of tire tests on snow-covered roads, attended snow-driving schools and done precision (translation: "barely in control") driving in the snow for videos and still photos. From this experience, here are some snow driving tips the average driver can follow to reduce the chances of a crash.

1. Get a grip. To have adequate snow traction, a tire requires at least 6/32-inch deep tread, according to The Tire Rack. (New passenger-car tires usually have 10/32-inch of tread.) Ultrahigh-performance "summer" tires have little or no grip in snow. Even "all-season" tires don't necessarily have great snow traction: Some do, some don't. If you live where the roads are regularly covered with snow, use snow tires (sometimes called "winter tires" by tiremakers). They have a "snowflake on the mountain" symbol on the sidewall, meaning they meet a tire-industry standard for snow traction.
2. Make sure you can see. Replace windshield wiper blades. Clean the inside of your windows thoroughly. Apply a water-shedding material (such as Rain-X) to the outside of all windows, including the mirrors. Make sure your windshield washer system works and is full of an anti-icing fluid. Drain older fluid by running the washers until new fluid appears: Switching fluid colors makes this easy.
3. Run the air-conditioner. In order to remove condensation and frost from the interior of windows, engage your air-conditioner and select the fresh air option: It's fine to set the temperature on "hot." Many cars automatically do this when you choose the defrost setting.
4. Check your lights. Use your headlights so that others will see you and, we hope, not pull out in front of you. Make sure your headlights and taillights are clear of snow. If you have an older car with sand-pitted headlights, get a new set of lenses. To prevent future pitting, cover the new lens with a clear tape like that used to protect the leading edge of helicopter rotor blades and racecar wings. It's available from auto-racing supply sites.
5. Give yourself a brake. Learn how to get maximum efficiency from your brakes before an emergency. It's easy to properly use antilock brakes: Stomp, stay and steer. Stomp on the pedal as if you were trying to snap it off. Stay hard on the pedal. Steer around the obstacle. (A warning: A little bit of steering goes a very long way in an emergency. See Tip 8.) If you drive on icy roads or roads that are covered with snow, modify your ABS technique: After you "Stomp" and the ABS begins cycling — you will feel pulses in the pedal or hear the system working — ease up slightly on the pedal until the pulsing happens only once a second.
   For vehicles without ABS, you'll have to rely on the old-fashioned system: You. For non-ABS on a mixed-surface road, push the brake pedal hard until the wheels stop rolling, then immediately release the brake enough to allow the wheels to begin turning again. Repeat this sequence rapidly. This is not the same as "pumping the brake." Your goal is to have the tires producing maximum grip regardless of whether the surface is snow, ice or damp pavement. Use the tips in"How To Survive the Top 10 Driving Emergencies" to practice before the emergency.
6. Watch carefully for "black ice." If the road looks slick, it probably is. This is especially true with one of winter's worst hazards: "black ice." Also called "glare ice," this is nearly transparent ice that often looks like a harmless puddle or is overlooked entirely. Test the traction with a smooth brake application or slight turn of the wheel.
7. Remember the tough spots. Race drivers must memorize the nuances of every track, so they can alter their path for changing track conditions. You must remember where icy roads tend to occur. Bridges and intersections are common places. Also: wherever water runs across the road. I know people who lost control on ice caused by homeowners draining above-ground pools and by an automatic lawn sprinkler that sprayed water onto a street in freezing temperatures.
8. Too much steering is bad. If a slick section in a turn causes your front tires to lose grip, the common — but incorrect — reaction is to continue turning the steering wheel. That's like writing checks on an overdrawn account: It won't improve the situation and may make things worse. If the icy conditions end and the front tires regain grip, your car will dart whichever way the wheels are pointed. That may be into oncoming traffic or a telephone pole. Something very similar happens if you steer too much while braking with ABS. Sadly, there are situations where nothing will prevent a crash, but turning the steering too much never helps.
9. Avoid rear-tire slides. First, choose a car with electronic stability control. Fortunately, ESC will be mandatory on all 2012 models. Next, make sure your rear tires have at least as much tread as your front tires. Finally, if you buy winter tires, get four.
10. Technology offers no miracles. All-wheel drive and electronic stability control can get you into trouble by offering a false sense of security. AWD can only help a vehicle accelerate or keep moving: It can't help you go around a snow-covered turn, much less stop at an icy intersection. ESC can prevent a spinout, but it can't clear ice from the roads or give your tires more traction. Don't let these lull you into overestimating the available traction.

Regardless of your driving skill or vehicle preparation, there are some winter conditions that can't be conquered. But these tips may help prevent snowy and icy roads from ruining your day.

Article courtesy of: http://www.edmunds.com/car-safety/driving-on-snow-and-ice-10-safety-tips.html

2012 Hyundai Azera Has Much To Offer

Check out what the all new Azera has to offer, which debuted just a few weeks ago at the Los Angeles Auto Show!

Azera is the fifth vehicle to adopt the company’s signature Fluidic Sculpture design language.Tucson, Accent, Elantra, Sonata and Azera now all have a modern, sleek, sophisticated style, creating the illusion of constant motion. This flagship Fluidic Sculpture sedan also features a more powerful Lambda II 3.3-liter GDI engine, six-speed transmission, best-in-class combined fuel economy of 23 miles per gallon and a wide range of advanced safety equipment.

Highlights for the 2012 Azera

• All-new second generation Azera with Fluidic Sculpture design
• Powered by a new Lambda II 3.3-liter Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engine
  and in-house six-speed automatic transmission
  • Horsepower: 293 at 6400 RPM
  • Best-in-class combined 23 mpg
  • Better combined fuel efficiency than Nissan Maxima, Ford Taurus, Lexus ES350
    and Buick LaCrosse V6
• Best-in-class specific output
• Nine standard airbags – includes knee airbag
• Impact-reducing front seat system
• Standard VSM, ESC, TCS, ABS with Brake Assist and EBD
• Best-in-class head and leg room for front-seat passengers
• Standard 18-inch alloy wheels and optional 19-inch alloy wheels
• HID Xenon headlights with LED accents
• Segment-exclusive standard navigation system with rearview camera
• Standard leather interior with heated front and rear seats
• Bluetooth^® hands-free phone system with voice recognition
• Standard Blue Link telematics platform
• Segment-first manual side window sunshades
• Ventilated front seats

Read more: http://3d-car-shows.com/2011/hyundai-modernizes-the-large-sedan-with-the-all-new-azera/

Hyundai At The Grammys And Beyond

Hyundai is the Official Vehicle Partner of the Grammys!

Hyundai has inked a three-year partnership with the Recording Academy to become its “Official Vehicle Partner.” The multi-year partnership gives Hyundai the role of exclusive vehicle partner of the Grammys as well as original music projects.

The partnership focuses on the Hyundai 2012 Veloster, a three-door coupe that the automaker is marketing to 20 and 30-something multi-taskers.

Hyundai actually began the collaboration last month with Re:Generation, a program centered on a documentary about a disparate group of DJ's who get together with legendary talents in different music genres to create five new electronic music tracks.

Steve Shannon, VP marketing at Fountain Valley, Calif.-based Hyundai Motor America, said in a statement that the multi-year partnership involves Hyundai commissioning original works of art and new music projects.

The Re:Generation trailer is at www.regenerationmusicproject.com, and youtube.com/veloster, where the five songs will also be posted. Hyundai says some 1.25 million visitors have accessed content via social media channels. In addition to screenings, the automaker will have digital apps, social media, online streaming and PR over the next year around the project, per Hyundai.

As part of Hyundai's partnership with The Recording Academy, the latter will host screenings and make the film content available through its own social media channels.

Meanwhile, Hyundai gets star billing as “Official Vehicle Partner” of both the Grammy Awards and Grammy Week. The automaker will run two 60-second spots on the Nov. 30 CBS Grammy Nomination Show. Hyundai says the two spots comprise content from the Re:Generation project plus behind-the-scenes video assets.

At the 54th Annual Grammys at Staples Center on Feb. 12 (the show airs on CBS) Hyundai will have vehicles around the red carpet leading up to the venue, and the automaker's vehicles will also chauffeur stars to the awards ceremony, and be on display at the "Grammy Celebration" after-party.

The automaker says its cars will also be at the Special Merit Awards and Grammy Nominee Reception. It will also have a presence at the Pre-Grammy Gala & Salute to Industry Icons event at the Beverly Hilton Hotel the night before the telecast. Finally, 10 viewing parties in Recording Academy Chapter cities will include Hyundai displays.

Read more http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/162647/hyundai-at-the-grammys-and-beyond.html

Are Drowsy Drivers As Bad As Drunks?

Interesting article that raises the question of are drowsy drivers as bad as drunk drivers? You may be surprised by the findings.

Drowsy drivers don’t attract as much public opprobrium as drunk or distracted drivers, but maybe they should.

According to a newly released survey of 2,000 motorists by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, 41 percent of drivers admitted they had “fallen asleep or nodded off” while driving at least once. Eleven percent said they had done so within the past year, and four percent said they had fallen asleep behind the wheel in the previous month.

Moreover, one in four motorists admitted they had driven when they were “so sleepy that they had a hard time keeping their eyes open” within the past month.

Given the mushy nature of the data, it’s hard to make accurate estimates of the number of accidents caused by fatigue. After all, haven’t all of us nodded off at one time or another?

Nevertheless, AAA’s researchers concluded that as many as 16 percent of all fatal crashes involved a drowsy motorist – a much higher estimate than earlier studies which attributed less than four percent of fatal accidents to fatigue.

“Researchers have always thought that drowsy driving is under-reported, and that’s what this study found,” said AAA spokesman Dan Bleier. “We know that it’s a problem, and people need to pay attention to it.”

There were some other interesting findings: Men are much more likely than women to drive while fatigued, and motorists between the ages of 16 and 24 also are high risks. Though most of us would associate drowsy driving with long overnight trips, a substantial number of incidents occurred during short trips in the afternoon.

Ten Dead, Five Hurt

If AAA is correct, drowsy motorists are almost as dangerous as drunk drivers, who caused one third of all fatal accidents last year.

“Time For A Rest?”

Indeed, several automakers have tinkered with such devices. For example, Mercedes-Benz has developed a system called Attention Assist, which is standard equipment on E-Class, CL-Class and some S-Class sedans.

If the system’s sensor detects erratic steering, an audible warning sounds and the instrument panel flashes the message: “Time for a rest?”  Such initiatives “give the driver feedback to wake up and get off the road safely,” says Justin McMaull, AAA’s director of state relations.

But somehow, it doesn’t seem plausible to expect exhausted motorists will pull over simply because the dashboard is flashing an icon of a coffee cup. Behaviorists might argue that motorists won’t change their behavior unless they can be punished for it.

That approach is getting a test in New Jersey, which passed a law banning drowsy driving in 2003. Jersey motorists involved in a traffic accident are considered to be “knowingly fatigued” if they’ve been awake more than 24 hours. Maximum penalties include a 10-year prison sentence and a $100,000 fine.

But drowsy motorists are harder to identify than drunk drivers. You can’t give a motorist a Breathalyzer test for fatigue, McMaull notes. It’s hard to prove in court, which may be why no other state has followed New Jersey’s lead.

Still, McMaull says the law isn’t useless. “The idea is to send a message to motorists,” he says. “And prosecutors can use it as a legal tool after a serious crash.”

Is the problem getting worse? It isn’t clear. This is AAA’s first survey of drowsy drivers -- perhaps subsequent studies will reveal a trend.

In the meantime, motorists should use some common sense:

1.    If you’re on a long trip, pull over for a break every couple of hours.
2.    Have some coffee; it will perk you up for awhile.
3.    A companion in the car can keep you awake and share driving chores.
4.    Break up long trips with an overnight motel stop. Don’t attempt an all-night drive.
5.    Stay away from alcohol. A fatigued motorist on booze is double trouble.

Read more: http://autos.aol.com/article/drowsy-driving-worse-than-drunk/

Famous Johnstown Natives

Check out this list of famous Johnstown natives.

Television actress, Natalia Livingston, was born in Johnstown. The Daytime Emmy Award-winning actress plays Emily Quartermaine on ABC's daytime soap opera, General Hospital.

Steven Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Doctor Strange, was born and raised in Johnstown.

Brand names Starbucks Coffee, Cinnabon and Panera Bread are Heckler Associates-named businesses. Terry Heckler is a native of Johnstown suburb, Windber.

Former Pittsburgh Steeler and Super Bowl champion, Jack Ham was born in Johnstown.

Mary Cover Jones, the "mother of behavior therapy" was born in Johnstown.

Pete Duranko played defensive end at Notre Dame and played professionally with the Denver Broncos, is a Johnstown native. Duranko is currently battling Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Frank Benford, Jr., an electrical engineer and physicist, was born in Johnstown. He is best known for "Benford's Law," a statistical statement about the occurrence of digits in lists of data.

Fiction writer Robert T. Jeschonek, who is best known for his Star Trek novels published by Pocket Books, resides in Johnstown, PA.

Dr. Lawrence F. Flick organized the first American tuberculosis society in 1892. He was a pioneer in the antitubercular campaign and among the first to recognize the disease was communicable. He was born near Carrolltown, PA. *The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003

Sgt. Michael Strank was raised in Franklin Borough, Johnstown. A Marine, he was the oldest and highest ranking of the six men who took part in the famous raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. The scene was later used in the Marine Corps Memorial at Arlington. *The People of Cambria County, by Dave Huber, 2003

Information courtesy of: http://www.visitjohnstownpa.com/media/did-you-know/johnstown-natives/

Hyundai Veloster named "Urban Car of the Year" by Decisive Magazine

Great news for Hyundai!

The all-new 2012 Hyundai Veloster three-door coupe earned the “Urban Car of the Year” title from Decisive magazine. “The Urban Vehicles of the Year” awards are selected by a panel of independent automotive journalists who spend several months evaluating the most stylish, practical and attainable vehicles annually. After driving dozens of cars and trucks in a variety of North American urban settings, they panel selected Veloster as a stand-out performer in the 2012 class.

Hyundai’s all-new 2012 Veloster delivers innovation to the compact coupe segment with standard features such as a unique third door for easy rear-seat access, Hyundai’s Blue Link™ telematics system, Pandora® internet radio, seven-inch touch-screen display, and a new 1.6-liter Gasoline-Direct-Injected (GDI) four-cylinder engine and six-speed transmission. GDI technology helps deliver highway fuel economy of 40 mpg, lower emissions and higher reliability. With a starting price of $17,300 (plus freight), Veloster adds great value to its compelling list attributes.

“Conceived to attract new, youthful drivers to the Hyundai brand, Veloster stands out from the crowd with a stylish yet functional design that combines the best characteristics of both a coupe and hatchback,” said Scott Margason, director, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “The unique personality of the car is attracting many different types of shoppers and we’re honored that the panel of experts with Decisive magazine felt it met the needs of urban drivers so well.”

The Urban Vehicles of the Year winners and finalists will be honored at the 16^th Annual Urban Wheel Awards (UWA) on Sunday, January 8, 2012, the MotorCity Casino Hotel’s Sound Board Theater in Detroit, Michigan. The 16th Annual Urban Wheel Awards, hosted by the Emerging Diversity Education Fund (EDEF) and Decisive Media, has been named the Official Multicultural Event of the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) by the 2012 NAIAS Executive Committee.

“The Hyundai Veloster is a combination of a hip and edgy image, along with exceptional value to price and outstanding fuel economy that is perfectly suited for urban drivers,” said Lyndon Conrad Bell, Decisive magazine’s editor-in-chief. “Hyundai’s choice to make its halo car an entry-level model excites us even more. With Veloster, Hyundai definitely proves that high style and reasonable pricing absolutely can go together.”

Read more: http://www.hyundainews.com/us/en-us/Media/PressRelease.aspx?mediaid=34273&title=hyundai-veloster-named-urban-car-of-the-year-by-decisive-magazine

The Right, Eco-Friendly Way to Wash Your Car

Do you know the most eco friendly way to wash your car? Read on to find out!

"Preserving the environment is a major concern these days, especially when it comes to automobiles. This even applies to something as seemingly mundane as preserving your vehicle's appearance. How and where you wash your car does make a difference. The matter is never more critical than in spring, when most proud car owners are busy washing off the effects of winter's unrelenting assault before it takes a toll on their pride and joy's looks, integrity and mechanical well-being.


Making a habit of keeping your vehicle as clean as possible, inside and out, will reap great benefits. A sparkling-clean car will not only flatter the eye and the owner's ego, it will also help the vehicle last longer and stay in better shape, thus improving resale value.


The question here is: What is the best and most eco-friendly way to achieve and sustain vehicular cleanliness?


Routine Cleaning
Dirt, road salt, tar and various other forms of gunk, goo and residue are your car's worst enemies. Keeping them off your vehicle's bodywork, year-round, is the basic challenge. Hand-washing a car remains the best and most effective way to do this, but it must be done the right way, and even then it is not the most environmentally friendly way to go.


These days the "greenest" way to wash your car is to run it through an automatic car wash. Studies show that a session in the car wash uses roughly half the water the average owner would use while washing it at home with the traditional bucket and hose. Commercial car-wash systems are also required, by law, to contain and collect the water used during the wash. So are professional detailers. The waste water is then cleaned and, in most cases, used again.


Automatic car-wash systems even get the nod from car-care professionals, especially when it comes to routine cleanings. David Lee, owner and operator of L.A. Detail, based in Toronto, offers thorough detailing services, but he freely admits to using commercial car-wash systems for his personal vehicle and says he finds them both useful and practical.


However, Lee is also quick to point out that not all systems are equally safe and effective. He favors the high-pressure, no-contact systems and warns against using systems with rotating brushes or moplike, moving felt mats. It's hard to assess how well-maintained these systems are, and your car's paint finish might be at the mercy of the grit that was scrubbed off the crusty old jalopy that passed through the wash just before your car. And paint could be at risk even in the best-maintained systems because of the friction generated by the brushes and mats.


High-pressure systems also are useful in performing the most difficult of tasks: cleaning off as much dirt and salt as possible from your vehicle's undercarriage, fender liners and rocker panels. The operation is entirely worth the extra couple of dollars, Lee says. "The best approach is to run your vehicle through a car wash regularly to keep the dirt from building up and digging into the surface," he says.


Lee adds that brush-free systems are at their best when only a light wash is needed. Frequency then becomes the key. Their weak point is glass, "so I always use the squeegee on glass surfaces before running my vehicle through," he says.


The Dirty Job
For really dirty jobs, the best and most effective way to wash a vehicle still involves elbow grease. That's how pro detailers do it to this day. It's the only way some dirt and residue can be removed. Clay, for instance, can leave a hazy, brownish film that will resist a high-pressure brushless car wash.


While hand-washing might get your vehicle the cleanest, it can be far from environmentally friendly. The main culprits are the excessive use of water and the release of harmful substances such as soap residue, oil, acid and metal particles into the sewer system while washing and rinsing. Some cities and states have banned home car washing for these reasons. Others do so indirectly by forbidding all use of tap water outdoors to preserve dwindling supplies during hot spells.


If you plan to wash at home, your first move is to get automotive soap and cleaners that are biodegradable and nontoxic. Even then, you should avoid washing over pavement, which would let the wash water drain into a sewer, storm drain or ditch that would then let it seep into the water system. Make sure to wash over grass or gravel that will absorb the water into the ground to reduce or eliminate the environmental impact.


Hand-Wash the Right Way
The golden rule for hand-washing, Lee says, is to be "as gentle as possible" to avoid scratching or etching the finish. Make sure your car is cool and parked in the shade. You should also wash in the shade to keep the surface from drying out instantly and leaving soap streaks and scratches.


Fill two buckets with tap water. The first gets the soap, with the right dilution ratio, and the second is for rinsing dirt and particles off thoroughly as you go over the car, section by section, moving from top to bottom. Leave the rocker panels and wheels, always the dirtiest bits, for last. Otherwise, the grit from these areas will get stuck in the cleaning rags and scratch the finish off your car as you rub it clean.


Your first step it to give your car the best possible rinse to remove as much of the dirt, dust and grime as possible. Pressure washers do a good job. Lee's team uses and recommends them. "They get dirt out of the nooks and crannies and save a lot of water, too, since pressure does most of the job," he says.


You should use two soft mittens or natural sponges for washing. The first only touches the painted surfaces and the second only the wheels, tires and other dirtiest bits. Rinse them in the second bucket as much as needed to get rid of the slightest grain of sand or dirt. Work in sections that you rinse with the hose as you go. Turn the water off between rinses to avoid waste.


Lee gives the nod to the traditional chamois, be it natural or synthetic, to dry the car afterward. Let the chamois soak thoroughly before use and rinse it frequently. Another pro tip is to use the moist chamois to wipe hazy deposits from the instrument panel and the inside of the windshield once the exterior is done.


A good spring cleaning should also include the floors, where a lot of grit, grime, salt and water has accumulated, often leaving a nasty crust where it dries. An excellent tool for this operation is a wet/dry vacuum cleaner. First, vacuum up as much of the dry stuff as you can. If deposits remain, scrub them with a brush, hot water and some vinegar, but do so sparingly. Then vacuum again quickly. Do not use too much water; it will dissolve the salt, and the resulting mixture will seep under the carpet and never dry. The result might be a rusted floor pan. The door jambs and sills should also be cleaned, this time with lukewarm water and soap.


Additional Steps
Once your car shines after that spring cleaning, you will want to wax it for protection against the elements, including the scorching summer sun. Lee says that the two-stage approach of applying a pre-cleaner compound first and then a protective wax is worth the extra effort.


You can also use "dressing" products on your tires. "Use the clear, petroleum-based type that seems to 'nourish' the rubber," Lee says. It is best to apply it with a cloth instead of spraying it on to avoid getting the stuff on your alloy wheels, where it becomes "a dust magnet." And you should wipe off the excess after a few minutes. Indeed, if the oily liquid mixes with brake dust and spins off onto rocker panels and fenders, it can permanently damage the paint.


These additional steps will help preserve the long-term appearance and value of your prized possession. And a clean car always runs nicer, doesn't it?"


Read more http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184306&page=2

Any car that can be described as a "moving party machine" or "the car Bruce Wayne would take out on weekends" has definitely got my attention. Read on for more.

Hyundai, until recently hasn’t been known for being the cool hipster car but last night that all changed when three customized Velosters were revealed at the grand opening of RE:MIX Lab, a multi-city festival of art, music, fashion, technology, culture and design.


The Hyundai Veloster is a slick looking piece of machinery that not only looks sporty but also has some luxury touches that will appeal to both guys and gals when driving through Williamsburg or even to the next Austin City Limits festival. The Veloster is a three-door coupe that was designed for those who love to drive but also experience their surroundings. That is where the RE:MIX lab came in to transform three of these cars into moving party machines.


On display, there was the Music Veloster that features a matte black exterior, black-smoked taillights, black suede and vinyl interior, a Fender Stratocaster guitar and Vox stainless amp. In the rear hatch a Numark NS6 DJ controller, customized black and red 15” Macbook Pro with Serato, three JL Audio Amps and two iPad’s controlled the playlist pumping out of the car. This would be the car Bruce Wayne would take out on weekends…


Next up was the Technology Veloster, which was equipped with equipment from Apple, Samsung, LG, and Panasonic. This might be considered the geek mobile of the collection but you certainly wouldn’t look nerdy in it. The white Technology Veloster featured a 40” Samsung 3D LCD TV, 3D Blu-Ray player and 3D camcorder. The rear hatch also featured shelving for 3D glasses. So not one person but several people could get into the 3D viewing action.


The last bad boy of the collection has to be the ultimate gaming machine. The Gaming Veloster took its design cues from the Xbox 360 with green and black accents, carbon fiber trim and Sparco race seat. The rear hatch of the Gaming Veloster featured a 40” TV that was connected to both Kinect and Xbox 360, in the back seat of the car you found additional controllers as well as screens that meant eight players at any given time could play an Xbox game in the car. To mod your car to look like a moving Xbox machine, you’ll need about about $80,000 bucks. The car keep in mind has a MSRP of $17,300.


The RE:MIX LAB fueled by Hyundai Veloster is a traveling exhibition that is currently incorporating elements of art, music, fashion, and technology.


It’s a good possibility these cars will be making its way to your neighborhood soon and we seriously suggest you check them out.

Source (including tons of pictures): http://www.chipchick.com/2011/10/hyundai-veloster-remix.html

Hyundai steels itself for a cleaner future

Hyundai is taking major steps towards cleaner steel production!

“Steelmakers are known to be one of the worst polluters in manufacturing, but South Korea's newest plant claims it is designed to go green. Hyundai Steel's Dangjin plant, which sits an hour and a half south of Seoul on the west coast, is the youngest steel plant in the world and has adopted new technologies to ensure it stand out from others. By simply enclosing storage and transport routes for raw material, they are able to prevent dust particles from entering the surrounding areas. The facility, which includes 35 kilometers (21 miles) of conveyor belts fully enclosed and state-of-the-art storage domes, cost Hyundai Steel roughly $5.5 billion to build. The two blast furnaces produce eight million tons of steel a year.

It is no small investment, but the steelmaker believes it will earn its way back in no time."With the encapsulated storage system, we minimize loss of raw material so that may be $20 million a year (that we are saving)," said Hyundai Steel's senior executive vice president Cho Won-suk.

Other steelmakers lose roughly 0.5% in raw materials annually by keeping them in the open, subjecting the material to rain and wind, according to Hyundai. The idea is simple but conventional players elsewhere see it as a large investment that would require a new layout for the steel plant. With the encapsulated storage system, we minimize loss of raw material so that may be $20 million a year (that we are saving)

Hyundai's Dangjin plant, which blew in its blast furnace at the beginning of last year, was designed to accommodate the green system from the beginning. Dangjin also boasts its recycling byproducts emitted during the process of burning and melting raw materials. The company says it recycles 100% of its byproducts which supplies 80% of the operation energy at the plant.

"The byproduct gas contains energy and has some value. For example, it contains carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane, so the byproduct gas can be utilized for heating up furnaces in the plant," vice president Cho said.

To make sure Hyundai is meeting its standards as a green steelmaker, it monitors its emission output around the clock which is not only reported to the government but is also open to the public. The steelmaker keeps its pollution levels below half of the government's regulations, according to Hyundai's technical research center manager, Park Eung-yeul.

Its tight relationship with its sister companies, Hyundai Motor and Hyundai Construction, is also enhancing its efforts to become more green. Not only does Hyundai Steel supply car parts to Hyundai Motor, the old cars at the end of their cycle come back to the steelmaker as scrap metal to be melted down and used once again. The rougher steel produced from scrap metal can then be used at construction sites. Despite these efforts, tackling CO2 emissions remains an ongoing challenge. But the company's dedicated task force team continue the drive towards producing environmentally-friendly energy and removing the obstacles in the way of even cleaner steel production.”

Read more http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/05/world/asia/hyundai-green-steel-korea/

Check Out The Veloster Hotrod!

Check out the Veloster Hotrod!

Hyundai Motor Co. said it plans to unveil a special “tuner” version of its Veloster three-door coupe during the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show that runs from Nov. 1 through Nov. 4 in Las Vegas.

The Korean car maker tapped aftermarket parts supplier ARK Performance Inc. to modify a Veloster in the style of a high performance rally car. The special Veloster has a bright green and flat gray paint scheme designed to appeal to youthful hot-rodders and car hobbyists who specialize in souping up compact imported vehicles.

Displaying the Veloster at the SEMA show is part of a broad program at Hyundai to attract a wider audience and build a better reputation among car enthusiasts who crave quick acceleration and sharp handling. Upgrades to the show car include a turbocharger that boosts the engine to 210 horsepower and numerous new suspension and exhaust-system parts.

The ARK Veloster shows what ambitions owners can do to their cars with off-the-shelf parts while also hinting at possible specialty models Hyundai could offer in the future.

“Our ARK Performance Veloster will bridge the realm between an affordable sports car and an extreme motor sports vehicle,” said Ted Lee, owner of ARK Performance Inc, which is a longtime supplier of aftermarket parts for Hyundai vehicles.

Read more: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2011/10/02/hyundai-courts-performance-crowd-with-veloster-hotrod/

Hyundai Announces Pricing For Blue Link Service

Hyundai announces pricing for Blue Link Service.

Fresh off of winning two major honors for its innovative Blue Link system at the recent 9th Annual Telematics Update Awards, Hyundai provided an important telematics update of its own by announcing that Blue Link service would be available to its drivers for as little as $79.

Blue Link, which is set to debut this summer on the 2012 Hyundai Sonata and roll out through the majority of the Hyundai lineup by 2013, will offer more than 30 different connectivity features and safety services, available in three different packages:

Assurance—Designed to offer enhanced peace of mind for Hyundai owners, the Blue Link Assurance package allows drivers to contact emergency and/or roadside assistance specialists with a push of a button; in addition, if a collision with an air-bag deployment occurs, the system can automatically establish contact with a trained response specialist even without the need for driver action. MSRP: $79 for one year, $139 for two years and $198 for three years.

Essentials—This package includes all Assurance functionality as well as remote door lock/unlock, remote horn/lights activation and remote start, all using a toll-free phone number, website or mobile phone app. Also included are a number of connectivity features, like hands-free text messaging (enhanced by Blue Link’s exclusive Agent-Assisted Voice Recognition system) and location sharing, as well as a quick reference guide to vehicle functions and Service Link, which simplifies scheduling service appointments.

Vehicle self-diagnostics is another part of the Essential package, as is a suite of services designed to monitor the vehicle’s location, speed and time of use, to ensure, for example, a teen driver or valet is operating the vehicle responsibly. MSRP: $179 for one year, $315 for two years and $448 for three years.

Guidance—Turn-by-turn directions for vehicles that do not have on-board navigation systems, a wide range of point-of-interest resources (including the ability to download POI information from select websites), route guidance, traffic and weather data, gas station locations and fuel prices, and even restaurant ratings are all in the mix with the Guidance package, which also includes all services available in the Assurance and Essentials packages. Plus, this package includes guidance of another kind—an Eco-Coach service that monitors and reports on a driver’s fuel use and emissions to help coach more efficient driving. MSRP: $279 for one year, $491 for two years and $699 for three years.

To help introduce Blue Link to customers, Hyundai will offer complimentary Assurance service for six months, and free Essentials and Guidance for three months, on all new Blue Link-equipped Hyundai vehicles. And if customers decide to renew their service within 30 days of vehicle purchase, the complimentary subscriptions extend to a full year for Assurance and six months each for Essentials and Guidance.

“Blue Link combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package that works to both help simplify Hyundai owners’ lives and reduce distracted driving,” said Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve carefully studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as an innovative link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that seamless connectivity directly into the car.”

Read more: http://www.hyundaiinthenews.com/hyundais-sets-pricing-for-new-telematicsconnectivity-system/#more-989

How are cars becoming more user-friendly?

Are we approaching an era of self-driving cars?

“Fred Flintstone had a car that he had to power with his own feet; by that standard, all of today's cars are pretty easy to use. But cars are becoming even more user-friendly -- so user-friendly, in fact, that they may not even require a user at all. That's because much of the new car technology involves taking over the role of the driver.

For instance, no longer does a driver need to mind the blind spots, as certain cars come with detection systems that will alert the operator to obstacles in other lanes. If a driver should start to drowse off and drift into another lane, the steering wheel will shake or a voice will alert the driver to what's happening. Gone are the days of manually changing the cruise control speed when the car in front of you slows down -- now, adaptive cruise control uses radar to track the speed of that car and adjust the speed on its own. And since cars with adaptive cruise control can sense just how much space separates them from other cars, they can go into panic mode when cars ahead start hitting their brakes.

But you needn't fear a world of self-driving cars just yet. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive, drivers want features that improve safety, but they're not ready to turn over complete control of the road to a machine just yet [source: Adams]. In other words, while drivers may like alerts about a car in their blind spots, they want to be the ones that adjust their cars to account for it. And the same survey found that drivers are willing to keep their eyes on the road despite the goodies that new cars are offering; fancy features like WiFi or temperature-controlled cupholders are at the bottom of drivers' wish lists, perhaps indicating that drivers know they need to focus on driving, not on checking the latest sports scores online.

While today's drivers may be wary of cars that do too much for them, that doesn't mean they don't appreciate a little help and convenience. Keyless ignition systems save drivers the hassle of looking for their keys, new fuel tank caps that don't require a lot of turning can save time at the gas station, and self-repairing paint, which covers a scratch as soon as it occurs, eliminates the ordeal and expense of the body shop.”

Read more: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/trends-innovations/cars-more-user-friendly.htm

Hyundai Hope On Wheels

A very worth cause. Read on for more details.

Every 36 minutes a child is diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. When you visit Laurel Hyundai during National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, make sure to offer your support by purchasing an official Hope on Wheels handprint or decal. All proceeds benefit childhood cancer research, so make sure to tell your friends!

To support National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September and as part of the second annual Hope Grant September program Hyundai Hope on Wheels will award a record breaking $7.1 million to 71 pediatric cancer research projects and programs at Children’s Oncology Group (COG) institutions across the country. Since 1998, Hyundai Hope on Wheels and its more than 800 dealers have been committed to fighting childhood cancer, raising awareness by collecting thousands of children's handprints and committing to date more than $43 million to finding a cure.

 

For more details or to read more please visit: www.hyundaihopeonwheels.org