New Hyundai Genesis debuts in Korea

New Hyundai Genesis debuts in Korea For the UK, the Hyundai Genesis isn’t a car you can buy. But in the US, and Hyundai’s home market, the first generation of Hyundai’s large luxury saloon has been around for five years, offering a Korean take on luxury cars from Japan. But now, with the arrival of the second generation Hyundai Genesis, revealed in Korea yesterday ahead of a more public debut at the Detroit Auto Show in January, Hyundai look set to make the Genesis a world model, and the UK looks set to get it too.

UK new car average CO2 now under 140g/km

UK motor industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) claims 56% of new cars sold in the UK during 2010 boasted carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions figures below 140g/km. New car emissions of CO2 continued to fall at an increased rate year-on-year, dropping 3.5% over 2009’s figures and representing a cumulative drop in new car CO2 emissions of 20.3% since 2000.  The data comes from the release of the SMMT’s annual New Car Carbon Dioxide (CO2) report for 2011, out today. UK vehicle fleet CO2 continues to fall The presence of lower-polluting new vehicles in the overall UK vehicle parc (the total fleet of new and existing vehicles on the roads) has driven parcwide CO2 levels down 7.8% since 2000, and 2.7% since 2009.  This is partly thanks to new vehicles, and also due to reduction of higher-polluting vehicles via legislation and scrappage incentive schemes. The overall reduction also comes in spite of an increased number of vehicles on the road, and greater average distances travelled compared to 2000. Diesel’s rise continues One notable trend has been market penetration of diesel-powered cars. In 2000 petrol powered cars held 85.9% of the market, with 14.1% diesels.

Mercedes C-class to get expanded lineup

Mercedes-Benz will add convertible, diesel- and hybrid-powered sedans to its C-class lineup after the car is redesigned next year. The current C-class is offered only as a sedan and coupe and only with gasoline engines. The rival BWM 3-series is sold in coupe, convertible, station wagon, diesel and hybrid versions.