WORLDWIDE SALES MAY - SKODA - the brand sold 99,000 cars in the month, above a year earlier.

• Sales: ŠKODA delivers 99,000 vehicles to customers in May (+ 2.4%); Best May of all time
• Markets: Strong growth in Western (+ 4.1%), Eastern (+ 9.9%) and Central Europe (+ 14.5%)
• Model: ŠKODA KODIAQ enjoys high demand; 7500 deliveries in May
• SUV Campaign: Launch of ŠKODA KAROQ starts in fourth quarter of 2017

ŠKODA’s deliveries increased by 2.4% to 99,000 units in May (May 2016: 96,700 vehicles), making it the best May in the company’s history. The traditional Czech brand made significant gains particularly in Europe and India. ŠKODA promises further growth impetus from the current SUV campaign: The ŠKODA KODIAQ – the brand’s first new SUV model – has been successfully launched on the markets; 7500 units were delivered to customers in May. 

The new compact ŠKODA KAROQ SUV, which was presented to the public for the first time in Stockholm in May, will follow in the fourth quarter of 2017.

“ŠKODA continued along the path to success in May,” says Werner Eichhorn, ŠKODA Board Member for Sales and Marketing. “Despite the challenging market conditions in some regions, we were able to sell more vehicles last month than in any May in our history. 

We are particularly pleased with the successful market launch of the ŠKODA KODIAQ. The first vehicle of our SUV campaign has been very well received by our customers.”

ŠKODA is expanding its model range through a comprehensive SUV campaign as part of Strategy 2025. The first representative is the ŠKODA KODIAQ, 17,100 of which have already been delivered since its market launch in March 2017. 7500 of the brand’s first large SUV were delivered in May alone, confirming the steadily growing demand. The ŠKODA KAROQ will further strengthen the brand's position in the important SUV segment. The new compact SUV was introduced in Stockholm in May. More than a million spectators watched the world premiere via live stream. The market launch of ŠKODA KAROQ will take place at the end of this year.

In Western Europe, ŠKODA surpassed last year’s result in May with 42,800 deliveries (+4.1%) (May 2016: 41,100 vehicles). In Germany – the brand’s strongest individual European market –ŠKODA confirmed the excellent result from last year with 15,500 vehicles delivered. The brand also recorded strong sales growth in the markets of France (2300 vehicles, +13.5%), the UK (7000 vehicles, +5.9%), Italy (2600 vehicles, +27.5%), Sweden (1600 vehicles; +8.5%), Austria (2200 vehicles, +5.9%) and the Netherlands (1400 vehicles, +12.7%).

In Central Europe, ŠKODA increased its deliveries by 14.5% to 19,000 units (May 2016: 16,600 vehicles). In the Czech home market, deliveries increased by 12.1% to 9100 vehicles (May 2016: 8100 vehicles). The Czech car manufacturer also made significant gains in Poland (5700 vehicles, +19.2%), Slovakia (1900 vehicles, +10.0%), Croatia (700 vehicles, +74.6%) and Slovenia (600 vehicles, +5.2%).

In Eastern Europe excluding Russia, ŠKODA grew by 9.9% to 3600 vehicles this May (May 2016: 3200 vehicles). The Baltic States (700 vehicles, +25.0%), Serbia (600 vehicles, +16.5%), Ukraine (500 vehicles, +48.5%) and Bulgaria (300 vehicles, +11, 3%) all recorded double-digit growth rates. In Russia, ŠKODA recorded an increase of 5.9% to 5000 units in May (May 2016: 4700).

In China, the brand’s largest individual market, ŠKODA delivered 22,700 vehicles (May 2016: 24,200 vehicles; -6.1 %). This decline is mainly due to the ongoing revision of the model range. ŠKODA had expected this trend and anticipates a normalisation of demand in the second half of the year.

ŠKODA can report a positive result in India, where the manufacturer’s sales increased to 1300 – 34.1% up on last year (May 2016: 1000 vehicles).

ŠKODA deliveries in May 2017 (in units, rounded off, according to model; +/- in percent compared to May 2016):

ŠKODA OCTAVIA (33,000; -10.0 %)

ŠKODA RAPID (16,100; -12.0 %)

ŠKODA FABIA (18,600; +4.5 %)

ŠKODA SUPERB (12,500; +0.2 %)

ŠKODA YETI (7800; -8.0 %)

ŠKODA KODIAQ (7500; - )

ŠKODA CITIGO (Only sold in Europe: 3500; +20.7 %)

The all new Jaguar XF Sportbrake - the ultimate estate you can buy, and a beautiful looker too !

Dynamic new estate revealed as Jaguar celebrates a decade of XF production

• Sports car dynamics, sports car looks and a 1,700-litre load space
• All-wheel drive and All-Surface Progress Control keep you safe whatever the weather 
• Cabin Air Ionisation gives you and your family clean air
• Gesture Control lets you operate the panoramic sun blind or open the boot when your arms are full of kit
• Super-sized panoramic roof floods the interior with light
• Forget the keyring and swim, surf, cycle or run with an activity key 
• Two-tonne towing capacity lets you take the trailer, boat, jet ski or horse box 
• Choose from a range of clean and efficient Ingenium petrol and diesel engines

Jaguar's dynamic new estate has been revealed by world tennis number one Andy Murray. The two-time Wimbledon champion pulled the covers off the new Jaguar XF Sportbrake before placing his precious Wimbledon trophy inside and sending it on a UK-wide tour to inspire the next generation of players.

Jaguar is the Official Car Partner of The Wimbledon Championships and to celebrate the relationship the premium estate was revealed on a replica Centre Court.

 “Winning my first major title ten years ago was an amazing moment for me; the culmination of everything I'd worked for my whole life. I feel very lucky to have got to where I am today and hope that anyone passionate about tennis gets the opportunity to play and improve.

"Letting go of the trophy will be difficult, but there's no better vehicle than the Jaguar XF Sportbrake to take it on this UK tour. I'm pleased that people are going to be able to get up close to the trophy when it visits schools and tennis clubs, and hopefully it might encourage people to pick up a racket this Summer.”

Andy Murray, world tennis number one

The XF Sportbrake joins Jaguar's award-winning XF saloon in its tenth year of production. The XF was launched in 2007 and has now claimed almost 200 global awards. The saloon’s new Sportbrake sibling delivers equally impressive performance, design and technology, with greater practicality and space. 

With sports car-derived handling, a practical 565-litre load space and advanced convenience and safety features, the XF Sportbrake has the best of Jaguar design and technology. It also delivers impressive aerodynamic efficiency of Cd 0.29.

"The iconic Jaguar posters of the 1950s promised customers grace, pace and space. The XF Sportbrake re-imagines this offer for 21st-century active families, with stunning looks, sports car performance and a load space fit for active lifestyles."

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design

Innovations include an intuitive gesture-controlled sunblind for the Sportbrake's super-sized, full-length, panoramic roof, Driver Condition Monitoring to detect signs of tiredness after an active day and a waterproof Activity Key you can wear while playing sport. Customers can also specify Cabin Air Ionisation, which purifies air to provide protection against environmental pollution and promote health and wellbeing.

Self-levelling rear suspension ensures an effortless ride, even when towing loads of 2,000kg. The XF Sportbrake is available with Jaguar’s advanced range of clean and efficient four-cylinder Ingenium petrol and diesel engines with CO2 emissions as low as 118g/km.

“As with the XF saloon, every line on the Sportbrake serves a clear purpose, creating a fast, sweeping silhouette. This gives the car a sense of speed and a very dynamic appearance. As a result, I think it looks just as sporty as the saloon, if not more so.”

Ian Callum, Jaguar Director of Design

After helping to introduce the XF Sportbrake, Andy Murray warmed up for Wimbledon with a light-hearted celebrity doubles match on a pop-up court. Murray and coach Jamie Delgado faced comedians Rob Brydon and Jimmy Carr in a contest streamed live online, with commentary by Tim Henman.

Jaguar is entering its third season as Official Car Partner to The Championships at Wimbledon, which runs from Monday 3 July to Sunday 16 July. Jaguar will supply 170 vehicles from its award-winning range, including the XE, XF, XJ and F-PACE.

To help inspire the next generation of tennis talents, Jaguar is doing something that has never been done before in the history of the Wimbledon Championship, and is taking the famous men’s singles trophy on a nationwide tour of clubs and schools. As Andy Murray counts down to the defence of his Wimbledon title later this month, the gilt cup will be chauffeured between venues in an XF Sportbrake.

The XF is manufactured at Jaguar Land Rover's Castle Bromwich Plant alongside the XE, XJ and F-TYPE. Castle Bromwich is now building six model lines, double that of ten years ago when XF was introduced. Employees who build the new model celebrated by watching the live launch coverage.

A decade of Jaguar XF – ten key moments:

2007 – Launched at Frankfurt Motor Show. First Jaguar saloon designed under Ian Callum
2009 – XFR announced featuring new 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, 0-60mph 4.7s, 510PS
2011 – New XF 2.2 Diesel, 1,313km, one tank of fuel
2012 – First XF Sportbrake revealed
2013 – 200,000th XF produced
2015 – All-New XF Launched, from 104g CO2, Up to 190kg lighter
2015 – All-New XF achieves Five Star Euro NCAP rating
2016 – All-Wheel Drive Launched globally. Long wheelbase XFL revealed at Beijing Motor Show
2017 – 190 awards won globally to date, Jaguar’s most decorated car
2017 – New XF Sportbrake revealed

MG Cars joins the forces Cars to offer preferential rates for their cars.

Serving and ex-forces personnel will be given the chance to fly the flag for MG Motor UK with a specialised discount scheme, thanks to a new partnership with Forces Cars Direct, sister company to Motor Source Group – the leading provider of new car discounts for serving and retired employees of the military, police, prison service, fire and rescue services, NHS and education sector. 

The agreement will see MG’s stylish vehicle range available to those who serve, or have served, in the armed forces at a special rate. The scheme will also benefit those working in the public sector, including teachers and NHS staff, who will also be offered preferential rates. 

The partnership with MG was born out of customer demand for a wider range of vehicles, with the MG3 Supermini and the company’s first SUV, the MG GS, fitting the bill perfectly. From this month (June), MG vehicles will be available to order through the Forces Cars Direct and Motor Source Group websites. 

Forces Cars Direct was set up in 2001 and quickly became the largest online company specialising in providing discounts to forces personnel. Over the past 14 years, the company has delivered more than 12,000 new vehicles to veterans, and has developed close relationships with many automotive manufacturers. 

Steve Thornton, Managing Director of Forces Cars Direct, commented: “We are very proud to welcome MG to the Forces Cars Direct family. The brand’s rich heritage, and growing reputation as a provider of affordable, quality cars, is what drove us to strike this deal. 

“Over the past 14 years, we have become the one-stop-shop for current and ex-forces personnel to gain access to a wide range of new cars. In addition, we have been able to extend this service, through the Motor Source Group, to individuals working across our public services, who we feel deserve to get something back for the magnificent work they contribute to society.” 

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “We are obviously delighted to develop this initiative and make our affordable range accessible to both current and veteran forces personnel. 

“Our dealer network already has very strong links into their communities, and is looking forward to spreading the Forces Cars Direct message too.” 

For more information on Forces Cars Direct, and to see the great offers available on the MG range, visit: http://www.forcescarsdirect.com/ and www.motorsourcegroup.com 

Versatile and sporty new high tech flagship for all-new Megane Range of cars.

• GT dCi 165 Auto EDC is now available as a hatchback or Sport Tourer estate priced from £27,740
• High-tech, high performance diesel engine joins the 205hp petrol engine GT version
• New twin-turbo engine is the most powerful 1.6-litre diesel available on the market today with power and torque output of 165hp and 380Nm respectively
• Developed and engineered by Renault Sport
• 4Control chassis with unique-in-class four-wheel steering

The All-New Renault Mégane has gained a versatile and sporty new flagship with the launch of the GT dCi 165 Auto EDC. Available in both hatchback and Sport Tourer bodystyles, the new twin-turbo engine is the most powerful 1.6-litre diesel available on the market today with power and torque output of 165hp and 380Nm respectively.

The latest addition to the GT range, developed and engineered by Renault Sport, the GT dCi 165 Auto EDC is ideal for drivers who like to access torque at low revs for enjoyable performance in all conditions. It is mated to Renault’s sophisticated, smooth-shifting six-speed Efficient Dual-Clutch (EDC) gearbox.

The GT dCi 165 Auto EDC is capable of 0-62mph in 8.8 seconds with a top speed of 133mph, yet still returns NEDC combined-cycle fuel consumption of 61.4mpg and CO2 of 120g/km. The figures for the Sport Tourer are 8.9sec, 133mph, 61.4mpg and 124g/km respectively.

Renault Sport-developed technology

The GT dCi 165 Auto EDC’s performance enables drivers to make the most of its Renault Sport-developed suspension and 4Control chassis with four-wheel steering for a safe, yet dynamic experience on twisty roads.

At speeds of less than 50mph in Sport mode and 37mph in other modes the front and rear wheels turn in opposite directions, by up to 2.7 degrees at the back, giving the GT the manoeuvrability of a shorter-wheelbase vehicle. At higher speeds the front and rear wheels steer in the same direction, turning by up to 1 degree at the back, for greater stability. 4Control calculates the angle of the rear wheels 100 times a second and adjusts them as necessary.

Ride comfort and handling has been enhanced thanks to specific springs, dampers and anti-roll bar settings by Renault Sport.

Sporty looks

Exterior and interior enhancements give the GT a more sporty and dynamic appearance. At the front, a wider lower air intake with a honeycomb-pattern mesh is flanked by lateral scoops. Dark metal, diamond cut 18-inch alloy wheels and door mirror housings match the finish on the front air scoops and rear diffuser. Iron Blue metallic body colour is exclusive to the GT & GT Line range at £645.

Inside, the GT’s sports front seats feature additional lateral support to the base and backrest and integral headrests, blue top-stitching and a chequered logo. The upholstery options – in fabric or Alcantara – provide hints of blue, whilst the steering wheel is leather.  The GT features an auto-dimming rearview mirror and chrome door sill plates with the Renaultsport logo.

Safety

The use of the Alliance CMF platform to manufacture the All-New Renault Mégane means a range of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are available to improve safety. Standard equipment for the GT Nav includes the Visio system (lane departure warning, traffic sign recognition, automatic high/low beam), Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction and understeer control, ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution, Hill Start Assist (HSA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), speed limiter, and automatic headlights and windscreen wipers.

Premium equipment

The All-New Mégane gives customers a level of specification and equipment usually expected in the class above. In the case of the GT, this includes a hands-free keycard, automatic Dual Zone climate control, full LED headlights and a rear parking camera with front & rear parking sensors. For comfort, the driver’s seat adjusts for height and lumbar support and the steering wheel adjusts for rake and reach.

The R-LINK2 multimedia system features an 8.7-inch portrait display which is highly responsive and can be operated with pinch and zoom movements, just like a smartphone or tablet. It gives access to TomTom® LIVE services with Western EU mapping, DAB/ FM/AM tuner, Bluetooth® audio streaming and vehicle apps.

The Multi-Sense system is another technology from the segment above, allowing owners to personalise the driving experience using technology first introduced on Renault’s D-segment models. Multi-Sense can be used to modify the throttle pedal and engine response, engine sound, steering weight, the speed of the Auto EDC gear changes, TFT instrument display design and interior lighting ambience through a choice of five colours.

Peace of mind

All versions provide the peace of mind of Renault’s 4+ warranty and assistance package. The car is protected by Renault for four years or 100,000 miles (first two years have no mileage limit). In the event of a breakdown, Renault provides emergency roadside repairs or towing to the nearest dealer 24/7 every day of the year, plus three years’ European cover. There is also a three-year paint warranty and 12 years’ cover against corrosion.

Servicing is required once a year or every 18,000 miles.

Manufacturing

Built at the Palencia plant in Spain alongside the Kadjar, the Mégane uses the Renault-Nissan Alliance’s versatile new Common Module Family (CMF) architecture, which is used on the Espace, Talisman and Kadjar. The platform allows a wide range of cars of different sizes to be created using a variety of modules consisting of out-of-view parts, and is based around five available modules: cockpit, engine bay, front underbody, rear underbody and electronic architecture.

The factory is a success story for Renault with an increase in workforce from 1,900 to 4,200 in the past two years. A third shift has been re-introduced, output has more than doubled from 600 cars a day to 1,350 and in 2016 the plant produced more than 300,000 cars.

The All-New Mégane bodies are made in a new fully automated assembly shop, equipped more than 350 new robots. A new paint facility, resulting from the Alliance’s collaboration with Daimler, includes a light booth which can identify the most minute colour differences between panels painted on-site or brought in from suppliers.

The All-New Mégane was subjected to a painstaking development process followed by a series of tests in extreme conditions to ensure its reliability and durability. It underwent 710,000 kilometres (450,000 miles) of testing on Renault’s punishing tracks – the equivalent of 2.1 million kilometres (almost 1.2 million miles) of real-world use. Twenty-five prototypes covered more than 1.2 million kilometres (750,000 miles) each to identify any possible problems.

Technical Information

Mégane	MPG (NEDC Comb)	CO2 (g/km)	BIK (band %)	VED (band)	Price (OTR)
GT Nav dCi 165 Auto EDC	61.4	120	26%	D	£27,740
GT Nav dCi 165 Auto EDC Sport Tourer	60.1	124	26%	D	£29,040

Ownership Information & Pricing

Mégane GT Option Pricing

Pack	Price
Metallic Paint	£545
Renault i.d. Metallic Paint	£645
Panoramic sunroof	£500
Emergency spare wheel	£100
Hands-Free parking	£350
Safety Pack Premium: Adaptive cruise control, Distance warning and AEBS	£400
Alcantara upholstery: Two-tone blue and carbon grey alcantara upholstery	£1,200
BOSE Sound system: 7 speakers with a digital amplifier + 1 Subwoofer	£600
Parking Pack Premium (Sport Tourer only): Hands Free Parking, 360 degree parking sensors and Blind spot warning	£500

The most powerful Vauxhall ever built gets it's last hurrah at Goodwood this year.

• Near-600PS final-edition VXR8 marks swan song for epic V8 bruiser

Vauxhall’s mighty VXR8 range of cars will be given a final hurrah at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed (June 29 – July 2) when a very special last-of-line edition takes to the track as part of the First Glance track class, driven by a variety of high profile drivers.

Known as the Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-R, the new model is powered by an evolution of the current GTS’s supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine, producing 595PS (up from 576PS) and 740Nm of torque, making it Vauxhall’s most powerful car in the company’s 114-year history.

Production of the Holden Commodore model, on which the GTS-R is based, comes to an end in Australia this October, when Holden’s manufacturing plant finally closes. Vauxhall – a sister brand to Holden in the GM family – has been importing the VXR8 in various forms since 2007, and sells the car through selected dealerships in its network with full service back up and a three-year, 60,000-mile warranty.

As befits its last-of-line status, the GTS-R is no ordinary VXR8 – and in this form it’s exclusive to the UK, too. Sending drive via a limited slip differential to the rear wheels, the GTS-R retains the previous GTS’s clever torque vectoring system, but adds an upgraded braking system with six-piston, monoblock calipers and 410mm discs up front. In addition, the GTS-R wears all-new 20-inch forged alloy rims (ten-inch width at the rear, 9-inch at the front).

Visually, the GTS-R has a fresh face, with a new front fascia, splitter, wings and carbon fibre vents, while at the rear there’s a new-look diffuser, spoiler (with carbon fibre upper), lower panel and quad exhaust outlets with diamond-shaped exhaust tips. Inside, the diamond theme continues in the Alcantara and leather seat trim, with the steering wheel and gear-lever also trimmed in Alcantara.

The current supercharged LSA engine has been re-mapped and is fitted with a high-flow air filter to achieve its hike in power.

Just 15 Vauxhall VXR8 GTS-Rs will come to the UK, at an on-the-road price of £74,500.

The GTS-R will join another new Vauxhall – the Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 (260PS) Turbo 4x4 – in Goodwood’s First Glance Paddock, next to the Cartier Lawn at the Festival of Speed. Both cars will be driven on the hill climb twice a day through the event by a series of high-profile drivers

Irish Rugy ace opens latest MG Dealership as the new MG3 spyshots and MG GS facelift are available.

Irish rugby legend, Rory Best, officially opened the all-new MG showroom at Greg Mitchell Motors in Strabane on Friday, 26May 2017. A further expansion to the site, the new development will be used exclusively for retailing MG’s latest model line-up.

With special offers, test drive bookings and the chance to touch shoulders with one of Ireland’s rugby heroes, the Greg Mitchell Motors launch evening was a fantastic experience for sport fanatics and savvy motorists alike. Alongside a ribbon cutting ceremony, Rory organised rugby activities for local children, as well as talking about his championship-winning career and the Lions tour to New Zealand.

Greg Mitchell, owner of Greg Mitchell Motors, commented: “Expanding and joining the MG dealer network is a big step forward for the business. The honour of having Rory Best officially opening our new showroom was the icing on the cake. With an award-winning range of stylish cars, fitted with the latest vehicle technologies, MG has the perfect model for every driver. Fun, practical and affordable, you can get behind the wheel of a new MG without breaking the bank!”

Alongside highlighting the stylish MG3 Supermini and family-friendly MG GS SUV, the launch evening saw the Ulster and Ireland hooker showcase the all-new MG XS Compact SUV. Revealed to the public at The London Motor Show earlier this month (4 May), the state-of-the-art model will be available to test drive later this year.

Featuring the latest in driver technology, in-car infotainment and next-generation vehicle design, the MG XS offers a glimpse of the future for MG’s iconic model range. Available in two engine derivatives and either automatic or manual transmission, the MG XS has been specifically-developed to suit market demand for a competitively-priced, family-friendly Compact SUV.

Matthew Cheyne, Head of Sales and Marketing at MG Motor UK, added: “The launch of the new Greg Mitchell Motors MG showroom was a fantastic opportunity for MG to engage with motorists across Northern Ireland, as well as introduce our latest models.

“We continue to grow our network, with almost 80 dealers across the UK and Ireland. We’re confident that Greg Mitchell Motors will be a fantastic addition to the MG network.”

USA - 2018 Hyundai Santa Fe line-Upfeatures new value focused trim and enhanced specification.

• New Santa Fe Sport Value Package offers Exceptional Appeal

The award-winning Hyundai Santa Fe lineup continues to improve for the 2018 model year. Building upon major 2017 enhancements such as fresh exterior design and LED lighting signatures to additional infotainment, safety features and new Drive Mode selection, an all-new Value package on the Santa Fe Sport delivers popular features at an exceptional value. The 2018 Santa Fe Sport is arriving at dealers now and the 2018 Santa Fe models will be arriving early summer.

2018 Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport Highlights

Packaging

• New Santa Fe Sport model Value Package:
  • Heated dual power side mirrors with turn signal indicators
  • Power windows with front auto-up/down
  • Proximity key with push-button start
    • (includes Remote Start via Blue Link app)
• Seven-inch display audio with Android Auto™, Apple CarPlay™ & SiriusXM
• Dual automatic temperature control with Clean Air ionizer
• Hyundai Blue Link® Connected Car System
• Power driver seat with lumbar support
• Heated front seats
• LED daytime running lights (DRL)
• Front fog lights
• Roof side rails

Interior

• Premium wood finish trim now standard on leather-equipped Santa Fe/Santa Fe Sports
• Blue Link-equipped Santa Fe Sports and Santa Fes now include all services standard for a full three years (see detailed standard services list in Blue Link section) 

POWERTRAINS

The 2018 Santa Fe line-up continues to offer front- or all-wheel drive and seating options for five, six or seven passengers. The Santa Fe Sport is powered by an efficient 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injected engine with 185 horsepower or the more powerful, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 240 horsepower. 

2018 Santa Fe (three-row) uses the 3.3-liter Lambda II V6 engine, with 290 horsepower. All Santa Fe engines utilize high-pressure direct injection and Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT). A six-speed automatic transmission is standard on all models. Active Cornering Control and a windshield wiper de-icer is also standard on AWD Santa Fe models.

GENEROUS FEATURE CONTENT

Santa Fe offers a comprehensive list of standard features, including a rearview camera, automatic on/off headlights, remote keyless entry with alarm, bodycolor power side mirrors with driver’s blind spot mirror, LED headlight accents, daytime running lights, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control and Bluetooth hands-free smartphone system. Premium features such as HID Xenon headlights, panoramic sunroof, navigation and an updated 12-speaker Infinity Logic7® audio system which features QuantumLogic® Surround and Clari-Fi™ Music Restoration Technology are available. Also available is Hyundai’s innovative power Hands-Free Smart Liftgate with Auto Open, which makes it even easier for owners to gain access to the cargo area whenever their hands are full. This system makes it easy for the driver to keep both feet comfortably on the ground by simply standing within a few feet of the rear bumper with the key fob in a purse or pocket for a few seconds.

BLUE LINK® STANDARD SERVICES

For 2018, Hyundai is making a variety of services standard on all Blue Link-equipped Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport models. Blue Link Connected Care, Remote and Guidance packages are now free for three years. Some of these Blue Link services are now also accessible via smartphone, smartwatch and virtual assistant devices like Amazon Alexa and Google Home, such as Remote door lock, Remote Start with Climate Control, Destination Search by Google® and the Monthly Vehicle Health Report.

Hyundai is going above and beyond the competition by making all Blue Link safety and security features like Automatic Collision Notification, SOS Emergency Assistance and Stolen Vehicle Recovery standard to subscribers as well. These important features include immediate access to the Blue Link Emergency Response Center in the event of an accident, faster connection to emergency services and 24/7, 365 days/year access to emergency assistance via the dedicated SOS button. Blue Link can also assist the police in locating and recovering a stolen vehicle.

In addition to making the current features standard, Hyundai will tackle the inconvenience of outdated map software by offering free downloads to maintain up-to-date navigation programming on the system’s SD card via the MyHyundai website. These complimentary updates also will be available for three years as part of the Guidance Package.

Blue Link standard features include:

Connected Care Package

• Automatic Collision Notification
• SOS Emergency Assistance
• Enhanced Roadside Assistance
• Monthly Vehicle Health Report
• Automatic Diagnostic Trouble Code Notification
• Service Link
• Maintenance Reminder
• Driving Information
• On-Demand Diagnostics

Remote Package

(Most features can be activated via Amazon Alexa skill, smartphone app or smartwatch)

• Remote Start with Climate Control (Requires push-button start)
• Remote Door Lock / Unlock
• Remote Horn and Lights
• Car Finder
• Stolen Vehicle Recovery
• Stolen Vehicle Slowdown
• Stolen Vehicle Immobilization
• Alarm Notification
• Curfew Alert
• Geo-Fence
• Speed Alert
• Valet Alert

Guidance Package (Requires Onboard Navigation)

• Destination Search Powered by Google
• Destination Send-to-Car by Google
• Multimedia and Navigation Updates (provides complimentary map updates)

ANDROID AUTO™ AND APPLE CARPLAY™ SUPPORT

Both Santa Fe and Santa Fe Sport are compatible with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for seamless and intuitive operation of the most commonly-used smartphone functions, including navigation, streaming audio, voice-controlled search capabilities, making phone calls and sending messages along with more than 40 approved smartphone apps. Android Auto is compatible with Android phones running Android 5.0, Lollipop or higher. Apple CarPlay is compatible with iPhone 5 and later models running IOS 7 and above.

SAFETY

Standard safety equipment on the 2018 Santa Fe lineup includes Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and Traction Control System, seven airbags, including a driver’s knee airbag, four-wheel disc brakes and ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC) with Downhill Brake Control (DBC) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).

2018 SANTA FE SPORT PRICING

MODEL	FWD/AWD	MSRP
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4	FWD	$24,950
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4	AWD	$26,500
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4 VALUE	FWD	$26,850
SANTA FE SPORT 2.4 VALUE	AWD	$28,400
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T	FWD	$31,350
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T	AWD	$32,900
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE	FWD	$35,650
SANTA FE SPORT 2.0T ULTIMATE	AWD	$37,200

*Destination charges $895

Santa Fe Sport pricing will be released in early summer.