Hyundai Flaunts 2012 Azera Sedan's Tech and Comfort Features in New Ads

Being that we're approaching the 2012 Azera's U.S. market launch that takes place in April, Hyundai is entering campaign mode.

The South Korean automaker released two new spots for its latest sedan model, both of which were directed by Wes Anderson.

The first one is called "Talk to My Car" and it touts the Azera's technological gadgets with references to Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and Knight Rider's KITT, while the second spot named "Modern Life", is all about the Hyundai's comfort features featuring a mother taking it easy inside the car.

You can watch both commercials in the videos that follow.

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New Hyundai Azera Starts from $32,000*, a $6,605 Premium Over its Predecessor

More often than not, building better vehicles comes at a price but Hyundai's clientele may not be very happy about the company's pricing strategy with the brand-new 2012 Azera that starts at $32,000 (€24,500), not including an $875 delivery and handling fee that pushes the price to $32,875.

Granted, the redesigned Azera costs $4,725 less than the 2012 Lexus ES350 ($36,725), but it's also $6,605 more expensive than its predecessor and only $2,400 cheaper than Hyundai's more upscale and powerful Genesis V6 sedan, which features a 333HP 3.3-liter engine linked to an 8-speed auto.

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2012 Hyundai Azera Sedan to go up Against Buick LaCrosse and Lexus ES [with Video + 50 Photos]

Proving that you don't necessarily need to start off with a strong brand name to succeed in today's crowded car market, Hyundai and its Kia affiliate are building their awareness among consumers with a constant stream of either brand new entries or updated vehicles that are hugely improved over their predecessors.

At the 2011 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai is lifting the covers of the new generation of its Azera sedan that will go on sale shortly as a 2012 model.

As Hyundai pointed out, the 2012 Azera is the seventh new vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative, which means seven new models every 24 months, and comes on the heels of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Equus, Elantra, Accent and Veloster.

The Azera is the North American version of the Korean market Grandeur that was launched in the beginning of the year.

According to Hyundai, the Azera competes against the likes of the Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon and even the Acura TL and Lexus ES350.

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New 2012 Hyundai Azera gets 293HP and 29MPG Highway [Video]

It's only a matter of hours before Hyundai unveils the brand new Azera sedan at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, but the Korean manufacturer has dropped some initial data and a teaser video of the car.

As most of you probably already know, the Azera is based on the South Korean market Hyundai Grandeur that was introduced in its home market this past January.

While the Grandeur is available with a 201HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 270HP 3.0-liter V6, Hyundai says that the North American model will be equipped with a 293HP V6 engine that delivers 29mpg highway.

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New Hyundai Azera and Fiat 500 Abarth Confirmed for LA Show

Ah Twitter; the land of 140-characters where you can follow anyone without creeping them out has lately turned into something like a news board for automakers.

Instead of releasing an announcement on their respective websites, Fiat and Hyundai chose the social network to broadcast their 2011 LA Show debuts, which include the 2012 Azera and the 500 Abarth.

Starting from Hyundai, the South Korean automaker that could, will bring to LA the North American market version of its next generation Azera sedan, which has already been launched in its home market as the Grandeur.

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Shanghai Auto Show: Hyundai Elantra Puts on a New Face for China

The Hyundai Group is now pointing its arrows to the world’s biggest auto market with the unveiling of two new models for China at this week’s 2011 Shanghai Auto Show, the Elantra Yuedong compact sedan and the mid-size Azera, which is badged as Grandeur in some markets.

If the Elantra Yuedong looks familiar, that’s because it is a facelifted version of the fourth generation model sold in the States until 2010. The most prominent change on the outside concerns the revised front that draws on the Azera’s styling.

According to Hyundai, the interior has also been upgraded with higher quality materials and new convenience and safety features such as a smart key / button start, front side airbag, Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS), Navigation, USB2.0 port and eco-driving guide system.

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Hyundai Preparing New Elantra Coupe, Azera and Genesis R-Spec with 429HP V8

After registering record sales in 2010, Hyundai seems committed to an all-out offensive with the company reportedly planning to launch a coupe version of the 2011 Elantra and the new Azera sedan in the U.S. within the next year or so. According to an Autoweek report, the news was broken at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in San Francisco, where the Korean automaker also showed its dealers a photo of the upcoming coupe.

“They showed us a photo of it and it's gorgeous,” said Doug Fox, a Hyundai dealer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “We weren't expecting that.”

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Hyundai Rolls Out 2012 Grandeur / Azera in Korea, Releases Video Showing the Car's Evolution from 1986

Hyundai has been advertising the all-new generation of its Grandeur for quite some time now, but today, the automaker officially launched the large sedan in its home market. The new Grandeur, which will be badged as the 2012 Azera in the States, arrives in the Korean market six years after its predecessor’s launch in May 2005.

Codenamed HG, the 2012 Grandeur is result of three-and-a-half years and 450 billion won (about US$415 million) of research, development and testing. Positioned between the Sonata and the Genesis sedan, the new Grandeur measures 4,910mm (193.3") long, 1,860mm (73.2") wide and 1,470mm (57.9") tall. It rides on a 2,845mm-long (112") wheelbase, which is 65mm (2.6") longer than the outgoing model.

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Hyundai Launches First 4-D Commercial for New Azera Sedan

Hyundai is banking on the latest film technologies to promote its new Azera sedan, at least on its home turf. The automaker released a new advertisement for the mid-size saloon, which is named Grandeur in its home market, in select 4-D and 3-D movie theaters in South Korea. Read more »

2012 Hyundai Azera: New Photos Plus Technical Specs, May Debut at NY Show

We recently got our first official sneak peak at the upcoming 2012 Hyundai Azera, but the South Korean automaker keeps dropping new information and pictures on its mid-size sedan that will take its place between the Sonata and the Genesis. This time we have details on the engine options for the KDM version, which will continue to use the Grandeur nameplate.

In South Korea, the Azera will be offered with a choice of two naturally aspirated engines, both featuring direct-injection technology. The base model will be powered by the same 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder gasoline unit found on the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima, while the flagship version will be motivated by a 3.0-liter GDi V6 delivering 270HP and 31.6 kg/m of peak torque.

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VIDEO: Bang, Bang, Bang it's the 2012 Hyundai Azera Sedan

Having wow'd us with teaser renderings at first followed shortly after by official real-life photographs, Hyundai continues to build hype around its all-new-2012 Azera before the full reveal by giving the car a promotional role in a South Korean TV drama called "The Fugitive Plan B".

While official information around the new Azera, which will be sold as the Grandeur in its home market, remains scarce, one of our South Korean readers, Jinhwan H. claims that word around local news sites is that the car will be offered locally with a choice of three engines. These include the Sonata's 2.4-liter GDI with 200hp and 184.4lb-ft torque, a 3.0-liter V6 GDI delivering 263hp and 225.7lb-ft torque plus a 3.0-liter LPI running on Liquefied Petroleum Gas with 230hp, 204.7lb-ft torque.

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2012 Hyundai Azera - Grandeur: First Official Pictures

Shortly after releasing some teaser renderings of the all-new Azera or Grandeur in South Korea and other markets, Hyundai today dropped the first real life photos of its full size sedan that slots between the Sonata and the Genesis. The pictures were escorted by a South Korean-language press release, but aside from a recap of the car's design features, Hyundai did not reveal any other details on the Azera.

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Hyundai CEO says New Azera Coming Soon, will be More Upscale

You probably have noticed that Hyundai is on a roll lately. Whereas the newly-wed Fiat and Chrysler couple are trying to tidy up the mess left by Daimler -for the most part- with makeovers and tweaks, the South Korean automaker, which also owns Kia, is churning out one new model after the other.

More recently and following a barrage of presentations such as the new Equus, Genesis Sedan and Coupe, Sonata, Tucson, Accent (South Korea and Russia for now) and Elantra, Hyundai gave out the first renderings of its next brand new offering, the 2012 Azera. The family sedan, which will be sold as the Grandeur in certain markets, will slot between the Sonata and the Genesis in Hyundai's NA lineup.

While the official release didn't reveal much, Hyundai's North American boss and always eager to share info on the firm's future plans with the press, John Krafcik, spoke with Autonews on the sidelines of the Los Angeles Auto Show.

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Hyundai Teases All-New Azera / Grandeur, Slots Between Sonata and Genesis

Hyundai is getting ready to lift the wraps of its fully redesigned Azera large sedan that will slot between the front-wheel drive Sonata and the rear-wheel drive Genesis when it arrives in dealerships. The automaker released the first teaser sketches of the 2012 Azera, which will be badged as the Grandeur in South Korea and other markets. The styling reflects Hyundai's 'fluidic sculpture' design language taking cues from both the smaller Sonata and larger Genesis with a hint of Equus at the rear with the pronounced rear wheel arches.

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