Kia, Hyundai Both Named Most Economical Cars Of 2012 By Forbes, Kelly Blue Book

Initial cost is not the only thing that makes a car an economical purchase.  It's actually the long-term investment aspect that plays the biggest role.  A cheaper vehicle up-front may, in actuality, cost more to maintain over its lifespan.

“Car shoppers should take the time to compare vehicles on their consideration lists to fully understand the financial implications involved with cost of ownership,” says Juan Flores, director of vehicle valuation for Kelley Blue Book.  “While a vehicle might be less expensive up front, the cost of fuel for that model, insurance and other expenditures could make it the less appealing choice for their wallet in the long run.”

Forbes recommends doing thorough research before making a purchase.  They consulted Kelley Blue Book, which recently announced its inaugural Total Cost of Ownership Awards.  The kbb.com website focuses on these variables of cost, among others:

1) Depreciation Value: How will the car hold up over time?  kbb.com bases its predictions on historical data (how the model has performed in the past) and economic factors.
2) Fuel Economy: Gas is expected to rise going into the summer months.  Significant amounts of money can be saved by buying a more fuel efficient vehicle; estimates put savings due to fuel costs at close to $900/year.  That's close to $4500 of savings over the standard 5-yr span.
3) Auto Insurance: Insurance is mostly based on the driver's past experience, age, credit rating, address, etc., but it is also based on the model of the car.  Luxury brands and sports cars tend to have higher insurance costs to start, while family minivans and SUVs will have a lower starting insurance cost.

According to kbb.com, the Best Brand for 2012 in their Total Cost of Ownership Awards is none other than Kia.  Kia is sweeping the Unites States car scene off its feet with its stellar fuel economy and resale value.  The Kia Soul heads KBB's Compact Car category because "its lowest-in-category fair purchase price matched with outstanding fuel and insurance cost figures combined to give it nearly a $1,300 advantage over the Hyundai Elantra."

In the Mid-Sized car category Kia and its sister company Hyundai switched places; the Hyundai Sonata beat out Kia's Optima to win the top spot.  Similarly, the Hyundai Santa Fe outpaced the Kia Sorento in the Crossover category "based on its combination of lowest fair purchase price and lowest long-term depreciation coupled with lower maintenance and insurance costs."

The Genesis Of Dependability

"Old Reliable" just got a shiny new face.  According to J.D. Power and Associates, the Hyundai Genesis ranked number one in the midsize premium car category in the 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study (VDS).  The study surveys original car owners three years after initial purchase, making this year the first of eligibility for the Genesis which launched into the market in model year 2009.  The Genesis was the only category award recipient in its first year of eligibility, beating out other top brands such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the BMW 5 Series.

The VDS measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of three-year-old (2009 model year) vehicles includes 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality.  The Genesis "received 81 points, the lowest ever among any Hyundai automobile,’’ a Hyundai official said.  Hyundai has shown consistent improvement in VDS, reducing problems per 100 vehicles by 75 points over the past five years.  Hyundai finished ninth overall, ahead of Honda, Nissan, Volkswagen, BMW and Audi.

The Genesis sedan has been gathering awards left and right from prominent and influential media and automotive organizations ever since its 2009 debut.  Along with many other honors and distinctions, the model received the much-coveted North American Car of the Year Award, is a 3-time winner of Ward’s Ten Best Engines, and earned a Top Safety Award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).

Improving every year, the Genesis combines the best of two worlds: the high-tech features and power specs customary of a luxury vehicle paired with a competitively low price and superb safety ratings.

"Our goal is to design and build cars that meet and exceed consumers' expectations not only off the showroom floor, but through the duration of their ownership experience.  Earning Hyundai's first-ever top 10 finish in the J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study demonstrates that our efforts are paying dividends," said Erwin Raphael, director of engineering and quality, Hyundai Motor America.  "It's equally gratifying to see Genesis sedan, a content-rich model with all the features you expect of a premium car, outperform powerful competitors in its category.  Long-term dependability translates to a positive ownership experience and brings customers back to the Hyundai brand in the future."

So You Think You Know Jack?

Is your child or pet a big fan of Gary Rome Auto Group?  Catch them on video reacting to a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial and one lucky winner could be the new star of the next Gary Rome Auto Group commercial!

OFFICIAL RULES:

Go to http://www.gotogary.com/video/ to submit your entry.

1. Contest Dates:

The “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest begins February 1, 2012, and ends March 31, 2012.

VIDEO SUBMISSION PERIOD: February 1, 2012 - March 31, 2012

SELECTION OF BEST VIDEOS: April 1, 2012 - April 13, 2012

NOTIFICATION OF WINNERS: April 16, 2012 - April 20, 2012

2. Eligibility:

Submitting a video in this contest is open to persons who on the date of entry are legal residents of one (1) of the fifty (50) United States or the District of Columbia, at least eighteen (18) years of age (or age of majority if greater than 18), and who are registered users of http://www.youtube.com or

http://vimeo.com. Employees, officers, directors and their immediate family members of the contest

entities and each of their respective parents, affiliated and subsidiary companies, advertising and

promotion agencies, legal and financial advisers, and any and all other companies associated with this contest are not eligible to enter. For purposes of this contest, "immediate family members" means

parents, spouses, children, siblings, in-laws, grandmothers, or grandfathers.

3. Video Submission Requirements:

• Running Time: Five (5) minute maximum, including any credits. If entry is longer than five (5) minutes, the entry may be disqualified in the Administrator’s sole discretion.
• Language: English
• Video: The video should feature your pet or your child's reaction to watching a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial.
• Age: Any child recorded in the video must be ten (10) years of age or younger.

4. Judging to Determine the Potential Winners:

All eligible video submissions received during the video submission period will be watched and

judged.  The judges will score each eligible entrant’s video based on the following judging criteria,

each given equal weight:

• Does the video feature either a pet and/or a child (under the age of ten (10))?
• How original/creative/entertaining, to all age groups, is the video submission?
• How favorable is the Video Submission to Gary Rome Auto Group?
• For helpful examples, check out the following links:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmqeosjjTaY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u23WgtoOJUY

Based on the above judging criteria, the winning videos will be chosen. 

5. Additional Terms:

All entrants of  the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest must agree to the following terms and

conditions. DO NOT enter this contest if you do not agree with these terms and conditions. Your video submissions may be used for a Gary Rome Auto Group commercial but may not be copied,

sold or distributed to other persons.

We reserve the rights to change the rules and prizes without any written notice.

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The undersigned (the participant or the legal guardian, if the former is less than 18 years of age) for and in consideration of the granting of permission to Gary Rome Auto Group, agrees to refrain from suing and discharges Gary Rome Auto Group and its officers, agents and employees from all liability arising out of the participation of the contestant in the “So You Think You Know Jack?” contest. The

undersigned agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Gary Rome Auto Group for any loss or damage that the contestant may incur due to the acts or the omissions of the contestant while participating in the aforementioned event. The undersigned having read and understood agrees to comply with the rules and the safety provisions established for the contest.

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By submitting your video you give Gary Rome Auto Group the rights to use your video in any/or all

promotional spots. As a guardian, you will be required to fill out a consent form for any contestant under the age of eighteen (18). Proof of guardianship will be required.

8. Who Won:

The winning entrants will be notified on or by April 20, 2012.

Grand prize: The lucky winner will be featured in an upcoming Gary Rome Auto Group commercial

& receive a choice of a $250 American Express gift card or a $250 Dave's Soda & Pet City gift card.

Transportation to the filming studio, in West Springfield, MA, is the responsibility of the winner.

Every valid submission will receive a stuffed Jack doll.

Hyundai Sonata Leads the Competition With Best Fuel Economy in the EPA Large Car Segment

Sonata Provides Generous Interior Roominess without Typical Fuel Economy Compromises Associated With Large Car Comfort

Hyundai Sonata, the popular sedan offering class-above interior volume compared with its key competitors, also provides the best fuel economy in the EPA Large Car segment with an exceptional 28 mpg combined fuel economy rating.

Sonata interior volume is a generous 120.2 cubic feet, placing it in the EPA Large Car segment, where most of its competitors offer significantly lower combined fuel economy ratings.

2012 EPA Large Car Segment Combined Fuel Economy Ratings

EPA Large Car Segment	Hyundai Sonata	Chevrolet Impala	Chrysler 300	Dodge Charger	Ford Taurus	Honda Accord	Toyota Avalon
EPA Combined fuel economy rating (mpg)	28	22	23	23	22	27	23

Even among traditionally recognized mid-sized segment competitors, Sonata offers unsurpassed fuel economy.

2012 Traditional Mid-size Car Segment Combined Fuel Economy Ratings

Traditional Mid-size Car Segment	Hyundai Sonata	Chevrolet Malibu	Toyota Camry	Nissan Altima	Nissan Maxima	Ford Fusion	Kia Optima
EPA Combined fuel economy rating (mpg)	28	26	28	27	22	26	28

"In developing the made-in-USA Sonata for mid-size sedan consumers, Hyundai engineers continually sought to exceed their expectations," said Mike O'Brien, Hyundai's vice president of corporate and strategic planning. "This meant overcoming the traditional compromises that face product development engineers, such as providing comfortable interior roominess coupled with powerful engines and exceptional fuel economy."

Sonata's large-car level of interior roominess, combined with fuel economy leadership, proves that manufacturers must continually challenge conventional thinking to delight their customers in new ways. This year, it's clear that consumers have responded to Hyundai's development team efforts with Sonata selling more than 200,000 Sonatas for the first time ever.

REAL-WORLD FUEL ECONOMY SATISFACTION

Not only does Sonata excel in government tests with exceptional combined fuel economy ratings, it also proves its efficiency in the day-to-day driving of its owners. In the 2011 J.D. Power APEAL satisfaction study, Sonata had the highest owner-reported satisfaction levels of its mid-size and large sedan competitors, with 30 percent of its owners rating its fuel economy the top rank of "truly exceptional."

2011 J.D. Power APEAL Satisfaction Study Owner-reported Ratings

Sonata Sedan Competitors	Hyundai Sonata	Comp. Model A	Comp. Model B	Comp. Model C	Comp. Model D	Comp. Model E	Comp. Model F	Mid-size Segment Average
Rating of Vehicle's Fuel Economy (mpg) (1-10) 10 = "Truly Exceptional"	30%	18%	16%	19%	20%	19%	23%	20%
Fuel Economy Index Mean/Weighted Average	814.4	745.0	753.9	761.5	760.1	719.3	800.9	756.3

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee. Hyundai is a registered trademark of Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. ©2011 Hyundai Motor America.

HYUNDAI NAMED TOP CPO PROGRAM

Awards Revealed at Certified Pre-Owned Forum and National Remarketing Conference In Las Vegas Nov. 15

IntelliChoice, the leading provider of automotive cost of ownership and value analysis and part of the Motor Trend Automotive Group, announced today the winners of its 13th annual ranking of manufacturer Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) programs, at the Certified Pre-Owned Forum and National Remarketing Conference in Las Vegas. For the fifth straight year, Volvo earned the top ranking among Premium manufacturers, while Hyundai was ranked highest among Popular vehicle brands.

Each year, IntelliChoice issues the industry's only independent report card comparing Certified Pre-Owned programs offered to consumers through franchise dealerships. Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles (CPOs) are cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles that have come off lease or have been resold to dealers, and have been thoroughly inspected prior to sale. Car manufacturers have traditionally refined and augmented their programs based on the criteria employed by IntelliChoice in its benchmarking analysis, in an effort to compete more effectively in the marketplace for certified used cars.

"Since 2008, Hyundai had placed third overall in the Popular category, but was finally able to break into the top spot overtaking the two previous winners, MINI and Volkswagen," said Eric Anderson, senior analyst at IntelliChoice. "While Volvo was able to retain its top ranking in the Premium category, Cadillac and Porsche are not far behind."

Tyler Schulze, vice president and general manager of IntelliChoice, added, "The Certified Pre-Owned segment of the market continues to be very important to manufacturers and dealers alike, particularly due to the recent contraction in used-vehicle inventory levels. The ability for dealers to certify their best used cars and trucks under a compelling program sponsored by the manufacturer is a clear win for both the consumer and the dealer. We continue to see marginal year-over-year improvements in CPO program features across all makes, indicating that consumers can benefit from the ever-increasing competition in this market segment."

Methodology

IntelliChoice originally developed its CPO analysis methodology to address the significant growth of manufacturer CPO programs in line with its stated mission to provide consumers with comprehensive automotive analysis and advice. IntelliChoice investigates and analyzes 26 manufacturer programs which are divided into two major classes: Premium and Popular. Programs are then rated on the following set of nine criteria that consumers have identified as being most valuable to their decision-making processes:

Extended Manufacturer Warranties
Title Verification
Certification Inspection Process
Roadside Assistance
Special Financing
Return/Exchange Policies
Program and Dealer Compliance
Used Cost of Ownership
Market Penetration

The 2012 Winners Include:

Premium:
Overall Winner Volvo
Best Warranty Porsche
Used Cost of Ownership Lincoln
Popular:
Overall Winner Hyundai
Best Warranty MINI
Used Cost of OwnershipToyota

Top 5 Premium Programs:
1. Volvo
2. Cadillac
3. Porsche
4. Lexus
5. Lincoln

Top 5 Popular Programs:
1. Hyundai
2. MINI
3. Toyota
4. Honda
5. Scion

About IntelliChoice

IntelliChoice, part of the Motor Trend Auto Group, is the market leader in automotive ownership cost and car values analysis. Founded in 1986, IntelliChoice is committed to empowering consumers to make better purchase decisions by providing independent and essential automotive information and tools. Through the IntelliChoice.com web site consumers get the help they need to research, compare, configure and price new cars. The site also connects buyers to the buying alternatives of their choice, including vehicle manufacturers and an online car buying guide. Motor Trend Auto Group is a subsidiary of Source Interlink Media, a recognized provider of targeted media and marketing services and one of the largest publishers of magazines and online content for enthusiast audiences.

HYUNDAI EQUUS RECEIVES J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES 2011 APEAL AWARD

- Equus Tops Large Premium Car Segment
- Hyundai Ranks Ahead of All Asian and Domestic Non-Premium Brands
- Hyundai Achieves Biggest Rank Increase in Industry With 33 Point Gain

J.D. Power and Associates designated the 2011 Hyundai Equus as its most appealing large premium car in the 2011 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study^SM as Hyundai soared in the annual owner survey. In its 16th year, the APEAL study examines owners' assessments of the design, content, layout, and performance of their new vehicle. Vehicles and their brands are scored on a 1,000 point scale.

The Equus exceeded 900 points in this year’s study, achieving the highest APEAL score of any model in the industry. Equus outscored all other luxury premium sedans and performed considerably better than the segment average in the categories of vehicle exterior, storage, and audio/entertainment/navigation.

"The Equus has the distinction of being the highest-performing model in the 2011 APEAL Study," said J.D. Power and Associates. "The Hyundai Equus has achieved an impressive introduction into the marketplace from a performance, execution and layout perspective."

Overall, Hyundai was the most-improved nameplate in the industry and moved up 13 rank positions and 33 points to place 15th in 2011. This is the highest Hyundai has ever ranked in the APEAL Study, finishing ahead of all the Asian and U.S. domestic non-premium brands. The improvement is driven primarily by two of its redesigned models, the Sonata and Elantra, which improve by 57 and 35 points, respectively.

"We are thrilled with the recognition of Equus and the Hyundai brand as a whole in this year's J.D. Power and Associates APEAL study," said Frank Ferrara, executive vice president, Customer Satisfaction, Hyundai Motor America. "With the success of our Equus flagship and the unique appeal of our dynamically designed and fuel-efficient Elantra and Sonata, we're continuing our quest to satisfy all types of American car buyers."

Additionally, in the tightest race in the study, the Hyundai Sonata finished second by just two points – 818 v. 816 -- in the midsize car segment.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee.

2011 HYUNDAI ELANTRA RANKED ONE OF THE "TOP 10 COOLEST NEW CARS UNDER $18,000" BY KELLEY BLUE BOOK'S KBB.COM

Kbb.com Praises 40 MPG Elantra for Design, Fuel-Efficiency

The 2011 Hyundai Elantra has been named one of the "Top 10 Coolest New Cars under $18,000" by Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com. According to kbb.com experts, the Elantra was chosen on the basis of two criteria—being fun to drive and fun to own. Kbb.com praised the Elantra's "all-around package of slick design, convenient features and fuel efficiency," as well as the fact that "every Elantra gets 40 miles per gallon on the highway."

The Elantra will be one of four Hyundai vehicles sold in 2011 that achieves the milestone 40 MPG highway fuel economy rating, along with the Accent, Sonata Hybrid and the Veloster. Elantra received a complete redesign for 2011, as well as an 18 percent bump in fuel efficiency over its predecessor.

"We're honored that kbb.com recognized so many of the things about the Elantra that we baked into the recipe," said Brandon Ramirez, manager, Product Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "With standard 40 mpg highway fuel economy and terrific looks, as well as a wealth of advanced technological and safety features, the Elantra is definitely one of the coolest options in its segment." The 2011 Elantra excels in terms of design and fuel economy, but it also rises above the competition with a combination of advanced safety features, exceptional interior room equal to that of a midsize sedan and an all-new 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine. All of these features, plus Hyundai's industry-leading standard warranty, amount to an exceptional vehicle that is also an exceptional value.

As kbb.com notes, "it takes some panache to be fuel efficient, affordable and great looking, and the 2011 Hyundai Elantra pulls it off in style."

Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com, remarked of all the vehicles featured in the "Top 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000," "There are great deals to be had on many new cars under $18,000, but only a handful of them really possess that cool, difficult-to-describe 'it' factor. Each year the competition keeps getting tougher in this affordable segment, with more personality-filled, amenity-laden, versatile vehicles entering the marketplace."

For more information about kbb.com's 2011 "Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000," please visit http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-_-2011-edition/.

KELLEY BLUE BOOK

Founded in 1926, Kelley Blue Book, The Trusted Resource®, is the only vehicle valuation and information source trusted and relied upon by both consumers and the industry. Each week the company provides the most market-reflective values in the industry on its top-rated website www.kbb.com, including its famous Blue Book® Trade-In and Retail Values and Fair Purchase Price, which reports what others are paying for new cars this week. The company also provides vehicle pricing and values through various products and services available to car dealers, auto manufacturers, finance and insurance companies as well as governmental agencies. Kbb.com is a leading provider of new car prices, used car values, car reviews, new cars for sale, used cars for sale, and car dealer locations. Kelley Blue Book Co. Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of AutoTrader.com.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile power train warranty, 5-years of complimentary Roadside Assistance and the Hyundai Trade-in Value Guarantee.