ROAD STORIES
Driving two Hyundais
around the once proud,
but still artistic city of
Detroit
As a card-carrying member of the automotive
writer’s fraternity, driving different vehicles
week in, week out is something I do to make
some money, have some fun and advise
readers and subscribers of my $0.02 worth.
I’m certainly no gear head or track rat so rarely do I indulge
in any technological fantasies fondling auto interiors or
drooling over injectors, superchargers or mentally counting an
engine’s valves while calculating curb weight; I enjoy driving
and the overall experience is, for me, magical. Plus, every so
often, an invitation is extended by a manufacturer to attend
a pre-launch event for the latest and greatest, often in exotic
and exclusive locations.
Yes, of course it’s fun, but none of us ever truly have an
opportunity to drive a vehicle for an extended period of time
and experience what a particular model is all about; to learn of
its features, its technology and yes, its foibles, too.
And that is where this opportunity is eagerly pounced upon;
a road trip!
Every year since 1989, the North American International
Auto Show (NAIAS) is held in Motor City, Detroit, Michigan.
And 2014 was the 25th anniversary of this once proud event.
We were heading down for media days, January 13 and 14.
6
THE DRIVER
by
David Taylor
First things first; every road trip requires a mode of
transport. And what better vehicle than an import to drive
into the belly of the Big Three—a Hyundai Sonata 2.0T Limited
with Ultimate Package. Cheeky? Perhaps. Irreverent? Not
intentionally. In this writer’s opinion, Korean manufacturers
have thrown down the gauntlet regarding generally well-built,
value-loaded vehicles. Many manufacturers the world over
have responded—favourably, if you are a consumer. Even the
traditional Detroit-centric companies have begun to rise to the
challenge—and for the auto-buying public the world over, that
is, indeed, a very good thing.
It seemed a colleague was going to be driving the Santa Fe
Sport 2.0T Limited AWD at pretty much the same time.
This seemed to excite folks at Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.
Why? Here’s Patrick Danielson; “Your Detroit excursion was
interesting in that I can’t recall a group of journalists ever
simultaneously testing what’s effectively the same engine in
two different vehicles. There’s truly something to be said for