The hype is that Orange County, CA is the place to live and be seen at due to the gorgeous beaches, world class shopping centers and streets filled lined with exotic palm trees.

For once the hype is actually true. Many people also assume that the residents of Orange County are probably driving around in exotic cars such as Ferrari’s and Lamborghinis. However, that part is not always accurate (although it is true for a select lucky residents)

The Cool And Avant Garde CTS

Orange County is a pretty trendy and fashionable place overall. If you want to make a statement with the car you drive, it will be difficult to make a louder statement than with the CTS by Cadillac. This car is cutting edge and completely badass in terms of its appearance This midsize sedan gets a lot of approving nods and admiring glances from fellow drivers whether you’re at the In N Out parking lot or getting valet service at the most expensive five star restaurants in town. The CTS sports an aggressive and bold appearance due to its angular lines and blinged out front chrome grill. Buyers have the choice of selecting from two engines; a V6 3.6 Liter with 270 horsepower and an upgraded engine with 304 hp and 273 lb feet of torque. Base cost is around the mid $34k range and may increase depending on the options selected. Your Cadillac CTS Irvine dealer has a large selection of CTS models in stock.

Practical And Efficient GMC Terrain

Orange County isn’t always about the glam and the glitz. It can be rather unpractical to drive around in a two-seater no matter how exotic and eye catching it is. The GMC Terrain is an affordable compact SUV that is ideal for the active Orange County family or individual who is always on the go and the massive 31.6 cubic feet of cargo space is more than enough in order to store anything you would like.  In terms of looks the Terrain looks very much like a truck; it’s almost a truck and SUV combined into one. This SUV stands out for its superior gas mileage which stands at 22 mpg in the city and 32 mpg on the freeway for the 4 cylinder model. There are two engine options; a V4 2.4 Liter with 182 HP and a V6 3.0 Liter for a grand output of 264 hp. Even though it’s affordably priced at around the mid $24k range for the base model, the Terrain comes with a ton of cool amenities such as a USB port, XM satellite radio and even a rearview camera which makes backing up a lot easier and safer.

Hyundai Sonata, Practical And Gets The Job Done

Orange County is a big place with tons of cities. That means lots of driving on the freeways, and possibly a long commute. People in OC do a lot of driving. The Sonata is a perfect OC car because it offers great mileage. Even though it’s considered an economy car, this car sports premium features such as Bluetooth compatibility and XM Satellite radio. The Sonata is powered by a V6 with 198 hp. Even though it only sports a V4, this car still offers a substantial amount of power and acceleration due to its light size. Gas mileage is exceedingly good at 24 mpg in the city and 35 mpg; these are some of the best numbers in its class. The Sonata is competitively priced at around $18,830 for the base version. . The local Hyundai Sonata Costa Mesa dealer has a large selection of Sonata’s to choose from.

Deciding which car to drive in Orange County is a big deal. Most likely you’ll be doing a ton of driving and unless you are lucky enough to be wealthy, fuel economy does make a difference. Any of these cars would make a good choice because they all offer not only style but also excellent fuel economy.

The new Coupe will showcase functional ground effects and emphasize on driver comfort and control with all HKS electronics. Some of which include, a CAMP2 which monitors up to 24 data signals from the programmable calculations for fuel cost, averaging the fuel consumption and fuel efficiency in real time. The HKS Genesis Coupe includes many new features like: a HKS GT Turbo upgrade engine (to maximize horsepower and torque), HKS engine intervals, HKS limited-edition turbo exhaust system, HKS Super Mega Flow Intake System, HKS Engine Management, and HKS Hipermax III with fully adjustable suspension.

Partnering with an industry leader like HKS is a excellent way for Hyundai to expand on the performance of the already great Genesis Coupe. This new vamped up Coupe is the ideal vehicle for driving enthusiasts. And the SEMA HKS Hyundai Genesis is a great car to showcase just what a Genesis can be!

As the name suggests the new Genesis reflects the Hyundai evolution. Over the last two decades Hyundai has made continuous improvements, added innovative engineering and truly listened to what their customers want.  Today the Hyundai line is synonymous with affordable quality and reliability.  Safety is a key element as well, the Genesis also earned the highest 5 star safety rating from the NHTSA this year.

But don’t mistake the Genesis for just another well made sedan.  This baby can hold its own against racing legends such as BMW and the Porsche Boxter with 290 horsepower, V-6 and 0 to 60mph in 5.7 seconds. Innovative technologies such as five-link front and rear suspension and adaptive front lighting (AFLS) which matches the vehicle’s turning angle for the best possible visibility, further enhance the driving experience. The ultra comfortable interior has features such as a heated and cooled driver’s seat, and a Lexicon Discrete 7.1 surround sound system previously reserved for Rolls Royce owners.

Remove the Hyundai badge and the Genesis sedan could easily be mistaken for a luxury vehicle with a price tag in the $40,000 to $50,000 range.  But as always, the Hyundai price point is palatable and realistic. A breath of fresh air in the current economy.  The base price for the 2009 Hyundai Genesis Sedan is around $33,000.  For around $36,000 the vehicle comes with upgraded wheels, leather trim and a sunroof.

To further embellish their masterpiece, Hyundai partnered with the world renowned Prada Design Center of Italy. 
But don’t expect to see a Prada wearing Hyundai Genesis on any runways near you.
Only three Genesis Prada models have been created.  Two of the vehicles will be auctioned off for charity and one will be kept by Hyundai for nostalgia’s sake.

source:http://worldwide.hyundai.com/web/News/View.aspx?idx=175&nCurPage=1&strSearchColunm=&strSearchWord=&ListNum=114

Underneath the hood, this top of the line SE coupe is powered by a 24-valve, 3.8L V6 Lambda engine that generates 299 horsepower and 266lb.-ft. of torque. Where the Mustang need 2 more cylinders to equal this output!  A 6 speed transmission sends the power into the rear wheels.

The Genesis Coupe SE includes features like:  19-inch alloy wheels, sport-tuned suspension, and Brembo brakes.  The coupe also has Bluetooth capabilities, a 6-speaker audio system, keyless ignition, ABS, and leather accented steering wheel/ shifter. The Genesis coupe has both class and affordability with its estimated retail price of $22,000 and up. Watch Out Mustang!  Visit Bakersfield Hyundai.

Source:

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FirstDrives/articleId=137955

http://www.uncrate.com/men/cars/coupes/2010-hyundai-genesis-coupe/

http://www.newcartestdrive.com/sneakpreview.cfm?ReviewID=199