Hyundai recorded an unprecedented seven-position improvement in the J.D. Power and Associates 2001 Interim APEAL (Automotive Performance Execution and Layout) Study. An improvement this large has never occurred before in the history of this influential study. Overall, Hyundai moved up into the 27th position. Hyundai's three newest vehicles, the XG300 sedan, the Santa Fe sport utility vehicle and the compact Elantra GLS helped account for this increase in APEAL. In the Premium Midsize Car segment, the Hyundai XG300 sedan with 880 points out of a possible 1000, ranked second overall out of 25 vehicles. Only the Toyota Avalon scored more points in the category. In the hotly contested Entry SUV segment the Hyundai Santa Fe with 853 points finished in second position out of 14. The Hyundai Elantra GLS with 847 points placed fourth out of 23 in the Premium Compact Car segment. "These three new vehicles were introduced last fall and all of them exemplify Hyundai's continuing commitment to quality and improving the brand image," said Robert Cosmai, Hyundai's vice president of sales. "The Hyundai combination of quality, value and America's Best Warranty make the Hyundai vehicle the smart buy in any category." The J.D. Power and Associates APEAL Study measures three critical requirements which substantially impact how successfully a manufacturer's product will perform in the market. The three criteria are: defining customer requirements; translating those requirements into specifications; and integrating the requirements thoroughly into engineering, manufacturing and field activities. Hyundai says its results show how successful the company has been in implementing these requirements into the products they offer in the U.S. automobile marketplace. About 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 by more than 500 Hyundai dealers nationwide.