Hyundai is dropping its job-loss guarantee program, which gained national attention during the economic downturn, in a sign that the nation may finally begin to recover from the sky-high unemployment numbers of the past few years.

The South Korean automaker introduced the Hyundai Assurance plan in January of 2009, according to the Detroit Free Press. Essentially, the automaker felt that many buyers were ready to make a purchase on a vehicle, but were worried about their job security in the tough economy. So Hyundai offered drivers an escape clause. If they financed or leased a vehicle and then lost their job within the first year of owning the car, Hyundai would take the vehicle back and the driver would be free of their financial obligation.

It's tough to quantify how many people ended up buying a car because of the guarantee, but analysts say that the Assurance program at least partially accounted for the strong sales that Hyundai showed even during the economic downturn. Hyundai says that it ultimately took cars back from 350 people who lost their job.

Now, however, Hyundai says that not many people are taking advantage of the program, which the automaker says is a good sign.

"It's another small indication that things are getting a little bit better," spokesman Jim Trainor told the news source.

Drivers interested in a Hyundai or any other vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of cars for sale. 

Arachnophobes beware: Mazda is recalling 52,000 Mazda6 sedans for problem related to the eight-legged crawlers.

Apparently, a certain species of spider, the yellow sac, is attracted to the evaporative canister vent line. The problem is that these creatures will infest the vent and begin to spin webs, which will in turn block the necessary vapor from traveling through the line, possibly leading to leaks or stalling in the engine. Mazda plans to insert a spring into the vent to prevent spiders from nesting in there.

It's certainly a first to recall a car for a spider problem, but the Mazda6 isn't the only vehicle suffering from the issue. Honda issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) in 2009 for the same problem in 2008-2009 Accords. The TSB is a step down from a full recall because the issue won't effect vehicle performance in the Accord – although it may cause the "check engine" light to come on.

Hyundai similarly issued a TSB for the same vent line, saying that problems with it could be caused by debris or possibly spiders. Again, the Hyundai vehicles don't appear to have any serious ramifications like the Mazdas do.

Drivers who shop at New Jersey State Auto Auction will be able to choose from a wide range of vehicles, which is a good thing – because arachnophobes will probably want to steer clear of these vehicles. 

Hyundai has announced that it may be expanding its luxury offerings by debuting a new sedan based off of its current Genesis Coupe.

According to Automotive News, the South Korean automaker is looking to create an entry-level sedan that could compete with vehicles like the BMW 3-Series, Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Acura TL. The Genesis Coupe has been a successful luxury vehicle for the company, so the automaker is currently considering a model that is based off the car's sharp styling cues.

"The Genesis Coupe is in the same segment, really, as the 3-Series coupe," Hyundai CEO John Krafcik told the news source. "One of the things we're thinking is: Should we do something that's a sedan version of that?"

Although only recently talked about, unidentified sources with knowledge of the automaker's plans told the news source that the car had been in development for some time now, dating back to 2006. Hyundai execs call the vehicle the "RK" internally.

Those interested in a used Hyundai or any other vehicle may want to seek out an online third-party provider of auto financing. These companies can allow drivers to negotiate with dealers using cash, which puts them in a stronger position when it comes time to talk about the price of a car. 

Many automakers focused the bulk of their early marketing efforts this year around extensive Super Bowl campaigns, but Hyundai's budget brand Kia may have just scored a massive coup with a cameo during the NBA's All-Star Weekend.

The Kia Optima was one of the official sponsors of the event, but the model got some extra exposure when it was prominently featured in the finals of the Slam Dunk Contest. Going into the contest, Los Angeles Clippers star Blake Griffin was the odds-on favorite to win the title, as he's dazzled fans with some thunderous dunks on an almost nightly basis.

Griffin did not disappoint with his final dunk of the night. It required a bit of setup, but the Optima was driven out onto the hardwood for the spot. Griffin's teammate Baron Davis then got in the car with a ball. Then, a full chorus took center court and began belting out "I Believe I Can Fly."

It was at that point that Griffin jumped over the hood of the car, caught a pass from Davis in mid-air and slammed it home, cementing his victory in the competition.

Griffin may have won the event, but the Kia's role in the stunt was a marketing coup – as it will surely be featured again and again in countless highlight videos.

Drivers interested in a used Hyundai, Kia or any other vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of vehicles at affordable prices.

The new Hyundai Sonata Hybrid features an EPA-rated 40 miles per gallon on the highway, which leads its class and beats out popular models like the Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima hybrids. So how did Hyundai's engineers pull it off?

CNET recently profiled the innovative powertrain lurking in every Hyundai Sonata Hybrid. Engineers were given a task to maximize the car's fuel economy, so they started by sculpting the body in order to make it as aerodynamic as possible, which reduces drag and slightly increases mpgs.

Hybrids are at their best when the electric motor is powering the car, but many of the strategies for achieving this are patented by the South Korean automaker's top rivals. So Hyundai invented the TMED, a transmission-mounted electrical device. The TMED features the motor and clutch in one package, allowing the car to use an automatic transmission without a torque converter. The system not only lets Hyundai to get the best gas mileage on the highway in its class, but also run up to 75 miles per hour on electric power alone.

Looking for an upgrade to your own mileage? Then it might be wise to trade your vehicle in for a new one, as technology has increased significantly in recent years, leading to drastically increased mileage ratings without a significant dip in power. Those interested may want to head to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which features a wide variety of vehicles available for well below Kelley Blue Book value.