Hyundai Is Gaining Momentum. What Winning Advice Would You Give Them Going Forward?

They need to put ventilation into BOTH of the Genesis' front seats, not just the driver's.

— Foreigner (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 1:45:41 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Foreigner, Hyundai/KIA just invented a low cost Seat Ventillation system that does that. It will be in as many vehicles as possible as soon as they work out the kinks. The New KIA Sorrento will be the first Hyundai/KIA Vehicle to employ the system.

Here goes the link:


http://kia-buzz.com/?p=1625

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 1:57:55 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

This statement is going to be very controversial and get me deboosted by -200, but oh well:

I have a friend who works for KIA that claims that not only Hyundai is going upmarket but KIA is too. She Claims that KIA is going to be a BMW benchmarker. "A BMW thats affordable, economical, efficient, and More Modern." Take this for what you will, but shes been right about a lot of KIAs moves in the past.

By the way, KIA is the Techonology and Materials testing company for Hyundai. They test in KIAs first, then put it in Hyundais when its tried and true.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 2:07:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Is that a knock off of the new infiniti concept? WOW. Sad. They have very quick turnaround. I guess its not that hard to copy and paste.

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 9:06:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

Up till now, Hyundai has built it's success on value compared to other offerings in the market. We've seen the quality of their products rise dramatically. They are now on par with some of the bets and better than most. If they don;t do something exclusive soon, as their quality and content rises, so will their prices and they will become nothing more than another oriental manufacturer responding to the market instead of establishing it.

Hyundai's next move should be to lead instead of follow. Their recent designs, while being very good looking are derivative at best and benign at worst. Hyundai need to blow our socks off. It need a true halo car with its own identity. One that establishes a unique design language for the entire line up and sets it apart from all others.

This is something all the makers from the far East struggle with. Hyundai should break away from the pack and set the pace for everyone else.

— kuvakas1 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 10:04:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

1. Be innovative in product design. New, forthcoming Sonata, Tucson, and Veloster models are good evidence of that.
2. Focus on getting out the quality message and build the brand image. They are #4 in latest JD Power survey and best of non premium brands. 3. Create a distinct luxury sub brand in the Genesis line up with its own badging, separate showrooms, and comprehensive, full blown marketing campaign.

Hyundai has the resources, right management, and determination to get the job done. Watch out!

— 4ron (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 10:31:42 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Hyundai needs to learn how to put their pea brains to work to come up with some original designs.

There is not one current Hyundai model I would own becaue I would drive up next to the car it ripped off.

— EL34 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 11:18:19 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

Raise prices if they dare and come up with their own designs. China's arrival is inevitable and Hyundai won't be able to compete with just low priced incentive laden copycat cars.

Just ask yourself, why must Hyundai always sell their cars at a significant discount vs the Japanese?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 11:32:08 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 6   

I don't think they need sell their cars at significant discounts compared with Honda or Toyota. However, they do need something to help offset the name recognition/brand following (whatever you want to call it) that those two have. They needed much more of this in the past, but not so much now. I think Hyundai has been chipping away for awhile, building it's own loyal following.

Whether they go up-scale or down-scale, they need to keep the appearance of a value-oriented brand, offering much more "bang for the buck" than their Japanese counterparts. It seems they are more keen on raising quality and offering more features while increasing price than just being building cars that win on price alone. Not a bad strategy.

All this competition will only bring us better cars from (particularly) Toyota, Honda, Mazda, and Nissan.

— Auto_expert (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 12:07:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1   

To the average eye, somebody is copying someone somewhere. You can't win on that front. If it has 4 wheels, in grandpa's eyes, all car today look the same. Can't win for loosing.

— inspirion7 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 12:46:03 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

inspirion,
Problem is Hyundai designs are blatant copies. Remove the badging (like the Genesis did) and people will think its something else.

Auto_expert,
As for offering things others don't. There are plenty of things Hyundai cars lack inorder to keep their prices down. People just don't realize it because they're too mesmerized by the low upfront price.

If they want to go upscale, they need more than just the same options that everyone else has, inferior performance and a lower price. Sorry to say for Hyundai but the Tao engine is a dud.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 2:32:52 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3   

Micheal Jackson purchased a Genesis. Probably because he already couldn't afford the rented mansion he lived in, but whatever.

Hyundai is going strong now, but people don't feel comfy when they hear the name Hyundai, Its history ruins the appeal.

Consider a name change.

— pacotacolol (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:05:07 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

huu, shut up you cant even spell Tau right.

inspirion7, I dont think Hyundai should be ashamed at the Pony or Excel. Those cars got Hyundai a foothold in this market, and despite quality concerns people still snatched those cars up like hot cakes. Its not too too (The key word being too too)rare to find a 25 year old Excel still running somewhere. I might buy one for nostalgia.

As a matter of fact Iam going to do a Hyundai History Series in my Avatar.

Auto_expert, we will have value. Look at the Genesis, touch one. Its like a Lexus but for $20,000 Less. The Coupe, the Azera, and the Accent are Hyundai's best values. Hyundai can keep a value image, but now as a value Luxury company with the Utmost Superior Fuel Efficiency. That's how they are advertising themselves to be in Europe, and when Hyundai brings their: 1.6L Direct injection, Hybrid, and 1.4L and 1.6L Turbos Hyundai will be doing a similar Advertising Blits in the US market. Hyundai Europe is about 2-3 years ahead of Hyundai America BTW, but on purpose. Europe is our testing ground to work out the kinks, so we can sell the best quality products in the US.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:06:49 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Blitz

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:11:13 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

By the way Inspiron, I have owned Accents for the Last 10 years. A 98 Accent and a 2007 Accent. Very good cars, but Hyundai should make them as cheap anymore. They will "Genesis" them up for the 2011 Model year. Iam looking to buy a 2011 Accent Hybrid or Direct Injection Turbo, Im starting to save for it now.

Iam also considering getting me a used KIA Amanti to beat up on. If only I could get my hands on that 40 MPG (US Mileage) Tucson Diesel they sell in Europe.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:16:28 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

Shouldnt.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:17:50 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

huu, as you talk about Blatant copies, Hyundai is benchmarking their Accent/Veloster on the Volvo C30 for their Gen.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 5:26:57 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Keep doing what you're doing, don't change a thing.

— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 8:35:25 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Hyundaismoke,
Okay, Tau. The engine still hasn't gotten any better, V8 still slower than the GS' V6 and V6 still thristier than GS' V6.

So does this mean the next gen Accent is going to look like a Volvo but with crappier engineering and bursting with incentives 2 months before its release date?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 11:25:06 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

btw Hyundaismoke,
The only reason Hyundai is doing so well is that unlike the Yen (which has appreciated about 20%), the Korean Won depreciated against the USD by about 19% last year. Easy to show a profit when the currency (instead of the product) does all the work.
Goes to show how fragile the Korean economy is, and how delicate Hyundai's gov't grants and subsidies are (should run out right about when China enters the cheap car segment).

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/11/2009 11:40:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

My advice to Hyundai would be to not chase Toyota or Honda. Sure, the path that leads to quality and respect has Toyota and Honda footprints all over it, but somewhere along the line, the footprints change from being bare feet to Clarks. The road is long and arduous and as comfortable to the toes that Clarks may be, a pair of running shoes are what are needed to sustain the pace. Hyundai doesn't charge less because they have to. Toyota and Honda charge more because they can. Arrogance has been their undoing. What I fear will happen to Hyundai is that very same syndrome. Never isolate your core market.

— tango (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 1:12:17 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Tango, Hyundai/KIA seems like its trying to be Buick and Lexus, but for the price of a Toyota.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 1:31:43 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

But whats wrong with the Volvo. Hyundai can have an Accent with a similar look yet, give it it's own little unique style, put nearly the same equipment in it for humm.. I DONT KNOW $7,500 LESS!!!! $25,000 just to get leather huu in a C30 when the B-Segment Hyundai i20 gets leather for humm... $6500 less in Europe?

The Leather and all of that will be going in the Next Gen Accent, though you cry about Hyundai not having a Luxury Niche, but yes they do man. Copy off the competition in Every segment, add unique style and flair to it, provide similar equippment, similar safety, and vastly superior fuel efficiency; all for thousands less.

Yeah, I think we have a Luxury niche, and its a good one too.

The Next Gen Accent Base will get about 20 more MPG than the C30 as well.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 6:28:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5   

Come on now, you can get leather in almost anything except the Badgewhore cars for less than that. Volvo is a Premium company, but they arent a badgewhore Premium company, so they should be more value oriented, but the Liberal Snobs who buy them want to live beyond their means.

By the Way According to a study:

Saturns, Volvos, Subarus, VW/Audis, A Majority of Bmall Car and Hybrid Drivers from any brand, Fords, SAABs, Minivans, ans MPVs are driven by Liberals primarily.

55% of Gay Drivers in America Drive Subaru, Ford, and SAAB Products.

The Most Conservative Drove: Porsches, MINIs, Hyundai Big Cars and SUVs(Sonata, Azera, Genesis, Santa Fe, Veracruz), BMWs, Hummers, and SUVs.

50% Coupe Owners are Liberals and 50% are Conservatives.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 6:42:31 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4   

Steer clear of the UAW

— delan (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 6:46:38 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

I would like to see the Genesis have AWD avaiable. In fact, all of there models should should have an AWD option available.

— rhblock (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 8:28:07 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2   

Its coming rhblock. They will test them in KIAs first to work out the Kinks. Haldex has a big car AWD system, and a small Car system. The Next Gen Amanti will get AWD first, then the Soul will probably get it. Once the Kinks are worked out then the whole Hyundai line will get the system as an option.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 3:32:59 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2   

Hyundaismoke,
I'll believe it when I see it, and even then I doubt it'll impress me. The Genesis design, engine and price don't impress me one bit.

Here's a stat, poor people settle for Hyundai, waiting until cheaper Chinese cars come over so they can jump ship.
Look at the desperation in these offers. Hyundai offering leather will just make them go broke. $17,000 for a Tucson, $22,000 for a Santa Fe. Sega Genesis still offered with BMW-like low financing, pretty soon they'll be including it in the "now with lower price" category.
http://www.hyundaicanada.com/Pages/SpecialOffer/SalesPromotions.aspx

This is a small sample but I've seen 3 Kia Stoles now and all 3 were driven by geezers. It may be early but I think Kia's "sell at a loss" strategy is atrracting the old people, not the young people who can afford a Toyota/Honda that Hyundai so desperately wants. Will have to wait and see.

Tango,
Yes, Hyundai charges less because they have to. They know if they don't, the Chinese imports will eat them alive and the Korean gov't won't be able to afford to subsidize Hyundai/Kia's giveaways. They're trying to win over any customers they can before the flood of crap cars comes over, problem is Hyundai hasn't done anything to win Toyota/Honda customers over by just immitating these people's favourite brands.

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 11:42:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Tango,
If Hyundai didn't have to charge less, then they'd be charging the same as Toyota/Honda but who the hell would buy a Hyundai then?

— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 7/12/2009 11:43:36 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Up until the Won dropped form the doldrums, the Hyundai costed about the same as the Toyota, huu.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2009 2:19:16 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: -3   

JD powers says that they are reliable, so they should focus on making more efficient and more powerful engines than Honda, then they should make a 1/2 ton Pick up to compete with the Ford Rapture except Hyundai should go way over the top and make it an H-1 eater too, it's not that hard to do! The problem with some of these brainacs that design vehicles is that they have very little creative thinking, therefor they copy an existing pos.Get out of the box! This apply s to all manufacturers.

— truckman (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2009 3:58:24 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

I live in Boston and have only seen ONE Genesis on the road so far, and one coupe, and only a handful of Veracruzes...and these cars are aiming for Lexus?

— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2009 9:52:48 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 5   

Hyundai should keep doing what they've been doing. There will always be a market for good cars at really good prices.

But never confuse a value car maker with a luxury car maker.

— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2009 5:40:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 4   

I live in a Middle American Conservative State where I see 1 Genesis a day. Different places different colors, coupe, and sedan.

thatone, thats what KIA is for. 2 Eocnomy car brands from the same Automake doesnt make sense.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/13/2009 8:52:01 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1   

Just to think we used to make these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzZVHV5yEME Hyundai Pony 1974 (Which grew up and became the Excel, then split off into 2 cars one to become the Accent one became the Elantra, which split off to 10 cars Rio, C'eed, Accent, Soul, i20, i30, Elantra, Spectra/Cerato/Forte).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBbR50Fes78 KIA Rio/Pride 1987.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2009 2:45:09 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGWwbM9QeVo Abbreviated History of Hyundai from 1968 to 1993. Even in that 25 year time frame the improvments were leaps and bounds.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2009 2:52:13 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Notice how in the KIA Pride Commercial, KIA is refered as Kyuengseung. As KIA used to be called Kyuengseung Motors interchangably. KIA now means Korean International Automakers, or Korean International Autocrafters.

— HyundaiSmoke (View Profile)

Posted on 7/14/2009 4:21:12 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0   

Lose the oriental-loooking tail lights that appear on most models and clone the Mercedes S-class seats (with independent front seat cushion adjustments) or all models.

— EnnNorak (View Profile)

Posted on 7/26/2009 8:51:02 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1