New Kia K5/Optima sedan sales hit 10,673 units last month. The K5 dethrones Sonata as the top-selling car in Korea!
According to latest new car sales data from South Korea, the newly unveiled Kia K5 mid-size sedan (known as Kia Optima overseas) has outsold the long-time sales leader Hyundai Sonata in the domestic market. It has happened for the first time that Kia’s mid-size sedan has topped the monthly sales chart in Korea.
Last month, Kia dealers sold 10.673 units of the K5 sedan, while Hyundai sold 9.957 Sonatas. From its very first day on the market, the K5 has been in high demand. The K5 sold 3.552 units within the first five days of its debut on May 25 with the number of sales contracts rising to an average of 831 vehicles per day.
Market watchers are calling the K5′s rise above the Sonata an industry landmark. The Sonata was the invincible leader of the mid-sized sedan category for 11 years, and it continually ruled the monthly sales chart except for July 2003 when it was overtaken by the Renault Samsung SM5 due to a Hyundai labor strike.
July 3rd, 2010 at 1:45 pm
Kias in Korea are also more valuble than Hyundai in South Korea now too. Plus, many of the new Kia models are outselling new Hyundais. So Hyundai thinks the next Elantra and Accent is going to work? We will see when the long awaited Rio arrives.
July 3rd, 2010 at 8:34 pm
KIA Soul beats Accent to be number 1 HKAG Subcompact in America. KIA Soul Dethrones Accent’s long time Second place spot against Nissan Versa in American Subcompact sales. Little brother KIA wins prominence. I like it!!
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The Details over at my site.
July 4th, 2010 at 2:38 am
HKAG’s long term plan is for Kia to become the better selling brand. The Sorento sells better than the Santa Fe. The Sportage will sell better than the Tucson, and the Optima is already selling better than the Sonata in Korea. It will probably sell better in the US, too. The new Forte will probably sell better than the Elantra. The new Forte is coming. That new Rio is going to sell better than the new Accent, too.
July 4th, 2010 at 7:43 am
I hope so Greg, its time for KIA to shine, and its time for Hyundai to be the flagship company.
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Ive been reading some economic projections, and this Economy is a lot worse than originally thought.
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If HKAG keeps playing this Econ like a Fiddle their wildest dreams will come true.
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Many estimates now say the Economy cant be fixed until after 2015.
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By then all of our rides will have been raved about, and then we will have Next Next Gen Product hitting the pipelines. Those who finally get a job, etc… will consider a KIA will consider a Hyundai now.
July 4th, 2010 at 5:02 pm
I don’t know if Kia can overcome all of the Sonata optimism in the U.S. I would pick a ’11 Kia Optima over a ’11 Hyundai Sonata any day of the week, but hats must somewhat be lifted ta Hyundai for doing so many things right on the New World Order Sonata. I pissed a few dozen Edmunds.com faithful off on the Edmunds thread called ‘Midsize Sedans 2.0′. I started pasting in pics of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi and praised the beautiful car up and down. Relentlessly for about 4 or 5 days!! One poster stated that I would settle down once the new ’11 Kia Optima came out and then bug off and leave them all alone. On Edmunds there’s post “Cops” that will take down your post and e-mail warnings to you if you’ve overstepped Edmunds’ posting boundries. This has happened to me too many times to count. But that poster might indeed be right eventually. One thing I have noted is that the new Sonata has a bad and nasty flow-curve down the back towards it’s rear wheelwell that looks dorky to me. The ’11 Optima looks much more Schreyer-ed out to Audi-like beauty proportions. It’s a visually stunning automobile. I’m currently over there on Edmunds lambasting Thai-o-ta and all of those who are spending their hard-earned pesos on that particular Japanese product. Toyota is going down the tubes and there’s people who are still buying them? Ugghh-the Prius is a joke, too! And I seriously don’t trust their engineering any more in their overall stable of rigs.
July 4th, 2010 at 9:27 pm
I don’t trust a Toyota as far as I could throw one. This new Optima could easily outsell the Camry if there is another recall. It is armageddon over at Toyota. Honda is just plain f-ed. When you continue to design ugly appliances for vehicles, and put an outrageous price on them, what do you think is going to happen. GM has put all of their bets on the Volt, and market analysts are saying that there isn’t going to be a mass market for them, considering the price and inconvenience of plugging in. Chrysler is nothing more then Fiat and MB’s little brother. Chrysler really only encourages current Chrysler owners to buy their vehicles, and they are the only ones who do. Ford had better watch it. They are getting caught up in their own success, and it is going to collapse in on them. Hyundai and Kia are flying under the media’s radar. When the market comes out of recession, Hyundai and Kia will have shed their “piece of crap” image, and sales will explode. I swear, Koreans are the smartest people in the world.
July 5th, 2010 at 1:09 am
The fact is that the South Koreans are the smartest students in the world. As of about 10 years ago. Have to study this more intently to get the latest but the article I read said the best math and science students are South Korean students. They graduate and some of them go to work at Hyundai and Kia. I know what you mean Greg, it just hit me like a ton of frickin’ bricks one day while driving my ’99 Kia Sephia, these guys really know what they’re doing. With the excellent Yokohama radials and Konig Diva wheels the car was just a blast to drive. Handled like a little race car and it had the Getrag 5-speed stick shift. I went online to see if SK had some Kia Sephia clubs going on and of course they sure did!! These two car companies are loved my many in SK-I don’t know about all-but many, many South Koreans adore them. I can really see my wife and I getting another Kia some day.
July 5th, 2010 at 3:49 am
True about the Crosstour and the new Accord. The new Oddessy is ugly too that van took all the ugly out of the concept. I can’t wait to see Kia’s next van that sits lower and will have hinges instead of sliding doors. After that the K9 will arrive in sedan form and a halo coupe form. I have a strange feeling that coupe is a rival with the Nissan Z. If that is true. I think so.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:40 am
Bryan, Remember Sonata sold a ton when it first came out in Korea. Optima is already surpassing Sonata, I think the same will happen in America. Call me crazy, but if they priced base Optima at $16K, yeah I can see a ton of people getting the Optima instead. On the top end you have a highly equipped Optima with the Works out the door for $25K. I get messages on that Midsized 2.0 emailed to me. I have posted on there way back when they forum started. Nothing but a bunch of Camry and Accord Jock Riders over there.
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Hey Hybrid Sales are dropping like a stone over the past few months. Hyrbids need to be cheaper, its just that simple. HKAG can democratize Hybrids on price. Honda has a potentially nasty little trick up its sleeve and I will cover that story tommorow at my site.
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jtz, maybe they should try a twin turbo V6 on the coupe with GDI, or just a Turbo 6 with GDI.
July 5th, 2010 at 9:05 am
I really would like to have those all new k5 & k7 in EU…..
July 5th, 2010 at 1:27 pm
Announcement: Honda’s nasty Little Trick= Honda Fit Hybrid to be priced a $16,780 in Japan. With a US tax Credit of $3400 you figure the math on how how would it cost here.
July 5th, 2010 at 2:02 pm
I wish I would pay $20,000 for an ugly little Fit. For that much, you can get a Forte, with sirius, HD radio, bluetooth, coming soon push start, peddle shifters, sunroof, navigation and leather seats. You just don’t get 40mpgh on the highway. I rather have all that and sacrifice some gas millage!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 2:05 pm
And HyundaiSmoke I not sure if the K5 will outsell the Sonata but I’m pretty sure it will be the first to break the 10,000 unit mark in sales. But $20,000 for an ugly little fit? You can get a base K5 for around that price!!!
July 5th, 2010 at 2:20 pm
Hey Greg and/or Hyundaismoke. Do you guys know if the US version of the K7 is going to have availiable mood lighting in the Korean version? That mood lighing is really neat and makes a great alternative to the panaramic roof. I hope that comes.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:38 pm
Some source went to S. Korea and saw some new Kias wearing the black dress and didn’t take a picture of neither one. How stupid!!! I would have had my digital cam and took pictures from left, side front and rear. They actually saw the cars and they didn’t even describe them like size, looks nothing. Just mentioned the Kias that were covered up.
July 5th, 2010 at 4:40 pm
I told ja they were already out they just didn’t get caught and some journalist had the oppourtuity to have thousands of viewers clicking his ad and blew it. What an idiot.
July 5th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Announcement: Honda’s nasty Little Trick= Honda Fit Hybrid to be priced a $16,780 in Japan. With a US tax Credit of $3400 you figure the math on how how would it cost here…
Hey, HyundaiSmoke, last time I checked the U.S. Fed. Guv-Mint is issuing $7,500 “green car” rebates. That would include all-electrics, of course, but also hybrids like the Prius. I would lump the new Hon-Duh Fit Hybrid in there, too, unless you know of some reason it’s only getting $3,400 back from the Fed’s. I wouldn’t buy any Hon-Duh though. It is really encouraging ta me that BO and the Fed’s are doing these “green car” rebates. All-electric or Hybrid doesn’t automatically translate ta slow… i.e. the Tesla Roadster all-electric and what is that thing’s top speed clocked at? Don’t tell me it’s 200mph? 180mph? The car costs about $100,000 though!
July 6th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Hyundai, Kia’s owner, has already started working on a secret plan to make sure that Kia doesn’t surpass its parent: they are hiring a bunch of Honda designers to make sure that they muck up Kia’s styling when model refreshes come around in a few years.
July 6th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
I’m pretty pumped for the K5 to come to the US. I’ll be getting a new car soon and right now it is number 1 on my short list. I’d like it to be named the K5 instead of Optima, which I hear they are considering, but I’ll take whichever.
Question though: Is anyone aware of any professional reviews of the K5? Surely they must have been done in Korea already if the car is in release and selling so well. My big fear is that the ride, interior quality or handling wont live up to that beautiful exterior and all the great features.
July 6th, 2010 at 4:46 pm
BernardP, I don’t believe you. Kia hasn’t had a hire in the design department since September 2009. Not to mention, it is Hyundai’s long term plan for Kia to outsell them. Also, Hyundai owns less than 35% of Kia. or about 1/3. The rest is Korean stock. I even own part of Kia. 57 shares of it.
July 6th, 2010 at 5:45 pm
Lexus, got another recall. And nope it’s not the fuel leakage this time. Somthing mechanical that they new 2 years ago and didn’t fix. Isn’t that funny? Lol. Two recalls in one month. It hasn’t even been July for a week yet. Imagine buying a stupid Lexus and you take it to the dealership because of a recall, then 2 days later you got to take it back in again because of another recall. Isn’t that funny?
July 7th, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Bryan, it sounds right but many are reporting that Sonata Hyrbid will get a $3400 rebate. I will look into this more. I think the Accent/Rio brid will beat the Honda in Mileage by well… A Mile.
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jtz on the mood lighting, I hope that happens. If they can do light speakers in a Soul, then they must do a special lighting cue in K7.
July 7th, 2010 at 1:05 pm
What they really should do is give Hyundai and KIA the same powertrains, but tune the KIA to be more powerful, and the Hyundai to sip gas.
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Examples:
1. Sonata 2.0 GDI Turbo 34 MPG HWY and 274 HP. Optima 2.0 GDi Turbo should be Tuned to 31 MPG and 300 HP. Sonata 2.4 gets 35 MPG and 200 HP, then Optima 2.4 should get 33 MPG and 215 HP. Sonata Hybrid gets 39 MPG and 209 HP, then Optima Hybrid should get 36 MPG and 220 HP.
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2. If Accent got 45 MPG and 140 HP, then Rio should get 155 HP and 42 MPG. If Accent Hybrid got 50 MPG and 150 HP, then Rio Hybrid should get 47 MPG and 165 HP. If Accent Turbo got 42 MPG and 176 HP, them Rio Turbo should get 39 MPG and 190 HP.
July 7th, 2010 at 4:06 pm
If the K7 got that mood lighining Smoke, I wouldn’t be surpised if that outsold the better looking Sonata here in the states. Especially if it got panaramic sunroof. Why didn’t Hyundai US excutives offer the skylights to the Sonata? Don’t they want the Sonata to continue to outsell the Optima?
Which is uglier the Accord or Godzilla?
July 7th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
The Sonata is not supposed to outsell the Optima. Kia is supposed to be the volume brand. Hyundai is supposed to be the premium brand with superior customer service.
July 7th, 2010 at 10:21 pm
You don’t say huh Greg? So that’s why the Sonata doesn’t have panarmic sunroof. But if the K5 (I like the K5 name better than Optima it grew on me), in S.Korea is outselling the Sonata, then why are Hyundai Exc, having a BF (B***H fit)? I hear that the Korean Guy is not happy at all that Hyundai sales are down in S.Korea because of Kia. Maybe Hyundai should make more hybrids for the K5 than the Sonata. Think about it: Sure the Sonata is nice but why buy a Sonata hybrid when the even better looking Optima has that same option? So if the K5 is supposed to outsell the Sonata, that means expect the Optima to outsell the Nissan Altima right? Since the Sonata has already outsold the Nissan. But wait a min. A new thought just came to mind. Why is Kia going to seriously luxury? I mean look at the K7, the driver seats sorta vibrates to wake the drive incase he/she falls asleep. Infact, the K7 has eyes and I don’t mean LEDs I mean it really has eyes. it can tell which lane it is in and can tell if someone is in the next lane before you go over. So what is Kia really trying to do? That to me is more luxurious than sporty don’t you think? The K7 in S.Korea is kicking a** too. I wonder what type of featuers the K9 will have? Do you guys think it can fly? Do you guys think Hyundai/Kia gave it the same technology in a Benz that drives for you allowing the driver to sleep? There has to be something more to this new RWD Kia other than just a K7 with RWD. I’m telling you they are up to something. Something seriously groundbreaking. Some new design that is so eye catching it makes the K5 look like the Forte. I telling you they are up to something we never seen before. Something fast, something cool, something I don’t even know what it is yet. But I wonder if the Halo RWD Coupe is going to have all it takes to be better than the Nissan Z, Poruche 911? Mustang or even the Camero. What if they have a rival to those fast cars? What if they have something to compete with a Dodge Viper, or Audi R8. Think about: Peter is used to making sporty designs. They are up to something why else haven’t we seen any spy shots in almost 2 months? I think the next Picanto, Rio, Cee’d, Carens and K9 have completed all the test before going outside with the big black skirt. Yes sir, in just a matter of time, we well all know that the K5 design was just the begining.
July 8th, 2010 at 1:11 am
The RWD Kia Koup…I…I mean Coupe was discussed as being needed to further differentiate Kia from “parent” Hyundai when it comes out. I believe it was the July ’10 R&T magazine at the Elko, NV, Wal*Mart I read that in yesterday. These magazine writers are just waiting for it to hit the net and magazines. They want it ta hit! These are ever-exciting times for Kia Motors. Guys, somewhere I have a printout of an about 2000 circa Kia Rio in bright racing orange that had the coolest bodykit on it. I e-mailed Kia in 2000 and told them I would buy one if they just built it. ICE is fine, sheesh, they’re not gonna Hybrid the new world order Rio are they? They are? Anyway, I’ve scoured old Kia files all over the net and in my papers and can’t find it. If I found it on paper I have a scanner on my 4-in-1 HP printer, so I would scan that pup and make a file for it to store, then I’d go over probably to Edmunds.com to paste it in there and talk about it. I loved it. Orange steering wheel, interior orange and black, chrome tailpipe, 5-speed Getrag shifting kit. I’d love to see a tricked out production Rio come out. The older Rio style and the slightly updated Rio aren’t bad ta start with. They look good on the road.
July 8th, 2010 at 2:14 am
Well Iam worried about Geo Political Events more than anything else going wrong. I think this company can and MUST do anything it puts its mind to. My Mom for example used to be a Super Korean car hater, but after she saw how I kept beating up on that Accent she doesnt find Korean cars to be half bad at all anymore. She says geo Political events would stop her from buying a Korean Car now, and it does make people think twice about Korean cars. Toyota is building Corolla in Dirt Butt Ass Poor Mississippi. Maybe we should consider an NA Accent/Rio/Soul plant in another dirt poor area in the US, and if it has to be in the Inner city then fine? It would be socially responsible for the company to do such a thing too.
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Bryan,
-Accent is getting a Hybrid and I am quite to make it viable and to spread the costs they will have let KIA have the Powertrain for both Rio and Soul. Veloster will NOT get a Hybrid however.
July 8th, 2010 at 6:51 am
HyundaiSmoke-yep, I’m not surprised. That’s why I said it that way. They are? Actually, hybrid-up the new Accent and Rio, Hyundai and Kia. With light, small bodies they could compete head on with the new Hon-Duh Hybrid Fit and the Ford Fiesta Hybrid. Lots and lots of choices out there. Jumping up to compact size you have Ford and if they don’t replace the Focus I spose their compact Hybrid would be the Fiesta. Makes sense. But then you have Mitsubishi and their mini-electric the i-MiEV and their proposed compact size Lancer Hybrid. That one would perk my ears up. If Kia Hybrids the Forte sedan that would perk my ears up as would a hot Hybrid Rio. Yeah, that bright orange 2000 Kia Rio Sport just plain rocked. I wanted Kia to build that car so bad. We had only owned the Sephia for a little over a year, then, but Kia’s rigs were so affordable that by 2000 mid year when this Rio Sport prototype hit the net I was panting to trade the ’99 Sephia in for it. It never came out-it was a true concept car. Then in Sept. 2001 we pulled the trigger on the ’01 Pepper Red Sportage 4X4. Sweet 4X4. Around Sept. 21 or 29 or so. I remember it was on a Saturday. We were there at Jerry Smith Kia of Anacortes, WA for about 6 hours I think. Right after the WTT incident in NYC. Now Jerry Smith Kia has moved to Burlington, WA, the town my wife and I lived in for about 5 1/2 years and the Kia dealer that we bought our Sportage 4X4 from in Anancrotes, WA, in ’01 moved there to Burlington. We took some of my Boeing Co. severance check pay and had them put a trailer hitch on the Sportage 4X4. We needed to tow about 1,000 lbs. of our belongings(put our house up for sale with a great Skagit County RE agent, procured our first cell phone…she said we’ll do the sale by cell phone and fax machine as soon as I sell it for you…she sold that pup in only 3 weeks!!) across the country to our new home, Rolla, MO, where I was enrolling in Respiratory Therapy college courses starting in Aug. of 2003. That Sportage 4X4 is one tough cookie, guys, don’t kid yourselves. Tough puller of goods and the small SUV got me out of being stuck in the ice in both Missouri and Idaho at least 3 times. It did leave me stranded in rural Missouri in my way to hospital clinicals one fall morning in 2004. It blew an alternator. I rented a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer sedan, automatic transmission, white in color, from Enterprise in Lebanon, MO, while our Sportage got it’s alternator replaced. I remember the alternator was about $335 or so!! But that was the moment I turned myself on to Mitsubishi’s Lancer compact sedan. That was the last bodystyle back. It is a much simpler Lancer body style but I liked the drive and feel of the car. I resolved to study Mitsubishi intensely after that good rental experience. At that time I started falling in love also with an Absolutely Red Scion xA RS 1.0. It was sitting at a Scion dealer in a small town along I-44 between Rolla and Lebanon, MO. Scion only wanted about $15,600 for this Release Series xA. It was a 5-speed manual tranny and had the special stitching on the floor mats and foglights and decent stereo. Only 1,500 of them were built. Along around that time era I started craving Scion xA’s and tC’s, and test drove a Polar White 2006 Scion xA with foglights, mp3 connectivity, rad stereo and a 5-speed transmission selling for only $14,295. I still had it on my blood from that red one in MO. The white one was at a Idaho Falls, ID, Scion dealer. I liked the test drive. My son went with me on it. Told the wife about it back home in Pocatello, ID, and she hated the car! Took a brochure home with me…no way, no dice. So we kept the ’01 Sportage 4X4 until Mar. of ’07 when I left the house in Willcox, AZ, and informed my wife I was on my way to a Mitsubishi dealer. Outta the blue!! She goes “I’m comin’, too!” The car car looked so hot in the Avondale, AZ, showroom. I wanted a 5-speed and agreed ta drive the 208 miles NW from Willcox to Avondale because they told me on the phone they had a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS in Rally Red paint, Sun and Sound package, foglights, leather wrapped gearknob and steering wheel, 650-watt RF stereo, etc. and 5-speed stick. When we got there they told me the only Rally Red Lancer GTS they had was in automatic CVT tranny, but had all the other options I listed and it was in the beautiful Rally Red paint. I was livid that they screwed up with the tranny type information given to me on the phone back in Willcox, but, seeing the beautiful car there in their Avondale Mitsubishi showroom, test-driving and agreeeing that with an automatic my wife would be able ta drive it perhaps along with one day our son possibly driving it, too, we dickered with them and eventually bought an Auto Butler paint tx. program that called for every 6 month paint protectant and polishing (it’s been a great acquisition, kept the paint shiny and coated) and decided to go ahead and activate the anti-theft alarm system that was already built in to the Lancer GTS. We both signed on the dotted line that Mar.21, 2007, and we’ve been diggin’ it ever since. Whew…did you all dig that short story of Bryan’s automotive buying history for the past ten years. It’s an important era because it involves wonderful Kia Motors and our experience with them and Mitsubishi Motors, our current car’s builder. We bought the 1999 Kia Sephia way back on May 15, 1999, I we traded in a 1997 Ford Escort sedan in a grapey purple color. Decent car, I had it for a couple of years. Automatic tranny, no problems. My friend from Burlington that was a Manager at Boeing and worked at the same airplane plant bought a white ’99 Sephia with a 5-speed stick. I started staring at the simple front of his white Sephia and asked him a few questions about fuel economy, price, etc. Decided I wanted one, too, he got about 32 mpg. I was probably getting 30mpg on the freeway in the purple ’97 Escort sedan, pretty good, no problems. But I made the trade and that was my introduction to Kia Motors. The car was only $7,995 after a $2,000 manufacturer’s rebate. No A/C, no stereo. A few minor recalls that were of course free to me and took a few hours to do were needed that first years of ownership. The car handled better after I bought the 70,000 mile Yokohama radials and Konig Diva wheels. Started loving it. Decided in the late summer of ’01 that I wanted a 2002 Kia Spectra, the model that was replacing the Sephia compact. Once my wife saw the ’01 Pepper Red Sportage the Spectra plan of mine was out the window. Like the ’99 Sephia the ’01 Sportage needed a few Warranty items. A radiator and a gas cap were replaced under Warrenty. But I watched everything on that SUV like a hawk, Jerry Smith treated us right and I had no complaints whatsoever. Then it was off to Missouri to another chapter in our lives. And another automotive link in this NE Nevada padre’s love affair with those 4-wheel monstrosities we love so very, very much. Happy motoring all!
July 8th, 2010 at 5:28 pm
I just saw the 2011 Nissan Quest. Not a orignal but I think it is cool looking. Sure the headlights came from the Saturn L300 and Toyota Highlander while the exterior looks like the Mercedes GL had sex with the Ford flex, but this is one heck of a design. It looks wayy better than the Huh-da. This is one heck of a design indeed. Which van is uglier the new Honda Oddessy or the Chrysler Town N Country?
July 9th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Scooped: Accent Planet Exclusive-Next Gen KIA Picanto and Hyundai i10 will Grow Up and become real cars to US Standards that have more than 100 HP!! All with 1.0 GDI. Details at and Pics my site.
July 9th, 2010 at 3:13 pm
Bryan, there needs to be more Compact and Subcompact Hybrids on the maret. I think that’s the best way to go for Hybrids. You can make them affordable and premium this way. Did you see the MINI Clubman S hybrid testing? Yes Its time for Hyundai KIA to provide affordable small Hybrids, and I refsse to buy another Accent/Rio until its a Hybrid. (Folds Arms) Ill take that back, Id consider buying a Veloster if it was badged as Accent GT
July 9th, 2010 at 5:58 pm
I too just saw the next i10 it looks great and so mature for a car this size. his is a very nice design. I like Hyundai’s designs but am confused about their design language. I hear the i30 is supposed to have better quailty than the ugly Huh-da Fit. So Smoke would you agree if the next Picanato and i30 with designs like those should be offered in N. America. They would make great fit rivals. And I see you have the 2013 Corolla on your blog, my Forte don’t scare too easily. That thing will surly be aged by the time 2013 arrives. Nothing groundbreaking at all. Infact, the Cruze and next Focus looks wayy better and edger than that Corolla. Besides, didn’t Toyota learn from the Chevy Cruze, never reveal a future car too early. Once it’s shown, the aging process has occured and their ain’t nothing you can do about it. Howver, the K5 aging prcoess is on maxima slow. So slow when looking at it again and again you never get sick and tired of it unlike the Chevy Volt, Buick LaCross or even the 2010 Ford Tarus. It’s alomost as if the Optima can go for 4 years without a facelift. That K5 is one heck of a design one heck of a design indeed just like the next Sportage that also shows a very slow againg process unlike the CR-V, Rav-4 and the new Outlnader.
July 9th, 2010 at 6:07 pm
Specking of aging, I bet the next Rio well too have a very slow aging process. Infact, after one year of owning my Kia Forte, it still turns heads meaning that too has a very slow aging process. If it didnt’ then someone explain why is it still turning heads then? And yes that thing turns heads I see those people in all directions looking at it until I turn my head and thye act like they just didn’t see a former Audi Man’s design. I my car gets attention even at a gas station. Oh please, I know my car is groundbreaking you just don’t want me to see you looking at even though I already did. And becuase Kia gave the Koup a more aggressive bumper, it will slow down tha aging process on the 2 door as well as the sedan. Unlke the Civic coupe which has the same front end as its sedan . If I had purchased Civic in 2006 however, people would grow tired of it after a week of owning one. And I would expect the Optima coupe to have a differnt face appearce from the sedan. Kia ain’t just working on designs on being groundbreaking but they have somehow slowed down the againg process. Somthing that now even Daewoo could do when they designed the Chevy Cruze. I’m satisfied with my purchase because my Forte has a luxury that the Corolla and Civic can never have and that is turning heads.
July 9th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
HyundaiSmoke-yeah, I agree, small hybrid…and all-electric, too, but their ranges (for EV’s) are kind of small right now. Yeah, the Clubman is interesting. Even Fiatsler has popped an idea out of adding two doors to the 500!!And who knows, hybrid powertrain possibly for it, too.
July 9th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Yeah Bryan, I hardly ever follow Chryat as they dont make real cars yet. Their quality scores in Europe are horrid. The ranges on many EVs are garbage right now, and I think HKAG should lead an industry trend to start out with hybrids, and then ween the cars into being full electrics. Slowly grow the electric portion of the motor until it becomes so advanced that you dont need a gas motor anymore.
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i30 is smaller than Accent, did you guys know that? A few inches in fact. Nah, They wouldnt bring that over to America. I think Hyundai is not ready for an A segment car, I think KIA should do it to get a ton of young people into the brand.
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JTZ, Hyundai isnt confused its futuristic and upmarket. Its that whole redefining the idea of Luxury thing they are doing right now. They want to have a general corporate look, while still giving each car a sense of individuality. The Hexagonal Cars from Elantra down to i30 ix35 Accent, i20, HB, i10, and GB are for the Younger people and the Young at heart. They are Trendy fashion statement cars. Sonata Grille cars are for the Baby Boomers and the Genesis and Equus are experiments as to what kind of traditional luxury designs they want to go on next-the designers still cant come up with a true design direction for Genesis and Equus. The Santa Fe will have the same Grille as the Sonata as that is a Baby Boomer product. The Veracruz wll be replaced by Santa Fe LWB Version.
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Small cars like Accent are supposed to be designed as bolder alternatives to the Restrained German small Cars with their more “Fluidic” design. As John Mc Elroy from Autoline Daily says, “its like a Forward Leaping animal” when refering to Hyundai design. KIA’s design may be Germanic/Korean, but its not restrained like VWs design. I like KIAs design best in Trucks, and Hyundai design best in Cars. I really love that Tuscon, but damm does that Sportage look sweet as F–K!! I can imagine one with a Diesel or GDI Turbo. All Black with Black and Chrome Rims, Red Zenons, Sweet!!!
July 9th, 2010 at 10:38 pm
What I think Kia should do is offer a hybrid powertrain as standard across the line-up, then price them so that they would be the same price as they are right now. Has any company made a GDI turbo hybrid? HKAG should have an optional GDI turbo on ALL vehicles.
July 15th, 2010 at 8:56 am
Did you see the MINI Clubman S hybrid testing?
I read in the Aug. Road and Track an article on the Mini Clubman S and I believe it was just a 4 cyl or perhaps a turbo diesel 4. If it had a hybrid powertrain they didn’t mention it at all, and that thing was kind of interesting in a weird sort of way to me. It morphs away quite a bit from the traditional New World Order Mini in to sort of a Subaru Forester type of rig (which I hate) but really one much more interesting from a body design perspective. The headlights and taillights looked more interesting the more I stared at them, and, I must have four doors and the Mini Clubman S has four doors. R&T estimated pricing to be between $26,000 and $28,000. Ouch! I think it will be less and retail for something more like $24,999. I’ll look at it more later but it’s very doubtful I would fall for a new world order version of a small European car when both Mitsubishi and Kia are building such competent motorcars of late. Eh?