Hyundai working on 3 Series-fighter for 2015

[HighestOfHigh]

According to Automotive News, Hyundai is working on a smaller rear-wheel-drive car aimed squarely at the BMW 3 Series. Reportedly dubbed "RK" internally, this new model will not launch until 2015 at the earliest, according to the report.

Details on this new entry-level performance sedan are slim, with Automotive News only reporting that the new model will use a version of the rear-wheel-drive platform that underpins the Genesis Coupe.

In other RWD Hyundai news, AN states that the larger Genesis sedan is still on track for a complete refresh, with the new model expected to arrive by the end of 2013 at the earliest as a 2014 model. As we've reported before, the next-generation Genesis will also likely benefit from optional all-wheel drive. Hyundai's Equus flagship is also scheduled to get a slight refresh in the near term, debuting next summer for the 2014 model year.

- http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/14/hyundai-working-on-3-series-fighter-for-2015/

 

[Hofmeister]

LOL, somehow I imagine BMW arent particularly worried. Hyundai should prioritise improving their engines, and make cars that look more organic and natural like the designs of sister company Kia, rather than go with the fussy and cheap look of almost all their cars ( the awful i40 a case in point ). Most of all though, they should remain a value orientated brand, and not move away from their reason for being like skoda... if they dont retain their pricing advantage your left with a car manufacturer that dosent have the image to compete with blue-chip brands like VW and Ford, has inferior engines, worse residuals, are uglier with cheaper interiors. Unfortunately, this dosent seem to be the case, if this is the way all "cheap" brands go, Dacia will soon be announcing their readying a 7er rival!

 

[EnI]

Everybody loves Raymond ... and obviously everybody love to go after BMW/ 3er.

As said: I guess we'll see Dacia going after 7er ... and Lada after 5er, various Chinese brands after 6er ... Yes, BMW must be flattered they are a benchmark & inspiration to so many carmakers around the globe. Nobody wants to fight MB anymore? Or Porsche? Although Lexus has gone after Audi's famous and-we-all-look-just-the-same model line resemblance.

 

[K-A]

Everybody loves Raymond ... and obviously everybody love to go after BMW/ 3er.

As said: I guess we'll see Dacia going after 7er ... and Lada after 5er, various Chinese brands after 6er ... Yes, BMW must be flattered they are a benchmark & inspiration to so many carmakers around the globe. Nobody wants to fight MB anymore? Or Porsche? Although Lexus has gone after Audi's famous and-we-all-look-just-the-same model line resemblance.

I think BMW might carry the "we all look the same" crown for now. Most "regular people" I talk to about cars and bring up BMW to, seem to always comment on "how they look alike", more-so even than Audi's.

Car enthusiasts can pick apart subtle differences, but the car-layman usually speaks the truth in regards to how the presence of a cars line is similar or dissimilar to each other.

 

[EnI]

Have you visit Lexus dealer lately, perhaps? If not, you should do it. Or perhaps wait another month or two till the new LS arrives. To get even greater impact of "OMG-is-this-one-car-in-different-sizes effect.
Audi delivers the same effect too. BMW as well to some degree, and now even Benz is CLS/B-izing all the model line slowly but persistently. I guess it's the current trend (actually it's history repeating .. .again) in automotive styling: strong family resemblance. Watch out future VW models - it will be a display of family resemblance galore. No change for Aston, Mini, Porsche etc though.

 

[K-A]

I think it's more of a cost-cutting/homogenization thing, personally. At least Audi have their own relatively distinctive "look", and BMW's styling language for the most part works, so although all their cars "look the same", they at least look good, more or less for the most part. Lexus' are all starting to look the same as well, but their language is just "off" to say the least.

 

[Human]

Ja sure, Hyundai will build a 3er competitor same as they offer the Equus/KIA K9 Flagships....if only they were 1/2 the cars the Germans made. Point is that it's financially impossible to offer a apple vs apple car for less money. So, yes it will be a half-breed car for a cheap market.

 

[EnI]

Ja sure, Hyundai will build a 3er competitor same as they offer the Equus/KIA K9 Flagships....if only they were 1/2 the cars the Germans made. Point is that it's financially impossible to offer a apple vs apple car for less money. So, yes it will be a half-breed car for a cheap market.

Actually it is. If your shareholders, investors & capital markets in general are satisfied with 5% profit margin you generate in automotive program, instead of 12% margin - eg. expected in BMW case. Sometimes too greedy investors hurt premium producers - making them price uncompetitive due to high profit margins expectations. It's quite ironic, isn't it?

 

[martinbo]

It's all about wanting a small slice of a big cake or a big slice of a small cake.

 

[Hofmeister]

^^ nice analogy

 

[Levi68]

What a shame. The only alternative to a BMW is a Lexus or in the coming years a Hyundai, when it could have been an Alfa Romeo. Even Hyundai is to make the 3 Series rival RWD. How can Alfa not make the Giulia RWD? It is beyond me.

 

[DreamWeaaver]

What exactly is so great or upcoming about Hyundai?

 

[Centurion]

What exactly is so great or upcoming about Hyundai?

Not much. One of the top selling models of theirs the Santa Fees has drowned in a sea of other SUVs. As far as large cars are concerned, Hyundai has absolutely nothing, not a single interesting sedan or estate. They have fallen off the radar like Mitsubishi.

 

[DreamWeaaver]

Not much. One of the top selling models of theirs the Santa Fees has drowned in a sea of other SUVs. As far as large cars are concerned, Hyundai has absolutely nothing, not a single interesting sedan or estate. They have fallen off the radar like Mitsubishi.

Mmmm....Kia =)

 

[Mr. Mercedes]

Not much. One of the top selling models of theirs the Santa Fees has drowned in a sea of other SUVs. As far as large cars are concerned, Hyundai has absolutely nothing, not a single interesting sedan or estate. They have fallen off the radar like Mitsubishi.

They're doing extremely well here in Oz. A combination of style (questionable), vastly improved quality, great warranties and attractive prices mean they are on a roll leapfrogging Honda, Mitsubishi and Mazda with Nissan in the cross hairs. They're moving up the ladder and are no longer the cheap and cheerful Korean.

 

[DreamWeaaver]

They're doing extremely well here in Oz. A combination of style (questionable), vastly improved quality, great warranties and attractive prices mean they are on a roll leapfrogging Honda, Mitsubishi and Mazda with Nissan in the cross hairs. They're moving up the ladder and are no longer the cheap and cheerful Korean.

Well decades ago, Korean cars were seen as inferior-quality, cheap and undesirable. Yes they have vastly improved as well as anybody else, which includes German, American, Japanese, and other European cars. I never been to Australia but your comments gave me a keen new perspective.