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14 • AUGUST 23, 2010

HYUNDAISonata Turbo, Accent redesign EV debutHybrid debut

Veloster debut Possible VeracruzEquus debut redesign

Santa Fe redesignElantra redesign Azera redesign

KIASportage redesign Optima redesign Rondo redesign or

replacementRio redesign

Sorento restyleSoul reskin

Forte replacement, Cadenza replaces Amanti new name

2011 2012 2013MODEL YEAR

FUTURE PRODUCTKOREA, CHINA, INDIA BRANDS

BRENDA PRIDDY & CO.

Hyundai plans to enter the coupe segment in the spring with a sporty model tentatively called the Veloster.

Hyundai, Kia go upscale,add segments and pizazzRyan Beenerbeene@crain.com

Hyundai and Kia are trying to holdon to their U.S. sales momentum byentering new segments, moving thebrands upscale and bringing out vehi-cles with more eye-catching design.

The corporate cousins share vehi-cle platforms, a complicated Koreanownership structure and a story line:strong U.S. sales growth fueled by anonslaught of new vehicles with at-tractive new styling and loaded withtechnology.

Hyundai and Kia were part of an ex-clusive club last year: They were twoof only three brands to achieve asales gain in the United States. Andeach has improved its market sharein 2010.

As the two Koreans launch new andredesigned products, they hope tocarve out distinct identities and goafter different customers.

Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai MotorAmerica’s sales boss, says the brandis pursuing baby boomers who in thepast have sought quality and reliabil-ity in Honda and Toyota showrooms.On the other hand, Kia is targetingyounger buyers with vehicles madeto be stylish and fun to drive.

Both are squeezing into new niches.Hyundai plans its $60,000-plus Equussedan and the small, sporty Velostercoupe. Kia may replace the Rondocompact minivan with a tall five-doormodel based on the same platform asthe Hyundai i30 sold in Europe.

The brands also are moving upscalewith the likes of the Equus, Hyundai’sredesigned Azera and Kia’s Cadenza

shaking off their images as makers ofbland budget cars. Kia’s redesignedOptima sedan will have a sporty shape,and Hyundai is giving the swoopySonata-like look to the next Elantra.

Alternative-fuel vehicles also are inthe pipeline. Kia plans a hybrid ver-sion of the Optima and is kickingaround the idea of a dedicated hy-brid. Hyundai plans a hybrid Sonataand will unveil a fuel cell vehicle in2012. c

Hyundai’s ‘24/7’push will changelook of showroomsMark Rechtinmrechtin@crain.com

Hyundai is introducing seven new orredesigned models in a 24-monthstretch that ends in the fall of 2011. Sonaturally the Hyundai guys refer to theirproduct onslaught as “24/7.”

And the pace won’t slow much afterthose seven models hit the streets.Significant new entries also areplanned for 2012 and 2013, includingHyundai’s first fuel cell electric vehi-cle, a redesigned Veracruz full-sizedcrossover and a replacement for theAzera full-sized sedan.

Here’s a rundown:Accent: The redesigned subcom-

pact, based on the Verna sold in Korea,will arrive next spring with styling sim-ilar to that of the Verna. It will featureHyundai’s new Gamma-series engine,a 1.4-liter four-banger with 106 hp. Atthe Verna’s Beijing show unveiling inApril, Hyundai also showed a 1.6-literengine with 121 hp. But company offi-cials said they doubted the more pow-erful engine will come to the UnitedStates because of cost.

Elantra: The swoopy styling seen onthe Sonata and coming Accent will ex-tend to the redesigned 2011 Elantrasedan and five-door, which arrive inthe United States in January.

The engine family will be updatedwith a 1.6-liter Gamma series four-cylinder. But it has not been decided

whether a 121-hp multiport injectedor 140-hp direct-injected version willbe offered. The five-door may have aslightly taller silhouette, similar tothat of the Europe-market i30 and KiaRondo. For now, a wagon variant isplanned for Europe only.

Veloster: The small, sporty coupewill arrive in the spring. The 140-hpElantra-based car, tentatively calledthe Veloster, will be powered by a 1.6-liter direct-injection engine teamedwith either a six-speed manual or anautomatic transmission. Hyundaiclaims it will get 41 mpg. Spy photosshow a hatchback roofline. The dri-ver’s side has only one door, while onthe passenger side there is a suicidedoor for back-seat occupants.

Sonata: A 2.0-liter, four-cylinderturbocharged version due this fall willcompete against V-6 entries in themid-sized sedan segment. The SonataTurbo will make 274 hp and get 22mpg city/34 mpg highway — for asticker price of less than $25,000.

Meanwhile, a Sonata wagon hasbeen spotted during tests in Europe.So far it’s planned only for Europeanrelease, but Hyundai executives areconsidering bringing it to the UnitedStates. A coupe could be added in 2012or 2013. A 37/40 mpg hybrid versionwill be the first mainstream vehicle on

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The third generation of Kia’s Sportage debuted this month with styling cuesfrom the 2007 Kue concept.

GlossaryWhat do the terms mean?� Freshened: Sheet metal

untouched. Vehicle may getnew grille, fascia, headlight andtaillight modules.

� Reskinned: Minor changes tosheet metal, such as hood,front and rear fenders.

� Restyled: Extensive changes toexterior and interior.

� Re-engineered: Platform andmajor components reworked toimprove fuel economy, ride,handling, brakes, steering, safetyor other items. The changes mayinclude a new engine.

� Redesigned: New platform,interior and exterior, but engineand transmission could becarried over.

The redesigned Hyundai Accent,which arrives next spring, will havestyling similar to the Verna, which issold in South Korea.

successor for the Amanti.Both brands continue to work at

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