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Is There Room in the Luxury Market for Hyundai?

7308 messages,  Last post on Mar 09, 2013 at 11:56 AM

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What is this discussion about? Hyundai Equus, Hyundai Genesis, Car Comparisons

Messages Page 655 of 732

#6535 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [fintail] by backy

Jul 18, 2010 (9:31 am)

Replying to: fintail (Jul 18, 2010 9:14 am)
"Big boys" in size, yes, but since when does domination of a market, as you have asserted, have to do with the size of the cars? Most of MB's, BMW's, Audi's, and Lexus' sales come from their lower-end cars, e.g. C and E Class, 3 and 5 Series, A4 and A6, and ES. Yet a few posts ago you tried to exclude all of these cars from the discussion on market domination.
 
Actually, you made the initial claim re the German automakers ruling the world's luxury market, but I haven't seen any figures to back that up yet. I agree they dominate their home market, the EU. So let's see your figures proving that the German automakers rule the luxury market on a worldwide basis, e.g. some other major market besides the EU--how about the US, China, or Japan? And without any artificial price barriers, e.g. $70k.

Hyundai isn't going to get 20000 lux sales in Europe...
 
Never is a long time. Let's see what happens. Also, I think you might be confusing reports that Hyundai won't offer the Genesis sedan in Europe at this time, for the Equus. I can't find any official statement from Hyundai that they won't offer the Equus in Europe. Can you please post a link to that report for us? I did find this report from C/D in early 2009 that quotes a Hyundai spokesman as saying the Equus will come to Europe "early in the next decade":
 
http://www.caranddriver.com/news/car/09q1/2010_hyundai_equus-auto_shows
 
Do you think it was a coincidence that the latest Equus was unveiled in Geneva? I don't.

#6538 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [fintail] by backy

Jul 18, 2010 (6:21 pm)

Dreams? No. But as someone who has been watching Hyundai closely for ten years, I get the impression they don't have the word "can't" in their vocabulary. So I think it will be fun to see how this all shakes out over the next few years.

#6539 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [backy] by fintail

Jul 18, 2010 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jul 18, 2010 6:21 pm)
Don't get me wrong...I applaud how Hyundai has improved so much in almost no time, and I absolutely love how they are accelerating the growth of engine technology. I just can't say I think the sky is the limit. Sooner or later the know how is going to run out...and I think the highlines might be what do it. I have to repeat my babble about the 40000 Euro Grandeur...doesn't say much for an understanding of the market.

#6540 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [fintail] by backy

Jul 18, 2010 (7:55 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jul 18, 2010 6:32 pm)
The Grandeur is of course a five-year-old model. And the price is closer to 32k Euros, not 40k.
 
http://uk.cars.yahoo.com/car-reviews/car-and-driving/hyundai-grandeur-1005925.ht- ml
 
Still, for a 5-year-old car that was designed primarily for the US market, it seems to acquit itself pretty well in the review, except for the depreciation bug-a-boo. And fuel economy of course. It's not a fuel-sipper.
 
I don't think the Grandeur is a good example of the know-how running out for Hyundai's high-end models--it's an older design, and not even a luxury car, but a upscale FWD sedan ala Avalon and Maxima. The know-how is going into the new powertrains, the new car models--not the five-year-old Grandeur. With the Grandeur, Hyundai tried to grab a few sales in a low-cost manner by selling "what's on the truck." Since you have complained about Hyundai not attacking the European market immediately with the Genesis and Equus, I am a bit surprised you would chide them for trying to sell a few Grandeurs in Europe while they work on the next-gen car.

#6541 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [backy] by fintail

Jul 18, 2010 (8:22 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jul 18, 2010 7:55 pm)
That's the UK...and I'm not a follower of Yahoo autos...get a Car or Top Gear opinion of that car...the former said "you'd have to be special to buy one" in the last issue I read, and in one of the two there was a note about sales volume in the UK being something like 10 units. When you say a few units, you must mean literally three. I saw zero of these things when I was last there (although I did see a Kia Opirus, being driven as a fleet car by a Kia dealer in Zurich). I also saw exactly one single new style LS in over 2000 miles of driving. Doesn't bode well.
 
LPG model is 43000 Euro and you can load it up to 46000 Euro...of course, as I have never seen any evidence of one being bought and have never seen a pic of one in European traffic, maybe it's just an April Fool's joke that was never removed
 
It's not really a lux car indeed...but H is pricing it in lowline E and 5er territory. Are they going to try to sell an 80000 Euro Equus there?

#6542 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [fintail] by backy

Jul 19, 2010 (4:38 pm)

Replying to: fintail (Jul 18, 2010 8:22 pm)
Maybe they were responding to the criticism that their cars are priced too low to be considered luxury cars.
 
Or maybe it's all a plot... price the Grandeur high, with no expectation of selling more of a handful. Then when the Equus comes at $50k+ USD, it won't seem very expensive. Yeah, that must be it!

#6543 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [backy] by fintail

Jul 19, 2010 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jul 19, 2010 4:38 pm)
That could be it...offer the Genesis at the same price, and it's a screaming bargain in comparison. Might piss off the 3 people who bought a Grandeur. Although still at E/5er price level...it won't be an easy sell.

#6544 of 7308 Re: Who will rule the auto world of the future? [backy] by bobad

Jul 19, 2010 (8:01 pm)

Replying to: backy (Jul 18, 2010 6:21 pm)
But as someone who has been watching Hyundai closely for ten years, I get the impression they don't have the word "can't" in their vocabulary.
 
I'm not a car fanatic, including Hyundai. I am a business fanatic, and I love Hyundai's bold strokes. They're already a worthy competitor, and worrying the J3. I want a front row seat to watch them go for the jugular, taking advantage of poor economy, and J3 mistakes and timidity.

Messages Page 655 of 732

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