Hyundai and Kia Rise in Ranking of Dependability

Hyundai Automotive Group, the world's sixth-largest vehicle maker, continues to prove its high quality as its two flagship subsidiaries Hyundai Motor and Kia Motor climb fast up the ladder in global surveys. J.D. Power and Associates, a U.S.-based research outfit, announced its annual report on vehicle dependability Thursday, giving favorable ratings to both Hyundai and Kia.

Hyundai Motor's score improved by 13 points to 148, from 161 last year to advance to 11th among 36 companies, from 14th last year. That of Kia Motor also rose from 27th slot to 20th. Excluding luxury sedans such as Porsche or Mercedes Benz, Hyundai ranked sixth while Kia was 11th. The ranks are better than those of such international powerhouses as Nissan or Volkswagen, which got 180 points and 225, respectively.

J.D. Power studies any problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old automobiles. Hence, this year's research is about 2007 model-year vehicles sold between August 2006 and February 2007 in the United States.

The industry average for this year was 155 points. Low points for any firm represent better dependability of their models. The study is widely used as criteria to check the quality of carmakers and the resale value of their products.

"We are really honored to rack up such good scores in the study. We will not be complacent and will keep doing our best to further sharpen our competitive edge in technology down the road," a Hyundai spokesman said.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

Continue reading for the complete list of rankings.

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Kia.com Rated Number One Manufacturer Web Site by J.D. Power and Associates

Once car shoppers narrow down their choices to a few brands, they almost always visit those manufacturer's Web sites to do more research on price, options and incentives before they go to the dealerships. J.D. Power and Associates ranked Kia's Web site the highest auto manufacturer Web site in its recent 2010 Manufacturer Web Site Evaluation Study.

Kia.com was number one overall for usefulness in new-vehicle shopping, including navigation, speed, appearance and information/content. Kia said this is the fifth time Kia.com has won the award and is the most wins for any manufacturer.

"Our consumer site integrates seamlessly with the latest in Web service technologies and provides an immersive online experience while focusing on ease of navigation," said Michael Sprague, vice president, marketing, KMA, in a statement. "And even more appealing, user-rich content will complement our new models, starting with the all-new 2011 Sorento CUV, keeping the Kia experience efficient and enjoyable online as well as on the road."

Kia.com's virtual garage allows shoppers to customize their Kia vehicle with different options. They can build a vehicle using any combination of trim level, colors, interiors and options they want. Once they build it, shoppers will know exactly how much it will cost with the options they have chosen.

[Source: Kia]

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Hyundai Surpasses Toyota and Honda in Brand Loyalty

According to the latest Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence data, Hyundai in the US recently surpassed Honda and Toyota when it comes to making customers happy and retaining them. In addition, Hyundai resale values have been outperforming the car segment average, which is something reserved only for Toyota and Honda in our market. The all-new 2011 Sonata was also the fifth most researched car in kbb.com’s Top 10 Most-Researched New Vehicles list.

Comparing February 2010 data to Q4 2009, Hyundai owners looking at new models within the brand increased by 10.4% to 56.3%, good enough for it to top the chart for the first time, up from third place in Q4 2009. In the same timeframe, Toyota fell from top to third spot while Honda held steady at second place. Toyota owners considering a repeat purchase fell by 4.4% to 53.3%. Honda’s score is 55.8%.

At the same time, Kelley Blue Book Values data for Feb 2010 showed that Hyundai outperformed the overall car segment average by a healthy margin, increasing 2% month-over-month, relative to a 0.3% increase for the entire car segment.

“Hyundai is clearly benefiting from ‘a perfect storm’ – a result of introducing passionate new products like the 2011 Sonata and 2010 Tucson, while Honda’s mainstream vehicles like the CR-V and Accord are a bit stale in the marketplace and Toyota is experiencing a huge consumer perception crisis,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com.

This should be another warning sign for the Japanese carmakers, whose models like the Accord and Camry have deep roots in the US top ten best sellers list. Hyundai, along with sister brand Kia and Subaru, were the only carmakers to have increased market share in a troubled 2009.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

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Spied: 2011 Kia K5 (Magentis) Caught on Streets Undisguised!

Sent in by a reader named Sanghoon from Korea, we have the first images of the all-new Kia K5 mid-size sedan (Magentis/Optima in other markets) prowling the public roads sans camouflage. The particular model in these images appears to be the base model, as indicated by the 16-inch alloy wheels. Has a base model of any mid-size car looked this good? Feel free to tell us in the comments below.

Information Article on the K5 (Magentis/Optima) HERE.

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Canada-Only Kia Forte Koup SX-R Tests Waters for Future Tuning Branch

The sub-$20,000.00 2010 Kia Forte Koup has made quite the splash amongst the younger demographics with its attractive price tag and 2.4L 173-hp engine. Its attractive, stylish yet aggressive lines clearly make a statement that Kia has stepped up to the plate to play ball, capturing a market that used to be almost exclusive to Honda, Acura and Scion. But much like their Japanese counterparts, Kia has looked towards marketing with customization and personalization, especially with the hip Forte Koup. The result? The Kia Forte Koup SX-R with a fine collection of accessories that have Forte Koup SX owners going wild for. The major disappointment for those in the US? It’s currently only available in Canada.

The buzz was started with the official debut at the Toronto Auto Show and a little less than a month later the orders are coming in. The Forte Koup SX-R will be made available to Canadian Kia dealers by mid-May with pre-orders starting now. The aesthetics of the Forte Koup has been further complemented with a front chin spoilers, new side skirts, and a rear lip spoiler. Minor details on the outside come in the form of chrome “R” badges while the interior receives “R” branded door sills. Engine performance has been enhanced thanks to an AEM Performance drop-in air filter and performance axle-back exhaust system. The car rides lower and stiffer thanks to a set of Eibach Pro lowering springs (1.3-inch drop) and a front upper strut brace. No custom car is complete without a fine set of wheels and tires and Kia delivers in a big way with a set of 18-inch Europa wheels wrapped with, surprisingly, Yokohama S-Drive performance tires. The Kia Forte Koup SX-R is available in three attractive colors: Titanium Silver, Racing Red and Black.

Now all these accessories will be available for order through Canadian Kia dealerships only for those already cruising around in Forte Koup SX. American enthusiasts will probably have to open up their wallet a little bit for freight across the border, but we anticipate many of them to be willing to do so. If you’re interested, contact any Canadian Kia dealership and reference accessory bulletin AY10 007. It’s exciting times for Kia owners and we can’t wait to see what’s next from the Korean manufacturer.

[Source: ForteForums.com]

Continue reading to view more images of the Forte Koup SX-R

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Hyundai Spends Big for the Oscars

Hyundai is slated to be the most high-profile automaker during Sunday's broadcast of the 82nd annual Academy Awards. But there's a twist, since strict rules for TV ads mean the Korean automaker can't use its usual pitchman: Jeff Bridges.

Bridges is a best-actor nominee for the movie Crazy Heart. But the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prohibits actors who are in the show from participating in commercials during their part of the show. This was a bit of a problem, since Hyundai has eight ads scheduled for its new Sonata and Genesis sedans.

Filling in for Bridges by reading voice-over copy will be Kim Basinger, Richard Dreyfuss, David Duchovny, Catherine Keener, Mandy Patinkin, Michael Madsen and Martin Sheen.

"It took seven stars to fill the void, but we're excited about the cast we've lined up for Oscar night," said Joel Ewanick, Hyundai Motor America vice president of marketing, in a statement.

Each 30-second spot is valued at over $1.2 million, meaning the ambitious Korean automaker spent over $10 million in stealing the spotlight at this year's Oscars. Hyundai is in the second year of a three-year contract as the national automotive sponsor of the event.

Inside Line says: Hyundai takes center stage at what observers are

[Source: Hyundai]

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Geneva: Hyundai's i-flow Concept previews upcoming European D-segment entry

Making its global debut at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the Hyundai i-flow concept car has carried forward the company's evocative new form language, "fluidic sculpture". The flowing, elegant lines not only create a bionic, futuristic shape, but also contribute to exceptional aerodynamics, helping to reduce the car's CO2 output to just 85g/km and fuel consumption to only 3l/100km.

Hyundai's first diesel hybrid powertrain is also a key factor in delivering such an environmentally-conscious return, as is the application of next-generation materials and technologies developed in cooperation with leading chemical company BASF.

With an overall length of 4.780mm and a 2.800mm wheelbase, the i-flow brings new ideas and a pioneering form to the traditional European D-segment. The dramatically-sculpted forms of the interior and exterior make for a striking sports sedan, and its width and height (1.850mm and 1.420mm respectively) give it an athletic stance.

The name i-flow reflects the exceptionally aerodynamic shape and the flowing lines of the concept car's eye-catching styling, and retains the 'i' prefix of Hyundai's established alphanumeric nomenclature for Europe. In 2011 Hyundai will bring into production a new challenger in the segment, drawing on the i-flow's sleek styling and innovative technology.

Thomas Buerkle, chief designer at Hyundai Motor Europe, appraises the design concept of i-flow, or HED-7, the seventh in a series of daring concept cars to be born in the Russelsheim styling studio:

The cockpit's main interface centers around an expansive, contoured screen, which recognizes not only touch but also gestural inputs along its fascia-wide display. The fluidic forms of the exterior are echoed in the i-flow's cabin, where continuous lines sweep from the dashboard, through the doors to the open storage area at the rear.

The i-flow is a test bed for new energy harvesting ideas, ranging from flexible solar panel roofing to a thermo-electric generator. The key technical components of the vehicle have been developed by Hyundai under the Blue Drive™ banner in cooperation with BASF. Blue Drive remains at the heart of Hyundai's product development strategy, and continues to drive the company towards its target of global leadership in environmentally-sensitive technologies.

[Source: Hyundai]

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