by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 02/09/2017 at 17:33
by "Wobbles the Mind" (wobblesthemind)
Published 02/09/2017 at 17:33
Tags: Speculations
STARS: 1
I think I figured out what “N Performance” model the US will end up getting. The upcoming Elantra GT (i30) N hatchback will not make it to the states and I’ve been doubtful of the Elantra sedan getting a hotter version over the 201 hp Elantra Sport. That said, there is one more Elantra variant bound to make it to the US and that’s the 4-door fastback coming out in 2018.
In the same way that the Kia Stinger is a 4-door liftback in order to split multiple segments I believe the upcoming Elantra Fastback will do the same. No one is buying FWD 2-door cars anymore however they still want the coupe style. While people love a FWD hot hatch with 250 hp, no one really wants a 250 hp FWD sedan anymore without AWD. Thus you split the difference and design a 4-door with a hatch and coupe-like styling. There’s your market splitting.
Remember that the Genesis Coupe is no more and Hyundai can no longer use any of the RWD platforms due to the Genesis brand. That also cuts out all their best driving platforms and strongest engines. At the same time Hyundai just created a new performance brand and is without any halo vehicles and sibling rival Kia has free range over all the best parts!! So here is what I’m thinking...
The upcoming 4-door fastback will use a separate name from the existing lineup and mimic the Kia Stinger’s strategy but in a lower market position. I’d personally love to see the Tiburon name revived since the nameplate splintered into the Veloster and a Genesis Coupe. Extremely unlikely but the lineup would be something like this:
Tiburon Sport: 201 hp, 1.6T. 7DCT or 6MT. [$21,995]
Tiburon N: 240 hp, 2.0T. 7DCT or 6MT. [$24,495]
Tiburon N R-Spec: 260 hp, 2.0T. 7DCT or 6MT. [$27,995]
I definitely don’t expect any AWD performance cars this generation but if the market responds well then I’m betting Hyundai will aim to replace Mitsubishi as the WRX-fighter for the 2nd generation of this car.
"feather-throttle-not-hair" (feather-throttle-not-hair)
02/09/2017 at 17:39, STARS: 1
Hyundai is unique to me in that every generation of coupe they’ve ever built has been ruined by their mid-cycle refresh. So if the tibby comes back as a 4 door maybe it can break the cycle.
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
02/09/2017 at 19:24, STARS: 0
Hyundai has a done a great job of ruining every car they have built buy touching the steering and not getting someone else to do it.