Maybe Hyundai is happy with results. I can imagine it now;

press-Hyundai debuts luxury brand called Genesis to battle Lexus/BMW/Benz

internet-"who cares what they call it, its still Hyundai"
"I'm not buying a car from Korea"
"Its just a badge for badge *****s, I don't want it"
"hahahah at Hyundai luxury brand"
"this is the same stunt Lexus, Infiniti, Acura pulled, this will suck"
"who cares about fancy dealerships and service"
" I will never buy a Hyundai over my car"
"They are just rebadged Sonatas and Kias"



Again, it would take BILLIONS of dollars to roll out a luxury marque now and to do it like LEXUS did, not how the other two did. Chances are, it will be tough sell as BMW/Benz/Audi/Jag/Caddy are getting better all the time

 

correction, 4th biggest car maker in the world.


anyway, hyundai bashing in the states will die within the next 3-4 years. i've visited 4 countries in last 4 months(carribean islands, europe, asia), and hyundais were everywhere. I mean everywhere! and seriously i bet 80% of people don't even know hyundai is from korea. it's reliable and it looks decent(i10, and i30 are very popular).

i'll bet my house that hyundai will catch nissan in sales within 5 years.

 

they can talk all of the crap they want. They used to say the same **** about Lexus and Lexus beat all of their asses in a matter of 10-15 years. You may end up putting your foot in your mouth like many did in the 90's with Lexus

 

No one updates their cars faster or more often than Hyundai. While that's a good idea to stay abreast of the latest styling and dodads, it deminishes resale value. Brand new car and it's already changed and out-dated. They did this with the last Sonata too.

 

It's no secret Hyundai's formula has been copying successful cars. It works decently for them, but will not take them to the top.

 

If Hyundai is happy where they are now, then they have already succeeded, but if they are serious about being a major player in the luxury car market, they need to do more, a lot more.
There is no question Hyundai will pass Nissan very soon, in fact, they may be the #1 Global seller within 10 years. If we look at the history of the auto industry, with the exception of the US, most of leaders are countries that does not have a full military due to war agreement with the US. These countries use that money to fund their industries. As that country become more insdutrialized, the standard of living and cost of labor goes up, then the next country with cheaper labor cost will take over. Right now, Korea is that country.

 

Indeed! Hyundai is succeeding at being taken seriously as a major player in the market. They are blowing past Acura and have firmly begun to put the flag down as a Luxury automaker. Just the mere fact of people spelling their name correctly underscores that point, lol.

 

The G Man: "If we look at the history of the auto industry, with the exception of the US, most of leaders are countries that does not have a full military due to war agreement with the US. These countries use that money to fund their industries."

Have you ever been to Korea? One of the MOST militarized counties in the world, by necessity I might add! I remember the first time I ever visited a car factory there. In the middle of winter they had those poor bastards working in parkas, no heat. Working conditions were horrible. But that was around 1994. Korean economy has really picked-up and so has their way of doing things.

I have had two stints in the military in Korea. Retired Air Force!

 

I guess I was wrong about the military part, but I was right about the chesp labor in S Korea.

 

i don't think hyundai buyers care about resale value.

they are the type of people who drive the car into the ground..... not trade it in after 3 years.

 

i think the poor economy is also helping Hyundai right now, people are more $$$ conscious right now... I don't see Hyundai passing Acura or Infiniti until they can produce an entire Luxury Line... not w/ few decent/nice copy cat cars...

 

Funny that you said that. since the release of the Genesis I have learned to spell their name correctly ( Most of the time)

 

Think of it as a way of cheap advertisment. lol But seriously I can see Hyundai being the next luxury car that many will choose. People seem to get more than what they pay for. They already establish their name in the industrie even though they are copycat but consumer seem to like it and will contuine

BMW/Benz pluse a twist of reliability = our beloved Lexus. Hyundai is only doing it for less

 

A supercharged V8 in a Hyundai?? It seems that they're targeting more than just Lexus, MB, etc. It looks like they're taking aim at the likes of AMG, M's and Audi's S's.

 

Although my Sonata has plummeted in value (what car hasn't???), I have yet to have an issue with it.

That being said, there is a WORLD of difference slamming the door once inside a Genesis vs a Lexus GS... or Audi A6... or MB E-class... the Genesis is NICE (and for the $ value vs luxury unmatched) but it is NOT on par with premium luxury vehicles.

Now the Equus.............