2009 Hyundai Sonata Gls on 2040-cars

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Why BMWs are cheaper than Hyundais in Korea

Bloomberg reports shifting tariff regulations have upended the traditional automotive pecking order in Korea. Thanks to cheaper import taxes, foreign brands have seen market share jump from 28 percent to 41 percent over the last two years. BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi have all capitalized on the shift, with domestics like Hyundai and Kia suffering at the hands of their German rivals.
Taxes on European imports have fallen from 8 percent in 2011 to just 3.2 percent today. Over the next few years, tariffs will all but be eliminated for most imports, and taxes on US-made vehicles are expected to fall to just 4 percent in 2014. By 2016, that number will be zero. Needless to say, Hyundai and Kia are concerned about the shift.
Hyundai has seen profit fall by 15 percent last quarter, and the company says it is on pace to see the slowest sales growth since 2007. The company's shares have fallen by 12 percent. In order to stem the losses, Hyundai has discounted its midsize sedans and started working on diesel engine options.

Frankfurt Motor Show Notes: Why Jaguar decided to build an SUV

It was inevitable. Jaguar had to make an SUV, and that notion became reality this week with the debut of the F-Pace, an all-wheel-drive five-seater that will launch in the United States next spring. Some purists may cringe. But in an era when Porsche, Bentley, Lamborghini, Rolls-Royce, Aston Martin, and other traditional luxury brands are all building or (planning to build) SUVs, Jaguar had to evolve. While it seems like a leap for Jaguar to make an SUV, longtime design director Ian Callum said it's been in the works for years. "The first time I was asked the question was when I arrived 16 years ago," he said. So in 1999 (and probably well before that), Jaguar was already thinking SUV. What took so long? "It wasn't a priority," Callum said. Jaguar was concentrating on fixing its existing lineup, which was pockmarked with holes and poorly selling products, like the X-Type. Along the way, Jaguar and sister brand Land Rover were sold by Ford to Indian conglomerate Tata Motors. Flash forward several years, and Jaguar and Land Rover are both experiencing a resurgence in the United States and around the world. Jaguar's lineup is flush with the E-Type's modern successor, the F-Type, plus a new version of the XF. The XJ received a 2016 freshening, and the smaller XE sedan is on the way. Jaguar put its house in order as other factors conspired to make a crossover timely. Fuel prices stayed relatively low, and consumers in the US and China remained steadfast in their love for utility vehicles of all stripes. Making a Jaguar SUV became a priority. "The world was telling us in no uncertain terms this is what they wanted," Callum said. "Not to be in the sector would be a little naive for the sake of purity." Jaguar proved its intent two years ago when it revealed the C-X17 crossover concept at Frankfurt, and the final production model is close to the prototype's striking looks. "I thought we managed to maintain that spirit," Callum said. It's a true Jaguar, with cues from the F-Type, 1968 XJ, and other famous models. Who would have thought Jaguar would make an SUV? "I certainly didn't," Callum admitted. But the F-Pace is here. If Callum is okay with it, purists can be, too. Quick Hits Opel retrenches for 2016 and beyond Opel used the Frankfurt show to display its new generation of the Astra, a critical vehicle line for the German division of General Motors.

Hyundai needs to make the Ioniq Scooter

In the mad rush that is an auto show press conference, sometimes the coolest stuff is sometimes barely mentioned, and often overshadowed, by the bigger news. Hyundai's awesome Ioniq Scooter concept is a perfect example of this. Revealed at this year's CES, it was given just 45 seconds of talk time in a 45 minute conference. The scooter's sleek design and clever charging spot struck me as the one of the most practical and fleshed out mobility solutions on display at the show. Now I'm on a one-man mission to convince Hyundai to build it. The Ioniq Scooter is a compact, collapsible, and lightweight electric scooter that (and this is my favorite part) stows and charges in the door pocket of the upcoming Hyundai Ioniq. You can park your car, pop out the scooter and ride what's referred to in the mobility industry as the "last mile." Driving is usually the easiest part of any journey. Roads are all connected and relatively easy to navigate. Everything after that - parking, walking, etc. - often takes just as much time and effort as driving. The scooter helps solve this problem. View 6 Photos For me, the little electric scooter was the best thing in Hyundai's sci-fi filled booth. The automaker brought out two working robot exoskeletons and a car concept that is literally meant to be built into your home. There was an autonomous Ioniq giving test rides down the Las Vegas strip. Despite all of that, all I wanted to do was break the glass case holding the scooter silently ride away. In person, the Ioniq scooter appears relatively lightweight and extremely compact. It's partially constructed from carbon fiber and has a small display that shows battery life, speed, and range. You use a small knob on the handle bar to accelerate and brake. Alternatively, you can slow down by pushing a pad over the rear wheel, just like on a kick scooter. Top speed is 12 mph and the total range is about 12 miles. It's unclear if the battery can be swapped out to extend the distance before recharging. The Ioniq scoter is just a prototype, so we have no idea how much it would cost to put it into production or if Hyundai has any plans to even do so. What we do know is that a working prototype exists and that we would love to get a chance to ride it. Like our endeavor to drive a Citroen C4 Cactus, I'm on a mission to ride the Ioniq scooter. In my eyes, this scooter is the modern equivalent to a Honda Motocompo, but more practical.