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Hyundai mulling new small CUV under Tucson

Hyundai maintains it can barely build enough of its core models to satisfy North American consumers, but that doesn't mean it isn't keen to expand its offerings to capture developing segments of the market. According to Edmunds, one of those expanding niches could be the burgeoning subcompact crossover segment. The website quotes Hyundai North America president and CEO John Krafcik as acknowledging his company is "very under-represented" in crossovers, the market's hottest vehicle type.
With the discontinuation of the Veracruz, Hyundai is down to two CUV nameplates, Tucson (pictured) and Santa Fe, the latter of which covers two segments with a two-row Sport and long-wheelbase three-row model. And while Hyundai commands seven percent of the US sedan market, the company estimates it only has two percent of the truck segment.
And while Krafcik stops short of confirming a new model, he acknowledges "a new segment is emerging" underneath the Tucson and says, "I think it's something to look at." At the moment, the subcompact softroader segment remains small and somewhat amorphous, with tiny CUV offerings like the Buick Encore, Nissan Juke, and now-discontinued Suzuki SX4 illustrating that there are a lot of different ways to package and market such a vehicle.

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.

Watch Hyundai's rorty i30 N blast snow around

With less than a year to go before Hyundai reveals its first N-branded car, the company has released a new video giving us a peek at the car's snowy drifting chops. Despite the fact that this i30 N is clearly front-wheel drive (with a limited-slip differential, the company says), we're sure it was easier to slide the hot Hyundai around thanks to the inclusion of a traditional, manual handbrake. The video also shows that the i30 N will be offered with a true manual transmission, and it will have quite a raucous exhaust. It's a note that a number of editors here find rather unpleasant, but the office isn't in consensus on the topic. The body looks like it may be a bit restrained, since there aren't any large wings or splitters, but there could be a very aggressive-looking grille lurking beneath the camo. Hyundai also narrowed down the release window to the second half of this year. It seems the launch will start in Europe, but we expect the car will come here early next year as well, especially considering the availability of the standard i30 here as the Elantra GT. Related Video: