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Hyundai CEO touts new EV platform with mention of a pickup

A couple of years ago, one of the prominent concerns about a saturated EV auto-scape was how carmakers would accentuate brand differences among vehicles converging on a frightening sameness. The cars wouldn't make any noise, they would all emphasize aerodynamics, and they would all basically ride on a battery pancake. So far, the fears have been avoided; a Volvo XC40 Recharge won't be confused for a Ford Mustang Mach-E, for instance, and the Ford won't be confused for a Tesla Model Y. Not only that, but automakers are developing platform strategies that heighten the sameness among vehicle architectures because the architecture is where the expenditure and the profit are greatest. Hyundai's the latest to outline its plans for investors. And part of Hyundai's plan could include adding a full-size electric pickup to the range. The mid- to long-term roadmap is called the Hyundai Motor Way, recently revised with higher targets thanks to the swift uptick in EV sales globally. Business Korea wrote Hyundai Motor Group (HMG includes Kia and Genesis) sold 510,000 battery-electric vehicles in 2022. The conglomerate says it now plans to sell two million EVs annually by 2030, up from a previous estimate of 1.87 million.      The platform that will help make this possible is called eM, an evolution of the current Electric Global Modular Platform (e-GMP) platform under HMG's current EVs. The eM architecture's been rumored to launch under a Kia sedan that might be a spiritual successor to the Stinger. So far, eM is planned for 13 models across the HMG portfolio, using the Integrated Modular Architecture (IMA) that can plug-and-play with more than 80 common modules serving different vehicle segments and sizes. HMG president and CEO Jaehoon Chang said, "In the second-generation platform, the scope of vehicle development extends beyond the mid-sized SUVs covered by the current E-GMP system. It encompasses nearly all vehicle classes, ranging from small and large SUVs to pickup trucks, along with the flagship models of the Genesis brand." Sure, Chang could have been merely noting the eM's potential use cases when he mentioned "pickup trucks." That's not how observers are reading the line. At Kia's investor day last year, the brand said it planned two electric pickups. There have already been reports that Kia's working on a body-on-frame pickup for the Australian market, perhaps called Tasman, utilizing gas and electric powertrains.

Genesis cars win accolades, offer value — so why are sales so bad?

My high-school buddy Brent Cormier was so smitten with the Genesis G80 when he saw it at an event I hosted at SXSW in 2016 he bought a used 2013 Hyundai Genesis a short time later and fell in love with the car. "It surpasses my every expectation," said Cormier, a self-described "renaissance man" who owns and runs a real estate agency with his wife Laura, is a food service executive chef and part owner of Austin-based Thin the Herd Guitars. "I was locked into Mercedes and Audi for 10 years," he added. "And felt trapped in an endless pit of maintenance costs." After owning the Genesis over the past two years — including using it as an Uber and Lyft driver to earn extra cash — Cormier learned what some frugal luxury sedan buyers and a handful of car reviewers have discovered: Genesis offers great bang for the buck compared to other premium brands and can compete with the best in terms of performance, features and comfort. Hyundai's luxury brand also earned a prominent third-party endorsement last week when for the first time Genesis topped J.D. Power's 2018 APEAL study, surpassing German luxury-performance icon Porsche. The APEAL study (which stands for Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) "measures owners' emotional attachment and level of excitement across 77 attributes," ranging from performance to comfort, and asks nearly 68,000 owners of new 2018 models to score vehicles on a 1,000-point scale. In its second year ranked as a stand-alone brand, Genesis earned an APEAL score that bumped it up 15 points to 884 and helped push it past Porsche — and past BMW, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Volvo, Cadillac, Land Rover and Lexus, in order of ranking. Last month, Genesis also topped J.D. Power's Initial Quality Survey (IQS) for the first time this year. And both its models were awarded Top Safety Pick Plus ratings by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, among 11 Plus ratings in all for Korean vehicles. Despite high J.D. Power rankings and great reviews, Genesis U.S. sales were off 50 percent for the first six months of 2018 compared to 2017, and in June Genesis sold only 796 vehicles — the first time U.S. numbers dropped below 1,000 in a month. Part of Genesis's APEAL and IQS success can be attributed to its small product lineup: just two models, the G80 and G90 sedans, with a third, the 2019 G70, launching later this year. And while those numbers may help in J.D.

2016 Hyundai Tucson comes to Geneva with long-awaited redesign

As one of the oldest vehicles in Hyundai's lineup, it was only a matter of time before the compact Tucson was given a redesign. Now, at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, we're getting a first-person look at the next-generation model as it prepares to do battle in an increasingly important market. While the last-generation Tucson was an ambassador of Hyundai's early "fluidic sculpture" design language, this new model shares the sharper, more aggressive lines of last year's Intrado Concept. A hexagonal grille is front and center, while the large headlights bleed into the front fenders. As we covered in our original post, the broad, flat hood is reminiscent of the Santa Fe, while the tail looks to the Genesis for its taillight design. Ample attention has also been paid to the cabin, although admittedly, the last Tucson's interior aged rather well. The Geneva show car features handsome red leather seats that contrast nicely with the black dash and silver accents. The cabin layout itself, meanwhile, isn't unlike what's found on the new Sonata; it's clean, logical and easy to figure out. Take a look at our full gallery of live images from the car's Geneva Motor Show Debut. THE ALL-NEW TUCSON 17/02/15 All-New Tucson represents significant step forward for Hyundai New model follows one million Hyundai SUV sales in Europe, over 116,600 in the UK Bold and athletic exterior creates unique appearance Refined interior combines elegance with ergonomics and generous cabin space Convenience and connectivity features tailored to customer needs including New Navigation with TomTom Live services and seven-year free subscription Comprehensive active and passive safety technologies Wide choice of engines; power range from 115 PS to 184 PS All models for Europe to be built in Europe High Wycombe, 17 February 2015 – With its worldwide public debut just weeks away at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show, the All-New Hyundai Tucson is set to redefine the Hyundai brand's C-SUV offering – featuring the highest levels of design, quality and technology which are poised to lead the segment. "The All-New Tucson is a bold new car that represents another leap forward for Hyundai," commented Tony Whitehorn, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor UK.