Automotive News [sub] reports that Hyundai/Kia have scrapped plans to build a mid-sized unibody pickup truck at their new plant in West Point, GA. Sources from Hyundai (PR department?) say the truck (thought to be inspired by Honda's not successful but we build it on the same production line as the Odyssey and Pilot so who really cares Ridgeline) would have been built on the updated 2010 Kia Sorento chassis, which is set to switch to unibody design. Instead, the Georgia plant will build a Kia small car, likely the Optima. Executives say a Hyundai-branded car may be built there as well, "if the platform is compatible." As consumers turn away from large body-on-frame trucks, you might have expected a yen for lighter, unibody trucks (just as VW's Rabbit-based pickup sold well during the 1970's fuel crisis). And you might be right. But Hyundai/Kia's not about to make that gamble. Not with so much riding on the (larger and heavier than typical for Hyundai) Genesis RWD vehicles.
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Where is the Hyundai diesel….? They sure make plenty of oil burners for the rest of the world.
http://uk.hyundai-motor.com/
I would think that certifying another engine or two would be more expedient then developing an entire new vehical.
The folks who want a Ridgeline will go to Honda. Hyundai/Kia keep making smart moves. I suspect that the cars built in the new plant might include the Kia Spectra, which is their compact (and which would mean that the Hyundai Elantra could be produced in the same plant easily, since they share platform components and also engines).
The Kia Optima would be a good 2nd line for the plant, but oddly enough, this mid-sized car does not share a platform with the Hyundai Sonata (the Optima uses front McPherson struts, the Sonata uses double wishbones; the tracks and dimensions of the cars are similar but no cigar, only cousins, not close kin!)
I think the Kia Optima could be built on the lines with the Spectra since the overall construction is similar (front McPherson struts, etc). especially if the plant is going to be flexible.
I think the smallest Kia Rio and cousin, the Hyundai Accent, will continue to come from South Korea since margins are small on these cars (unless of course, Hyundai and Kia could pick up Chrysler’s underutilized Toluca Mexico factory for a song – the PT Cruiser is nearly dead, anyway, and the Dodge Journey could be built on the lines in the states next to the Dodge Avenger and Chrysler Sebring, with which the Journey shares it’s platform. Goodness knows, Chrysler only needs one plant for these three dogs (get it, 3 dogs?)
Mike, you Canadians might just get the diesel Hyundais some day, and both Americans and Canadians were scheduled to get them – but then the big Hyundai head honcho fired the latest US Hyundai CEO (between the entre and dessert at a dealer conference, no less, I believe) and coincidentally or not, now Hyundai is mute about when diesels are coming.
Which probably means, they aren’t.
$4.59 per gallon for diesel where I live vs. $3.89 for gasoline (per US gallon) also plays hell with the “payback time” math for a moderately priced car.
Plus Hyundai and Kia are finally pulling their finger out and are supposed to be introducing the Elantra hybrid within 18 months. But then again, they’ve been promising hybrids for two years now.
Wait a few months and Honda will supposedly have an Accord clean diesel if you gotta have one and are allergic to the break-down truck (and therefore don’t want a Volkswagen diesel).
menno: a few months from jan 2010 for the accord diesel.. (or jan 2009 if you’re lucky)…
their first north american diesel will go in the redesigned tsx… – so i’ve read…
Someone watched Frasier last night.
Surprisingly no mention of the G8 ST, a muscle car that can also do most of what a truck can do. Perhaps GM should be releasing a V6 model of that car afterall. Except as TTAC’s review points out you might as well have had the V8.
I’ll buy that “truck” when hell freezes over and the Devil learns to skate.
If they called the G8 ST an El Camino then at least the market would have a glimmer of a chance of knowing what the )&*)(& it is. G8 ST, what idiot came up with that name!
I’m still shocked and awed that Pontiac went for that stupid G_ naming scheme. Argh.
Am wondering what a FWD truck would be like with a maxed out cargo bed (weight-wise). Would it be like a standard pickup (no steering, no stopping) except no motive-traction either?
Just curious. I have an FWD/AWD CR-V and with a full load the only way I climb some gravel roads with 5 people on board or pulling our utility trailer is with AWD engaged.
Whatever the case I’m glad if actual small trucks return to the American fleet. Not all of us need F-250s to haul home a couple sheets of plywood.