Buried in a Reuters article on Hyundai’s new Prius-fighter was talk of Hyundai’s new Aslan sedan. The Aslan is intended to take on the growing sales of imported sedans in South Korea, namely the VW Passat, BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. Based on a front-drive architecture, the Aslan seems to occupy a slot between the Sonata and the Grandeur (aka our Azera) – which made it all the more surprising when Reuters reported that “The automaker is also looking at introducing the Aslan in China, the United States and Middle Eastern countries.”
A sort of large, sort of premium sedan makes sense for China and the Middle East. These vehicles tend to thrive in markets where lots of passenger space, “premium styling” and a comfort-focused driving experience are prized by consumers.
But the United States? Sales of the new Sonata haven’t had the same impact as the previous generation. The mid-size sedan market is on a downward trend, and the outlook for large sedans is dismal. Between the Sonata and the Azera, Hyundai has the large sedan space sewn up, and Hyundai product planners would be the first to tell you that the Aslan would be a redundant offering. So why the talk of exports?
Simple. Sometimes, certain vehicles are sent to certain markets by “royal decree”. See also: Phaeton, Volkswagen. Products are cooked up at the “mothership” and sent to certain markets, even if they may not be wholly appropriate for sale there. The regional arm is tasked with the sales and marketing of said product, even if it doesn’t make sense (yet another large-ish sedan) or wholly inappropriate for the brand (think about the Kia K900).
With a little remodeling, it would make a nice long roof.
At least it doesn’t look like a LaCrosse.
Don’t name your car after a character in a children’s book! I’m going to order the Turkish Delight trim package.
Bull, it looks exactly like a LaCrosse. Buick should sue for “waterfall grille” copyright infringement.
Dude my sarcasm button is almost always on!
Sorry I don’t get to be sarcastic often. Elementary kids take you literally and it seems like the adults sometimes need a sense of humor transplant.
Sometimes you need the “/sarcasm”
+1
It’s quite obvious That Buick was in their thoughts when designing “A sort of large, sort of premium sedan makes sense for China”
HaHa, Corey. Two against one
If that isn’t a LaCrosse grille, it was borrowed from the stylish Hyundai XG350(or other suitable digits). Please Hyundai, I beg you, don’t bring back the retro Chaika.
Chaika is Russian for “Grand Marquis” http://www.cars-directory.net/pics/gaz/chaika/1979/gaz_chaika_a1333922403b7196535_4_orig.jpg
That type grill has been used many times and usually Hyundai offers a different grill treatment for the NA market.
Anyway, the Aslan actually slots btwn the Azera and the Genesis; it’s a bit larger than the Azera and a good bit more luxurious so it’s basically Hyundai’s ES and TLX competitor.
Oh damn! All that research that goes into coming up with new names, and they go ahead and forget to ask CoreyDL.
Aslan means lion in Turkish.
I am available for consultation on product names. Not only that, Koreans can’t even pronounce this name, as all of their words must end in a vowel sound.
“Asuh-lan-uh.” Or “Ajh-lanuh” That’s what they’ll say (depending on how the marketing people decide to write it in hanji).
You’re confusing Japanese with Korean.
What part of Kim Jong Un end in vowels?
I’m not. Un is a name, and a singular syllable which starts with a vowel sound. The N is there in Korean, but just barely.
The point is more that each syllable must have it’s own vowel. They have an -ng character (like Samsung, “sam-seng”). But words (usually foreign) which do not end in a hard vowel (cheese, for example) become a forced hard vowel at the end. The character is -, pronounced “uh”
“chee-chuh”
“pee-chah” for pizza
“pee-cha hat-uh” pizza hut
I don’t think he’s confusing one language with another, I just think they’re both very phonetically similar.
I’ve walked behind Koreans and thought they were speaking Japanese from the syllables and rhythm. Getting closer, I realized it made no grammatical sense.
They didn’t seem to have any problems pronouncing it at the Hyundai Asan plant.
From Japanese point of view, Korean language tone sounds like a teenager complaining their parents of not getting something they want.
Koreans do a complaining tone -intentionally- as well. It’s very whiney, and both men and women do it. They do it whenever they don’t like something.
Drove me nuts.
That’s right, Corey, beat it to death
“Aslan means lion in Turkish.”
And Asshat means globalist in English.
Globalist is not a word, petezeiss. I mean you get some hits on google… but not really.
It is a word.
It’s just not one nearly as meaningful as people who use it think it is.
And “petezeiss” means gobshite in TTAC-ese.
Reg; “And “petezeiss” means gobshite in TTAC-ese.”
Hey! Take it easy on Pete, he is pretty funny even he does have some issues.
And, a friend of mine publishes Gobshite Quarterly in Portland, Oregon. He has also published a little tome on how to ‘Curse and Berate in ’69’ Languages’. Some of the B&B might find it useful in lashing back at their perceived nemesis/nemeses on this or other sites.
http://www.gobshitequarterly.com/
Turkce konusyor musunuz?
Turk olmamama ragmen gayet iyi Turkce konusuyorum aslinda.
Biraz Turkce biliyorum ama Turkcem cok bozuk! Turkiye’da iki kez ve kiz arkadasim Turk oldu.
Selamlar! Gorusuruz!
Heimlich bImejnIS cha’?
Wait, do you know for sure that the Phaeton was ordered into the US against VW USA’s wishes? It wouldn’t surprise me, I just haven’t seen anything concrete.
So, can we expect a midsizer called the Caspian? Perhaps a White Witch crossover?
Or, hey, let’s pillage his contemporary. I want the next Genesis Coupe to be named the “Morgoth”
Which would lead to the phrase “Lesgoth is Mor”
I like this Hyundai Jesusmobile.
(Actually, I seriously do think it looks nice.)
You golf much?
They like Buicks, too.
As long as I can get the “Luke Skywalker Hands-Free Technology Package”, I’m in.
Forgive me, but where does this slot in between the Equus, the Genesis and the Sonata? Not to mention the sedan offerings from Kia.
Seriously, who’s going to buy all these incrementally sized, cookie-cutter Korean cars?
Stop making cars already, Korea! We already have a bunch.
Kia competes with Hyundai (just a sportier, better looking version).
Basically –
Accent – Versa, Fit, Yaris, Sonic, Fiesta, etc.
Elantra – Sentra, Civic, Corolla, Cruze, Focus, etc.
Sonata – Altima, Accord, Camry, etc.
Azera – Maxima, Avalon, Impala, Taurus, etc.
Aslan – ES, TLX, LaCrosse, etc.
upcoming compact RWD sedan – Q50, IS, ATS, 3 Series, etc.
Genesis – Q70, GS, CTS, etc.
Equus – LS, 7 Series, etc.
Doubt we’ll see the Aslan anytime soon – and wouldn’t be surprised if we see the Aslan (if it does come to NA) at the same time as the new compact RWD sedan and by that juncture, Hyundai may opt to launch a luxury sub-brand as they would have enough models (along with the new RWD coupe) and maybe a lux CUV or 2 to come.
Yup.
‘Tis a Buick.
With epicanthal folds.
Is China still neck deep in their current Buick obsession?
Sell it over there. The Chinese will buy a million of ’em.
Unless they feel it’s not “imported” enough for their tastes, as the genuine Buicks are. If that’s the case, no deal.
In the true Chinese spirit of copyright infringement, the owners will likely try to remove the Hyundai “H” and replace it with a tri-shield badge.
Agreed. Makes more sense than the Murano CrossCab.
I SAW one of those this week! Not even a mile from my house! I’m pretty sure it didn’t even have dealer tags. The scary thing is that a man was driving it.
There are like 4 of those which live around in this area. Green-blue and one pearl one as well. I am shocked every time I see.
What was his expression, though? Begrudging acceptance or childlike glee? Or maybe a vague sort-of ill look on his face?
Utter beguilement?
Isn’t the Murano CrossCab basically the modern coming of the personal luxury coupe?
I mean, big, soft, ugly, small inside? Throw some brougham irons on the top, and you’re set man!
I think it would be better for HYUNDAI to start using numeric names so we don’t get too confused.Cars as animals , i don’t know.
Yeah, next thing you know they’ll name one after a bird or a horse or something…
Reading that South Korea is worried about imports after visiting there 2 weeks ago, all I can say is: What imports?
It’s elementary to say they had a lot of Hyundais, Kias and Renault Samsungs on the road. But The sheer volume of them was dumbfounding. Seeing anything but was almost momentous.
This looks like a nice enough car, but I would agree, they have the sedan market covered. This one is not going to stop the imports as folks just want to be different and I can only assume this would land with a whimper in the US. The Azera is a fantastic car, but you’d be hard pressed to find a normal American car buyer who even knows it exists.
Exactly right. In 08 09 when I was there, I would pause when I saw something as rare and exotic as a Civic. Or a Town Car or Land Rover.
98% of everything else was SKDM vehicles.
I also have read a year back ,that foreign cars were not allowed to park in the Hyundai factory lots.
Imports (not counting foreign owned brands like Chevy and Renault Samsung) make up about 17% of the Korean market and are expected to make up a quarter by the end of the decade.
I live in SK right now and you’re correct. It’s hard to find anything on the road other than a Hyundai, Kia, Samsung/Renault, Ssangyong and Alpheon EL (Buick LaCrosse) to a lesser extent. I love their domestic market because the Koreans actually love their domestic market.
They don’t get all wrapped around track handling and such, either. The premium cars (Grandeur, Genesis, Equus, Chairman, etc.) all have plush rides that reminds me of what Cadillac and Lincoln used to produce without the extra float.
If only us Americans had that same support for our domestic auto market.
Is Alpheon a new venture as far as Buicks in SK are concerned? I didn’t see any Alpheons when I was there in 08 and 09. And I only saw one Buick the whole time – out in the country. And it was a mid 90s Park Avenue.
The only time I saw foreign cars in Seoul was near the valet parking at the fancypants hotels in the business/government districts. Just about everywhere else reminded of a Hyundai / Kia-only Carmax lot.
So no problem bringing in an entire car that makes no sense, but no one can make a case for manuals on much of anything?
The Azera is pretty much a dead product in the US, Not sure why Hyundai would want a nearly identical product in the showroom. I thought the next sedan from Hyundai was going to be a small RWD/AWD Genesis branded sedan targeted at there 3 series. Maybe the Aslan will be the next Azera.
The compact RWD should be nearing prototype stage.
If Hyundai decides to bring over the Aslan (which I don’t think they should do at this juncture), would be an ES and not an Avalon competitor, but they really should launch a separate lux sub-brand if they do.
Also, the Aslan needs a hybrid option (as does the Azera which SK market already has).
This reminds me of Ford in the US in the 90’s. “We need a subcompact, a compact, an entry level mid size, a mid size, a fwd coupe, a rwd coupe, a personal luxury coupe, and a full size.”
So… damn near like Ford now?
Ford’s doing pretty well with it, no?
Seriously what were they thinking naming a car after the lion in Narnia? What’s next, the Kia Snowball I?
I’m not sure that was entirely accidental given the lion in the backdrop.
Can someone, anyone, please make a non-hyper-luxury sedan with a roofline that allows a proper rear seat and rear door windows that allow a person to get in and out easily? See Volvo 944 for how to do it properly. This coupe-sedan obsession has got to stop.
Please think of the CHILDREN!
This.
As far as adults are concerned, there are an awful lot of 2-seaters being built nowadays.
And you’ll crack your head even getting into the front seats.
Sedans are dead to me but I’m glad to see someone agreeing about the main reason why.
Looking at the vehicle, especially the front end and grille is appears to be very much slated for the Sino vehicle market.
Looks like a fancy Sonata. Yeah, I just don’t see it having much sucess.
I gathered that Asian means lion in some language?
Still… I can’t get over the utter lack of creativity. The Hyundai Asian? Or asian Hyundai? Redundant names and a redundant car, really. Hyundai/Kis is over saturating the market, like BMW has been doing.
Oops… Realized it was asLan… I don’t have my glasses on.
So you typed all this, realized you read it wrong and the comment was irrelevant, explained that you had made a mistake, and then posted it anyway. Great.
“I pity tha FOO!”
I think it was suppose to be a sarcastic thinly veiled racist swipe at Asians in general, but hey, maybe it’s just me
It’s you. You got some racial issues buddy.
Nope! but thanks for playing