Hyundai's 35mpg Sedan

[jcamaro]

I'd prefer all those features in my 09 Sonata. The exterior may look "Modern and Sport" but the subtext of that reads "Gaudy and Lame". The 09 looks kinda plain, but its a sedan. Its supposed to!

[Russo]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Yeah, what is going on with Honda? The CR-Z is only estimated for 37 MPG Highway...and that's for a $25K hybrid 2-seater???

i'd just like to see them move everything to dohc, direct injection, and all 6 spd auto/manual tranny's... esp in the Ridgeline...

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by ConceptVBS

Well, the Sonata just got IIHS's Top safety pick designation for 2010 yesterday. Definitely not a "tin can".

http://usnews.rankingsandreviews.com...P-SAFETY-PICK/

Safety and "tin can" do not go hand in hand.

(Don't take this the wrong way GM engineers) Any fool can design a vehicle to crush in such a way as to protect the passenger compartment...but it takes special work and investment to make a quality, solid vehicle stay that way for years forward.

The thing is wider, and not much shorter than the Malibu, yet it weighs nearly 300 lbs less...yes...they could have a more efficient design given the Malibu is based on an aged platform...but physics stays the same for everyone. Chances are this thing will be rickety as all get out in 5 years time, if not less.

I'm not an expert on hyundai, as with all foreign brands they might disappear and I'd be happy...but I could feel the difference in body rigidity between the Genesis V6 and the Camaro on my test drives....Which is what Cmicasa was getting at...on a brand-scale.

[ConceptVBS]

Seems like your mindset is pretty much set in stone that "foreign" = "tin can". Well, good luck with that. Hope you make something of it.

But lets be frank about one thing: if it weren't for the "foreign" makers, domestic cars in this day and age would not be where it is today.

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by Russo

i'd just like to see them move everything to dohc, direct injection, and all 6 spd auto/manual tranny's... esp in the Ridgeline...

Reportedly Honda is wanting to "return to its roots" of making smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. I'd like to see them shrink the Ridgeline and boost its FE.

[Mr. Wyndham]

Originally Posted by ConceptVBS

Seems like your mindset is pretty much set in stone that "foreign" = "tin can". Well, good luck with that. Hope you make something of it.

Only generally speaking. And it's usually only the Japaneses and Korean makes. Europe builds some pretty solid cars.

Originally Posted by ConceptVBS

But lets be frank about one thing: if it weren't for the "foreign" makers, domestic cars in this day and age would not be where it is today.

This wasn't anywhere near why I said what I said...but -- you're right. If it weren't for the import invasion, domestic makers might have continued to flourish as they did in the mid-1900s!!

[Ravirn]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

Nice specs....Absolutely disgusting design.

imo.

My first thought when I saw it for the first time was: What the **** is that ridge along the side of the car? Blech!!!

[FenwickHockey65]

It could've been a decent looking car if they hadn't completely overstyled it.

[Russo]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Reportedly Honda is wanting to "return to its roots" of making smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles. I'd like to see them shrink the Ridgeline and boost its FE.

thats very possible with what i mentioned above... personally i think the bed's are a bit small (i prefer an 8 ft bed), and make an extended cab too...

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by FenwickHockey65

It could've been a decent looking car if they hadn't completely overstyled it.

They did the same to the Tucson styling (a tad over the top)...although the overall package reportedly is much better than the previous model. Hyundai/Kia is the up-and-comer. I don't personally like their styling, but their vehicles have come a long way in a short time. The point of the post though, was that Hyundai has developed this non-hybrid, mid-sized sedan that is capable of 35 MPG...ugly or otherwise.

[Muscle Master]

Well GM did invest bout 5 million for the next gen ecotech the other day, looking forward to the SS Cruze

Why the hell is the Malibu at the bottom of all the graph's .... I mean, I would figure that the Chevy Malibu tops that sedan segment or shares it with the Altima, that don't make sense to me:

Malibu-Altima
Fusion
Accord-Sonata
Camry

An I am not bias at all !!! about the order they should be in

[MikesZ]

Originally Posted by Muscle Master

Well GM did invest bout 5 million for the next gen ecotech the other day, looking forward to the SS Cruze

Why the hell is the Malibu at the bottom of all the graph's .... I mean, I would figure that the Chevy Malibu tops that sedan segment or shares it with the Altima, that don't make sense to me:

Malibu-Altima
Fusion
Accord-Sonata
Camry

An I am not bias at all !!! about the order they should be in

Are you talking about sales graph for the Malibu? Nobody can seem to figure out why Malibu isn't selling better.

[FenwickHockey65]

EpII Malibu should solve everything. The current EpI Malibu certainly showed people GM can build a decent midsize sedan, the next-gen will blow the competition out of the water.

[Tal]

Originally Posted by MikesZ

Are you talking about sales graph for the Malibu? Nobody can seem to figure out why Malibu isn't selling better.

The Malibu and Chevy nameplates both have image issues to overcome right now and despite that the Malibu was the 3rd best selling mid-size in December 2009 and #1 has it's own set of image issues. Beyond that while I like the new Malibu much more than the last few attempts it's a solid competitor, not a class dominator.