08 Mar 06 17:20
Kia C'eed
Hyundai is to launch an all-new C-sector small family car, which will effectively replace both the Accent and the Elantra ranges, in the UK at the end of next year. This model, codenamed "FD", has been specifically developed for Europe at Hyundai-Kia's engineering centre in Russelsheim, Germany, and Hyundai engineers promise that it will be properly competitive against class-leaders such as the Golf, Focus and Astra; as well as having much better overall quality than its predecessors, it's "surprisingly sporty", we've been told.
An engineer from the Russelsheim centre confirmed that the car will share its underpinnings with an upcoming new model for sister company Kia. This car, "ED", is the production version of the C'eed concept seen at the Geneva Motor Show last week, and will replace the current Cerato. But whereas the Kia was largely the work of a Korean team, then 'Europeanised' at Russelsheim, the design of the Hyundai has been created from scratch alongside the engineering development. The engineer told 4car that the team working on the car has been European, with members recruited from companies including Opel, Mercedes, Audi, Volkswagen, Smart and Saab, and that it has been given a free rein: "The Koreans are completely open to listening", he said. "They are not limiting what we can do in any way. And as it's a new project, it's a young team, very lively and creative."
Although the ED and FD are mechanically and structurally similar, with only minor variations in, for example, suspension tuning, they will thus have a different image and market positioning. Underlining this, they will actually be built at two different factories - the Kia ED in Zilina, Slovakia, and the FD at an as-yet unspecified location in the Czech Republic. Engines for the line-up are thought to be similar to those already in the Hyundai-Kia range: 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0-litre petrols, with 1.5 and 2.0 diesels, but updated and refined for greater economy, quietness, performance and reduced emissions.
Hyundai insiders appear to be very excited about this new car, accepting that the Accent and Elantra have not been up there with the sector's finest. However, until the FD goes on sale - RHD sales are not expected to start until early 2008 - Hyundai is considering offering a three-door version of the latest, recently-updated Accent to plug the gap in its range. This is a car primarily designed for the US, but would be marketed here as a "budget niche-filler", according to a Hyundai UK spokesman.
The FD is a hugely important car for Hyundai, not only as it pitches into one of the largest market sectors in Europe but because it forms the basis for a whole new 'family' of vehicles on the same platform. A coupe-cabriolet version will follow in late 2008 or early 2009, and then a compact MPV to replace the Carens and a compact SUV. The MPV, as hinted at by the Talus concept car, is expected to have more of a crossover-SUV feel than the Carens, but no design has yet been signed off for development.
A larger crossover, as indicated by the well-received Genus concept seen in Geneva, has been given the go-ahead and is "two or three years off", but "will not necessarily look just like the show car." Also on the way is the "EM" full-sized SUV, designed primarily for the US and Asian markets, but likely to also come to Western Europe in small numbers towards the end of 2007. This won't be a replacement for the old-school Terracan as such, as it's less of a hard-core utility vehicle; a Hyundai spokesman described it as "the Santa Fe's bigger brother." The Terracan will continue on sale whilst there is still sufficient demand.
No decision has been made yet, however, on whether to bring Hyundai's new large rear-wheel drive saloon to the UK. This model, known as the Grandeur in its home market and as the Azera in the US, would probably not sell in sufficient numbers for imports to be worthwhile. Its next-generation version, however, along with the Mk3 Santa Fe off-roader and the "EM", could be the models to lead the launch of a new sub-brand for Hyundai; the company is considering creating a new brand-name to use on its range-topping models, rather as Toyota created Lexus, Nissan Infiniti and Honda Acura. This is currently under consideration, though as yet undecided; even if the sub-brand does come to fruition, it may be marketed only in the US.
In the meantime and short term, Hyundai is focusing on its second-generation - and much-improved - Santa Fe SUV, one of its most important new models on a global scale.
*Come back to 4car later for a full road test of the new Hyundai Santa Fe.
