Hyundai planning Toyota iQ rival
It is codenamed "green baby," and it is Hyundai's answer to the Toyota iQ. A Hyundai Europe insider hinted that the car could be funkier and "more basic and functional" than the iQ. The iQ Concept had a pretty neat interior, but there really isn't much space between it and the backstop of basic transportation - at least, not when it comes to anything you'd want to sit in.Drivetrains and engines haven't been discussed, but the 12-valve 4-cylinder with 66 hp from the i10 would probably be in the cards. Hyundai has said that i10 is too small for the U.S., so the even smaller "green baby" will probably be offered only in Europe at first, and could be on sale by as soon as next year.
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Teryl 2:15PM (1/31/2009)
I hate how these car companies don't think the North American market will buy vehicles under a certain size. Just bring them over and they will sell. Quit labeling us as people who want to drive around in big boats
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MajorGeek 2:58PM (1/31/2009)
Prius, Smartfortwo and other many other small cars are out there already. They are not for me, I dont see a ton of em, but to each his own.
Holden Miecranc 3:37PM (1/31/2009)
Small cars do not sell well in the US. Never have, probably never will. Does Toyota sell more Yaris or Camrys? Furthermore, does Toyota sell more Corollas or Camrys? Seeing as the MPG between a sub-compact and a compact is nill and the difference in highway mileage between a compact and a mid-size is negligible, it would seem as most people don't see the need to forgo a more comfortable ride and the ability to carry more people (and comfortably so) by purchasing a small car.
David 11:05PM (1/31/2009)
Some cities, like Philadelphia, NYC, or Boston have very "European" problems, including tiny streets, and needing to parallel park 99% of the time.
For those of us, we need all the small cars we can get, and big sedans are not even considered as appropriate city cars. I would never ever consider a Camry (not only because they're so ugly and boring) because they're too big.
Your impression of what "America wants" is slanted according to where YOU live, but where I live, I must have seen 25 Priuses today (and BTW those are NOT "small cars"), and 3 Smarts, and probably 15 MINIs, and that was just TODAY.
James 2:30PM (1/31/2009)
Hyundai should name it's answer to the Toyota iQ...
Hyundai HyQ
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JDMlover 2:44PM (1/31/2009)
This thing Hyundai got going on it getting real old....
Why can they come out with something new and different? instead of keep chasing others.....
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LCN 2:51PM (1/31/2009)
Because there are very few unexplored market segments that money can be made in left for Hyundai. Basically every car they make will be "chasing' after another, just like almost every car Toyota or anyone else releases.
jsjs 3:43PM (1/31/2009)
Uhh, so Toyota didn't chase Nissan's Cube w/ the Scion xB or the SmartForFour w/ the iQ (of which the Mini originated the segment)?
Or how 'bout the Chrysler/Dodge minivans w/ the Sienna or the F150 w/ the Tundra, etc.?
Please...
few 6:26PM (1/31/2009)
JDMlover is the new Trishield.
David 11:07PM (1/31/2009)
If you were talking about GM, I'd agree.
Cameron42985 9:15AM (2/01/2009)
JSJS:
"Uhh, so Toyota didn't chase Nissan's Cube w/ the Scion xB or the SmartForFour w/ the iQ (of which the Mini originated the segment)?
Or how 'bout the Chrysler/Dodge minivans w/ the Sienna or the F150 w/ the Tundra, etc.?
Please..."
JSJS, you sure you read the previous comment right?
That was exactly the same point.
JB 3:44PM (1/31/2009)
"Why can they come out with something new and different? instead of keep chasing others....."
Your understanding, or lack thereof, relating to the consumer 'black box model' is why Hyundai is building this vehicle and their future product line-up. Manufacturers understand that 'brands' reinvent and evolve rather than reinvent the wheel. Toyota reinvented themselves off GM nearly 3 decades ago, interestingly when Hyundai was birthed. Now some 3 decades later Hyundai is reinventing themselves(and not the wheel) off Toyota. It's really basic, many new-millennium manufacturers have tried and it appears that only Hyundai has succeeded to date.
On another note, it's the same reason that despite the fact that McDonalds has served billions and is very successful, there are billions more to be served and McDonalds can't serve them all so(nor will a diverse consumer market exclusively choose one brand), Burger King, Wendy's, Sonic, etc. went into business and built a service point most likely adjacent to a McDonalds.
Your misperception that Hyundai somehow lacks creativity, because they are building off the success of Toyota, fails to take into account that much of the Japanese success was built off American ingenuity/technology/marketing.
Hyundai is the fastest growing manufacturer in the US market (at #5) and also in the top 3 in the worlds key emerging markets of China, India and Russia. Toyota trails Hyundai in a few of these emerging markets.
You lack understanding in the genius of simplicity by saying Hyundai is 'chasing' Toyota. As the world's foremost automaker everyone is 'chasing' Toyota but Hyundai/Kia is without question the premier of the follower-brands.
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Phil 4:58PM (1/31/2009)
The IQ will be on sale in the UK in March 09...
Holden.
It would be hard to sell as many Yaris as Camry's seeing as it Americas best selling car, It still doesnt mean Toyota couldn't sell 10.000 or more per year.
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wolverinejoe80 4:18PM (2/01/2009)
shouldn't it say hyundai planning for Smart?
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rustem 4:46AM (2/01/2009)
I'm a foreigner, from Azerbaijan. This is a small country in Caucasus, and in this small country HYUNDAI is the best selling car maker. Azerbaijan consumers are much like Americans, rather than Europeans. Here also we are selling Santa Fe, Sonata, TG, Veracruz..The same models that Hyundai sell in the USA, we are selling here.and now, we are trying to sell i30, i20 and, i10 here..i10 is the smallest HYUNDAI ever.
Only girls and women buy i10 here, and men do not prefer small cars like i10..In the USA, this will also be the same. They can't sell much of i10 there, but if they decide to export i10 to the USA from India, they have to promote, spend millions of dollars. And, for that period of time, its not logical to do that. So, they're quite right not selling small cat,i10, in the USA.
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RockStoneSteel 12:11PM (2/01/2009)
I very much prefer a smaller 2 door commuter type car for a work ride and for errands. I would then also have a larger second vehicle for hauling family, towing, etc. Unfortunately, the various brands aren't overly generous or creative with the smaller vehicle offerings. When it comes to small cars, manufacturers tend to think in terms of CHEAP, rather than premium. This is true even with Toyota and Honda. The newest crop of small vehicles are plagued with cheap torsion beam suspensions, drum brakes, and under-performing inefficient engines. This would include vehicles such as the Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris (and IQ), Hyundai Accent, etc. The BMW Mini is one of the few bright spots that found the "magic" formula. With an excellent drive train and suspension, the phenomenal sales of the Mini show that people do care about the underpinnings as well as the shiny paint and cupholders. In fact sales of the Mini are fantastic in spite of this economy. So whoever says there isn't a market in the US for this type of vehicle is sadly, sadly mistaken.
At a minimum, here is what the small car should include: a fully independent suspension, 4 wheel disc/anti-lock brakes, traction control, a telescoping steering column to fit all size drivers, and at least offer a 5 speed auto with paddle shifters, preferrably dual clutch. The engine should have at least one horsepower per 20 pounds of vehicle weight. The vehicle should be customizable just as the Mini's and Scions with dealer installable upgrades such as stainless trim, lighting kits, stereo upgrades, GPS, etc. Eliminate the stupid packaging that requires spending $5K just to get satellite radio or a homelink transmitter (I'm talking about you Nissan boneheads).
The above formula doesn't require new cutting edge technology or really anything overly expensive. It's just a formula that is quite rare in the US market and is quite ripe with profit if the manufacturers would just step up to the plate. Amazingly, even the Japanese have yet to figure this out.
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P.V. 1:18PM (2/01/2009)
Ummm, then what is the Hyundai i10? Is that more of an answer to the less hip, more practical Toyota Aygo?
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Christos Dimou 4:32PM (2/01/2009)
Small cars are coming to US to stay. Cars like the IQ, 500 etc. are as comfortable as any medium size car. This is the way it is in Europe. So you lose space (which in 99% of the time you do not need) but you gain in agility and fuel consumption (please be aware that city traffic is always more advantageous for small cars with low curb weights).
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