[vasudeva]

It is really sad that the snarling Elantra (which anyway was a decent car inside) is being phased out. But it is ironic that it is being phased out especially when in Sep 07 it recorded the 3rd highest growth in month on month sales. Elantra sales increased 50% from 2 in Aug 07 to 3 in Sep 07. The record for Sep 07 growth was MB C class whose sales increased 102% from 51 to 103.

[nitrous]

OT:

Originally Posted by Gogi

Well the Passat is assembled here see what they have done to the pricing.

Now, If this is the Laura's sister, then I think the pricing is ok for a VW.
Maybe I justify the pricing because I love VW.
But really, Is it that bad??

[Equus]

So what do you guys suggest should be the strategy for Hyundai to see their C+ and D segment cars?

[suman]

The Sante Fe coming in is GREAT news but will someone correct the spelling in the thread title - its TuCSon

[samirsarkar]

Originally Posted by Equus

So what do you guys suggest should be the strategy for Hyundai to see their C+ and D segment cars?

Difficult question....Hyundai does not have a decent reputation in India for making good sedans in the C+ and D segments. The Elantra was a reasonably good car but had bad fuel efficiency. Same with the Sonata....the reliability and peace-of-mind image akin to a Toyota/Honda/Nissan is just not there.

To be honest, Hyundai should concentrate on what it does best in India, i.e. churn out hatchbacks in the B and B+ segments.

[vasudeva]

Originally Posted by samirsarkar

Difficult question....Hyundai does not have a decent reputation in India for making good sedans in the C+ and D segments. The Elantra was a reasonably good car but had bad fuel efficiency. Same with the Sonata....the reliability and peace-of-mind image akin to a Toyota/Honda/Nissan is just not there.

To be honest, Hyundai should concentrate on what it does best in India, i.e. churn out hatchbacks in the B and B+ segments.

The new Sonata is reported to have comparable FE (OK somewhat less) with Camry and Accord. Even quality wise, it has earned high ratings. But Camry and Accord are now top of mind in US and world markets, and in fact are the default choice in that segment. Sonata is now considered `recommended' in US markets. Maybe a decade later, a newer generation of consumers will forget Hyundai's earlier quality (just as they did with Toyotas of the 1950s) and may be then Hyundai may not have to give huge `Korea' discount.

[GeekSrik]

i m surprised why tuscon is out! tuscon was supposedly a great looker from hyundai and was really macho. i can understand terracan going out! it looked sad!

[diabloo]

I felt Terracan had great presence like a real SUV. Tuscon was more of MPV.
If Terracan looks similar to Scorpio then Tucson looks to Innova.

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

i m surprised why tuscon is out! tuscon was supposedly a great looker from hyundai and was really macho. i can understand terracan going out! it looked sad!

[rangaraj]

Originally Posted by Equus

So what do you guys suggest should be the strategy for Hyundai to see their C+ and D segment cars?

Drop prices of Sonata around the Civic prices, bring the loaded Azera at the price of the accord. Forget about the higher segment cars..
Tucson ought to have been locally manufactured/assembled and priced at around 13-14L OTR..

[AMATMO]

Originally Posted by rangaraj

Drop prices of Sonata around the Civic prices, bring the loaded Azera at the price of the accord. Forget about the higher segment cars..
Tucson ought to have been locally manufactured/assembled and priced at around 13-14L OTR..

but there are chances that people might still not buy it

secondly the main problem of tucson was also that it didnt look like a full size SUV for which Sante Fe is the solution

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by BUSA

Samurai , why dont you try, they might have one in stock and will give you a good discount on it too.

Actually I spoke to the local dealer. He denied that Tuscon was being phased out, according to him the bigger Santa Fe will be sold along with smaller Tucson. The news report is only speculating about Tucson phase out. Also, there is no discount whatsoever. And it costs 19.05L on road in Karnataka.

Check this:

No security features like immobilizer or alarm.
No automatic climate control.
Has only cloth upholestry.
No DVD or reverse camera. Just MP3 player.
No remote keyless entry

The only redeeming quality it has is the safety factor, which doesn't sell well in India. It has ABS, dual Airbags, TCS, all disk brakes and has 5 star crash rating in everything.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by vasudeva

Elantra sales increased 50% from 2 in Aug 07 to 3 in Sep 07.

Thats pretty impressive. 50% growth over a month.

We still haven't recieved any spy pics of both the cars- No Santa FE, no new elantra. Nothing yet. Not sure if they are coming soon!

[Hyundai.Lover]

Originally Posted by GeekSrik

i m surprised why tuscon is out! tuscon was supposedly a great looker from hyundai and was really macho. i can understand terracan going out! it looked sad!

Due to the fact that Hyundai is doing very very bad in marketing part.
Verna = Poor Marketing
Elantra = Poor Marketing
Getz CRDi = Poor Marketing
Tucson = Poor Marketing infact no marketing at all.
Sonata Gold = Poor Marketing
Sonata Emberra = Poor Marketing.

Santro = Hot Cake for Good Marketing
Getz = Over priced and poor marketing.

[CrAzY dRiVeR]

Originally Posted by Hyundai.Lover

Verna = Poor Marketing
Elantra = Poor Marketing
Getz CRDi = Poor Marketing
Tucson = Poor Marketing infact no marketing at all.
Sonata Gold = Poor Marketing
Sonata Emberra = Poor Marketing.
Santro = Hot Cake for Good Marketing
Getz = Over priced and poor marketing.

Its not just about poor marketing.

Santro is a good car at a good car. Can't say the same for the rest of the lot! Either the car is good, pricing is bad OR pricing is good, car is not upto the mark.

[skyline gtr r34]

Originally Posted by CrAzY dRiVeR

Thats pretty impressive. 50% growth over a month.

We still haven't recieved any spy pics of both the cars- No Santa FE, no new elantra. Nothing yet. Not sure if they are coming soon!

a thinly disguised santa fe has been doing the rounds , i should make it here mid next year though bigger & pricier than the tuscon