Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market

Filed under: Sedan, Audi, Rumormill

Ever so slowly, the United States is getting over its prejudice against hatchbacks. The subcompact segment is booming more than ever and the vast majority of vehicles in this range have a five-door configuration. Take the new Ford Fiesta, for example – the hatch is easily outselling the sedan. This may be well and good for cars living in the sub-$25,000 segment, but Americans still haven’t quite grasped the idea of a premium hatchback like the Audi A3.

To try and boost sales, Audi is reportedly working on an A3 sedan for the U.S. market, which would give the automaker another vehicle to offer below the larger A4. No details have been released about the upcoming four-door A3, but we can see how this move makes sense for Audi considering how much the A4 has grown in size over the years.

If Audi is indeed working on an A3 sedan, it will be one of a kind amongst its competitors. The BMW 1 Series is only available as a coupe and convertible in the U.S., and Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have any small offerings, though the next-generation B-Class hatch is being considered for U.S. consumption. Assuming all goes well, expect to see the A3 sedan sometime around 2013.

Photos Copyright (C)2010 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Financial Times (translated)]

Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Kia Rondo discontinued in U.S. market with nary a whimper?

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Minivan/Van, Hatchback, Kia

“Thank you for inquiring about the Rondo. As the saying goes, ‘all good things must come to an end.’ But with endings, come new beginnings…”

That’s the message visitors receive when they attempt to learn about the 2010 Kia Rondo from the Korean automaker’s U.S. website. Interestingly enough, when we contacted Kia officials for confirmation that the Rondo wouldn’t be around for 2011, we received the following response: “Kia has not yet decided on a 2011 model, but the 2010 is still available in dealerships.”

Yes, that sounds like a typical canned response, and our best guess is that the Rondo is pretty much a goner. Taking a look at sales figures from last year, the Rondo was Kia’s third slowest seller just behind the full-size Borrego SUV and the faux-luxe Amanti sedan. Worse yet, the Rondo’s 2009 sales total of 14,206 units was less than half of the 28,645 sales it managed in 2008.

Kia is naturally hoping it doesn’t lose out on customers that would otherwise have considered a Rondo. In lieu of the micro-minivan, Kia’s consumer website is pointing buyers towards its new-for-2011 Sportage cute ute, which does have a good bit of space for stuff but surely isn’t quite as family friendly as the apparently outgoing seven-passenger Rondo.

Interestingly enough, Kia of Canada does not seem to have the same message on its site, so we wouldn’t be surprised if the MPV soldiers on with our neighbors to the north. If you’re still interested in getting a Rondo of your very own in these United States, there are massive incentives that remain active on the 2009 model, including $2,000 cash back, $1,000 for a competitive vehicle turn-in, $1,000 for Kia owner loyalty, and/or a $500 discount for military service. That’s a whole lotta cash on the hood. Hat tip to Michael B!

[Sources: Kia; Kia Canada]

Kia Rondo discontinued in U.S. market with nary a whimper? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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One market where Hyundai sales aren’t white hot? Home.

Filed under: Hyundai, Kia, South Korea

It seems that Hyundai is having a very similar problem to Buick in its home market. Overseas customers can’t get enough of its products, but buyers at home are rather ho-hum. Just as Buick is huge in China, Hyundai models are selling like gangbusters in North America and Europe. However, in South Korea, Hyundai sales have dropped for three months in a row. Interestingly, sister brand Kia is seeing robust sales for its just introduced K5 (Optima in the U.S.) and Sportage with total volumes up by 49 percent compared to 2009.

Lack of fresh product is blamed for the 1.2 percent decline at Hyundai, although the new Tucson and Sonata were launched just last Fall. Hyundai has several new products coming in August with the new Elantra and Accent as well as the new Veloster coupe (or whatever it ends up being called), and those new models may spur an increase in domestic sales.

[Source: Reuters]

One market where Hyundai sales aren’t white hot? Home. originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Jul 2010 16:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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PSA: Chevy owns 94% of Uzbekistan car market for make benefit glorious nation

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, GM, Daewoo

General Motors has been the largest automaker in the United States since before many of your parents were born. And The General managed to keep its sales lead in spite of a very public government-assisted bankruptcy and the loss of four brands. But while GM’s 20 percent market share remains impressive, it doesn’t come close to the success the automaker has achieved in… Uzbekistan?

Inside Line reports that GM currently owns 94 percent of the Uzbekistan market, with 59,000 of the 63,000 vehicles sold so far this year. Impressive, right? Well, if you remove commercial trucking from the equation, GM’s share of the market is 98.6 percent; a healthy temperature by any measure. You’re probably (not) wondering how The General managed to secure the entire Uzbek market. The answer is simple: GM is part owner of a join venture plant that is capable of producing 250,000 vehicles per year. The facility was a joint venture between UzAvtoSanoat and Daewoo, and since GM controls the Korean automaker, the plant basically makes Daewoos with Bowtie badging. The facility currently produces the Chevrolet Matiz, Lacetti and Captiva (shown above).

So it appears the Uzbekistians (Uzbekistanis?) are a very loyal bunch that go to great lengths to support local jobs. Now the competition knows what to do to break Chevy’s dominance; provided anyone can find Uzbekistan on a map.

[Source: Inside Line]

PSA: Chevy owns 94% of Uzbekistan car market for make benefit glorious nation originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Jul 2010 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda whips the sheets off of MX-5 Miata Miyako for UK market

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Mazda, UK

The Mazda MX-5 Miata has been electromagnetic when it comes to special editions, nearly as powerful at attracting check-this-option-box versions as the Ford Mustang. The next one to be rung up is the MX-5 Miyako for those roadster-loving Brits. Part of the year-long celebration of 20 years of Miata production, the “summer special edition” Miyako gets the requisite leather interior upgrade with highlighted stitching and badging, unique colors and 17-inch wheels.

It is the first special edition that you can have in both ragtop and folding tin-top forms, with 500 each available to the consuming public. It goes on sale July 1, priced from £18,385 ($27,722 U.S.) on-the-road. Have a read on all the specs after the jump, and check the fun you’re meant to have in it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

[Source: Mazda]

Continue reading Mazda whips the sheets off of MX-5 Miata Miyako for UK market

Mazda whips the sheets off of MX-5 Miata Miyako for UK market originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Jun 2010 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mazda RX-8 to exit U.S. market after 2011 model year?

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mazda, Rumormill

According to “a well placed source at Mazda’s North American Operations,” Motor Trend is reporting that the aging RX-8 is set to exit stage left here in the States after the 2011 model year. As it is, the rotary-powered sportscar is slated to see the European guillotine at the same time due to its inability to meet Euro V emissions standards.

There are a number of issues that all manufacturers that have chosen to borrow the rotary engine design from Felix Wankel have had to deal with, not the least of which have been poor fuel efficiency, comparatively high exhaust emissions and excessive oil consumption. It seems that these same long-running plagues may kill off yet another fun-to-drive rotary-powered model from Mazda.

Mazda has not made any formal announcements as to the death of the RX-8 or the rebirth of the perennially rumored RX-7 revival. That said, we’d be more than a little shocked if Mazda didn’t renew its commitment to the high-revving, barrel-shaped rotary engine wrapped up in some sort of innovative package within the next few model years. We’ll see.

[Source: Motor Trend]

Mazda RX-8 to exit U.S. market after 2011 model year? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 May 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Hyundai puts kibosh on Ram-based pickup, considers commercial market

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Truck, Work, Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Rumormill

“Hyundai Motor Co. denies that there are any current plans to bring a pickup truck of any type into the U.S. now or in the foreseeable future. Hyundai is not in discussion with Chrysler in regard to a selling a rebadged Chrysler Corp. pickup truck, or any other vehicle, in the U.S.”

So, there you go. But, as is often the case, where there is smoke, there is fire. Late last week, news reports began filtering in that Hyundai was indeed in talks with Chrysler regarding the possibility of a fullsize pickup truck wearing the Korean automaker’s badge built atop the Ram truck platform from the Pentastar. Those negotiations apparently did happen, according to the always reliable PickupTrucks.com, but stalled after the two companies couldn’t agree on volume numbers.

Further, what prompted the whole series of truck-based discussions is Hyundai’s reported desire to enter the commercial vehicle market later this decade. If true, this action would mirror a similar move by Nissan, which just unveiled its initial salvo into the large but mostly stagnant commercial vehicle marketplace.

Might Hyundai’s commercial vehicle bear something in common with the Dodge H-100 Wagon that Chrysler markets in Mexico? Seems like a definite possibility, considering that the Ram-headed commercial vehicle is actually based on an overseas design from Hyundai. Stay tuned.

[Source: PickupTrucks.com]

Report: Hyundai puts kibosh on Ram-based pickup, considers commercial market originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 12 May 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Isuzu Philippines Maintains Truck Market Leadership in 2009

According to the combined official figures released by the Truck Manufacturers Association of the Philippines and the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines, Inc., Isuzu trucks again outsold the competition in 2009, as it had the previous 11 straight years.

Last year, Isuzu’s N-Series light-duty trucks sold a total of 996 units, or 56.8 percent of Category 3 of the commercial vehicle segment. Isuzu’s medium-duty trucks, including the Forward, were just as dominant, selling 232 units for 57.9 percent of Category 4. Read more