Are the Koreans riding too high?

here's an article I found, and other related Hyundai "news"

http://www.leftlanenews.com/category/hyundai/

Are the Koreans riding too high?
Automotive columnist Jerry Flint has an interesting look at some of the
problems that could hurt Hyundai and Kia in the coming years. "The Koreans
are terribly ambitious and terribly aggressive, and in the past, they have
been hurt by such tactics," writes Flint. "A few years ago, the industry in
Korea expanded too rapidly; Daewoo went bankrupt and was taken over by GM.
Renault grabbed Samsung's failed effort at expanding into car manufacturing.
And Hyundai rescued Kia by taking a big stake in that company at a time when
Hyundai itself was in serious trouble." Flint also points to how Hyundai
tossed U.S. boss Robert Cosmai and Kia bounced its U.S. president Peter
Butterfield despite both companies having good years. "My guess is that the
home office sets impossible goals, and no matter how good the results, if
people don't reach these goals, they are punished. Setting high goals is
great, but this kind of instability eventually causes an organization to
become dysfunctional."

 

Hyundai is very serious about being one of the top 5 auto manufacturers in
the world. They believe that if they don't accomplish that in the next 5
years that someone else may own them.

 

(IMO)
I think its as a competitive auto market as its ever been in the history of
auto manufacturing. GM facing huge losses (no loss to me, but sorry for the
auto workers; as no fault to them)
If Hyundai continues what they've been doing, I see them continually gaining
market share.
I was amazed at their new azera and sonata. I have been thinking about the
Tucson for the next year or so... (BUT my sonata keeps on rockin'
I wish they had plans for a RWD model here in the Americas, as it seems to
be making somewhat of a comeback.

 

It's my understanding that the next Tiburon redesign will be RWD.

 

the next tiburon is going to be rear wheel drive

 

wrong car for it

 

I wish the Azera were RWD, but the Tiburon would also benefit tremendously
from RWD. In fact, I was hoping to see the Tib go to AWD.

 

AWD would make sense. Front drive makes sense. Rear drive on a car
that size will be unblanced with too much weight on the front, non
drive, wheels. OTOH and rear drive on a large sedan would makes sense
if they want to give it a tow spec.

 

maybe and maybe not. the rise of FWD "sports" (sporty) cars are rising.
the Tiburon could conceivably compete with quite a bit of other RWD cars out
there...(dare I say the 'stang, charger, that small roadster beamer x3
something.. maybe....)
IMO-Id never buy a FWD sports/sporty car EVER. I'm old school and RWD is
what I've always driven .
My Sonata is my first FWD car, still love it though..

 

i miss my pony and stellar, i too prefer the handling of rwd cars..
exspecially on gravel.

 

Or make it possible for it to become a true sports car.

 

yes indeed, well engineered and designed can make it more balanced 50/50 (or
somewhere close to that....)
and can be possibly be considered a True Sports Car.

 

you just have to learn how to handle the FWD. It takes different
techniques.