Report: Hyundai Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Coming In 2012

[xcel]

Hi All:

And like everyone is alluding too, Hyundai is really ramping up.

While I see Honda still offering the very highest quality mainstream vehicles, they have shied away from anything really fuel efficient other than their IMA base hybrids and those have not been working out very well for Honda no matter how hard we have tried to push them over the past decade. I am worried that if the Accord sales begin to crack, Honda could find themselves in a serious downward spiral until they truly innovate with both lower costs and new tech/higher FE and cooler vehicles. While the Cross Tourer has not done much for me since the early concept, at least I am not turning away from them like I used to.

An example of the Honda pricing problem arrives in the form of the Civic LX w/ an AT at $19,305 incl. destination. I cannot see myself recommending it to anyone when the much larger, safer and even better equipped Sonata GLS w/ an AT costs just $1,600 more. The 11 Sonata with a stick’s FE is only 1 mpg behind the 11 Civic as well!

Even today, Sonata sales are only 5,000 units per month away from the Accord and if that is not a competitor breathing down your neck, I do not know what else is.

What I am really watching out for however is that upcoming Elantra because it sounds like it will arrive with the same over the top exterior, amenities and a price that will have everyone else gasping for air including the upcoming 2012 Focus! That car could really put the nail in the coffin of the Civic and Corolla with the new Cruze and Focus struggling at too high a price point to compete.

I am writing this all the while I am still a huge Honda fan as my Accord still offers something that few other have offered even after 5-years of ownership.

In any case, Andrew nailed it imho as Hyundai is looking past its competitors and will soon be taking over leadership in a number of segments if they keep firing on all cylinders as they are today.

Add in Hyundai's environmental tech and they could be ready for anything.

Wayne