Ask The Best And Brightest: What Would It Take To Sell 50k Of These Per Year?
Published: February 24th, 2009
Share
This is a concept for now, but glass roof aside it’s the near-production look of a new Kia mini MPV in the continental style. And now I’m curious what it would take for this Kia to sell, say 50k units per year in the US. I’m talking MSRP, gas prices, Kia’s new stop-start system (euro only, 15 percent better efficiency), suicide doors, whatever. Keep in mind, Honda sold nearly 80k Fits last year. Kia 2008 sales are here for comparison.
More by Edward Niedermeyer
Comments
Join the conversation
That car looks to me like a Ford Fiesta clone (the new one). Positioning it as a Fiesta clone for less money would do the trick. Just the usual Japanese/Korean/Chinese way. The new Fiesta is coming to the US next year... Because going head on against Yaris or Fit just won't cut it.
I know Hyun / Kia are going to sell to anyone and everyone they can to get sales. They also will steal anyone's designs and butcher them to the point where my eyes start to bleed. They did it to the last gen Accord for the rear clip of the Sonata. They are bringing out a compact with the same front clip as the CIVIC. This POS looks like they went over the S-Max and C-MAX with a FINE tooth comb and stole every damn idea they could. NOW.. As for as them selling this... I know they are going to cancel one of the existing lines, probably the Accent and put this in its place. I dont actually think it will be hard, but the people who buy these things, wont want an do-das. They dont want extras, and or add-ons. They are going to want the most basic car they can get. SO.. It will be silver, with 15's, with no options priced at 13g and for a payment of about $79 a month for 72mo and $400 down. What people will get when they purchase something that looks like this.. will not look anything related to this. People who buy Hyun / Kia, dont want options, they dont want design, they wont want color choices, they dont want to even think about mait. or upkeep or even putting gas in the damn thing. But they want that blanket warranty, cause they dont know a damn thing about cars. And they want it cheap -- so this will work.. but IN A SHELL OF WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE now. P.S Ya couldnt drag MY body DEAD or ALIVE, KICKING AND SCREAMING into a Hyun / Kia dealership.. if they truely were the last people on the face of the planet and my Accord somhow konked out at about 999,999 miles... right in front of a Hyun / KIA shop. And.. I happen to really like the look of the car, but if I wanted a copy of the S-Max / C-Max (which it is).. Id buy the car from FORD.
Every automaker.. who doesnt have shits faith in the sales of decent cars in the US only sells their shit here (Current Accord, Civic and or FIT) And leaves the good shit at home (JDM Accord, Civic hatch and Type R alogn with a bevy of other good lookign and powerful vehicles.) As for as the Ford S-Max and C-Max goes... They are coming to the U.S I know for a fact that a factory has been converted to make the new Focus and the lines that run off of it (S / C MAX). So.. As far as this imposter goes, I'd rather die than drive a Kia. Id certainly rather drive a 20yr old Accord with 400k on the odo than this shit bag. Ya dont buy a Kia for design. ya dont buy a Kia for resale. Ya dont even buy a Kia for nice transportation. Ya buy a Kia cause its cheap Ya buy a Kia cause its got that blanket warranty that prevents ya from having to do anything to it other than put gas in the sumbitch. Ya buy a Kia cause ya can afford it. Ya buy a Kia cause somehow.. Honda and Toyota dont make a car you want... And the domestics are just too fuckin stupid to see the writing on the damn wall. And this car.. In its 15" steelies With the silver paint And the boring roof With the loaded int (features that are standard of course) hvac, mp3, etc, etc.. And boring front clip.. And 13,5-- price tag with a blanket warranty.. is what people will buy. And Im sure it will sell.