Comments on: SEMA OEM Report: Scionara?

By: billc83

billc83 — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:07:31 +0000

I must agree with MrDot and BlueBrat, the Koup looks particularly nice. Too bad we don’t have any shots of the headlights. If it makes it to the US, I’d look at it.

The Soul Burner, not so much. Just doesn’t do it for me.

By: psarhjinian

psarhjinian — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:40:42 +0000

Kia would benefit from bringing over the Ceed/Proceed sooner rather than later. Doing something to push the Rondo might not be a bad idea, either.

Hyundai doesn’t seem to understand that it needs to keep Kia and itself separate, which leads to:

However, I think the Genesis Coupe should have been a Kia as well…

I’d be ok with the Genesis as a Hyundai, but Hyundai needs to forget the Tiburon and allow Kia and the Koup to stand alone. The Borrego was a stupid choice as a Kia, but would have made sense as a Hyundai; vice-versa the Elantra wagon/i30: it’s a better Kia than a Hyundai. And there’s others:

Better Hyundais: Amanti, Magentis/Optima, Sedona
Better Kias: Tiburon, Santa Fe, Accent, Getz

By: JuniorMint

JuniorMint — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:14:00 +0000

And the xD is a cheaper, better-looking Fit, with the added bonus that it’ll still be running in five years. :)

I do agree that Scion seriously needs to get its shit together, for many reasons, the influx of competing products being the least of them. Just because they re-invigorated the minicar trend in America doesn’t mean they’re going to keep it.

The “new” tC is on its way, which is alternatingly enthralling and terrifying Scion enthusiasts, who remember all-too-clearly the fun-ectomy of the xB revamp. I say “remember” because the last time I saw an xB2 was at the dealership; with terrible sales numbers, it’s not like you see them driving around.
Gee…who would have thought that MORE money, LESS mileage, and baby-Highlander styling wasn’t the way to go?! Apparently there aren’t a lot of people out there wanting to spend more money for less car. Whodathunkit?

At least we’re getting the iQ. Finally, a step in the right direction.

By: njgreene

njgreene — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:12:38 +0000

No booth professionals? Could explain the quiet.

By: akitadog

akitadog — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:21:26 +0000

The Koup Concept looks like the next-gen Acura RSX. I guess that’s what you get when your designs are meant to look like the generic versions of the brand names. Hyundai/Kia are known for taking the front clip from Brand A, the profile from Brand B and the rear end from Brand C and barely avoiding being branded as plagiarists. Remember the Amanti (Benz wannabe), now the Genesis sedan (even more bland-looking Lexus LS). Top it off with the Koup Concept (blend of Civic Si and RSX). I will give Kia marks for the Soul, it’s a rare original design from the master of “mashups.”

By: MarkAtkinson

MarkAtkinson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 18:10:21 +0000

Between the Soul and the Koup, Kia’s on a roll. These are exactly the products it need to differentiate itself from big-brother Hyundai.

However, I think the Genesis Coupe should have been a Kia as well…

By: BlueBrat

BlueBrat — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:51:45 +0000

I agree with the Dot, the Koup is nice looking, esp. the back-end of it, very Klean!

By: MrDot

MrDot — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:46:40 +0000

The Koup is a good-looking little car. Nice.

By: iganpo

iganpo — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 16:16:22 +0000

From the side, the Koup looks like a previous gen TL shortened and cleaned up. I like it.