Hyundai-Kia Hatching A US Invasion?

by Edward Niedermeyer

October 13th, 2010 6:06 PM

Possibly having caught word of the fact that Americans are all-too willing to spend up to $500 extra for hatchbacks, Hyundai-Kia are aiming a load of trunkless wonders at our shores. First up should be Kia’s Forte Five-Door (above), which will probably hit dealers next year, alongside a new six-speed automatic transmission and optional navigation. These new options and the Forte5’s subtly slick looks should help the nameplate keep up its sales momentum. Sometime after the Forte5 (actual name may vary) drops, Hyundai’s new Accent should be joined by a five-door version as well. It’s not yet 100% clear if that model is headed stateside, but at this point, we’d be surprised if it didn’t join America’s burgeoning hatchback party. And finally, Hyundai should bring out one of the strangest little hatches in the business when its “Veloster” (again, actual name may vary) hits the market, likely in the next year as well. Recently-captured photos of its weird glass access-door-cum-hatchback are almost as intriguing as its claimed target of 40 MPG highway, possibly out of a turbocharged version of Hyundai’s direct-injection 1.6 liter engine. In any case, if Ford is to be believed and hatchbacks are back, Hyundai-Kia will (once again) be poised to make hay on the trend. And as far as we’re concerned, it’s all good news: the hatchback has been wandering the desert for too long.

#FutureVehicles #Hatchback #Hyundai #Industry #Kia #Sales

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Steven02 on Oct 14, 2010

I currently own a 2004 Mazda6 5 door. Great little hatch that actually looks very close to the sedan model. I really like the easy access it provides to the trunk. I wish GM would offer the Regal here like this. But, the 5 door didn't really sell well on the Mazda6. It seems that the 5 door hatch market is definitely for the compact and smaller cars, at least in the US.

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Rpn453 on Oct 14, 2010

Looks good! Far more attractive than any current economy car in North America.

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