Automotive News - May 19, 2008 - (Page 35)

MAY 19, 2008 • 35 Hyundai let U.S. direct Sonata freshening Rick Kranz rkranz@crain.com ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The 2009 Sonata is a Hyundai first — the first vehicle program directed from the United States. It shows how serious Hyundai is about addressing product problems such as criticism about the 2006-2008 Sonata’s lackluster interior. After all, the automaker could have waited until the restyled, re-engineered Sonata arrived for the 2011 model year. “When the ’07 Camry was introduced, we stepped back and said, ‘We have to do something, sooner rather than later,’ ” said Dan Vivian, director of design engineering at the Hyundai-Kia America Technical Center here. “It was not something we initially intended to do as a midcycle change.” The current-generation Sonata debuted as a 2006 model. The technical center was given responsibility to direct the global freshening of the 2009 Sonata because the United States is the biggest market for the car. Complaints about the interior came from U.S. customer clinics. “This was our first opportunity to really get integrated into the development process,” Vivian said. The center also is directing the program for the face-lifted Santa Fe crossover, due in January 2010. Hyundai’s U.S. tech center redesigned the 2009 Sonata’s center stack, left. The 2008 Sonata stack is at right. The Sonata’s engine and chassis tweaks made by Hyundai’s engineers in Korea were directed by the center. Engineers and stylists in Michigan spent most of their time on the car’s interior and, to a lesser extent, the exterior. Generally speaking, exterior changes were limited to a new grille and larger, more vertical headlights and taillights. Owners of Sonatas and competitive vehicles complained in U.S. clinics about the center stack and console, along with the interior materials and uncomfortable seats. For example, Sonata and nonSonata owners said the center stack “was too busy, things weren’t harmonious, a lot of different shapes, a lot of different lines,” said Scott Margason, national manager of product planning for Hyundai Motor America. Hyundai’s styling studios in Korea and California developed sketches for the upgraded interior. “Once the model was selected, it was shipped here, and we did the rest of the styling development and engineering feasibility,” Vivian said. The center stack, which incorporates the radio and climate control system, was redesigned, as was the center console. The center vents for heat and air conditioning were moved several inches up for better ventilation. The door panels were restyled to create a more luxurious look. Owners said seat comfort was a major issue. The Michigan team widened the cushion 0.55 inches, lengthened the cushion 0.70 inches and adjusted the angle 2.2 degrees. The size of the seat back also was increased. c AUTO SHOWS May 23-June 1 — Madrid International Auto Show, Feria de Madrid, Madrid, (34) 91-722-30-00, www.salondemadrid.com July 1-7 — Syrian International Motor Show, New Damascus International Fairground, Damascus, Syria, 963-11-322-0732, www.syrmotorshow.com July 12-20 — Indonesia International Motor Show, Jakarta Convention Center, Jakarta, Indonesia, 62 21 315 7178, www.indonesianmotorshow.com July 23-Aug. 3 — British International Motor Show, Canary Wharf, London, 020 76540600, www.britishmotorshow.co.uk Aug. 28-Sept. 1 — Moscow International Motor Show, Crocus Centre, Moscow, 7 495 935 7350, www.motorshows-ite.com Sept. 11-15 — Nitra Motor Show, Vystavnictvo Agrokomplex, Nitra, Slovakia, 421 37 6572 301, www.agrokomplex.sk Oct. 2-5 — Orange County Auto Show, Anaheim Convention Center, Anaheim, Calif., 323-782-2216, www.motortrendautoshows.com Oct. 2-5 — San Antonio Auto & Truck Show, Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio, 210-732-9647, www.saautodealers.com Oct. 4-19 — Paris International Motor Show (press days: Oct. 2 and 3), ParisExpo – Porte de Versailles, Paris, 33-1-56-88-2240, www.mondial-automobile.com Oct. 10-12 — Northwood University International Auto Show, Northwood University, Midland, Mich., 989-837-4823, www.northwood.edu/mi/studentlife/ autoshow Oct. 16-19 — Long Island Auto Show, Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Uniondale, N.Y., 717-671-4300, www.autoexpo.com GENERAL May 28 — Automotive News Marketing Seminar, Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites, Los Angeles, 313-446-0420, www.autonews.com/anevents May 31-June 3 — SME Annual Meeting: A Passion for Manufacturing, Society of Manufacturing Engineers, Marriott Renaissance, Detroit, 313-271-1500, www.sme.org June 3-4 — Automotive CRM Summit, Ritz-Carlton, Marina del Ray, Calif., 415-553-4142, www.tlsummits.com June 11-12 — Diesel Emissions Conference, Sheraton Brussels Hotel and Towers, Brussels, Belgium, +44 20 7503 1265, www.integer-research.com June 19-20 — Clean Air & Energy Independence Conference, National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, Crowne Plaza Resort, Asheville, N.C., 304-293-7882, www.naftc.wvu.edu June 20-22 — Fixed Ops Training and Education Conference, Marriott Irvine, Irvine, Calif., 714-206-8485, www.fixedopsconference.com. June 24-28 — NIADA Convention and Expo, National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, Texas, 817-640-3838, www.niada.com June 25 — Auto Russia (conference), Astoria Hotel, St. Petersburg, Russia, +44 (0) 20 7368 9465, www.wbr.co.uk/autorussia July 22-24 — Plug-in 2008 Conference & Exposition: A Short Drive to Tomorrow, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, Calif., 408-395-0059, www.plugin2008.com July 25 — SEMA Internet Symposium, Specialty Equipment Market Association, Hyatt Regency Irvine, Irvine, Calif., 909-396-0289, www.sema.org Aug. 11-15 — Management Briefing Seminars, Center for Automotive Research, Grand Traverse Resort & Spa, Traverse City, Mich., 734-929-0463, www.cargroup.org Aug. 13-14 — Next Generation Automotive CRM Summit, Westin South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa, Calif., 866-599-1189, www.usaautocrm.com Sept. 14-19 — FISITA World Automotive Congress, International Federation of Automotive Engineering Societies, International Congress Center, Munich, 49 (0) 211 6214-687, www.fisita.com Oct. 13-16 — SCMLogistics World, Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore, +65 6322 2757, www.terrapinn.com/2008/scmlog OPEN THE DOOR TO MORE CUSTOMERS! We approve every customer in writing in 30 seconds or less… so you can convert your turndowns into approvals and sales. Our Guaranteed Credit Approval Program allows you to eliminate customer turndowns and provides 3 different financing programs to meet your customers’ needs and your profit requirements. Isn’t it time you opened your door to more customers and greater profit potential with Credit Acceptance? autonews.com For a complete listing of events, see our Web site. To see our online list of auto shows and other events or to add your event to the list, go to www.autonews.com/ calendar. E-mail calendar information, including Web site address, to: autonews@crain.com Or send it to: Deputy Managing Editor Automotive News 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207-2997 NASDAQ: CACC Changing lives since 1972. creditacceptance.com or 1-800-873-0512 http://www.leonwatch.com http://www.wbr.co.uk/autorussia http://www.northwood.edu/mi/studentlife/autoshow http://www.northwood.edu/mi/studentlife/autoshow http://www.automotivecci.com http://www.autoexpo.com http://www.plugin2008.com http://www.salondemadrid.com http://www.sema.org http://www.automotivecci.com http://www.autonews.com/anevents http://www.syrmotorshow.com http://www.cargroup.org http://www.indonesianmotorshow.com http://www.sme.org http://www.usaautocrm.com http://www.britishmotorshow.co.uk http://www.tlsummits.com http://www.fisita.com http://www.motorshows-ite.com http://www.integer-research.com http://www.terrapinn.com/2008/scmlog http://www.agrokomplex.sk http://www.naftc.wvu.edu http://autonews.com http://www.motortrendautoshows.com http://www.fixedopsconference.com http://www.saautodealers.com http://www.autonews.com/calendar http://www.autonews.com/calendar http://www.creditacceptance.com http://www.niada.com http://www.mondial-automobile.com http://www.creditacceptance.com

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Automotive News - May 19, 2008 Ford eyes smaller F-150 cousin Sonic: Mercedes tries to 'extort' store upgrades Chrysler seeks 25% slash in parts prices Dealership managers pushed Chrysler's latest incentive Crain names 4 new VPs Automotive News staffers win Wheel Awards GM will keep cutting sales to fleets GM studies the future of full-sized trucks American Axle plans to expand in Asia At Lexus, the sales laggards are cars VW positions Tiguan as 'GTI' of small SUVs Tata enters race for 100-mpg car Harley Earl was the daddy of auto design Focus will follow Fiesta as a global vehicle Lexus shows how it sweats details Industry slows tide of state CO2 rules Chevy tweaks Cobalt to add fuel economy Be careful; don't do anything dumb Looking ahead to different industry They thought they knew everything Cerberus doesn't belong in autos Dealers as scapegoats Smart, steady growth works best for suppliers Farley's smart to value Ford's heritage Absurd logic in the U.S., cowardice in Germany BMW, Daimler keep a wary eye on U.S. economy James Franey Dealers' approach can lessen pain of staff cuts GM plans to distinguish Opel with image makeover Make or buy? Software can estimate costs for company Honda, Toyota see robots in their futures Bosch aims to lead in hybrids technology King of hearts Clarke aims to get GM back on track in N.A. Fields navigates Ford through 'white water' LaSorda steers Chrysler's global ventures Toyota's Lentz: A crash course in hard times Truck sales fall 13% in April Modine sells Thermacore unit Alcoa to close Mexico plant Toyoda Gosei expands in Mexico Hayes Lemmerz plans to close Georgia factory Japan's sales slide 2% in 1st quarter; output climbs Dealers Hyundai let U.S. direct Sonata freshening After .com and .edu, is it time for .car? Panoramic sunroof of Lincoln MKS boosts Inalfa sales Chrysler hedged gas price bet Smart phones help dealerships retain customers CAW completes pacts with GM, Chrysler early GM, UAW resolve 2 disputes New media buyer for Chrysler Visteon names Stebbins CEO Convertible registrations drop Ferrari: From denial to debut Buildings Porsches in U.S.? Depends whom you ask Toyota will go slow in Tupelo Ghosn is glum on prices, U.S. sales prospects Pischetsrieder has earned a celebratory cigar NHTSA spins VINs, averts meltdown F_RD GU_S WI_ BUI-_KS 50 PEOPLE FOR 50 YEARS Yutaka Katayama Clarence Talley Jim Morton Pete Brock Marvin Runyon Yoshikazu Hanawa Bill Bruce Shin Maki Jack Collins Mitsuya "Scape" Goto Bob Link Soichi Kawazoe Jerry Hirshberg Takashi Ishihara Roy Rogers John Parker Bob Thomas Teruo Uchino Morrie Sage Bob Thomas Nobe Wakatsuki Earl Hesterberg Carlos Ghosn Lee Clow Jerry Benefield Yutaka Kume Doug Betts Tim McCarthy Jed Connelly Atsushi Nakatsuji Dave Hubbard Joe Opre Patrick Pelata Yoshiyuki Kimura Diane Allen Mad Mike Taylor Chuck King Larry Dominique Mark Igo Mitsuhiko Yamashita Shiro Nakamura Tom Mignanelli Dick Roberts William Cushing Emil Hassan Chester Luby Jane Nakagawa Louis Schweitzer MR. K Ray Lemke Richard McCutcheon

Automotive News - May 19, 2008

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