A model poses beside a Hyundai Verna at its world premiere during a media preview at the Beijng Auto Show on April 23, 2010.FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP / Getty Images
Hyundai introduced a subcompact in Beijing that will take on the Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta. It will be called the Verna in China and other Asian markets, but the Accent in North America, the company said.
The Verna throws out the bland-as-pablum styling of the current Accent in favour of a style that mimics the more expressive design flourishes seen in the recently introduced 2011 Sonata.
The motif brings to mind the kinetic design philosophy that has made upcoming European-designed Fords like the Fiesta and Focus so good-looking, but in a sedan body.
The Verna's unveiling in China was significant, said Euisun Chung, vice-chairman of Hyundai Motor, because it's "one of the very few times we've done a world premiere outside of Korea," reflecting both the Chinese market's current size - it blew by the United States in 2009 to become the largest vehicle market in the world - as well as future growth potential.
No timing was given on when the new-generation Accent will be available in North America, but it will be after the Verna goes on sale in China in the second half of this year.
BMW unveils new coupe concept
BMW showcased what looks to be a production-ready concept at the Beijing motor show that it says will show the way for the next phase of BMW high style.
The Concept Gran Coupe presents a sleeker and slightly shorter overall shape than a 5- or 7-Series, and likely foreshadows the upcoming 6-Series coupe, the only large BMW not replaced in the last year or so.
The windshield is more radically swept back than any other four-door with the spinning propeller, the rear C-pillar more radically curved than usual in any headroom-sensitive Bavarian executive hauler.
This is the second four-door concept unveiled by BMW - the first, the CS, was also unveiled in China, at the Shanghai auto show in 2007.
BMW had said the CS would make it into production, reportedly as an 8-Series model, but had to back-track during the depths of the global recession, when the prospects for a more expensive, but less practical, luxury four-door didn't seem very bright.
Now it appears that a four-door "coupe" is finally coming from BMW, but as a four-door version of the next 6-Series luxury two-door. Spy shots that are starting to crop up online suggest that a rear hatch and trunk setup similar to the 5-Series GT could be in the works for the 650i.
This would give the Mercedes-Benz CLS, as well as the Audi A7 arriving in Europe this spring, some Bimmer competition in this area, a segment BMW has not entered while it was creating multiple crossover/SUV permutations.
Crossover expands Volt family
A concept crossover version of the Volt called the MPV5 shown in Beijing could be the first sign that the highly hyped Volt may become a family of vehicles by the time it arrives in Canada - still tentatively scheduled for mid-2011.
Its main competitor in futuristic gas-electric propulsion is the Prius and Toyota has said that Prius will become an "umbrella brand" for a family of gas-electric vehicles, and it appears the Volt name will be used the same way.
The extended-range electric Volt becomes larger and heavier in its MPV5 guise, with an unsurprising penalty in fuel economy and all-electric range, but an increase in space and practicality, with a body more than 18 cm longer and taller than the Volt sedan.
Jaguar Canada unveils no-charge maintenance
Jaguar is pushing the luxury ownership experience to new heights with a no- charge maintenance plan that includes most wear and tear items for five years, at least in part to firm up confidence in its quality and reliability ratings.
The new warranty will also be extended to five years or 80,000 km, up from the current four years.
The no-cost coverage includes oil changes, filters, brake pads, discs and fluid, plus wiper blade inserts. All work must be performed at a Jaguar dealer, with wear and tear usage limited to "based on factory-specified wear limits," according to Jaguar. All new 2011 Jaguar models will feature the warranty, which also includes 24/7 roadside assistance.
Jaguar and Land Rover models have scored poorly for the past few years in almost every reliability index out there, with much worse-than-average scores on both reliability and owner costs in the most recent Consumer Reports rankings.
Ford's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover to Indian firm Tata has raised questions about the potential for quality improvement. But Jaguar has scored well in recent J.D. Power sales satisfaction surveys, and Jaguar is obviously trying to push the benefits of this satisfaction experience past the point of sale, in order to increase repeat business.