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Fox Car Report checks out the 2012 Chicago Auto show with Hyundai CEO John Krafcik, Ford SVT Chief Engineer Jamal Hameedi and more.
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And welcome to a special edition of fox car report from the 2012.
Chicago Auto Show I'm Gary gas -- you know the Chicago Auto Show.
Traditionally the focus is on trucks utility vehicles and sports cars we got -- those are going to be looking at.
We've also got this a couple of new versions of -- -- twelve North American car of the year.
The Hyundai Elantra with us now president and CEO of Hyundai motor North America.
-- -- Democrat Jack thanks for joining us today glad to be here Gary.
Any bets on North America the year -- Two years well we want -- don't nine with the Genesis which was huge for us and then on this car which is right there sweet spot with the Contra I mean wonderful.
And sweet spot but combat.
Cars right now -- -- everybody's been really hot new problems lot of new product you know Elantra still it's been on now more than a year still the hottest.
Product in the industry.
They come into our dealership and customers typically drag him out within a couple of days -- -- people -- -- right off the cart -- right now.
That said we thought that we could do more than maybe should do more -- enhance the launch alliance we got a couple of new.
New launches that we showed the folks at the Chicago Auto Show today want to miss the the sexy red number over here which is the and they -- -- GT.
-- -- With help from the California in our European design studios right.
Citizen has a -- European flair.
It's a five door hatch which is.
A relatively uncommon body style in the us but I tell you I love it there's a lot of function in the car it's the best handling a lunch -- you can buy.
It's -- it's amazing fuel economy this thing it's 39 miles per gallon estimated on the highway which is fantastic.
And it's got features galore you know panoramic sunroof to come standard with heated seats.
For goodness sakes he leather and -- -- -- -- -- what about little rearview camera.
What's up from the handed bats in the back of the car -- -- and well we have this sexy.
Little -- we do indeed and in -- -- in this thing I mean it looks it looks spelt.
Very dynamic in and we can -- -- the civilians lines and enhance them.
In -- form what's this thing about it is it's soda and -- The EPA considers this to be a midsize car inside.
Which means it's got more interior room than say a Honda Accord -- even.
Or -- Nissan Altima coupe or of course I'm so that -- so.
Beating Connecticut community with this car looks great when -- -- for your friends you mentioned five door not a common bodies on -- -- the right thing.
Small company is well small group that I just hit food groups like yeah.
A lot of -- expect cars that you know we'll see -- you know I'm not sure and we got a lot of flexibility in our plants -- we're gonna see how the first sets of orders come in you know people visit our website and -- dot -- -- they build their car the way they want it.
We look very closely at that.
We see what kind of folks.
What kind of cars -- -- and based -- that we'll just Hillary but if people want 50% -- eloquently.
You've got a pretty heavily refreshed by it right now essentially all -- cars yes -- all -- He's got the compact sub compact sports cars -- full -- luxury yet stand here.
The white space for Hyundai back.
There is why they think there is getting -- there's major white space so we're we're really strong we can we say -- Stanley and post and we like stage but if you look in the family -- stage.
People want to buy holidays that -- seven people or six people that might have a couple of kids wanted to carpooling you know we've got this in fact.
There -- refreshing that.
-- -- showed at the -- how to show on April be on sale in July or so that's going to be huge for us.
But it's probably fair to say we need more presence in the six and seven passenger crossover segment where we have the Veracruz now.
But it's only available in limited quantity -- I would say watch this space.
For more in his and that -- -- -- -- -- -- was happening did you -- Packers and talk show in any chance nothing's ever gonna get the truck business you know we're we're not a big -- player in and I like to say brands define themselves as much by what they choose not to do.
Is what they choose to.
We could be a -- player who wanted to we choose to focus on more fuel efficient like so.
Well if you look at for trucks GMC good -- -- cross over here.
It showed -- scout ahead -- Martin Virginians and Buick.
Acadia it is a crossover but this crossover that.
And killed your old midsize suvs and keep them.
The -- well it's fabulous century Acadia actually.
Last year set an all time sales record for most -- sales here.
And so it it's not there's a lot of momentum is on a role -- what we're doing here at Chicago Auto Show is just not seeing that up.
With that kind of the next generation -- indicated an -- -- them these are 2013 models and they will.
It dealer showrooms by the end of 2012 calendar -- -- a huge success for this model.
And -- across his problems.
Yes really the best of all -- I mean can you get a very good fuel economy 24 miles per gallon highway in -- -- front drive.
Version and then also.
You get wonderful performance -- and -- horsepower so it did some more than sufficient in terms of performance.
And then the real reason why people buy it is our wonderful exterior styling.
And then all the functionality and capabilities in the vehicle seven or eight passenger capability best in class cargo space.
Bombed ability to flip and -- seats in many different configurations it to give you all the flexibility and capability just in case you need.
Big difference this year is that styling.
Kind of sort of Big Brother to the -- smaller.
It just starts a little bit more in that form vocabulary.
GMC exterior styling tends to -- -- What I'd really like personally on this vehicle are the only defense plants that make him theory nice styling statement both in the daytime for daytime running laps.
As well -- -- in the evenings so they'll be at this a characteristic.
Component of this vehicle and and people will definitely notice not a chance dealers are also that's right there's -- -- doing better between Buick and GMC brands.
What we need to drink products government programs that something that's been that's between the two or this team's effort where he really is -- -- actually very important it's a very convenient.
Inefficient dueling strategy.
For the dealers as we go to market -- -- are two separate and distinct brands.
You know Buick is -- most beautiful quiet comfortable vehicles.
With you know theory sculptured actually exterior designs.
Warm inviting luxury -- interiors.
GMC is about bold confidence capabilities.
And in the nation in so those you know you have professional grade and Gypsies died in -- luxury.
On the -- side it's a nice match.
Com for a dealership.
To him a couple complimentary franchises but they are different programs.
You know twenty years ago if you were looking for performance here at Chicago Auto Show you would have found it in this.
Forward SBC.
Cobra mustang.
First product from -- SPG performance division of celebrating its twentieth anniversary with this the new show -- -- -- 500.
With a snap headed this community Jamal and me not 650 horsepower convertible notes with a -- top -- the -- -- Los Angeles.
You guys really have lost and.
A little bit a little bit -- it's I mean it's so cool that 650 horsepower.
600 foot pounds toward no roof.
The engine is -- -- exhaust is going to be just in -- year.
With this convertible it's.
And I mean that the car is three seconds a lap faster than the outgoing -- So that just -- it shows you that the convertible is that much faster than the outgoing through.
Just so is how far we've really gone this.
It's possible the -- but a lot more goes into this bridges June -- up.
-- -- Absolutely I mean we've started with -- you know we started with the engine.
But it it turned into so much more than that.
That it went into upgrading the transmission the drive shaft -- axle the suspension.
The breaks the cooling.
So really -- that aerodynamics.
So really nothing.
Has been left unturned to make this car a balanced complete package SBC.
Special performance division within the -- And higher up its work.
And I don't Muslims don't want -- -- -- kind of look around and opens up and then after the -- bring it to -- -- so.
The six -- fifty horsepower mustang that we let us do.
Well we we do operate pretty autonomously but word you know from an engineering standpoint we engineer with the same standards that.
That the rest of Ford operates two and they don't and we have to make a business case for all our projects to solve.
It's it's a challenge to make it exciting and to be a good business case.
We we managed to find that sweet spot -- going away.
Just amazing visited 235 horsepower all the way back which was a lot and all the way to now 650 of course.
Our.
I know product -- advice -- -- six.
Ice bath or accidentally.
Have you reached the limit here or is it possible that this -- -- something even while this.
If if we ever uttered the words we have reached the limit we muzzle pack it up and go home because that's that's just not.
-- -- We can always go for hardtop version -- -- 202 miles an hour.
What's the at top speed on this I know it's limited on the production first public -- Well I mean we were limiting it to a 155 miles an hour which is more than fast enough.
For the top down and we just we did that because aerodynamics and things like.
That we wanted.
Just keep the car -- a very confident.
Your friends -- average Chevrolet.
Camaro ZL one obviously was our version America.
Certainly a lot of trash talking.
Go back and forth there we've got a real muscle car war going on right now.
We do and were we we love the Camaro is in the game we we prefer to let our car do the talking.
Which it will pretty soon so that's it but it's exciting times it's.
It's really fun to be in the auto industry right now you've got mustang.
-- team after.
Folk focus -- -- coming from Europe right.
What else can this team to.
We could do anything.
I mean really there's there's no car.
In the line in the Ford lineup that we couldn't.
Take a very novel innovative approach to do which.
We kind of show with the raptors.
Do you personally have a dream -- -- Well I mean personally you know -- my first car that I worked on it as -- -- was before GT.
So.
Me personally I would love to do another.
Another -- like.
Well it's not exactly -- truck or sports car the 2012 beetle it's much sportier than last model.
Paris getting our first look -- -- -- to the head of marketing for Volkswagen of America -- At a press the -- market here happen.
We've been absolutely it's it's big part of our business this actually represents the six model line -- CBI clean diesel and you know -- clearly feel the benefits of fun to drive and fuel economy here great combination why are Americans just -- -- You know I think there's some lingering perceptions about diesel.
You know truck stops now believe noisy all of those kinds of things but the new -- incredibly quiet and really relievers news and -- You -- those tools coming that are around the country somehow.
Nothing seems more German Volkswagen Beetle -- absolutely actually -- -- this cars are reluctant to drive I mean.
This this vehicles them well -- we haven't gasoline version and Turbo one this is the third sort of drive train hard for it's it's available.
Isn't -- new local people are calling it.
More badly but what it replaces Elizabeth that the idea behind that are just the most or sport I think there's -- -- hearken back to be rich people you know one and some styling -- there and if you look at.
The glove box -- what's called the -- box and that really was inspired you regional.
Original beetle and you know the the flower power kind of -- out kind of you know less power more power kind of idea and so the days is gone but it it's it's it's definitely got a little more and more aggressive stance -- -- the ground.
When you brought this back over it and -- back in 1998 US market was a big party -- -- -- popular.
I'm seeing.
Here is that the case this summer was this the main market the standard it's it's it will probably be the main market for for the brand globally tremendous fan base if you will with the -- And it it it crosses generations you know from people probably grandparents grew up in the sixties.
Two younger younger buyers it it it can sort of universal appeal.
Another car it's -- very wealthy westerners to -- he cracked the top twenty sales up.
That's another car that's designed with the American market and nine times now you've got the full size sot it's also moved inside the United States and and that's -- actually getting us jobs.
We -- and a you know -- we built you know you talk about commitment to the market.
In the basically in the middle of the recession we invested a billion dollars in Chattanooga for new facility and it was designated.
Platinum -- kind of production facility which is the only automotive plant world it's super environmentally friendly.
But clearly we're making products that -- better suited -- -- fire without.
Forgetting about -- German.
And that has worked out so well for you.
Absolutely republicanism or -- specific models -- I mean they've clearly what would we we we we will you know jet it was the first.
This -- always been popular car here in the states and decide -- has been kind of the seconds -- success story that strategy so.
You might imagine that as we go forward we'll look more to greater influence of the US market taste and in the products.
Well if there's one of the bigger that definitely did Chicago right this year he's done that sports are updated version of the 37 BC and not one.
-- you fans -- -- this view and the passenger van with a stature Stanley.
The vice president -- vehicles and leave for Nissan North America.
Entered the full size dance segment last year with the IndyCar prevent.
Move it up down to the passenger van.
Holt would you turn into reality show business possibly one of them.
One if they're -- if they're looking for and I'll definitely do that you know anybody who's got ten kids were were ready to go -- but.
Now this really was a logical step forced to jump into this segment here force that.
To natural to go from the cargo into the passenger -- but like anything else the customers looking for some innovative ideas for it.
And I think that you've really got that in this thing between having.
A full complement of air -- curtain airbags it's the only vehicle in the segment that has that -- goes up and down.
You see we've got head rests in the vehicle as well as integrated safety seat -- sport so.
Now a lot of creativity things that go into it again a lot of people think well it's a big fan with season but there's a lot of stuff that goes and -- recently and definitely still more for shuttle service commercial use your low level now and it's actually for both you know we we know that there is a small retail.
Group that's out there you know the days of people have an eight -- ten kids you know I think is -- off over the last.
Several decades -- that but no we're we're definitely think that there's a retail portion of this.
But again a lot of it will be shuttle bus casinos churches -- cares whatever whatever.
Vocation -- out there but yeah there's most the majority of them will be -- driven.
And company driven but there is some small personally use yes re entered -- -- list here.
And cargo it's hard for there that things.
I think you probably can't -- that much volume.
-- -- it's well it's it's definitely -- big vehicle I know that when the vehicle was being tested.
In Japan that we kept getting emails back and kept saying it's so big because of course in the streets in Japan there's nothing of this size that really fits but.
No this is actually been real shining star for -- with the full size -- launch.
We thought -- between standard group and -- roof that we would be about a 5050 mix and an Irish fan is really -- you know well over 60% for so the customers are really taken to it they've really taken a look at the advantages that we have been.
And really the victim the capabilities -- And everything that they vehicle and deliver for their work tool and who are those customers because this is a tough segment.
-- beloved -- these kind of vehicles they've been I have -- words.
General Motors products decades in some cases he cracked.
With the disease well again as I mentioned most of these -- Folks are really looking for a tool that's capable and so one of the first things we show them is.
Again hi -- capability there somebody here that's 6263.
That can stand up and side clearly.
The -- thing that we were one of the first folks that we talked to -- was the plumbing industry.
The plumbing industry if you have a hot water heater clearly says on the box that you're not supposed to lay it on its side.
If your plumber has a border -- -- -- hot water heater has been laid on its side before since they don't have this capability so.
Simple things like that of what this thing can be for that the owner operator of the fleet company and then on on what this vehicle brings that -- truck based.
Ford is actually switching over to -- unibody and next year.
Did they know something you don't or does that open up.
Segment of the market that you guys can just jump -- -- well I still think that the commercial buyer here in the Cindy's industry is really looking for rugged durable in the vehicles.
That these things get through the paces that they get put through it really really -- the vehicle strength.
Body on frame is -- something that we think that that will still continue for that so.
You know the choices that one of our -- competitors -- really just opens up for us because we think in the long haul.
After ability quality rugged in this cost of operation -- to what that guy's gonna be able to get with a body on frame vehicle.
Ford also created the music -- your music appears to transit connect small cargo -- you guys are now and that segment -- -- hundred.
Very different the -- Yes you know that you know we know that not everybody likes the big package this vehicle's been on sale actually for.
For a couple years in Europe and and the vehicles dynamic option that we can bring here.
We actually see the segment growing we see it over the next four years at least doubling in size again if that's.
Price of fuel goes up faster.
I mean that might be even accelerated a little bit more than that but this is a great vehicle we definitely have a different buyer for this than the full size and this can be.
The dog -- the local baker that wants to make deliveries.
The local locksmith where he doesn't have to carry long pipes and things like that so.
It definitely is a different audience for it and now we're excited to start showing our customers that Wright episode ago.
First this cargo -- but it's also going to be the basis.
New York city's taxi of tomorrow starting next year's the senator's campaign.
There will be you know we were truly honored to be selected to be the taxi of tomorrow for a New York City and and we know that that's a good opportunity provides us instant credibility and visibility.
Around the world.
Just -- it -- for talking to us that's it for fox carport from the 2012 Chicago Auto Show head on over to fox carport dot com.
For more information on the show and of course the latest news.
And automotive reviews we'll see you next.
