Full story here on both trucks (Kia on page 1, and the Hyundai on page 2)...
So if Detroit is feeling confident that they've licked the Japanese onslaught, I say to them: "don't get too comfortable just yet..."
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redliner says:
09:10 AM, 04/ 9/07
They look interesting (in a good way) , but i won't hold my breath.
estreka says:
11:09 AM, 04/ 9/07
The Kia, surprisingly, looks more like a full-size truck. An 86" bed confirms that. If it's built off the Sedona platform, I can't imagine it having very inspiring numbers.
The Hyundai is a disappointment. It looks purely for show. If nothing else, it might muster mid-size truck duty. The Ridgeline pretty well has that market covered.
jerrywimer says:
05:44 AM, 04/10/07
They both look like they'd pose more of a challenge to the Ridgeline than to full size BOF trucks. And that 86" bed *isn't* and 86" bed, it's a 71" box with a "sliding bulkhead" that increases the length to 86" (think Avalanche, but instead of the lower bulkhead dropping and window being removed, it slides forward and back into the passenger compartment). While that would make the Kia a bit more like an Av than a Ridgeline, the platform it's rumored to be based on and the drivetrain say FWD or FWD-biased AWD (like I guessed they'd probably end up using in the other rumor blog on this topic), which again, says Honda better watch out!
ateixeira says:
11:52 AM, 04/10/07
In a strange way, they are better equipped to take on the Big 3, because they have lower cost structures than Toyota or Nissan.
The article says Kia could use the 3.8l V6, but the Hyundai Genesis concept tells us that a RWD platform and a big V8 are on the way. That gives them a much better base to start with.
I was impressed with the Hyundai Veracruz I just checked out at the show. I don't doubt that Hyundai could build a competitive light duty pick up for a second.
jerrywimer says:
05:11 AM, 04/11/07
I'm not saying that these are bad designs, nor that I think they wouldn't be successful. I just highly doubt they'd actually compete with the full size truck. I doubt anyone who buys one of these would have been hunting the F150, Silverado, Ram, Tundra, or Titans and then chose one of these instead. I *can* however, definitely see someone checking out the Honda Ridgeline, then seeing these, and having serious thoughts..
rsholland says:
05:55 AM, 04/11/07
Jerry
Not only the Ridgeline, but any mid-size truck. I can also see it being attractive to those on the fence deciding between a mid-size and a full-size truck—which is part of the appeal of the Ridgeline too.
jerrywimer says:
09:25 AM, 04/12/07
I agree with that Bob. I just don't see these competing directly with the full sized trucks. The only indirect competition I see is the case you present- catching people on the fence between compact / midsizers and fullsizers.