Hyundai eyes rear-drive sport sedan to fight 3 series

The Genesis Coupe's bold styling likely would be the basis for a Hyundai sport sedan.
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Ryan Beene
Automotive News
February 7, 2011 - 12:01 am ET
Hyundai may add a rear-wheel-drive sport sedan to its growing lineup of upscale products in the United States.

The sedan would compete with BMW's 3 series and other performance-oriented, upscale small sedans. It would share the rwd platform now used for the Genesis sedan and coupe.

Styling would be closer to the Genesis Coupe's bold look than the Genesis sedan's more understated design.

"The Genesis Coupe is in the same segment, really, as the 3-series coupe," Hyundai CEO John Krafcik said. "One of the things we're thinking is: Should we do something that's a sedan version of that?"

Krafcik did not offer more details or say whether the car is approved for production. But the vehicle has been in Hyundai's pipeline since 2006, according to a source familiar with the company's plans. The source said Hyundai refers to the vehicle internally as "RK."

The Genesis sedan went on sale in the summer of 2008, and the Genesis Coupe debuted in February 2009. Hyundai achieved combined sales of 29,122 units for the coupe and sedan in 2010, up 33 percent over 2009.

You can reach Ryan Beene at rbeene@crain.com. -- Follow Ryan on Twitter

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