Halo won’t shine here

Hyundai's drive to a full hero range of new models in Australia is being frustrated.

Causing the frustration is the failure to develop right-hand drive capability for two of the Korean marque's most exciting new vehicles.

The stylish new Genesis Coupe, unveiled in Korea last week, and the exciting LPG Hybrid Elantra currently on sale in Korea have both been tagged unavailable for the Australian market much to the annoyance of the local operation.

"There are a couple of cars that we would love to be able to get but, at least for the moment, we can't because they are not available in right-hand drive," Hyundai Australia's new product manager Manuel Tyras explained.

"We know we can't get the LPG Hybrid Elantra and just at the moment it is not looking good for the Genesis — at least in the short term."

Tyras said Hyundai Australia would not be giving up the fight for its wish list, particularly for the stunning Genesis Coupe which will offer a replacement option for the aging Tiburon sports car.

"It is an amazing car ... it is the perfect car we need to provide a brand halo and as an eventual replacement for the Tiburon," Tyras said. "We certainly haven't given up on it and we are planning to carry on the fight for as long as it takes."

A delegation from Hyundai Australia is expected to take another submission for a right-hand drive Genesis to Korea in the coming weeks and is also expected to push hard for a right-hand drive option in any future development of the LPG Hybrid program which could include i30, Grandeur and the Santa Fe and Tucson SUVs.

The Genesis Coupe takes Hyundai into new territory with its rear-wheel-drive architecture and sports performance from an all-aluminium 231kW 3.8-litre DOHC V6, while at the entry level the engine is a 166kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four. The V6 features dual continuously variable valve timing and with 361Nm of torque on tap the car will set behind a 0-100km/h sprint 6.3 seconds.

The V6 is mated to a six-speed ZF automatic. A six-speed manual is also available and features a short-stroke shifter, optimised gear ratios and triple cone synchronisers.

Much closer to a place in the Hyundai showroom are a trio of small cars, two of which are certainties and the third is under serious consideration.

First to arrive will be the i30 CW wagon, adding a new dimension to the award-winning i30 hatchbacks.

"Sometimes you follow a trend, other times — if you are lucky — you can set one," Hyundai Australia's sales boss Kevin McCann said. "With the i30 wagon we are hoping to lead the way into a segment I believe is about to really grow."

McCann said the decisions by Toyota and Mitsubishi to cease their small wagon trade in Corolla and Lancer has opened a door for the i30 CW. "I feel that the time is right and that this is the right car for people who may find a hatch just a little small but don't want to take the step up to a larger segment or an SUV."

Pricing for the wagon, which is due to arrive early next year, has yet to be set but it is expected to be very competitive with the i30 Hatch, possibly carrying a premium of around $1000.

That will be followed next year by the smaller i20 which has rapidly moved from a possibility to a car with an almost certain future in Australia. The Getz-sized style leader will not replace Hyundai's light car in the price-sensitive segment but rather sit as a premium offering. Most likely the ageing Accent will be moved aside to make room for the i20.

Less certain but definitely under consideration is the baby i10 sub-compact. Built in India the i10 would most likely come to market with a choice of 1.1-litre and 1.2-litre petrol and diesel engines and priced in the low $12,000 range.