We all know that win on Sunday, sell on Monday still applies and while some manufacturers are clawing back at their racing budgets, others are upping the dollars in the right places. Ford is working hard with the Fiesta, climbing Pikes Peak and a stop at the X Games this weekend. Hyundai is hammering the living daylights out of the new Genesis Coupe on the drift circuit and also climbed the peak.
Not only did Hyundai show up at Pikes Peak ready for battle, but Rhys Millen would make it to the top in 12:09. That was quick enough to not only win the 2wd time attack class, but also set a new world record. Hmmmm.
The other coupe manufacturers should be worried. Hyundai means business with this new machine!
You know what I believe? I believe that since Ford’s Fiesta did it in 11:28 even guys like Rhys Millen will forget about Hyundai.
You know what I believe? Since the Fiesta was in the Unlimited class it does not even matter. The Hyundai was in the 2WD class and yet hit 12:09 which is even more impressive. The Fiesta should’ve been hitting close to 10 minutes just like Japan’s Suzuki did. Too bad Ford failed at this. Hyundai is getting all the media attention now. Better luck next time.
Take that Mr Ford guy 🙂
LOL. Jealously is such an evil attribute. The average young car buyer of today could care less about what class a car is in. The care about looks and what can go fast. Back in the day, the mom and pops that bought cars on Mondays because they won on Sundays didn’t buy a car then take it to a shop and have it set up to Nascar or NHRA specs so they could compete in a designated class. They bought it because it did so well or went the fastest. Ford knows that same sales technique will work today and it’s already showing and you’re are going to be seeing a lot more of it so get ready.
Ford has its own brain farts to contend with such as not selling the Focus RS in the US. The Genesis coupe isn’t much of a sports car, but the real question is whether it’s only a first step by Hyundai to build one.
SSShhhh… Quite… Listen…. What’s that sound? Oh that… That would be the sound of silence as the fans throughout the world watched and listened to the X-Games when they tried to see a Hyundai. If that wasn’t a bad call in marketing I don’t know what was. On the other hand, they did get their senses excited when Ford’s new Fiesta won the gold medal! As for you non-believers, it’s time to open your eyes and check into that self denial class workshop because history is repeating it’s self. And history 101 class reminds us to never forget what upstart Ford racing did to Ferrari at Le Mans in the mid-1960’s.
Hey G – Isn’t your tow vehicle a Chevy?
🙂
That’s right it is. They were practically giving them away because nobody would buy them so I couldn’t turn down a deal like that. On the other hand lets don’t try to change the topic at hand so lets keep comparing apples and apples. The average youngster that I’m talking about isn’t interested in trucks but they will be interested in Ford’s new Fiesta as a result of Ford’s marketing.
Preachin to tha choir man – I just thought I’d rile ya up a bit!
Me riled! Not when we’re talkin Fords Baby. LOL.
Gary, Just curious… Today I was wondering how many times Hyundai had won any rally event at the X games that began back in 2006 but after a bit of looking I can’t find any. Maybe some of of the Hyundai fans could help me out or is that why they didnt run one this year?
Hank, with respect to your Fiesta observations… This far from being the first time Ford has made up their mind that they will successfully go after a specific market with a specific car and already they are in full swing with the Fiesta. Let me remind you of just such an example when Ford took what was at the time (using some of your own words) a car with an automatic, had an anemic motor, and was considered boxy. Sales on this car began slow and people made fun of it but Ford marketed the car to a specific age group which is exactly what they are going to do with the Fiesta. Each new design of that car started of as a "Plain Jane" model but each successive year the car came with up-grades making it all the more appealing. Then every 4th year model there was a complete make-over beginning with another redesign model and once more a plain Jane. This cycle continues to this day in what is considered to be the best selling automobile of all time…. The Mustang and Ford will use the same tried and true-blue method that made the Mustang so popular. One of the pieces to that successful marketing campaign was to make sure that car won on Sunday and that it was always in front of potential buyers just like they did at the X Games. Sit back, watch and listen and lets see where the sales go and it will be interesting to see how anemic the Fiesta will stay.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is the most exciting 2-door sporty car to debut in years: cheap, light, RWD, turbocharged, 6-spd manual and mod-friendly (Mitsu Evo engine — seriously?!).
The fact that Rhys’ record setting run was based on a (heavily-modified version) of the production car further cements the ‘cool’ factor of the Genesis… Kudos Hyundai and Rhys Millen!
PS The finally-European-instead-of-Korean Fiesta is a pretty neat, new direction for Ford NA, but ultimately, it’s a two-box, 4-door, FWD econo-car with an anemic 4cyl engine and an automatic transmission. (aka not ‘cool’).
Hank, for what it is, the Fiesta is suitably powered – for now…
Also, an autobox is not the only tranny available:
http://thegarageblog.com/garage/2009-eurospec-ford-fiesta-the-future-of-ford-in-north-america/