On today’s show…Elon Musk says Tesla won’t make a profit until 2020, Hyundai already has a redesign of the Sonata in the works and Lincoln refreshes the MKX. All that and more coming right up on Autoline Daily.
This is Autoline Daily for January 14th, 2015.
TESLA WON’T TURN A PROFIT UNTIL 2020
Last year, Tesla’s stock price grew nearly 50% but yesterday the company’s stock took a bit of a tumble. That’s because CEO Elon Musk said the automaker won’t be profitable until 2020, when he expects sales to reach 500,000 units. Last year the company sold around 33,000 Model S sedans. Musk also said that by 2025 Tesla will be producing a “few million cars” annually. That includes the Model X SUV which will be launched later this year and the lower priced Model 3 which is expected to go on sale in 2017.
HYUNDAI TO REDESIGN NEW SONATA
Last year sales of the Sonata were up 6.5% compared to 2013, but with an all-new vehicle that wasn’t good enough for Hyundai. So, the automaker is already planning a redesign of the model that was on the short list for Car of the Year. The problem that Hyundai sights is the styling. It’s just not as distinctive as the Sonata that came before it, which was the first vehicle from the automaker to crack 200,000 units a year in the U.S. The redesign will most likely come with the mid-cycle refresh for the 2017 or 2018 model year.
Still to come…Volvo introduces new variations of the S60 and XC90.
VOLVO INTRODUCES S60 CROSS COUNTRY
Back in 1997 Volvo introduced the Cross Country trim line as an all-road option for some of its vehicles and now it’s bringing the trim back with the S60 Cross Country. As you can see the ride height has been raised compared to the sedan, it gets a few more rugged design cues and it’s said the vehicle will have the same capability as the previous Cross Country vehicles.
SPORTIER XC90 DEBUTS
The brand also showed off a sporty version of its all-new XC90, called the R-Design. A choice of 2.0L 4-cylinder engines will be available with a top-of-the-line 400-horsepower plug-in hybrid version on tap. As well as some sporty exterior trim pieces the R-Design will also get more race-like seats wrapped in soft leather. Look for the Cross Country, R-Design and a long wheelbase version of the S60 to hit the market in the second half of this year.
Coming up next, Honda announces plans to expand its line-up of green vehicles and Lincoln introduces the new MKX..
LINCOLN REFRESHES MKX
Lincoln revealed a refreshed version of the MKX in Detroit. The CUV gets similar design cues to the popular MKC and is now available with the 2.7L EcoBoost V6 from the new F-150 that will be mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. It also comes with an upgraded suspension, chassis and body structure components to help improve ride and handling. Plus it comes with new safety and amenity features. The new MKX goes on sale this fall in the U.S. and later will be sold in overseas markets including China, the Middle East and South Korea.
HONDA ANNOUNCES NEW GREEN CARS
Honda announced plans to introduce more fuel efficient vehicles. In addition to its fuel cell vehicle, by 2018 the company plans to have a new plug-in hybrid model, a new pure electric vehicle and expanded use of its two and three motor hybrid systems. Honda also announced that it will introduce a new four-cylinder V-TEC turbo engine by the end of the year. That engine will be built at the company’s facility in Ohio.
If you want to learn more about what’s happening on the supplier side of the business, tune in to our Autoline Supplier Symposium today and tomorrow. John will be interviewing executives from a number of suppliers on the floor of the Detroit auto show. That’s today and tomorrow starting at 3PM eastern time on our website, Autoline.tv.
But that wraps up today’s report, thanks for watching and please join us again tomorrow.
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Comments (23)
January 14th, 2015 at 11:54 am
Um..so is anyone at Hyundai taking responsibility for the Sonata.
If I understand the story right…the Nicely Styled Sonata that was popular “escaped” the conservative executives until it was to late to cancel. So they let it go to market and it was successful.
Regardless of all that Hyundai made the current Sonata ultra 90s Buickish in appearance.
January 14th, 2015 at 12:10 pm
I was parked next to a new Sonata this weekend. It was practically invisible in grey. The thing just disappeared, like there was nothing to attach my eye to. And I say this after liking the car when I saw it at the NY show: you really need to see a car on the road to get it. I’ve learned my lesson.
January 14th, 2015 at 12:17 pm
The mothership was horrified at the “garish” design and heads rolled. They don’t understand the market here. I doubt if this has been a sufficiently painful lesson for them to retain it.
January 14th, 2015 at 12:35 pm
I have said it before, the new Sonata was a huge step backwards in design. The previous one still looks fresh and edgy. My friend has one and it still looks as contemporary as the day she bought it.
Amazing something like this can actually get all the way into production. But then again we have the Malibu also.
January 14th, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Hyundai and Kia are near the bottom in CR’s “would you buy it again?” survey. Did owners get tired of the styling after a year or two?
January 14th, 2015 at 12:56 pm
The best selling mid-size front drivers have historically been the generic looking Camry and Accord. I’d think the generic styling of the Sonata might be ok for the market it is in. An increase in sales is better than a decrease, after the 2014 re-design.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:20 pm
From yesterday’s show…
Yes, HtG, the Detroit Show always starts with media, charity preview and industry days the first week.
BTW, another award for the Colorado…
http://www.cars.com/awards/best-of/
January 14th, 2015 at 1:22 pm
It’s interesting to compare the previous Sonata with the Kia Optima. I think the previous Sonata was over-styled, and at the end of it’s life looked dated. The Optima, on the other hand paid attention to the rules: surfacing, line, proportion and balance, then added a bit of eye catching adornment, not over done. As a result the Optima looks as good today, as the day it came out. This is what Hyundai wanted for the Sonata…the mistake was not that the new car was under styled, but that it seemed boring compared to the car it replaced. To my eye it was the last step that Hyundai missed, the adornment, grill, lights, trim…it fell short…actually an easy fix, and not a surprise it’s happening soon.
January 14th, 2015 at 1:34 pm
7 thx, TB
January 14th, 2015 at 3:37 pm
The front seats in the Volvo XC90 R type are ridiculous! Look at those side and bottom bolsters! Where do they think the soccer moms are gonna drive this thing? Those look like they belong in the Subaru WRX STi, not in a grocery getter, even if it is a sport version. I predict these will be changed in one model year.
FYI to the suits in South Korea: The “Me Too” strategy has never won a sales race against strong competitors. Stick with what was working for you. Or don’t – Honda could use a break. They have had a tough year.
January 14th, 2015 at 3:40 pm
If you believe Elon Musk, he’ll tell more BS. But, I have to say, he sure has a lot of followers. He is a genius BS’er
January 14th, 2015 at 5:14 pm
Rented a Focus SE sedan, drives real nice, great seats, don’t like protruding center stack and console, controls are not the most ergonomically pleasant I have seen, don’t mind the jerky DCT at low speeds cause it pays dividends with really sharp shifts and great mileage, car just seems to roll on and on without hardly pressing the throttle, good brakes and handling and very roomy trunk. However I banged my head getting out a few times even though I’m short. Would I buy it? YES would I look at Corolla and Mazda 3 first? YES! BTW steering almost as sharp as the GTI, feels more like a German, not American small sedan.
January 14th, 2015 at 6:21 pm
The 2015 Hyundai Sonata is not the eye catching design of the last generation, whether inside, or outside! My 2014 Sonata 2.0 Turbo Limited is an awesome styled car, and reminds me of the 1940′S styled car , that really stood out, and are still favorites at classic car shows! The new car does have great features, and class leading safety technologies! Please Hyundai make sure your refresh is spot on from inside to outside, and look into an digital dashboard option! Your one of my favorite car companies, so I know you can knock our socks off again!
January 14th, 2015 at 7:13 pm
Probably no one remembers my comment when they unveiled the current Sonata as a step back styling wise. I guess I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Up to that point I felt that Hyundai was pushing styling forward and with the Sonata it was a step back to Toyota like blandtastic styling.
January 14th, 2015 at 7:30 pm
Nope, XA, I don’t recall your impression, but I think you were right. Blandtastic
January 14th, 2015 at 7:34 pm
11. Thanks, Pedro for the report. You liked the same things I liked when I drove a Focus a couple years ago, the handling, and the sharp shifting at speed. It’s too bad the controls kind of suck, and you can’t get a 6 speed manual, except in the ST. The 5 speed works well enough, but top gear is too short at highway speed.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:08 am
Sadly I have to return the Focus back to Avis, I drove more this morning thru some of my familiar routes and the handling is quite good, considering I am comparing it to the GTI, which is a real driver’s car. No wonder there is so much praise for the Fiesta ST, I’ve read that it handles much better than this, and so is the Mazda 3 with the 2.5 motor. This Focus is a bit lazy going from 2nd to 3rd I guess they programed it to shift early to save fuel, and it does save fuel indeed.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:27 am
15 I drove a Fiesta ST last summer, and it drove great. If it had been around when I got my MINI 5 years ago, the Fiesta ST would have been high on my shopping list.
I’m not sure why, unless it’s the controls or the low speed operation of the transmission, but the Focus and Fiesta are both pretty low on CR’s “I would buy it if I could do it over” list.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:32 am
Kit also the radio controls are confusing and not intuitive IMO, I know I’m old and like my controls simple, but to have to stop the car and touch a bunch of buttons just to change from AM to FM and back is just dumb, also the ever protruding center stack and console, take room away from the front passengers. Also if you don’t sign up for nav and sat radio, the “voice” command feature is pretty useless, To sum it up, great driving car, iffy ergonomics.
January 15th, 2015 at 10:46 am
The Fiesta ST has MyFordTouch mandatory, and it has a small screen, making it even worse than in the other cars. I didn’t mess with it, except to figure out how to turn off the radio. I just wanted to drive the car, and experience the handling, steering, shifter, clutch, brakes, and engine. All of those things were great, mostly better than my MINI. For a real comparison of engines, though, you’d need to use a MINI S, not the base car like mine.
January 15th, 2015 at 11:07 am
I just found out online that the Focus is the most expensive car in its class, that would be a deal killer for me, give me good handling/steering, reliability, good MPG’s and ease of use and I’m there!
January 15th, 2015 at 11:41 am
I have had it with Copy Cat automobile design.The latest out for 2015 is the grill of the 2015 Subaru Legacy & 2015 Hydunai Sonata both have taken their design cues (Copied)from the 2010 Ford Taurus.I also call this Automobile design cloning.What are your thoughts?
January 15th, 2015 at 4:59 pm
I just finished several visits at local new car dealerships – Kia, FCA, Toyota, and Hyundai. The imports had crazy mark-ups. The Crysler 200 was a steal at a discounted $16,995 (if you can trust the transmission).
I wholeheartedly agree the Sonata took a step backward. So did the rear styling of the Genesis sedan. And the Genesis coupe no longer offers the lighter weight 2.0L turbo. Overall, I found more compelling products elsewhere.
Toyota is living off their reputation, not their products. The new Corolla has an uncompetitive lay cheap interior. The Camry does not stir the soul, not even in Sport trim. And I will never accept the central instrument cluster or vinyl seats in the Prius.
CR downgrades the Focus for 3 reasons – My Ford Touch, the DCT, and package space (floor console intrusion to the knees and limited rear seat leg room). Once acclimated to MFT, the DCT shift characteristics, and the space, it is rewardingly fun to drive. BS on the Golf COTY… The Golf is grossly over-priced.