Posted on 09/23/2017 8:00:15 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Shots fired.
Well, things are certainly getting heated between competitors in the auto industry right now. A BMW executive recently described the Mercedes X-Class luxury pickup as “appalling,” despite admitting that the firm is considering entering the premium pickup segment. Then Lewis Hamilton taunted Ferrari claiming that AMG can build a better supercar. And now the boss of Hyundai and Genesis seemingly got out the wrong side of the bed one morning, accusing luxury automakers like BMW and Mercedes of putting too much focus on “stupid” tech.
The head of Hyundai’s N and Genesis divisions Albert Biermann, who also used to head BMW’s M division, made the comments to Australian publication Drive during the launch of the new Genesis G70 in South Korea. He believes that automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz spend too much time and money on unnecessary technology that customers don’t want, which he sees as being too complicated and prone to failure. “It’s all marketing, first of all,” Biermann said. “How many people really buy it later on? Much of this exists for media, to give a hype, to show the technology level. But how many people really buy it later on? If the tech will fail, you’re just adding the burden to the buyer, right?”
Simply put, Biermann feels that automakers are putting too much focus into media and marketing and not the actual product – and this is coming from someone who worked at BMW for 30 years and led its M division, so he isn't inexperienced. He also thinks that quality testing for German cars has slipped, but that’s not the case for Genesis. “Our testing is much more intense,” he said. “We have 30,000 km test driving in [Hyundai’s research and development headquarters] Namyang, with all the bad cobblestones and potholes you cannot imagine. We run our cars there for 30,000 km, and then on top of that we do 10,000 km at the Nurburgring.”
“I don’t think anyone else is doing that anymore – maybe Porsche or Ferrari, but all the other guys they’ve stepped down from 10,000 km to 8000 km or 5000 km. And some, they do nothing anymore.” Instead of focusing on fancy technology, Biermann believes the key to Genesis’s success is building reliable cars that will still feel like-new 10 years later. “In our G90 you will not find any air suspension, or active roll-bars, or active whatever. A camera sensing the road, and this stuff. It’s stupid. We have a solid Hyundai steel platform, tonnes of high-strength steel – okay, it’s a little bit heavier than the other cars – and we have adjustable shock absorbers, and that’s it.”
You do realize that this ‘peasant’ company is the 4th largest automaker in the world, right?
>>Instead of focusing on fancy technology, Biermann believes the key to Genesis’s success is building reliable cars that will still feel like-new 10 years later. “In our G90 you will not find any air suspension, or active roll-bars, or active whatever. A camera sensing the road, and this stuff. It’s stupid. We have a solid Hyundai steel platform, tonnes of high-strength steel – okay, it’s a little bit heavier than the other cars – and we have adjustable shock absorbers, and that’s it.”<<
The interior of the Genesis looks very nice.
You haven’t driven one recently. Both Kia and Hyundai make some very nice rides
I have a front wheel drive Chrysler. The weight up front squishes the front tires enough so they look under inflated.
Rather than get out my pressure gauge every time the tires look like they’re going flat, I got some valve stems that are really neat. They are rated for 32 psi and have green little rims that go red if the pressure drops a certain amount. You can tell at a glance if the tires are low or not. Tres cool.
One barrage from the NorKs and Hyundai is out of business.
I have a 2007 Hyundai that still runs well. It has been a good and reliable car, and was relatively inexpensive when we bought it.
I agree with this guy - I don’t want a “smart” car. I work with a guy that can start his truck from his cell phone - he thinks it’s cool. I think it’s stupid. Just give me a car that runs reliably and well for a long time, and doesn’t cost me an arm and a leg to keep on the road.
Wow, do you have a link to wherever you bought them?
Don’t go away. I’ll check. I got them at Wal-Mart.
I’m not much for disposable cars. My mechanic fixed a failed alternator on my W126 Mercedes recently for $15 parts. $60 labor. New brushes. First mechanical failure on that car in 5 years.
China cannot make a garden hose faucet that doesn’t leak; I’m sure not going to buy one of their s**!boxes.
Well, China doesn’t make Hyundais, Korea does. They’re not the same country or the same people.
True. We have flat screens now because rich people were willing to spend $27,000 for the first ones introduced.
Did I say something about Hyundai’s? I don’t think so. But, the Koreans look like Chinese somewhat, and, they both eat a lot of rice, so I’ll let it stand.
PS, its been a very long time since MB had a carburetor fueled car. 70’s maybe?
Uh, that is not the reason.
OK, thanks. I’ll check them out.
My SIL owns a Genesis Coupe. That is one fine automobile.
I ran an errand for my daughter and she handed me the keys. SIL later asked her, “How come the fuel mileage indicator reads so low all of a sudden?”
Heh heh heh.
I currently have a 1984 300. A black 300TD (wagon). I am pretty sure it is fuel injected. I’ll check.
Yep, sorry for you. Its Bosch fuel injection.
BTW, mine has 241,000 miles and it will start, run and drive like a new car.
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