Hyundai prioritises customer loyalty over rapid sales growth

Hyundai will focus more about retention of existing customers instead of on aggressively growing its European market share during 2014, based on the firm's Europe boss Allan Rushforth. The Korean company is requried to be made by course to keep a 3. 5 per cent market share in Europe in 2013, and wishes to grow to 5 per cent by 2020, however the immediate priority is ensuring existing customers stay loyal towards the brand. “Our primary aim usually is to continue enhancing the quality in our operations, even when which means We‘re not able to sustain our market share, ” said Rushforth.  “Over the previous five years we’ve done a very good job from being inside the right place in the right time with the ideal products. European scrappage schemes gave us a chance to conquest many new customers ; now our challenge usually is to keep your customers we won. ”About three-quarters from the 3. 3 million Hyundais upon the roads of Europe are lower than seven years of age, and Rushforth said improving brand loyalty would produce a solid sales base to the long-term. “In 2012 our loyalty rate was just 36 per cent, but now It‘s above the industry average at 49 per cent. If we increase our loyalty by, say, another five per cent, that can give us a further 34, 000 sales annually, ” he said. Rushforth said customer retention could possibly be achieved by providing “the right models for Europe built in Europe” by increasing the amount of people using ‘captive finance’ – where customers buy their cars coming from the manufacturer’s own finance subsidiary. Hyundai’s research suggests such customers tend to be more loyal and purchase higher-spec models. Hyundai prioritises customer loyalty over rapid sales growth

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013: Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Ferrari can give the F12 Berlinetta its Goodwood debut in the forthcoming Festival of Speed. The F12 Berlinetta has 731bhp and can also reach over 211mph. A 0-62mph time of 3. 1sec and also a kerb weight of 1630kg causes it to be perhaps one of the fastest, most powerful offerings from Ferrari. Alongside the F12, Ferrari may also be showing off a number of its personalised vehicles, including a bespoke FF, a tailor-made 458 Spider and Eric Clapton's SP12 EC. Demonstrating alongside Ferrari will certainly be the Scuderia race team, who will certainly be letting loose its 2010 F1 car in the hill, driven by Marc Gené. A similar car was piloted by Fernando Alonso in 2010. For many the newest coming from the Goodwood Festival of Speed, stay tuned in to Autocar. co. uk. Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 : Ferrari F12 Berlinetta

Jaguar XJ production suspended

Production from the Jaguar XJ at JLR's Castle Bromwich site stop for as much as four days in a few days. Jaguar declined to comment upon the cause from the suspension, only confirming it is a result of a problem inside the supply chain. A Jaguar spokesman told Autocar : suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">" Like a temporary measure, Jaguar Land Rover has stopped the Jaguar XJ production line due to some supply chain issue. Production from the Jaguar XJ will resume at the conclusion of in a few days. suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">" XF, XK and F-Type models, which will also be produced in the site, aren‘t affected. Jaguar XJ production suspended

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013: drivers and cars

Goodwood has issued an entire collection of drivers appearing at this year’s Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013. Drivers and riders competing upon the hillclimb at this year’s event include past and present F1, WRC and Le Mans drivers. The Festival of Speed also will feature stars of film and radio, for example Peter Fonda and Chris Evans. The entire, provisional collection of drivers and cars : Rally Rauno Aaltonen, Mini Cooper SRussell Brookes, Opel MantaMikko Hirvonen, Citroën DS3 WRCJuha Kankkunen, BentleyFreddy Loix, Skoda Fabia S2000Andreas Mikkelsen, Volkswagen Polo WRCHannu Mikkola, Audi Quattro S1Rod Millen, Toyota TacomaJean Ragnotti, Renault A310, A442B, 5 Maxi Turbo, TwinRunCarlos Sainz, Volkswagen Polo WRCBjorn Waldegard, Toyota Celica Twin Cam TurboSepp Wiegand, Skoda Fabia S2000F1 and single seatersRene Arnoux, Renault RS01, RE40, Twizy F1, TwinRunRichard Attwood, Porsche Great Britain Project 50 911Jules Bianchi, Marussia F1 carDavid Brabham, Bentley Speed 8Kenny Brack, Duesenberg 8Tony Brooks, Aston Martin DB3S '62 EMU'Martin Brundle, Toyota TS020, Jaguar XJS TWRSebastian Buemi Red Bull Racing F1 carJenson Button, McLaren M8D, P1Eddie Cheever, F1 carMax Chilton, Marussia F1 carAnthony Davidson, Toyota TS030Martin Donnelly, LotusGil de Ferran, TBCEmerson Fittipaldi, F1 carJordi Gene, Seat Leon Cup Racer conceptMarc Gene, Ferrari F60Damon Hill, Lotus 56 turbineLewis Hamilton, Mercedes-Benz W154, 2013 F1 carNick Heidfeld, McLaren MP4 / 13Jacky Ickx, TBCHeikki Kovalainen, Caterham F1Jacques Laffite, TBCJochen Mass, Benz Prinz Heinrich, Mercedes-Benz W125, 300 SLRKevin Magnussen, McLaren MP4 / 23Arturo Merzario, TBCStirling Moss, Mercedes-Benz W196, 300 SLR Adrian Newey, Infiniti Q50Riccardo Patrese, BMW M1 ProcarNelson Piquet, Brabham BT52Emanuele Pirro, Ferrari 512S, Ford Cologne CapriAlain Prost, Renault RE40, TwinRunSergio Perez, McLaren M23, MP4 / 4Nico Rosberg, Mercedes-Benz W196, 2013 F1 carAlexander Rossi, Caterham F1Brian Redman, 1967 Eagle Formula 1 carBruno Senna, Aston Martin Jackie Stewart, Mercedes-Benz W196, Tyrrell 006Hans-Joachim Stuck, Audi 200 Trans-AmDanny Sullivan, TBCMarc Surer, BMW V12 LMRl John Surtees, Honda RA300Oliver Turvey, McLaren M8D, M23, MP4 / 4Bobby Unser, TBCDavide Valsecchi, LotusStoffel Vandoorne, McLaren M23, F1-GTRMichael Waltrip, Michael Waltrip Racing Toyota CamryAlex Wurz, Toyota TS010, TS030EnduranceDerek Bell, Bentley, Porsche 956Rob Bell, McLaren MP4-12C GT3Alex Brundle, Benetton B192, Jaguar XJS TWREmmanuel Collard Toyota TS010, TS020Vic Elford, Porsche 911, 917 / 30Marino Franchitti, TBCTom Kristensen, Ford GT MKII Le Mans winner, Bentley Speed 8Allan McNish, AudiHenri Pescarolo, TBCGuy Smith, Bentley Speed 8Andy Wallace, Jaguar XJR11Touring carJohn Fitzpatrick, Porsche 956Matt Neal, Honda Civic BTCCAnthony Reid, Ford Supervan 3Jack Sears, Ford GalaxieGordon Shedden, Honda Civic BTCCSteve Soper, BMW V12 LMR, BMW M6 Gran CoupéNASCARKerry Earnhardt, Chevrolet Monte Carlo NASCARMike Skinner, Ford GalaxieDrag racingBob Riggle, Plymouth Baracuda 'Hurst Hemi Under Glass'Special guestsNorman Dewis, Jaguar C-typeChris Evans, FerrariPeter Fonda, Captain America chopperAndy Green, Bloodhound ProjectChris Hoy, JaguarJames Martin, Mini Cooper SNick Mason, Auto Union Type C, Ferrari 250 GTOMotorcycleGiacomo Agostini, MV AgustaBruce Anstey, Britten V1000Leon Camier, Fixi Crescent Suzuki World SuperbikeAlan Cathcart, Taylormade Saxon TriumphRon Chandler, TBCJules Cluzel, Fixi Crescent Suzuki World SuperbikeChaz Davies, BMW World SuperbikeStuart Graham, Lotus CortinaMattie Griffin, BMW F 800 RSylvain Guintoli, World Superbike ApriliaJames Haydon, Foggy Pertonas FP1Tommy Hill, TBCIan Hutchinson, TBCIan King, drag bikeDougie Lampkin, trials bikeEugene Laverty World Superbike ApriliaAlex Lowes, British Superbike Samsung HondaIan Mackman, Norton SG2Randy Mamola, Ducati GP11 VR2John McGuinness, TT Legends Honda FirebladeJeremy McWilliams, Proton KR3, KTM Super Duke R PrototypeSammy Miller, AgustaMichael Neeves, BMW S1000RR SuperbikeTim Reeves, LCR sidecarJohn Reynolds, Crescent SuzukiKenny Roberts, Yamaha OW48R YZR500Kevin Schwantz, Suzuki RGV500Freddie Spencer, Honda NSR500James Toseland, DucatiChris Walker, BSB Crescent SuzukiSteve Webster, 1985 sidecarThe Goodwood Festival of Speed runs from 11-14 July, from 7am every day. Entry is as simple as advance ticket only. Visit goodwood. co. uk for details. Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 : drivers and cars

Hyundai and Kia to get more distinct design languages

Hyundai and Kia will explore different designs which should provide them with greater differentiation out there. That is consistent with new global design chief to the brands Peter Schreyer, who says the new designs will start to emerge suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">" by 50 percent to three years' time suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">". He believes cars from the 2 sister brands “should be separated more, and we’ll obtain a wider range”. Schreyer cites the example from the platform-sharing Volkswagen Golf and Audi A3, which attract very different customers. “We also require a difference in content, ” he said. By that, he implies that Hyundais and Kias should be also separated by their features and functionality. “Kia has got a robust direction, so why should we change? ” he said. But Hyundai “will change”. Hyundai’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design language “will evolve more”, he said. “But it only deals using the car’s surface, not its proportions. Other activities define the car also, like window graphics. “We’ll pick the good things and have a stronger family feel. Like Kia, we’ll produce a typical design, and It‘ll look adore it everywhere inside the world. It’s a complex product range but We‘ve to create a hierarchy. ”Among those good things are “quality, our type of style and also a front face design that’s been there all along. Hyundai experienced a hexagonal grille a while ago. We’ll find another twist towards the grille to really make it unique”. Hyundai and Kia to obtain more distinct design languages

Infiniti "needs visibility on the roads"

Sales from the Infiniti Q50 inside the UK next year are expected to match the firms’ total registrations for the entire of 2012. Steve Oliver, Infiniti’s regional boss for north Europe said he hopes to sell 500 from the BMW 3-series rival next year. Speaking in the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Oliver said : “At the instant Infiniti needs cars on an open road - we want visibility. The Q50 can give us that. Towards the end of subsequent financial year, March 2014, we should have sold 500 Q50s inside the UK - that’s a modest goal, but it‘s the identical to the complete quantity of cars we bought from 2012.  “That is really a recipe for sustained growth, and that‘s the only goal We‘ve - we’re not curious about quick wins. “The Infiniti Q50 is our breakthrough car. It offers both a European-focused engine, as well as the benefit of the petrol hybrid that offers performance and low emissions. We‘ve something to provide everyone, so we sense that there‘s a growing desire among private and fleet buyers to interrupt far from the large three German marques. We have the Q50 is an credible car, which should serve us well. “After the Q50, our BMW 1-series rival is that the next focus. The Q50 is an item that ought to change perceptions from the brand and sell well. It lays the groundwork for the following car, which should really help us build momentum. Again, we all know there ought to be volume there, and we actually believe we will bring anything new to market. ”Oliver also outlined plans to develop Infiniti’s 8-strong UK dealer network. “We have proven that customers of premium cars benefit from the bespoke service we can offer, and also the key Now‘s to extend our reach and thereby reputation. We‘ve several sites under evaluation, and aspire to grow in line with these sales volumes, ” he said. Infiniti suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">" needs visibility upon the roads suggestion:inch,inches,in[click to edit]')" onmouseout="UnTip()">"

Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013: Audi A3 saloon UK premiere

#EANF# The Audi A3 saloon and S3 saloon will make their first UK public outings in the Goodwood Festival of Speed this weekend. The event also will host the UK premiere from the A3 Sportback e-tron, which should continue sale in late 2014. The A3 variants will certainly be exhibited alongside the firm’s seven-strong RS range and a number of racing cars. Among the many competition stars will certainly be the Quattro A2 that won the 1983 RAC rally as a result of Stig Blomqvist. The drive will reunite Hannu Mikkola and co-driver Arne Hertz, the team which took second place inside the 1983 RAC, securing Mikkola’s driver’s championship. Allan McNish will drive the R18 e-tron that won this year’s Le Mans 24 Hour race, and Pink Floyd drummer, Nick Mason will drive a 1936 Auto Union C-Type grand prix car. Hans-Joachim Stuck will require towards the hill inside an Audi 200 quattro Trans-Am. The 503bhp, 2. 1-litre won eight from 13 race wins inside the 1988 Trans-Am series as a result of Stuck, Hurley Haywood and Walter Rohrl. Goodwood Festival of Speed 2013 : Audi A3 saloon UK premiere