Hyundai Considers Targeting RX350, Audi Q5, And Cadillac SRX Crossovers - Who Is The Weakest Link?

This is going to be about sales, so considering the 2013 sales of those 3 entries (Lexus RX - 103,920, Cadillac SRX - 56,776, Audi Q5 - 40,355) I'd say the weakest link is pretty obvious.

Sooner or later they're going to have to create a separate brand if they truly want to compete in the luxury market.

NOT having Genesis be a brand is moronic. It does NOT need "a separate distribution" channel. They could simply have a Hyundi/Genesis dealer or a Kia/Genesis dealer..

NOT having Genesis be a brand means they are missing opportunities.

Jaguar is gasping for life at a sales rate of a little over 16K units nationwide last year. Mercedes does that volume with the E Class in just 3 months. With Lincoln adrift stylistically and having literally no premium products because they sell re-fendered Fords, Hyundai-Kia should be muscling in.

People are buying the Genesis because they realize it is a premium product, but at some point that will be a limit because people who are brand conscious don't want their premium product to share a brand name with an entry level product.

The GTR should have been an Infiniti for this very reason.

When I met with the former CEO of Hyundai they had no plans to establish a luxury network, but it is one reason they went with strong names. They really didn't have the money, at the time, to do a separate network. However Folks would say "I have a Genesis" or "I have an Equus"... not I have a Hyundai... exactly one reason Acura went away from names, to have folks say I own and Acura... Names Folks....

The RX is a moving target that's about to change drastically. HUN-DAY doesn't have the money to develop world class products like that.

Mr. Knownothing: They already make world class products mainstream, near premium, and premium.

@MattDarringer don't waste your time with this idiot that sells LEXUS for a living. Totally biased.

@USNA1999 you sell Japanese Mercurys?

@MattDarringer I am not in the car business, I love cars though. I am Field Project Manager in the Oil/Energy Industry. How about you?

BTW what is a Japanese Mercury? LoL!

@USNA1999 Part of my job description lol is to manage the interests that two older friends have in the car business. Together they are part owners in a number of dealerships (Bakersfield, Ventura, Newport Beach) and they restore/flip American muscle cars, vintage pickups, Jensen Interceptors here and there, and TVRs as they can latch onto them.

They are 78 and 81 respectively, so being of a much more tender age, they hired me to manage their interests.

My job is to make them money and I am ruthless in that pursuit.

Japanese Mercury = Acura

So to my nonothing friends if being in luxury car's for 30 years selling Porsche Audi VW Saab Bently and Rolls Royce for which I was General manager with all those brands. Also selling BMW Cadillac Dodge and chrysler and now Lexus gives me more credibilty them both of you combined.

@knowitall1985 it actually gives you less credibility. As we can see you continue to jump between brands (between jobs), no loyalty at all, must be a reason. If you were that good all these companies would try to retain you for top dollar. One of my neighbor's is the manager here at Brumos Lexus of Jacksonville which was the one that sold me my LS460. He has been with BRUMOS for a long time. What shop are you manager of? BTW All these products that you claim you have sold have drastically change over the years from quality to reliability. have you owned or tested any of them recently? Why don't you go ahead and tell the readers about the numerous LS460s and their previous manufacturer buy backs (lemons)?

I have been with Lexus for 17 years so I guess that blows up you last theory. The 2007 and some 2008 LS460's were bought back for wind noise issues. How many 7series were bought back. Oh! you don't know your a novicel. The largest buyback in BMW's history for computer and other problems not wind noise.....Any debate with on automobiles with you is easily won.....LOL!!

All long as Hyundai builds a better car that the other companies, go for it!
The buyer has the right to get a better car at a lower price with a better warranty.

my neighbor told me hes thinking of getting either an es350 or huyundai genesis, in the end we both agreed, that even though the genesis is really nice, its still a damn huyundai !! i would NEVER wana bring one home.. ever !

@matt,
I believe you meant Hyundai knows how to copy world class products.

Saw the new Sonata on the road yesterday for the first time and aside from having Ford/Aston front end, the rear (if you ignore the lights) has identical lines to the VW Passat.

What year passat are you comparing the Sonata to the Passat to? For example, 2014 Mazda 6's backend ripped off the 2012 Sonatas. The Sonata has been around since the 80's. YOu have to be specific.

The question that should be asked is "Which car will Hyundai copy and claim is the world's leading luxury crossover".

"The question that should be asked is "Which car will Hyundai copy and claim is the world's leading luxury crossover"."

Luxury cars orignal?
2013 Buick Regal and 2013 Volvoo S60 hint greenhouses.
2013 Buick Regal and 2013 Acura TL hint backends.

So which one did Buick copy to be considered better than Acura and Volvo?

Better yet Lexus LX and 2014 Infinti QX hint greenhouses. So does this make Infinti's CUV the "world's leading luxury crossover?"

Infinti QX now has Audi like tail lights imagine that. All it nees is a Hyundai badge so Hughjass can admit Intinfi copies.

But hey the 2004 Suzuki XL7 copied the 2003 Lexus GX side.

The 2005 Honda CR-V's frontend copied the 2004 Lexus GX's face. Now hurry and gve me my negative points like you gave Matt.

Are we talking about copying: Don't know which year Passat you are refering too but here you go: 2009 Suburu Impraza hatch, Infinti EX and Mazda CX-5 hint greenhouses.

Also I know you don't want to go there with the Ford Fusion being orignal. I can eat that design up from left to right.

Funny how Hughjazz won't bring up the Chey Adra concept ripping off the Kia Soul. If the Chevy Adra came out first, he would have said Kia copied the Adra. But since the Soul came out first, he'll rather play dumb as if the Adra concept is orignal.