2009 Hyundai Accent

Ju-Yung Chung established an auto repair shop, Hyundai Auto Service, in Seoul, South Korea in 1946. The corporate symbol, a stylized “H” meant to represent the company and its customers shaking hands, is still used today. Though the name “Hyundai” translates to “modern” in English, its first vehicles were anything but.


Founded in 1967, Hyundai Motor Company signed an agreement with Ford to assemble its Cortina and Granada models through 1976 for the Korean market, and used the opportunity to learn all it could about producing automobiles from an established automaker. The South Korean government, however, wanted to spur economic growth by underwriting the production of Korean-designed vehicles, and Hyundai--along with Daewoo, Kia and Ssangyong--took up the challenge.

Italy’s ItalDesign was tapped to style the Hyundai Pony, and Hyundai contracted former British Leyland managers to oversee the car’s development. Powered by a Mitsubishi inline four-cylinder engine, the Pony proved to be an export success in Europe but never made it to the U.S. That would have to wait until the Excel was launched in 1985. This small front-drive hatchback and sedan cost just $4,995 and sold 126,000 units in its first year--its low price largely atoned for its less than stellar initial quality. Back home, Hyundai continued to work closely with Mitsubishi, leaning on the Japanese company for powertrain and development expertise.

By 1990, the fast-moving automaker had erected a plant in Bromont, Quebec, Canada, and introduced its first all-Hyundai design, the Sonata. Though styled by ItalDesign and still using elements of Mitsubishi’s engine designs, the Sonata was aimed squarely at the U.S. market, and included both an inline four-cylinder and a V-6 engine. It was soon joined by a coupe version of the Excel, called the Scoupe, that used Hyundai’s first all-Korean engine design, the Alpha. In 1991, it was joined by the Elantra, an in-house complement to the aging Excel that was powered by Hyundai’s 1.6-liter Beta engine. From this point on, Hyundai was a full-service automaker.

By the time the Accent replaced the Excel in 1995, both the Sonata and Elantra were on their second generation, the Scoupe was ready to be replaced by the Tiburon, and the Delta V-6 was in development. However, the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to the merger of Hyundai and Kia.

DaimlerChrysler purchased 10.5% of Hyundai-Kia in 2000 and sold the stake four years later, but that ultimately didn’t alter Hyundai’s trajectory. Hyundai moved forward with plans for the 3.0- and 3.5-liter Sigma V-6s, increased its quality control efforts, entered the crossover market with the Santa Fe, and opened a plant in Alabama in 2005. In addition, it opened or expanded research and development centers in Ann Arbor, Mich., and Frankfurt, Germany, and a design center in Irvine, Calif.

In 2008, Hyundai moved beyond the near-luxury segment populated by its Azera sedan and Veracruz crossover, and introduced the Genesis, a rear-drive V-8-powered sedan that will spawn a rear-drive replacement for the front-drive Tiburon. Both underline the promise of the English translation of the company’s name.
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2005 Pontiac Aztek

It would be easy--shooting fish in a barrel easy--to disparage the Pontiac Aztek’s design. Like its Buick Rendezvous sister, the Aztek was built on GM’s minivan platform, and available with either front- or all-wheel-drive. It came in two flavors, base and GT, was powered by a 3.4-liter V6 mated to a four-speed automatic transmission, had an optional 10-speaker stereo, and a two-piece tailgate with built-in cup holders and a molded seating area for tailgate parties. Unfortunately the Aztek was blighted by thick bands of Pontiac’s trademark contrasting body side cladding, and a rear roofline that had critics claiming that the “GT” badge stood for “Garbage Truck”.

In its defense, the Aztek was designed as the X Games and extreme sports arrived on the scene. As such, its unconventional styling was seen as the perfect look for a generation that personified the active lifestyle, and took with them as many things and friends as they could carry. Wayne Cherry, at the time the director of GM Design, personally oversaw the Aztek’s styling, and often admonished its critics with the statement: “If you don’t get it, you’re too old.” To drive home this point, Pontiac made certain the crossover was available with items like a tent that slipped over the rear hatch when opened, an air mattress for the large cargo bed, a roll-out cargo tray that could hold up to 400 lbs, and special racks for snowboards, mountain bikes and similar items.

Given its versatile interior, available all-wheel-drive, and youth-oriented specification sheet, GM confidently predicted it would sell 75,000 Aztek’s per year, a number that had both Chrysler and Ford working feverishly on their own minivan-based crossovers. Unfortunately, the Aztek was priced too high for its intended audience, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 severely curtailed new car purchases, and critics branded the vehicle as a design failure before GM could respond. As a result, sales never exceeded 27,600 per year. However, GM reportedly needed to sell 30,000 Azteks per year just to break even on the model.

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2008 BMW 135i

During World War II, BMW automobile production was halted. The company worked on the development of jet engines, large radial aircraft engines, and rocket engines for the German government. Because of BMW’s involvement with rockets, the Munich factory was dismantled after the war. Most other facilities were damaged beyond repair.

BMW automobiles virtually define high-performance luxury in the automotive marketplace. With superb handling and crisp response, BMWs are frequently high on the shopping list for those who love to drive. It is a positioning that seems appropriate, since the brand is the earthbound offspring of an aircraft manufacturer. This aviation heritage is driven home by the brand logo, which depicts white propeller blades spinning against a blue sky.

Originally known as Rapp Motoren Werke, the Munich-based builder of aircraft engines became BMW AG in 1918. In 1923 it introduced a boxer-engine motorcyle, foreshadowing a design trend that continues to this day. The company introduced its first automobile in 1928. The car, dubbed Dixi, was built under license from an English manufacturer, Austin. The 1930s saw considerable engineering and design progress with the introduction of an inline six-cylinder engine in 1933--a configuration that has long distinguished the brand--and the launch of the renowned 328 Roadster in 1936, a sleek, stylish machine that earned numerous racing victories, including the 1940 Mille Miglia.

During World War II, BMW automobile production was halted. The company worked on the development of jet engines, large radial aircraft engines, and rocket engines for the German government. Because of BMW’s involvement with rockets, the Munich factory was dismantled after the war. Most other facilities were damaged beyond repair.

By 1949 BMW was back in the motorcycle business, and the first post-war BMW automobile, the big and sturdy 501, made its appearance in 1951. The 502, equipped with an aluminum V-8, joined the lineup in 1952, and the 500 series continued in production until 1964. The most noteworthy machine in the 500 range was the 507, an alloy-bodied V-8-powered sports car built at the urging of U.S. importer Max Hoffman--the same entrepreneur who talked Mercedes into building the 300SL. In 1955 BMW obtained a license to build an Italian-engineered three-wheeler. The BMW version was sold as Isetta. With its motorcycle engine, the little machine provided cheap and entertaining transportation.

Sales of the Isetta couldn’t make up for the market failures of the 500 models, and by 1959 BMW was on the verge of failure. A merger with Daimler-Benz was on the table, but the workforce and management pleaded with major shareholder, Herbert Quandt, to give them time to turn things around. He relented, and in 1961 the sporty and stylish 1500 sedan set the stage for a resurgence of the brand. In 1969, the fuel-injected 2000tii upped the ante again, and BMW was once again a commercial success.

Other winning designs followed: the 5 Series, the 2002, and its successor, the 3 Series. By the late 1970s, BMW was back in the luxury business with the 6 and 7 Series. The M versions of these cars were scalding performers, driving home BMW’s performance reputation. The 286-horsepower M5, for example, was said to be the world’s fastest production sedan.

Today, the 400-horsepower 7 series, with its muscular curves, is a strong contender in the luxury sports category, the 3- and 5-series are class leaders in their respective sports sedan categories, and theZ4 sports car, with 255 horsepower pouring into a six-speed manual gearbox, is capable of stirring the soul. In the words of the U.S. ad campaign, BMW is “the ultimate driving machine,” and it wears that title proudly.
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2009 BMW 135i

BMW automobiles virtually define high-performance luxury in the automotive marketplace. With superb handling and crisp response, BMWs are frequently high on the shopping list for those who love to drive. It is a positioning that seems appropriate, since the brand is the earthbound offspring of an aircraft manufacturer. This aviation heritage is driven home by the brand logo, which depicts white propeller blades spinning against a blue sky.

Originally known as Rapp Motoren Werke, the Munich-based builder of aircraft engines became BMW AG in 1918. In 1923 it introduced a boxer-engine motorcyle, foreshadowing a design trend that continues to this day. The company introduced its first automobile in 1928. The car, dubbed Dixi, was built under license from an English manufacturer, Austin. The 1930s saw considerable engineering and design progress with the introduction of an inline six-cylinder engine in 1933--a configuration that has long distinguished the brand--and the launch of the renowned 328 Roadster in 1936, a sleek, stylish machine that earned numerous racing victories, including the 1940 Mille Miglia.

During World War II, BMW automobile production was halted. The company worked on the development of jet engines, large radial aircraft engines, and rocket engines for the German government. Because of BMW’s involvement with rockets, the Munich factory was dismantled after the war. Most other facilities were damaged beyond repair.

By 1949 BMW was back in the motorcycle business, and the first post-war BMW automobile, the big and sturdy 501, made its appearance in 1951. The 502, equipped with an aluminum V-8, joined the lineup in 1952, and the 500 series continued in production until 1964. The most noteworthy machine in the 500 range was the 507, an alloy-bodied V-8-powered sports car built at the urging of U.S. importer Max Hoffman--the same entrepreneur who talked Mercedes into building the 300SL. In 1955 BMW obtained a license to build an Italian-engineered three-wheeler. The BMW version was sold as Isetta. With its motorcycle engine, the little machine provided cheap and entertaining transportation.

Sales of the Isetta couldn’t make up for the market failures of the 500 models, and by 1959 BMW was on the verge of failure. A merger with Daimler-Benz was on the table, but the workforce and management pleaded with major shareholder, Herbert Quandt, to give them time to turn things around. He relented, and in 1961 the sporty and stylish 1500 sedan set the stage for a resurgence of the brand. In 1969, the fuel-injected 2000tii upped the ante again, and BMW was once again a commercial success.

Other winning designs followed: the 5 Series, the 2002, and its successor, the 3 Series. By the late 1970s, BMW was back in the luxury business with the 6 and 7 Series. The M versions of these cars were scalding performers, driving home BMW’s performance reputation. The 286-horsepower M5, for example, was said to be the world’s fastest production sedan.

Today, the 400-horsepower 7 series, with its muscular curves, is a strong contender in the luxury sports category, the 3- and 5-series are class leaders in their respective sports sedan categories, and theZ4 sports car, with 255 horsepower pouring into a six-speed manual gearbox, is capable of stirring the soul. In the words of the U.S. ad campaign, BMW is “the ultimate driving machine,” and it wears that title proudly.
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2009 Porsche 911

The story of Porsche is largely the story of the 911. While the earlier 356 was a winner, the 911 was a phenomenon. And although Porsche has marketed other cars alongside the 911, none have been as successful. The 911 is arguably the world’s most beloved and respected sports car, a position it has held for many years.

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