There is a new beginning that promises a better tomorrow. Recently,
Hyundai Motor Philippines has officially relaunched its brand in the country, launching a set of new a refreshed vehicles in the passenger line.
This marks a major turning point for the car company, which aims to continue strengthening the brand while also renewing customers’ enthusiasm in its lineup of offerings.
Leading this charge is its new president, Lee Dong Wook, who will lend his expertise to help the company’s vision become a reality. His first order of business is to bring in a diverse set of vehicles that will cater to the needs and wants of every segment in the market, including those who want to get their hands on electric vehicles down the line.
“Hyundai Motor Philippines has been working on rebuilding the brand to provide excellent customer experience through the launch of a broad range of new, innovative and exciting product lineup in the Philippine market,” Lee said.
New offerings and refreshed models
As HMPH expands its dealership presence nationwide, newer car models will also be gracing their showroom floors. The all-new vehicles, Creta and Staria, are at the forefront of Hyundai’s fresh offerings for the Philippine market.
The all-new Creta is a premium B-segment SUV that is based on Hyundai’s new “Sensuous Sportiness” design language. It has a strong, bold and an elegant design, which is now the hallmark of a flagship SUV. The vehicle has a spacious and comfortable cabin with the most number of active safety features in the segment.
Equipped with a 1.5-liter Smartstream engine and paired with an improved CVT transmission, these new technologies promise a smoother and fuel-efficient ride without compromising power output. For people on the go and love adventure, the Creta features a 60:40 Seat split that provides versatile cargo space when needed. Outside, it has LED DRL and rear combination lamp, sporty bumpers and 17-inch alloy wheels, with a wheelbase of 2610mm and ground clearance of 200mm.
For those looking for VIP comfort, the all-new Staria is the right vehicle for you. It sports a bold and futuristic exterior design featuring a “Lounge” concept with its lower beltline and taller vehicle height, giving it a sense of openness. It provides passengers the freedom of space and the ability to comfortably position themselves to their liking.
The seven-seater premium variant comes with exclusive design elements, smart sliding doors, smart power tailgate, dual sunroofs, and loads of active safety features. The 11-seater commuter variant and a three-seater cargo variant has twin swinging doors, both of which are perfect for those in need of reliable haulers for their businesses.
Hyundai’s most recognizable marques, the Tucson and Santa Fe, also got cosmetic and performance updates. The former is the first SUV to realize “Sensuous Sportiness” design aesthetic. It has a strong, commanding road presence compared to other SUV, thanks to its unique and sporty exterior featuring a parametric jewel pattern grille and unique side character lines.
Also, the long wheelbase gives passengers extra legroom for a more comfortable ride. Under the hood, the Tucson now has a shift-by-wire automatic transmission that, when paired with its great engine, delivers a fun driving experience.
When paired up against other brands’ SUV juggernauts, the new Santa Fe is a tough contender to beat. The vehicle exudes a premium look inside and out thanks to design cues and features that cater to even the most fastidious car aficionados. The T-shaped DRL provides a unique light signature, while the new cascading grille and front bumper give a wide and powerful looking front. It uses a new modular Gen 3 platform for optimized driving performance. It is also equipped with the Smartstream 2.2 Diesel engine mated to eight-speed wet DCT, a first in Hyundai’s SUV.
What’s next for Hyundai?
Major plans are in the works for HMPH to shake up the market and steer consumers’ attention to the brand. A key component of this drive is a nationwide service campaign and warranty program that aims to highlight the brand’s improved after sales. To better reach more customers, the company will be expanding its dealer network from 38 to 45 by 2023.
“Now that we are starting to introduce these models, we will ensure that the brand is accessible to all our customers through the launch of Hyundai Live in September. This is a two-way communication with our customers using the website as our online showroom that will provide information to meet our customers’ needs,” Lee added.
To further boost their vehicle lineup, HMPH is poised to launch two new additions to its roster — the Palisade and Ioniq 5, with the latter being a full-fledged electric vehicle. This further underscores HMPH’s commitment to a diversified vehicle catalogue, one that is not afraid of delivering innovation to the market.
Also in the process is HMPH’s big move from Association of Vehicle Importers and Distributors Inc. to its rival car group Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc., owing to the latter’s shared vision of collaborating with key stakeholders for the benefit of the entire motoring industry.
“There are a lot of benefits in joining and for us to join them at this opportune time would give us a huge boost. There is so much excitement and interest in what we will do next and we can’t wait to show everyone once again what Hyundai Motor is all about,” he added.