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Hyundai got me thinking???


Ranger850

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Are Hyundai's and Kia's Clones of Fords? My BIL has a '15(?) Fusion w/ecoboost, I have a '17 Sonata. From the outside, they definitely have the same profile and dimensions. On the inside they are very similar in layout as well. I once owned a Kia Sportage (don't remember the year) and it had a Mazda motor. How much involvement did Ford have with getting Kia/Hyundai going in the USA?

BIL's Fusion doesn't average what I do in my Sonata. It averages 30.2 mpg's and his is closer to 25. He lives in Charlotte and drives more aggressive than my wife does in Tallahassee, so I'm sure that make a difference. but the similarities in the architecture is hard to dismiss.
 
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I don't think they are clones. I think there is a much more insidious and scientific reason. CAFE.

The government wants to see MPG number at a certain level. The engine tech is only going to take us so far, which means that the rest will have to be made up with aerodynamics. Once we get to that point there are only so many viable shapes for the front of the car, which means some cars, especially mid-sized sedans, are going to start looking alike.
 

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Raindrops all look the same because the air shapes them so...
 

Ranger850

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So science?:icon_surprised: Wind has even made the interior of his fusion and my sonata to look familiar? That's weird.:icon_confused:
 

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It wouldn't be the first time an import copied Ford, like the older Tundra and newer Titan look like Ford knockoffs.

Not knowing anything about a Sonata interior I looked it up, I don't see much resemblance.



 

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It wouldn't be the first time an import copied Ford, like the older Tundra and newer Titan look like Ford knockoffs.

Not knowing anything about a Sonata interior I looked it up, I don't see much resemblance.



I see a little resemblance. For example the dash is up front and the seats are on either side of the console in both cars. Steering wheel is in roughly the same place too.
 

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The "Ford" Festiva and Aspire were both built by Kia using Mazda parts.Ford used to own a big piece of Mazda,remember?Maybe they're still cross breeding.
 

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The "Ford" Festiva and Aspire were both built by Kia using Mazda parts.Ford used to own a big piece of Mazda,remember?Maybe they're still cross breeding.
Oh they are still cross-breeding. I think all the 4-cyls are still Mazda engines.

The 2.0/2.3 Duratec used to have a Ford version and a Mazda version, the biggest difference I am aware of between the two being how and where the AC compressor mounted. Well the engines in the in the new Focuses (2012 and up) are the Mazda version.
 

Ranger850

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That picture does show differences, but sitting in both and driving both, AND have driven a 17 Altima and a Newer Malibu recently, the Nissan and Chevy were two completely different machines and the Fusion and Sonata are very similar. Hyundai has done a good job of knocking off a Ford if they are not "sharing" anything.
 

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That picture does show differences, but sitting in both and driving both, AND have driven a 17 Altima and a Newer Malibu recently, the Nissan and Chevy were two completely different machines and the Fusion and Sonata are very similar. Hyundai has done a good job of knocking off a Ford if they are not "sharing" anything.
What are they sharing?

A four spoke steering wheel, the rough shape of the outside vents and the glove box latch being offset to the left?
 

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Any two cars of similar exterior design are going to have to have somewhat similar interiors. The Hyundai picture does resemble a Ford interior of the 2005-10 ish era in some areas, notably the center console, glove box, and door trim panels. That is still not enough for me to say "Oh, these are clones". I think it is far more likely we have a case of convergent evolution, probably someone who did a lot of interior design work for Ford from 2004-2012 now works for Hyundai.
 

Ranger850

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They could be sharing architectural designs and technology. They are more alike than you can see in the picture.

By your assessment, all cars should look alike because of aerodynamics, except they don't. All cars look different except these have a lot of similarly designed parts. If you can't see that I have a cure for your Glaucoma
 

Ranger850

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So a Google search told me alot more than you guys tried to. So it seems Ford and Hyundai have been in cahoots since around 1968. If you search the history of Hyundai, the 3rd F-ing sentence is about Ford Motor Company and Hyundai working together.
Wow
Quote from Wikipedia - "The company's first model, the Cortina, was released in cooperation with Ford Motor Company in 1968"

No where in the article does it ever say they severed ties, ever. It does say Chrysler owned a portion of Kia at one time, but not anymore.
 
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Ranger850

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So sorry I bothered you guys, I should have asked Google first.
 

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All I know is they are not as close as Ford and Mazda are and are distant enough that most people don't know they are still connected if they even still are after Ford let them put Hyundai badges on a car in the 1960's.

Personally I have never cared about Hyundai to really follow what they do.

When you talk about copycat I think of something more like the old Toyota Celica:

1973 Celica


1970 Mustang:
 

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