Hong Kong dealer Zung Fu -- for local Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz distribution -- has been quite conservative and cautious with the Hyundai brand when it comes to offering new models in town. It's understandable though, as, unlike the MB brand which gets full support from MBHK, ZF has to assume all responsibility with running Hyundai Hong Kong.
Back in late February the dealership jumped the gun and launched the new Elantra (type AD, shown here) starting with the most basic 1.6 model. And yes we are talking barebones basic here, as a plethora of amenities and convenience features have been absent. However, at around HK$165k it is indeed a good alternative to budget or fleet buyers looking beyond the Jap competitors.
Meanwhile, the base Elantra was also the first vehicle to be involved in a new Carshare.hk collaboration campaign where prospective customers could rent the vehicle for short-term driving experience. Since then, some other brands have followed suit, such as VW, which has offered the eGolf for rental as well, further bolstering the importance of the said web undertaking.
Korean vehicles did not enjoy good receptions in HK back in the early days due to doubtful QC, but times have since changed and every vehicular category seems to have upgraded with vast improvements, even though some may still not agree -- which is why ZF is reluctant in offering medium- or high-tier vehicle models. That said, many modern Korean vehicles are said to deliver better ride quality than its Jap counterparts, as in the case of the Elantra. So it's unfair to offer the most barebones specs to such mainstream customers, right?
Luckily, ZF has made amends, and some four months after the February unveil, a luxury trim variant of the Elantra is offered. And at around $189k you get additional goodies such as alloy wheels, dual-zone climate control, display audio head unit with rear parking camera display, leather-wrapped steering wheel, moonroof, front fog lights, and much more. Some local press even states it's a good steal, as you're paying ~$190k for a $300k-worth luxury. The only caveat? The 1,591cc, 128hp I-4 falls foul of the sub-1500cc vehicle licensing, meaning one has to pay for registration costs between the 1500-2500cc category. Also, there's the absence of the available premium Infinity speaker system, but well, whatever. Unfortunately, the introduction of the turbocharged 201hp Elantra Sport will have to wait as ZF still has problems with marketing higher-tier stuff to the local community while keeping prices at acceptable level.
OTOH, ZF has also done well in the commercial vehicle category, as the H1 diesel truck has received good reception locally since its inception a few years back. Its design may be a bit dull, but it's all about practicality. It even offers leather upholstery (not leatherette vinyl) in the premium grade, something not common in commercial workhorses. This year, not only the H1 model has even earned Euro6 emissions compliance, but ZF also introduced the Grand Starex passenger van variant in town, featuring the same 2.5L 170hp diesel I-4 from the H1. It's not as fun to drive as other Japanese vans, but it's corporate enough to compete with such players like MB's V-Class (V250d). The Grand Starex can be had for around $350k in town; the H1 workhorse costs from $215 to $277k.
 |
| H1 truck. Photo credit: Zung Fu |
Only two months later in around August, ZF has announced the local launch of the ultra-affordable i20 sub-compact hatch and the Ioniq hybrid. But while the latter will have to wait till October, the former is to get the go-ahead with the Friday, 9-9 unveil.
It will be interesting to see how the local-spec vehicle will be equipped, the pricing category it falls into, and what ZF expects from this vehicle offering. So stay tuned to this blog for more updates!
