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Nov 1999
Hyundai offers blind test drives
Hyundai plans to wrap the Sonata in brown paper bags in a novel marketing ploy in the US

Nov 1999
Ka
The smallest Ford ever sold in Australia was never going to be a success. It didn’t offer five doors or an automatic option, only sat four people and didn’t have much boot space.Its only engine was an ancient 43kW/100Nm 1299cc lump that can be traced back to the 1959 Ford Anglia 105E, and it had very funny styling.So it was no laughing matter for Ford that Australians ignored the little Ka to death, especially as it had to hold the fort after its (inexplicably) popular, Korean-built (by Kia) Festiva supply died soon after Hyundai took control during 2000.But if you cherish driving, individual design or value for money, the Ka is already a coveted classic.A superbly balanced steerer and handler, with a sporty gearshift many “sports” cars would kill for, the Spanish-assembled Ka shone dynamically, even if its eager and spirited 1.3 couldn’t really keep up with rivals that were often 50 per cent more powerful.And it offered plenty of space for four adults, a reasonably versatile load area, dual airbags, power steering, air-conditioning and – until December 2000 – a sunroof and CD player.After that, Ford deleted the roof and added a second model, the Ka2, with everything plus keyless entry, power windows and painted bumpers, leaving a base entry-level model that was then pitched (still unsuccessfully) at under $14,000.In many ways the verve and style of the Ka lives on in its larger, five-door, auto-optional German-built Fiesta successor, which shouldn’t be a surprise since the 1995-2002 version provided the platform from which the Ka was created.Ironically, it still sells very strongly in Europe and South America today.

Sep 1999
RD II Coupe
Hyundai grafted a curious quad-headlight nose and an uncomfortable-looking tail-light treatment to the once harmonious RD Coupe design to create a model of challenging visual integrity.The top-line SFX model was dropped.Buyers deserted the model in droves, despite worthwhile improvements to the interior and ride, and equipment level upgrades.All RD IIs sold here were either MY1999 or MY2000-build cars.Hyundai replaced the range with the underrated Tiburon range in April ’02.

Jun 1999
Citroen, Hyundai keen to excel in rally cha...
Citroen and Hyundai will take on the existing factory teams in their quest for world rally championship honors

Aug 1998
EF Sonata
The third generation Sonata was a complete departure from its smooth predecessor, with a mish-mash of curvy and edgy American-inspired design, flanked by bug-eyed headlight and tail-light treatments.Happily, it all gelled together better underneath with improved engines, a stronger platform, better suspension and steering properties, higher safety levels and advances in ride and refinement qualities.The interior also came in for a rethink and benefited from more intelligent use of space and design.But the big news was Hyundai’s gutsy new in-house 127kW 2.5L V6, while performance was improved in the heavily modified 103kW 2.0L four-cylinder engine.A five-speed manual became optional on the V6s, while all four-speed autos received driver-adaptive computer control.As before, the range initially consisted of GLE 2.0 and GLS and Levant V6s, but slow sales led Hyundai to offer an entry level Executive V6 in March 2000.It was priced identically to the short-lived GLE 2.0 the V6 usurped.Meanwhile, value-added Classique limited editions arrived in June ’99 and March ’01, but the public baulked at the Sonata’s heavy-handed styling.A complete revamp called EF2 arrived in late 2001.

May 1998
Credos
BEFORE Hyundai bailed out a dying Kia in the late 1990s, the South Korean brand – established in the 1940s – relied heavily on cast-off Mazda components. Case in point: the Credos.Even though it was re-bodied, much of the feel of the 1992 to 1997 Mazda GE 626 is clearly visible in the front-wheel drive Kia four-door sedan.But some very heavy-handed detailing – particularly around the nose and tail areas – means that the 626’s style certainly was lost in translation.Even though a modern 98kW/171Nm 2.0-litre Mazda four-cylinder engine paired with a five-speed manual or four-speed automatic underpinned the Credos, it was a tiresome car to drive due to soft suspension settings, overly light steering and a lack of good body control.And despite a high level of equipment, including a driver’s airbag, power steering, air-conditioning, power windows, central locking and a trip computer, the cabin’s low-rent feel, look and execution certainly betrayed the car’s low cost base.Australians didn’t care much for the Credos, and the car vanished from the new-car scene after less than three years on the market.The Hyundai EF Sonata-derived Optima replaced it from May 2001.

Aug 1997
Lanos
Daewoo was affiliated with General Motors until late ’92, when it went solo and developed a series of all-new models under the guidance of former Porsche AG engineer Ulrich Bez. However crippling losses in the latter part of the 1990s saw a bankrupt Daewoo bought out by GM in 2002. The new company, GM Daewoo, is part-controlled by Holden.The front-wheel drive Lanos was essentially a rebodied 1.5i/Cielo, the 1984-1991 General Motors Vauxhall small car built under license in South Korea by former GM affiliate and now wholly GM-owned Daewoo.Daewoo used the talents of Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to influence the agreeable look of the three-door, four-door sedan and five-door hatchback models sold here.All featured the GM-sourced “Family One” four-cylinder engine of 63kW/130Nm 1.5-litre single-cam or 78kW/145Nm 1.6-litre twin-cam configurations. The former powered most Lanos’ sold here, which was the base SE three-door model.Rivalling the Hyundai Excel/Accent and Toyota Starlet/Echo, the SE featured cloth trim, a radio/cassette player and rear window wiper. The four/five-door variants had central locking.Air-conditioning was made standard from February ’98, followed by power steering in June 2000. A five-speed manual or four-speed automatic were the gearbox choices.Better equipped was the limited edition LE four/five door Lanos from May ’98, which included power windows, a CD player and rear spoiler.Sportier still were the three/four-door SX. Above the LE, it added the 78kW 1.6 engine, alloy wheels, a bodykit and some leather trim.The Lanos sold steadily in Australia, buoyed by very keen pricing and Daewoo’s FreeCare service and warranty incentive.But it was always dynamically mediocre, reflecting its ageing mechanicals and cheap build.

Feb 1997
Satria
The Satria was based on the (unseen locally) 1992 Mitsubishi CC Mirage nee Lancer three-door hatchback, just as the Wira/Persona and M21 were.This car had a better chance of success, owing to the pretty styling, keen pricing and road manners that bettered arch-rivals the Daewoo 1.5i and Lanos, Ford Festiva and Hyundai Excel.Five four-cylinder engines were offered – a 66kW/126Nm 1.5-litre OHC 8V unit in the GL (until ’99) and GLi (revised to 64kW/120Nm output from November 2000 in the GLi, post-2000 XLi and XLS) a 55kW108Nm 1.3 in the post-’99 GL and short-lived 2000-01 GLS a 70kW/138Nm 1.6 SOHC 16V unit in the pre-2000 XLi the Persona’s 83kW/137Nm 1.6 DOHC 16V in the Feb 2000 to Nov 2000 Satria XLi “Son of a Gun” and the post-’99 GTi’s 103kW/164Nm 1.8-litre DOHC 16V.The latter two benefited greatly from Lotus tuned suspension and steering (that made it fun to fling around), a gutsy and involving engine, an attractive bodykit and alloy wheels, and high equipment levels.

Dec 1996
Kia Sportage
The first Sportage was a compact 4WD wagon that was based on the 1986-1990 Mazda 121 light car, so it was no paragon of space, refinement or strength. At least its successor of the same name adopted a far-more appopriate Hyundai Tucson SUV platform.

Sep 1996
Y3 Series II Sonata
As if smarting from criticism that it was too bland, Hyundai over-styled the Sonata facelift, with a protruding ovoid grille, new headlight, bonnet and bumper design, and revised rear treatment.Hyundai also addressed noise and vibration concerns, but buyers of the 2.0L automatic still had to work the engine hard.The cabin also saw a reshuffling of some switches and trim.Keen driveaway pricing kept buyers interested in the well-equipped base model GLE.

Aug 1996
Hyundai 1996 Coupe FX
PERHAPS Hyundai's first segment winner, the striking (some say crazily styled) Coupe really put

Jul 1996
Hyundai Coupe
The generically named Hyundai Coupe was the replacement for the X2 Excel-based S Coupe. Now sitting on the larger and stronger Lantra chassis, the front-drive Coupe succeeded with its sound pricing and head-turning styling.

Apr 1996
EP91R Starlet
Toyota’s first real light car to be sold locally since the 1960s 700 crashed the burgeoning segment a decade late after stalwarts like the Holden Barina and Daihatsu Charade helped define it, and 23 years after the nameplate’s Japanese debut.The Starlet suffered from indifferent styling and high prices, but when the latter was rectified after Toyota entered the infamous cutthroat price war with the Hyundai Excel and Ford Festiva, sales soared.Against its cheap South Korean rivals, the Starlet offered lively performance from a 55kW 1.3-litre 4E-FE fuel-injected twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine, high levels of refinement, frugal fuel economy, dogged durability and a relatively strong body.The base three-door hatchback Life enjoyed the lion’s share of the sales, but there were other models too available at launch: the sporty three-door hatch Group X and well-specified Style five-door hatchback.All offered a three-speed auto as well as the standard five-speed manual gearbox. Dual front airbags, anti-lock brakes and power steering were desirable options.In July ’97 the range grew with the arrival of a five-door hatch Life model while the Style gained central locking and a tachometer.

May 1995
K11 Series I
Although available overseas since the early 1980s, Nissan Australia didn’t market the Echo-sized Micra until well into the Mk2 model’s career in 1995.Engineered and built in Britain for European tastes, and offered in three and five-door hatchback guises, the Micra suffered from bad timing.Its British sourcing made it expensive just as its main (and often inferior) rivals from Ford (Festiva), Hyundai (Excel) and later Toyota (Starlet) embarked on massive discounting, effectively pricing the Nissan out of contention.Yet its exceptional spaciousness, peppy performance and excellent economy (especially from the advanced CVT auto optional in the mid-range SLX) should have won it more buyers.The base LX three-door boasted little beyond cloth trim and a radio/cassette player, the SLX five-door gained power steering and split-fold rear seats, and the sporty Super S (so-named to evoke the Mini Cooper S which inspired the design) offered anti-lock brakes, a tachometer, sunroof, bodykit and alloy wheels.All models featured a 55kW 1.3-litre twin-cam 16-valve four-cylinder engine, mostly mated to a five-speed manual gearbox.

Dec 1994
Hyundai 1994 Excel Sprint 3-dr hatch
CHEAP? Sure, but cheerful? Early Hyundai Excels were definitely the former but not the latter. The South

Oct 1994
Hyundai 1994 Excel LX sedan
CHEAP? Sure, but cheerful? Early Hyundai Excels were definitely the former but not the latter. The South

Mar 1994
WB Festiva
Mazda again provided the basis for the Festiva, but although the South Korean light car benefited from its 121 “bubble” donor’s improved strength and driveability, it was never as good.Prudently, Ford purposely styled the WB to echo the late and lamented “bubbleback” Laser of the 1980s. Sales rocketed as a result.Nevertheless, the newer Hyundai Excel, Toyota Starlet and Nissan Micra were palpably better cars.An improved 48kW 1.3 provided motivation while a well-equipped GLi became the standard five-door option.A limited edition Grand Slam Festiva was also available throughout 1996.

Mar 1994
Celica ST204/205 (Mk6)
The sixth-generation Celica was larger, stronger, roomier and safer than its curvy predecessor – but it was even less appealing in design, looking like the three-door Camry coupe it essentially had become.This proved to be a big mistake for Toyota, as this is the Celica that (temporarily) conceded its sales crown to the bizarrely styled Hyundai Mk2 Coupe from 1996 to 1999.The engine was again the carryover 100kW 2.2-litre 5S-FE.In this application it was quieter and more refined, making the ST204R Celica a composed and comfortable sporty 2+2 seater.It was also commendably lighter than before. Reduced to a hatchback-only model for Australia, this Celica was split into two variants – base SX and luxury ZR.Initially, all featured a driver’s airbag, power steering, power windows and remote central locking, while ABS brakes were optional on the ZR. But bad exchange rates forced Toyota to drop the standard airbag from early ’95.During 1994, Toyota also imported 77 Celica GT-Four Group A Rallye cars at well over $80,000 each. This time the 3S-GTE turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine pumped out 178kW of power and 302Nm of torque.A limited edition Celica SX TTE of late ’94 featured special livery from the GT-Four rally car at no extra cost.In early ’95 both models gained a rear spoiler while a passenger airbag became optional.From December ’95 a facelift ushered in a new bumper, revised suspension and improved refinement. The ZR gained dual airbags and side skirts.In June ’98 another round of changes saw new colours and cabin trim, revised wheel and audio presentations and a driver’s airbag as standard in the base SX.To keep sales buoyant, the Celica SX-R of late ’98 added new alloy wheels, fog lights, cruise control and sportier cabin trim as standard.Toyota brought in 10,994 ST204/205 model Celicas in total.

Jan 1994
DB12 (Mk2) 121
A yawning currency gap meant Mazda Australia was struggling to keep the 121 price competitive, so it split the 121 Mk2 into two with the January ’94 revision, which remained largely untouched stylistically.The basic 121 1.3 price leader led with smaller wheels, no power steering or painted bumpers, while the 121 1.5 added a gutsy 62kW 1.5L engine to the pre-’94 121 specifications.Sales remained strong locally until stocks finally dried up, despite a host of newer (though rarely better) rivals like the Daewoo 1.5i, Hyundai Excel and Toyota Starlet.The final batch of Bubbles was the Shades special edition. All had air-conditioning and wheel trims.

Hyundai