Talking the same language

You could be forgiven for a double-take when you sight the HCD-8, or the KCV-4. For they're not from traditional sports car or muscle-ute manufacturers. They're Korean.

Just as "the West" once underestimated Japanese cars, so we're in danger of doing it again. Sure, until recently Korean cars were rolling anachronisms. But they're growing up fast. The new wave of designs appeals to world taste. And build quality, particularly for the giant Hyundai, is starting to match - or beat - the leaders.

Sales are growing, too: Hyundai, global number 12 in terms of sales in 1998, was number seven last year. It's got its sights set on number five.

Meanwhile Kia, an affiliate of the Hyundai empire, is rapidly forging its own identity. Present Kias may lack panache, but that muscular KCV-4 concept ute, the KCD-II concept SUV or the JB Sport hatch send a different message.

Hyundai now aims to take the high ground - with cars exuding maturity - but Kia's message is youthful, dynamic, even sporty. Kia NZ GM John Keenan says, "Kia sees itself very much as moving into the younger market, and it aims for exciting vehicles the younger generation will want to have."

That means cars with foreign flavours - the Korean recipe salted with input from European and American Research and Development facilities. "Design cues are coming from all our markets, with Kia becoming very much a global company," Keenan says.

Kia doesn't yet have much of a presence in New Zealand, but the new wave could appeal here. Especially if last year's KCV-III concept cabriolet morphs into the expected sports car.

Meanwhile the six-seat KCD-II SUV is powered by the existing 3.5-litre V6 engine sold in Sorrento, and would provide Kia with the large SUV it needs to succeed in the US. Would it come here? If it's built in right-hand-drive, yes, says Kia NZ.

What about the ute? The CKV-4 features several useful concept-car gimmicks like the extendable load tray - raise the rear glass, fold the back seats and the rear wall slides forward. Neither Kia nor Hyundai have a US factory capable of building it.

But Hyundai is also looking at utes, which makes KCV-4's appearance in the Kia stable doubly interesting. Kia says the 5.3m ute with its huge 3.3m wheelbase and 3.8-litre V6 engine was built to gauge interest, rather than as a production prototype. But given expansion of US facilities by Hyundai-Kia, including an Alabama factory and a 1740ha proving ground in California, such a vehicle seems increasingly likely.

Would it also wear a Hyundai badge? That's a sore point with the K-brand. Its Sportage was allegedly hijacked by Hyundai when the two set up house. The result was the Tucson - and a delay for Kia, frantically redrawing its soft-roader for the later-than-planned launch.

But forget internecine struggles - both fit in well on world roads as do designs now rolling off production lines. Cars like the Hyundai Sonata launching this week may be mildly derivative, but they fit the world design language, rather than standing out for all the wrong reasons.

So rapidly are Korean designs maturing that last month the unthinkable happened. Just a year after GM Daewoo disappeared down the gurgler Downunder, it'll be back - with the Korean cars wearing the Holden badge. Holden NZ will only say, "we're always looking at new opportunities from within the GM world," but "at this stage we are not in a position to confirm any future product plans."

As the Holden-badged Koreans will be on sale in Australia, it can only be a matter of time. Most hotly tipped to come is the Aveo, a small hatch likely to replace Barina. Then there's the T2-X, a compact SUV expected to get a V6 engine, and the S3X, tipped as a Ford Territory competitor.

Holden fans finding this news a bitter pill to swallow may be comforted by the fact an Aussie is credited with Daewoo's strong designs. Former head of Holden design Mike Simcoe - responsible for the Monaro and the VX/VY Commodores - shaped Aveo and is credited with moulding Daewoo's new design language.

That language is marked by a dynamism and passion once lacking in Korean cars. But you only have to look at Hyundai's HCD-8 to see Korean vehicles are no longer just automotive whiteware. The Tiburon might have more show than go, but its replacement will be another beast entirely.

Likely to boast many of the styling cues of the HCD-8, the new coupe will be rear-drive and offer real sporting talent. The concept's powered by a supercharged 2.7-litre V6 mated to a six-speed manual gearbox; expect Hyundai's new generation 3.3 and 3.8-litre V6 engines in the production car.

And don't forget about SsangYong. The brand that trades off its licensing agreements with Mercedes and a predominantly SUV and ute line-up also has some strong product coming through at the "value" end of the market.

And the final clue the Koreans are ready to take on the world? Most have given up on the Korean-English dictionaries that brought us the Hyundai Portico, the Kia Morning and the Daewoo Mapsy and have taken the safe route - hence the numbers.