Manufacturers are noticing a rapid decline in sales within their respective midsize car ranges, prompting some to push the boundaries with regards to design.
Automotive News Europe reports that manufacturers such as Ford, Hyundai and Kia will experiment with a larger variety of body styles to pique the interests of buyers of vehicles in the midsize class.
Analysts expect global midsize car sales to fall by 100 000 units by the end of this year, and an additional 400 000 by 2023. Designers hope that introducing an array of fastbacks, shooting brakes and crossover-like iterations will lure potential customers.
We’ve already seen an example from Hyundai, which recently revealed its i30 Fastback with a coupe-like silhouette. Kia has also announced that a Cee’d Shooting Brake is planned and is set to be revealed at the 2018 Paris Motor Show. Both will replace the current three-door options in those ranges, which post weak sales figures (just 3% of all midsize cars sport a trio of doors).
Continuing this trend, the all-new Ford Focus, launching in the middle of the year and reaching SA by Q4, will boast a crossover variant, dubbed the Active.
