Hyundai launched its first car in the United States in spring 1986, the Giugiaro‑designed Excel, marking the automaker's U.S. debut forty years ago.
The Excel shared Mitsubishi mechanicals and was also sold by Mitsubishi as the Precis without Mitsubishi badging. Hyundai shifted 100,000 Excels in seven months, recorded about 170,000 sales in 1986 and more than 263,000 in 1987, and priced the base Excel at $4,995.
Hyundai had built cars since the late 1960s, beginning with a license‑built Ford Cortina and exporting the Pony in 1975, which combined Italdesign styling with Mitsubishi drivetrains. Kia also moved into executive cars after starting with the Mazda Familia‑based Brisa and maintained Mazda links while earlier producing knock‑down Fiat 132 and Peugeot 604‑based luxury models.
Read the full article at theautopian.com.
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