In accordance with the most recent Initial Quality Study performed by J.D. Power and Associates, Hyundai's getting better and better (and that's no rumor). The numbers are in, and Hyundai came in 4th overall, falling behind Lexus, Porsche, and Cadillac, while beating Honda, Mercedes, and Toyota. Building on its drastically improved - and still-rapidly-improving image, it seems as if Hyundai is pumping more and more into its market offensive.

According to just about everyone, Hyundai is happy with it's up-sized vehicles (the Genesis sedan and Coupe) for the moment and feels the need to expand and improve its smaller ones. I agree; it's about time to replace and upgrade cars like the Sonata, Tiburon, and Tucson with cars befitting the new Hyundai.

Over the next few years Hyundai will supposedly be releasing a slew of small and mid-size products, like the Tiburon replacement, a new small CUV, the next Sonata , and a couple of MPVs based on the i20 (which the US market doesn't get) and i30 (the States' Elantra Touring).

The Tiburon replacement will supposedly take themes from the Veloster concept (we can hope), which is a huge improvement over any of the Tiburons to date. This is significant because it will give Hyundai a sporty, affordable, FWD car that will slot in below the RWD Genesis Coupe while taking on the Civic Si and any number of European hot hatches.

The new compact-sized CUV, rumored to be based on the 2009 Geneva Show ix-onic concept, is going to be Hyundai's second volley over the Germans' bow. The ix-onic would make one hell of a replacement for the Tucson (no one actually takes those things off-road anyway, so why not look good?).

Then there's the next-gen Sonata. Everyone seems to be thinking it's going to move up and tackle cars like the Passat and Camry, which would be interesting. If this is the case, we've got to ask ourselves what the point of the Azera is. Maybe it'll be phased out, now that the Genesis is the big-dog full-size Hyundai (and since the Azera is based on the Sonata's platform). If the spy shots are any hint, the 4-door coupe theme is being adopted, and the wagon could end up looking like the slick Genus concept.

What about those MPVs? Well, people are theorizing the States could be getting one. It'll probably be the smaller, i20-based model (if at all), so as not to get too close to the next Tucson. That, and the smaller MPV could be built alongside the Kia Soul, which utilizes the same platform.

As for the engines, the only real solid info is that Hyundai had a 1.6 liter GDi turbo four-cylinder with 175 hp in the ix-onic concept, and it was mated to a double-clutch 6-speed auto. This mill, in one form or another, will probably end up finding its way under the hood of the Tiburon/Veloster and ix-onic/Tucson, and maybe even the Sonata (if they keep those numbers, the Sonata's mid-range engine could be the Genesis Coupe's 2.0T). That means the Sonata's V6 would probably be bumped up to the Azera's Lambda 3.8 liter with 275-horses, putting it just under the Genesis and squarely against the aforementioned Passat and Camry.

At the end of the day this column is still called Malignant Rumors, meaning what's found within is speculation lathered with hopes and dreams. I just wonder if it's really possible for Hyundai's potential future lineup to elevate the brand's status even further (that is, from wannabe-contenders with a few lucky shots to big-time players)? I guess we're about to find out.

By Phil Alex

Phil Alex was born in Rhode Island in 1985, yet for reasons unbeknownst to him moved to South Carolina. He graduated with degrees in Finance and German from Wofford College in 2007 and has had a strange obsession with cars and travel. When not back in Sparkle City, he resides near Japan's international airport in Narita. He makes no apologies for his articles and welcomes all feedback, as long as it is adamantly worded. Oh, and if for any reason you are inclined to vent some more, check out more of his posts on the Examiner here.