TOGETHER WITH :
Howdy Fam!
If this week in NYC reminded us of one thing, it’s that nothing beats a real-life conversation.
And those connections we’ve had in the hallways of the Auto Forum are exactly what we’re building on for ASOTU CON.
We’re moving from the noise of the city to the clarity of community, and we’d love to keep the conversation going with you there.
Keep Pushing Back,
—Paul, Kyle, Chris & Kristi
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Hyundai Unveils Off-Road Concept
Hyundai
On Tuesday, Hyundai teased a drop at the New York Auto Show, and they didn’t disappoint.
What they revealed was the Boulder concept, an off-road SUV that makes its intentions pretty clear. Boxy shape, big stance, built to compete with the usual suspects like the Bronco and Wrangler.
The hardware backs it up. It sits on a body-on-frame platform, runs on 37-inch tires, and includes practical touches like rear coach doors and a split-opening tailgate. Inside, Hyundai kept things refreshingly simple with physical controls instead of pushing everything onto a screen.
Hyundai says Boulder is a preview of a future pickup, designed and built in the U.S. for the North American market. That’s a meaningful move into a segment that still drives a lot of volume.
The Trends Taking Shape at NYAS
U.S. News & World Report
Hyundai wasn’t the only one dropping big reveals at the New York Auto Show. Here’s what else stood out:
SUVs are still the center of gravity.
Infiniti introduced the new QX65, a coupe-style SUV aimed at buyers who want the look without the luxury price tag. Genesis leaned further into premium with the GV70 Prestige Graphite, adding a sportier edge to one of its strongest sellers. And Volkswagen showed off a fully redesigned Atlas, keeping its roomy, family-first formula while adding more tech and a cleaner look.
Hybrids are having a moment.
Subaru’s Forester Wilderness Hybrid adds efficiency to its off-road lineup without losing capability. Kia is bringing a hybrid option to the redesigned Seltos, a first for that model. The message is simple. Not everyone is ready to go full EV, but they still want better fuel economy.EVs are getting more practical.
Kia’s new EV3 targets everyday buyers with about 320 miles of range and a smaller footprint. Subaru’s upcoming Getaway adds a three-row electric option with more than 300 miles of range. These aren’t halo cars. They’re built for daily life.And then there are the wildcards.
The Genesis G90 Wingback Concept is more design statement than product plan, while Kia’s PV5 van hints at a flexible future that could blur the line between commercial and family use.
There’s a lot to on the way, but the takeaway is pretty grounded. More choice. More flexibility. Fewer one-size-fits-all bets.
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Service, Trust, and the Real Work Ahead
At NY Auto Forum, a lot of the most meaningful moments came in the quieter conversations between sessions.
This interview with our friend Liza Borches stayed grounded in the things dealers can actually work on right now. She gets into why strong service years can become a roadblock to innovation, how video inspections and transparency build trust over time, and why stores have to keep proving the value they bring to the buying and servicing experience.
It’s a smart, practical recap from NY Auto Forum that also touches on AI, community impact, and the long game of customer relevance—check out the full recap here.
Where rubber meets the road:
If you want more trust in the service lane, start with the team. Explain the “why” behind video inspections and transparency tools so technicians, advisors, and managers understand how the process helps them, not just the customer.
Every vehicle has a story, but most customers never get to see it.
iPacket is bringing that story front and center at ASOTU CON, showing what happens when every detail, every report, every piece of documentation is easy to access and actually makes sense to the person buying the car.
Because when a customer feels confident in what they’re looking at, the conversation changes. Less back-and-forth. Fewer question marks. More momentum.
If you’ve ever felt that friction in your showroom or online experience, you’ll want to see how they’re approaching it.
🇺🇸 Policy: The EPA is temporarily allowing a higher blend of ethanol gas in an effort to lower gas prices.
💰 Economy: SpaceX has filed preliminary paperwork to sell shares to the public, which could result in Elon Musk becoming the world’s first trillionaire.
🤖 AI: Serve Robotics is partnering with T-Mobile to introduce a new AI-powered conversational delivery bot that can interact with people.
🛒 Retail: From marketing genius to total cringe, here are this year’s April Fools’ Day hits and misses.
1827: U.S. inventor Joseph Dixon begins manufacturing lead pencils. ✏️
1902: Tally’s Electric Theatre, commonly considered the first full-time movie theater, opens in Los Angeles. 🎥
1917: The first woman ever elected to the U.S. Congress, Jeannette Rankin, takes her seat as a representative from Montana. 🚺
Thanks for reading, Friend.
