German Car Zone

Hyundai has officially taken the wraps off the new Genesis sedan at a private ceremony at the carmaker’s Namyang R&D center in South Korea. The final production version of the car was displayed alongside several mainstream Mercedes-Benz and BMW models at the unveiling, cars Hyundai hopes to target with its new flagship sedan.

The car’s new RWD platform is confirmed to get either a 4.6L Tau V8 with 380hp (283kW) or one of two Lambda V6 engines displacing 3.3L and 3.8L and developing 265hp (197kW) and 305hp (227kW), respectively. These are very impressive figures, especially the numbers for the new V8, which outstrip those of the Pontiac GT’s 6.0L V8 by a significant 18hp. Drive will be sent to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

Power isn’t the only impressive aspect of the new Hyundai saloon. The car will also come equipped with Smart Cruise Control (SCC), adaptive headlights and a Harman/Becker Lexicon audio system. You can see previous revealing spy shots of the Genesis in our previous story.

The new car will officially go on sale in South Korea on the 29th of this month, while other markets, including the U.S., will have to wait until it makes its world debut at the New York Auto Show in April.

At media preview

Today Hyundai has revealed the brand new rear-wheel-drive luxury sports sedan at a Korean media test drive preview. Yesterday the Koreans were still very secretive about the looks of their new flagship model, but today we have images of the car in its entirety.

As mentioned yesterday, the Hyundai Genesis will be powered by the new Tau V8 engine producing 375 horsepower coupled with a six-speed automatic, base models will feature either a 3.3 liter or 3.8 liter Lambda V6.

The Genesis emblem will only be featured on the Korean and Chinese market models and will not make it to the North American market. Resulting in speculations that Genesis may become a sub-brand of Hyundai just like Lexus (subsidiary of Toyota) and Infiniti (subsidiary of Nissan). Only time will tell.

Hyundai Genesis Revealed in Korea

WCF has some good pics, but I can't put them up. Still getting that bs from yesterday.

M

The front bumper (fog light housing, air intake) reminds me of Toyota Corolla.

I find the front has similarities to the Mercedes cars, while the side profile and rear trunklid is similar to the BMW 5 series.

I agree, the front lights and their shape and the under bumper area are pure Mercedes W220 IMO.

M

I am impressed. I cannot wait to see more IRL pics.

I love what Hyundai is doing these days, especially with the new Sonata, Vera Cruz, The new RWD coupe, and now this. Move over Toyota!

We all know this car looks similar to a million cars out there, but similarly to what we do for assignments, if you mix your assignment with 3 or 4 other people's work, you will end up something that is yours, but yet similar to everyone else's.

I am more interested in the power rating of the engines. 4.6L with 283kW, the 3.3 V6 engines with 197kW, and 3.8 V6 with 227kW are seriously impressive numbers. It was only less than 10 years ago when you can only get around 220kW or more from a V8 engine. And to extract 283kW from a 4.6 L V8 is very very impressive, as a reference point. MB's 5.5L V8 can only produce 285kW if i am correct. Does anyone has the torque figure and rev figure for these engines?

What is it?

2009 Hyundai Genesis

What's special about it?

There are only two production cars in the world with a Lexicon-branded audio system. One is the $360,000 Rolls Royce Phantom; the other is the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. The Genesis will not cost $360,000. In fact, it will start below $30,000 when it goes on sale this summer.

For that bargain price, you'll get a near-luxury sedan with all the value you would expect in a Hyundai. Base models will use a 3.3-liter V6 that delivers 268 horsepower and 233 pound-feet of torque, while the midrange Genesis gets a 3.8-liter V6 rated at 290 hp and 264 lb-ft of torque. Both use a standard six-speed Aisin automatic transmission.

Competing with more expensive European sedans takes more than a V6, so the top-of-the-line Genesis will offer Hyundai's first-ever V8. The new 4.6-liter engine generates an impressive 368 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque, and uses the same ZF six-speed automatic found in many BMW and Jaguar sedans. Hyundai says the combination is enough to get the V8 Genesis from zero to 60 mph in less than 6 seconds running on regular unleaded gas.

A new rear-wheel-drive chassis helps deliver all that power to the ground. It gets help from front and rear suspensions that use a sophisticated five-link design and the car's 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution. Hyundai also says that the use of high-tensile steel gives the Genesis higher torsional rigidity and a lighter structure than the BMW 5 Series.

Hyundai is hoping to give its new flagship sedan an even bigger boost in the cachet department by offering high-end options similar to that of more expensive European sport sedans. In addition to the 17-speaker Lexicon audio system, the Hyundai Genesis will offer adaptive xenon headlights, heated and cooled front seats, iPod and USB audio inputs, adaptive cruise control, a factory HD Radio receiver and even reflective leather on the steering wheel to keep it cool in direct sunlight.

With a wheelbase of 115.6 inches, the Genesis has more room between the wheels than both the Infiniti M and Lexus GS sedans. It's also roughly 2 inches wider, so interior passenger space should be generous. There's the usual array of front, side and side curtain airbags along with electronic active head restraints, a feature Hyundai points out is only offered on select BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz models.

What's Edmunds' take?

It has all the right specs and a competitive price, but it's the little things that separate real luxury cars from the posers. We'll see if the Genesis has what it takes after some time behind the wheel. — Ed Hellwig, Senior Editor


2009 Hyundai Genesis - 2008 Detroit Auto Show


M

Absolutely beautiful!