Ten years ago, the notion of a Hyundai luxury car was unheard of. Korean cars, at that time, faced a stigma when it came to reliability and durability. Fast-forward a decade later and after countless research and development, the world is now on its head. Hyundai and its sister company, Kia, represents one of the fastest growing car makers in the world. It has, especially in the past three or so years, entered into market segments which were previously dominated by the Japanese, Americans and Europeans. Vehicles such as the Santa Fe, Veracruz, Sonata, Azera, Coupe (Tiburon) and Elantra have made Hyundai a force to be reckoned with, and a manufacturer that’s to be closely followed.
Now, Hyundai hopes to strike gold once again. This time, it plans to enter the full-sized/entry-level luxury car segment dominated by the likes of the Chrysler 300C. At the New York International Auto Show last April, Hyundai presented a lovely concept they dubbed Genesis which stunned show goers with its subtle elegance. The good news is that it will be part of Hyundai’s 2008 vehicle line-up.
Forgetting the show car cues (i.e. LED headlamps, fancy tail pipes), the Genesis is essentially the road-going version of Hyundai’s flagship car. Slotting above the Azera sedan, the Genesis rides on a rear-wheel drive architecture—the first application outside Korea. With electronic stability control becoming mandatory in all US vehicles, it comes to no surprise that the Genesis is so equipped. The Genesis has a 53/47 front/rear weight distribution for more or spirited handling, while the use of ultra high-tensile steel in critical areas produce 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity. The stiffer body is also much lighter, weighing in less than the similarly sized BMW 5-Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class.
The sophisticated suspension system features a five-link independent suspension for all ends of the car. An advanced electronically controlled driver selectable suspension will be made available to tailor the car for ride comfort or spirited handling.
Under the sculpted hood is an all-new 4.6-liter V8 engine—again, a first for Hyundai for markets outside Korea. Dubbed ‘Tau’, it’s essentially an engine co-developed with Mitsubishi. In the Genesis, the V8 engine is good for 300 horsepower, delivering a 0-100 km/h time of well under 6 seconds. There will only be one transmission available, a ZF 6-speed automatic with manual shift override and limited slip differential (LSD). The Tau engine is built with flexibility in mind, so larger displacements, forced induction and other technological advancements may be offered in future models.
As a flagship model, the Genesis is fully equipped with advanced technology. Advanced adaptive cruise control, GPS navigation with built-in reverse camera, electronic parking brake, adaptive front lightning and push button engine start/stop are all here. In addition, the Genesis is loaded with a high-fidelity Infinity surround sound audio system with 13 speakers as well as a satellite radio head unit with USB and auxiliary audio input.
Hyundai also wants to emphasize both active and passive safety features on its Genesis, and as such, it comes with almost everything to prevent accidents as well as maximize the well being of occupants in the event of a collision. Inside, the Genesis features the aforementioned electronic stability control, 8 airbags, active headrests as well as anti-lock brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution.
Hyundai is pretty serious about the Genesis and camouflaged production models are already undergoing extensive testing around the world. According to Hyundai, the Genesis will be made available as a highly capable, ultra-premium sedan for just under US$ 30,000 (~PHP 1,500,000). The Hyundai Genesis is expected to bow in as a concept model sometime in 2008.
Hyundai Genesis Concept Key Features
Engine: 4.6-liter DOHC 32V V8 (300+ horsepower, 407+ Nm)
Construction: aluminum head and block
Transmission: 6-speed AT, made by ZF
Performance: 0-100 km/h of less than 6 seconds
Overall dimensions (L x W x H, in mm): 5005 x 1863 x 1490
Wheelbase (mm): 2935 mm
Suspension: Independent, Multi-Link (front and rear)
Tires: 20-inch chrome alloy wheels
Brakes: 12.6-inch ventilated (front), 12.4-inch solid (rear)
By Ulysses Ang
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