Spy Shot: 2008 Hyundai Equus
Before Hyundai brings its first V8 RWD luxury vehicle to market next year we hope the name changes. Equus? Why would you name a car after a genus of the family Equidae that comprises horses, asses and zebras? Regardless, The Car Connection reports the car's interior will live up to luxury car standards with the requisite wood trim and leather seating surfaces. It's hard to tell what the Equus will look like with this prototype's extra outer layers of camo, but Hyundai's standard fare that includes six airbags, ABS, stability control and a low- to mid-$30,000 price tag could make any V8 RWD luxury car look good.
[Source: The Car Connection]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Michael Karesh 8:11AM (5/08/2006)
It's hard to tell, but this car doesn't look large enough to be a flagship, 5-Series in size at most. But maybe the roof is just high, throwing off my perceptions. Either way, doesn't appear to have the road presence of a flagship. Similar to Infiniti M?
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shiznannigan 9:05AM (5/08/2006)
This car is about as large as a 7 series, I saw quite a few when I was in Korea last year. I only saw the inside of one... very nice inside, complete with power adjustable rear seats and all sorts of other bells and whistles. This car could be a flagship for Lexus.
Any word on if the extended wheelbase model is going to make it to the U.S. as well?
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Androo 10:05AM (5/08/2006)
Why would you name a car after a member of the horse family? Well, admittedly Hyundai came a cropper with their Pony, but what about the Mustang?
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Juan 10:16AM (5/08/2006)
Equus huh? I guess it wouldn't sound so weird if all the luxery vehicles took Latin names instead of alpha-numeric soup.
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Adam Singer 10:24AM (5/08/2006)
Does anyone else find it insane that Hyundai, who have never built a rear drive car before (as far as I know) will have a rear drive sedan and GM won't (minus a couple Caddys)? With DCX's 300 we've all seen how well run-of-the-mill rear-drive sedans have done, so why doesn't GM have one in the mix? Anyways, I look forward to this car as Hyundai continues to amaze me with their recent rapid ascent in the auto market.
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Marcus 11:02AM (5/08/2006)
Wonder how this will go over with the theatre-going crowd. Equus? Hopefully the people buying this Hyundai won't go putting out the eyes of horses later...or bashing in headlights.
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Ian 11:57AM (5/08/2006)
Michael,
The Hyundai/Kia group already sell the 6 cylinder Azera in the USA and their advertising campaign notes it's interior is larger than the current 7 series BMW. Given this I think that the new V8 flagship will be larger.
IMHO BMW and Lexus will be running scared at this new entry into the luxury market place. Even Mercedes does not have the unacheivable reputation it once had.
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Brian 12:20PM (5/08/2006)
Even though this will probably be sold through Hyundai dealerships, I hope they change the brand name.
I'm glad they are bringing this car out, maybe now Hyundai will finally start getting credit for the quality of their cars instead of a biased and ungrounded stigma that has shadowed them since the excel.
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Source1 2:15PM (5/08/2006)
I understand that this is the replacement for the previous generation Equus which was a regular and extended (limosine) wheelbase in Korea. The model marketed here will be a step-up over the Azera in luxury and a bit in size. Sources say that this is a luxury model intended to launch Hyundai into new territory, not only in terms of luxury but in perception. Hyundai is adding the new models needed to reach the 'Top Five' goal their imprisoned Chair set for them some years back. Without a change in perception, which is occuring, Hyundai simply will not get on the number of consumers shopping lists it needs to for them to reach this goal. I believe they will reach it considering the recent offerings. Perception is changing and the 'Gold' award for safety for its Entourage minivan, the first to ever receive this award, is proof. And I have not read one negative article about the Azera. I await the Equus replacement with anticipation. I have heard Hyundai will not market this car under a new, upscale brand name as they will have to develop an entirely new dealership network. With their resources stretched, Hyundai will focus on adding up to 300 new Hyundai dealerships over the next few years.
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adam 2:32PM (5/08/2006)
I have to wonder if Hyundai is moving too fast. They should be careful not to build car that isn't credible, even if good, like the VW Phaeton. Separately, what I want to know is what is the difference between Kia and Hyundai? Is Hyundai going to be upmarket? Is Kia going to be sporty?
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ahmed 3:17PM (5/08/2006)
why equus? perhaps the fact that Koreans use a word that you didn't understand and had to look it up got on your nerve? :D
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Horsehole 6:51PM (5/08/2006)
"Equus" is the name of an Tony Award-winning play produced in the early seventies in London. It is about a boy who worships horses but is put into an insane asylum after sticking spikes into the eyes of six horses who saw him have sex with a girl in a stable. Whenever I see a Hyundai Equus on the street, I will think of this play, as will anyone who is familiar with the play (which is quite famous). Oh, and ahmed is stupid.
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AMcA 8:18PM (5/08/2006)
All I can say is GM better get the Zeta up and running. Fast. Or it's going to be left in the dust by Hyundai once again. And that would be profoundly embarrassing.
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Lewis 4:27AM (5/11/2006)
Why not copy Lexus and Infiniti as far as naming?
Name this car Azera 800...rename current Azera to Azera 600.
Azera becomes the Hyundai luxury brand name.
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Minjun 3:22PM (5/17/2006)
My aunt had this car when i'd lived in Korea.
I don't remember it much,
but I'm sure u'll like it.
I only rememeber the thingy- um the parking beepy thing
I live in London but dunno y they don't bring some azeras or some equus.
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Hudson 4:59PM (5/17/2006)
Hyundai produced many rear-wheel drive vehicles prior to the introduction of the Pony (Excel) in 1984. This is not their first. And the current generation Centennial is a very nice and very competitive luxury car. It is currently offered with a V8 and the interior quality is every bit a luxury car. The new Equus should be, if recent history is any judge, a fine car.
And it is large.
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Brett 5:05AM (6/13/2006)
The Equus sold in Korea is a "premium vehicle", usually black (cause that's what the old dictators liked), and probably couldn't get out of it's own way. They have some large cars, but usually very underpowered as licensing fees are based on cu. displacement.
The Equus hasn't been sold abroad, cause it doesn't meet US specs.
They will have to make changes to do that.
Most koreans cars (domestically) are not very well put together it seems - sheet metal is real thin. Koreans tend to drive them til they drop. There is virtually no second hand car market, as a typical Korean would NOT be caught dead buying used ... it would say too many things about them - like they couldn't afford a new one.
Most cars in Korea are marked with dents/scraps as they drive like there is no one else on the road, park where they shouldn't, and generally have no regard for anyone else on the road.
They sell cars in Korea for way more money than they sell them in the US. They subsidize the export market by overcharging the domestic market. There is no such thing as bargaining ... the price is the price .. take it or leave it.
They are supposed to show they have a parking spot for their car, but that is all guff - they just use an address outside Seoul to register it.
Korea is not a land of respect for law. It seems to be I obey what I think gives me an advantage, and just ignore everything else.
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