![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Hyundai Genesis launches in Korea on December 29th
We saw it unveiled at the New York Auto Show back in March, and now we've got a release date for the Hyundai Genesis, just not for here. December 29th will mark coincident milestones for Hyundai. First, it's designed a new logo celebrating 40 years of growth. Second, and more exciting to us, is the Korean market launch of the Genesis (BH) sedan. The Genesis may not be groundbreaking for the rest of the industry, but it's got us on the edge of our seats nonetheless. With the Tau V8 underhood driving the proper wheels with 300 horsepower, the Genesis might come in second only to the Pontiac G8 in terms of hotly anticipated V8 RWD sedans. The styling, while derivative, is handsome, and we see hints of Infiniti and BMW all over the flanks of the Genesis. With the Korean rollout just a couple months away, we hope it arrives in the US shortly thereafter.
[Source: Hyundai via World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
John 8:46AM (10/22/2007)
This is pretty exciting. Competition is good. Low-priced, well-spec'd competition is even better!
Reply
Dausman 9:02AM (10/22/2007)
Somewhat familiar lines from several manufactuers from my perception....don't view this as a negative.
Other engines in the future?
Reply
Raphy 9:16AM (10/22/2007)
"and we see hints of Infiniti and BMW all over the flanks of the Genesis"...and a front grill bought from the camry section of the Toyota's parts department. I hope they put this engine and rwd platform in something fun like the next tiburon but with a new name please.
Reply
importjap 9:17AM (10/22/2007)
Very interesting, the front reminds me of a Camry however
Reply
Brian 9:20AM (10/22/2007)
I don't know...why do I need to see the undercarriage lifted up on a
block, and why can't I see the engine? Seems to me, it looks much
like the Toyota Camrey, and reminiscent of the Suzuki Concepts right
now.....Still, not very impressed personally.
Reply
Rob 9:24AM (10/22/2007)
Yup. I see Infiniti & if you look hard enough..... a little Buick as well. Not a bad looking car at all. A 300hp V8 seems a little short of hp esp. when v6 engines are putting out just as much power.
Reply
Ted Kennedy Is My Chauffer 10:26AM (10/22/2007)
Other V6's may have 300 HP, but a V8 should have a lot more torque and torque is what you feel...
joe97 10:59AM (10/22/2007)
The V8 will have a lot more than 300hp. Hyundai always has a conservative output. Look for the final rating somewhere in the 340-380 range.
The V6 is the second generation Lambda with direct injection, in the neighborhood of 300hp
tekdemon 12:31AM (10/23/2007)
@joe97
I find your comment pretty ironic considering how Hyundai had to compensate owners of their V6 cars for making up horsepower numbers on the original Delta V6. Pissed off a lot of owners lol.
Ligor 9:31AM (10/22/2007)
I got a chance to sit in one of these this weekend. this engineer was testing it and we cought up with him at a Nissan dealer. a few og the people around came by and were questioning if this was the new Maxima. I told him this was the Genesis and I wanted to take a look inside, he let me in and took the covers off but no pics.
it's very nice, but the one complaint he had was that the one he was driving did not have a center locking differential
i'm assuming it will be an option.
the interior was the best of any Hyundai before ti. very rich materials and soft to the touch.
Reply
graviton 10:54AM (10/22/2007)
Rich you say? Then it must have rrrrrrich Corinthian Leather. And if it doesn't I suggest you change your adjective mister.
Ligor 9:31AM (10/22/2007)
I got a chance to sit in one of these this weekend. this engineer was testing it and we cought up with him at a Nissan dealer. a few og the people around came by and were questioning if this was the new Maxima. I told him this was the Genesis and I wanted to take a look inside, he let me in and took the covers off but no pics.
it's very nice, but the one complaint he had was that the one he was driving did not have a center locking differential
i'm assuming it will be an option.
the interior was the best of any Hyundai before ti. very rich materials and soft to the touch.
Reply
k.w.a 9:35AM (10/22/2007)
It's VERY toyota/lexus-ish on the front end, and the rest looks like an infiniti.
I mean, I hate to join the bandwagon by constantly criticizing Korean cars, but just looking at that first picture i see the front end is so blatantly Toyota it's not even funny.
But, then again, I'm not really a big fan of Hyundai or Toyota so I guess I shouldn't care. It's a nice looking car though!
Reply
geo.stewart 12:31PM (10/22/2007)
you are going to get derivative styling if you dont but high-end.
look at clothing. Hilfiger and R Lauren may set teh stage but Kohls and Macy's will have similar looks.
look at tech: Samsung and LG have been copying Motorola and others on cellphones/ smartphones
If you want to be first with the look, you are going to have to cough up the dough. If you want to pay 75%, you are ,luckily, going to get 90% (hyundai).
If you want to pay 50%, you'll get 25% (see Chinese auto mftrs)
nissanfreak87 10:19AM (10/22/2007)
This is a very good step in design for Hyundai, while it may not be perfect by any means, it shows that the Korean companies are catching up. I've heard somewhere, can't remember, that they are planning a RWD coupe version of the car as well, maybe a new Tiburon, who knows.
It's not perfect, but a good step forward.
Reply
Ducky 10:33AM (10/22/2007)
Why is it only a 300 hp V8? What are the torque specs for it? That's pretty weak considering you could probably get better fuel economy with similar power through a V6.
Reply
seoultrain 10:37AM (10/22/2007)
I think Hyundai's figure for the V8 was "well over 300 horsepower". I don't think that's changed. I think autoblog had a rumor that it'd be 380hp, too.
joe97 11:04AM (10/22/2007)
The V6 is supposed to be with direct injection - 300hp +/-
THe V8 should be in the neighborhood of 340-380
Most of the key features from the production ready concept should carry over:
Advanced adaptive cruise control
All of Hyundai standard safety features
Heat / cool seats
High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with adaptive leveling
Push-button start
Navigation with backup camera
Electric parking brake
Bluetooth technology
USB / Auxiliary input jack
HD Radio™ Receiver
XM Satellite Radio® · Infinity® Discrete Surround Audio System
Also XM NavTraffic has been talked around the watercooler in the industry (no confirmation yet), plus possible height adjustable suspension which was revealed in one of the spy shots, albeit a Korean-spec mule
Reply
MikeW 11:32AM (10/22/2007)
Maybe Dan meant 300hp at the pavement.
Yeah 6 speed automatic (come on nissan/infiniti)
Reply
Brian 1:14PM (10/22/2007)
You don't know how great this car will be for the money. It will literally be the quality of lexus for 70% of the price. I think that's worth driving a Hyundai for.
Reply