Spy Shots: Bigger Hyundai luxury sedan caught testing with Genesis
by Damon Lavrinc on Nov 5th 2007 at 7:01PM 
Hyundai's assault on the full-size luxury segment may involve another model above the Genesis sedan that originally debuted in New York earlier this year. A spy shooter snapped a shot of a larger Hyundai model making the rounds next to a Genesis prototype and a few other competitors from Cadillac and Lexus. According to the photog's sources, this F segment-sized sedan will be available in most of the major markets around the globe and will feature an iDrive-like interface along with both V6 and V8 engines, producing upwards of 250 to 350 hp, respectively. Just how large and in charge is Hyundai planning on going?[Source: World Car Fans]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
KoreaBob 7:25PM (11/05/2007)
This is the replacement for the Equus. Engines will be outfitted with the new 3.8 Azera engine producing 300 hp and also the Tau V8 Genesis engine producing 380hp. The Tau V8 has been reported to run 0-60 in the mid 5's with a top speed over 175 mph. These figures come from the recent Hyundai Dealer Convention. Fact.
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AMcA 8:18PM (11/05/2007)
I say they're getting way out of their depth here. Is a Rolls-Royce competitor next?
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NeedMoreHP 9:23PM (11/05/2007)
@AMcA
"I say they're getting way out of their depth here."
What??? Do you drive a Soda Can (honda & toyota)?
They should bring new models as they are going up-market. I can't wait to see the Genesis with V6 with 6MT...trade in my crappy G35 sedan.
k.w.a 8:04AM (11/06/2007)
o god i can just imagine the next Hyundai commercial...
"The Hyundai Genesis XL...more interior space than the Rolls-Royce Phantom"
Kyle 8:25PM (11/05/2007)
The window design looks like an Azera to me.
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futurama 8:33PM (11/05/2007)
they have their korean market to satisfy to replace the aging equus. that is fine by me. however, quick glance at the photo with camo on, the design seems to be...well very uninspiring and too traditional/conservative. especially that side view with slanted and generic greenhouse...isn't this car supposed to be competitor to Lexus LS and such? i am sure the performance/comfort/amenities will be on par with the segment, yet some extra flair in design would really lift the image up. well... i hope for a pleasant surprise when the covers are lifted.
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KoreaBob 8:04AM (11/06/2007)
This is the limo version of the Equus they will be using in Korea. I doubt this will make it to North America shores. The underpinnings are from the Genesis.
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Alex E. 12:47AM (11/06/2007)
With regard to this "mystery" sedan - my best guess would be that it is simply the stretched LWB version of the Genesis. Most automakers here in Korea offer LWB versions of their top models for chauffeur-driven executives; indeed, Hyundai offers a stretched version of the current Equus. I must say, the current one is truly hideous - they just slapped a foot-wide section of metal in the center of the car and attached some 1980's-Cadillac-style opera lights for decoration! I had a chance to ride in one just a couple of weeks ago, and it felt somewhere between an older Lexus LS400 and a Lincoln Town Car. I wanted to like it, and it did have creamy, effortless power... but the suspension became very unsettled over rough surfaces. Rather than a well-damped "ka-whump", it was more of a rattling "ker-clunkle." I hope they sort it out on the new model, because it was otherwise quite impressive!
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Alex E. 1:24AM (11/06/2007)
...But, oh, by the way, I'm not saying the Equus is dynamically equivalent to a Lincoln. Body control was MUCH better - no pronounced float, squat, roll, or dive. Furthermore, the interior appointments were great - a classy analog clock, wood trim, and powered vanity mirrors in the headliner, a bevy of buttons in the armrest to control the power-reclining seat and footrest, climate control, and rear television, electro-luminescent gauges up front, all the gadgets you can think of... We won't get all that kit in America, but it certainly shows off Hyundai's capabilities: it was like a Korean mini-Maybach (made from slightly lower-grade materials, admittedly, but still as nice as anything America has put out). Comfy as it was riding in the back of an Equus, there wasn't even a hint of Europe. This car was not made for the autobahn! My overall impression was somewhere in the middle of the Pacific, closer to Japan than America. HOWEVER, it's worth noting that I'm discussing the last-generation model. The design and engineering is 7 years old! If that was Hyundai's state-of-the-art seven years ago, I'm interested to see what they're able to come up with now. I still wouldn't expect jaw-dropping-drool-inducing looks or Benz/Bimmer/Lexus-challenging road manners, but I do think Genesis will be a handsome, thoroughly competent, and competitive car at a very attractive price point.
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jsjs 1:52AM (11/06/2007)
I agree that the greenhouse is a bit bland.
As for the current, aging Equus - it was a joint development w/ Mitsubishi (Mitsu sold a variant in Japan as the Mitsu Proudia).
Alex E. 3:26AM (11/06/2007)
Aha!! You're absolutely right!! I missed that bit of automotive news, as I first came to Korea in 1998, but didn't return until 2001. The Equus was already on sale here when I got back. According to Wikipedia, the Proudia and LWB Dignity were only sold from 2000 to 2001 and dropped before I even got back to Asia due to Mitsu's financial difficulties, so I was never aware of them. You can see the LWB "Dignity" variant at this Wikipedia link - essentially the same as the Equus I was describing riding in: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Mitsu_dignity.jpg
That's it - horrid opera lights and all! Anyway, I think it's a pretty safe bet that these spy shots show a stretched Genesis in the same vein rather than some new uber-Hyundai. I wouldn't be surprised if it were mainly targeted at the domestic Korean market, but who knows - Hyundai/Kia is more and more globally minded. As long as they avoid the hood ornaments and opera lights...!!
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Pat 7:40AM (11/06/2007)
I'm glad to see this automaker move up through the ranks.
I've always been interested in their history. I remember reading, in the mid 90s, an article where they were trying to reach the number 10 spot in the auto industry.
I had a 92 Hyundai Excell that went for over 400,000 km with no major problems or even maintenance and every rare once in a while, I see a vintage Pony or Stellar at the supermarket.
Woohoo stick it to them Hyundai !
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Brian 1:19PM (11/06/2007)
Hyundai is going to be a value luxury automaker. They have the technology and the talent.
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