Autoblog

Lambda is the V6 engine by Hyundai. Tau is the V8. I used to think it was neat to use Greek letters for major car components, but it's become old. Fast.

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Hyundai was using the name before GM, too. It's quite a good engine series no matter the name.

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Hyundai engine designs started from Alpha with their first design (a 4 cylinder engine used in Accents) then went from there. So then there was the Beta I4 engine first used in the Elantra, then a Delta V6 (seen in the Tiburon), etc.
But honestly while the Alpha was the first "Hyundai designed" engine (something Hyundai is really proud of), it bears more than a slight resemblence to the Mitsubishi engines Hyundai used to use in their cars. So much so that early Alpha engines would virtually have been drop in replacements for the Mitsubishi units except everything was mirrored to the other side. They have likely come a long way since the Alpha though but even now it's difficult to believe that they have anything close to cutting edge engine tech. Not bashing since I know all this stuff because I liked that Hyundai had invented their own engines and were improving them, but when it comes to a supposed luxury V8 I have a hard time believing that it's really that good.

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But then again, you can say the same thing for Caddy (aside from the CTS), Lexus, Acura, Mercedes, Infiniti (M35/45) and the new BMW 7 Series.

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Not really because this Genesis takes design elements of most all of these cars ( namely the Lexus and BMW) and reinterprets(copies) them in a bland safe way.

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Uhh, the LS was a total rip-off of the S-Class.

And the latest edition of the LS borrowed some of the styling accents (including the "bangle butt") from BMW.

Ironically, the upcoming 7 Series looks more like the old LS (which basically means it looks like a previous gen S-Class since it doesn't have flares/creases on its side panels).

Sorry, but neither the LS or GS are "original" in styling as well.

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I dont care as long as it can beat the CTS-V, M5, E63 AMG, etc for a price tag of 50k!

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Try again please.

Genesis V6 starts at 33K (with delivery fee included), with the loaded V8 topping out at 42K.

As for your second point, something other than Hyundai, as you suggested, would have zero brand value. And, it's also a huge gamble (one which Hyundai has said the inital investment would take a long to just to break-even, and that was way before the world economy crisis). At the very least, and if nothing else, the Genesis line (sedan and coupe) would build better image/perception for the Hyundai brand, and help the rest of the fleet.

So far, the Genesis has been holding its own, despite the economic downturn. Looking at last month's US sales, the only midsize luxury RWDs sold better were the 5er & E-Class and M; MKS and A6/S6 (Audi does not provide breakdown bet. the two) if you'd want to include all entries, some of those not by that much in terms of units sold. Behind the Genesis sedan were the GS, STS, S80, RL, and 9-5 (in that order).

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Joe add taxes to those prices. Haven't you ever bought a new car??

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Tim, why add taxes? They vary state to state, so one buyer's final price price might be different than another.

If you'd feel the need to add taxes, fees, and other items, the floor is yours...

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Uhh, the side and rear are reminiscent of BMW, not Mercedes.

And while yes, while the styling of the Genesis is derivative (as is most luxury sedans these days - i.e. - Lexus, Mercedes and even the new BMW 7 Series), Hyundai did that on PURPOSE b/c they prudently decided that buyers would have a hard time accepting a "lux" Hyundai AND a different/original design cues at the same time (Hyundai stated that as the Genesis becomes an established model, that it's design would evolve onto its own).

As for creating a separate lux division, this topic has been hashed to death.

Hyundai did look into starting a new lux division in the US, but the costs ended up being too high (it would take over half a billion of investment in start-up costs; wouldn't be profitable for several decades and the price of the Genesis in the US would have to go up) - which is why Hyundai decided, at this time, to just go ahead w/ creating a separate Genesis brand in Korea and China (Hyundai will likely create a separate lux brand in the US in the future, when the timing is better).

There are also benefits to the Genesis being marketed as a Hyundai in the US since it will help improve the image of brand overall.

And as for "price" - the Genesis (w/ the V-8) is almost as big as the S Class/7 Series/LS and yet, is about the same price as the much smaller entry-level C Class/3 Series/ES.

Maybe people should actually know the facts before posting the typical ignorant, knee-jerk reactions.

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@ big j
Yes, because this 33K car is right on cue price-wise with the 5 Series and E-Class.....
/sarc.

BTW- those cars are 50K.......

I think it's right to say that this is better than any 30-60K Luxury car out there.

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@jsjs:
ignorant knee-jerk reactions?
facts? what facts? what's there to know? a 33k+ Hyundai. no thanks.all i said was hyundai should have had the decency to come up with their own design. they like to rip other companies off, like the older sonata ripped off the older accord, this one looks like a complete benz rip off. buying a car because it looks like another car is lame.
as for the luxury divison, as a consumer I really don't care how long it would take them to make their money back, I don't want to pay 33k+ for a hyundai regardless of size/options. Toyota, Nissan, and Honda recognized this and were smart enough to branch off, i don't know the statistics and I don't care

@Torrent:
"I think it's right to say that this is better than any 30-60K Luxury car out there. "
Are you kidding me? not to be a prick but that's the most ridiculous thing i have ever read on here ever so far

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big j -

Gee, I hope you blasted Lexus and Infiniti for their "original" designs as well.

When the LS first came out - everyone said it was a total rip-off of the S-Class (even today, the LS doesn't look much different from other luxury models).

Btw, the Genesis is hardly a rip-off of Mercedes since it looks more like a BMW from the side/rear - and the fact that people alternate btwn saying the front of the Genesis looks like Mercedes/Lexus says a lot about Lexus' design scheme.

The Q45 looked like a mix of a Jag (esp. w/ the Jaguarish grille) and an S-Class (and today, the M35/45 doesn't look that different from other luxury autos).

Even Mercedes and BMW are getting in on looking like every other luxury auto (Mercedes have been looking bland for some time and the upcoming 7 Series looks more like a previous gen LS/S-Class).

BMW is coming out w/ a sedan w/ a sloping roofline (I guess that means they are copying Mercedes).

Mercedes started designing their headlights w/ the turn-signal at the top like eyebrows (I guess that means they are copying BMW).

As for the older Sonata "ripping-off" the Accord - sorry, that didn't happen (who would ever want to rip-off Accord designs?).

The older Sonata had a circular headlight design which some of stated was reminiscent of the Mercedes E-Class.

But then again, Buick and Lexus (GS) had similar headlight designs as well.

As for the Accord, the current Accord is a rip-off of Nissan from the side (which was a rip-off of BMW to begin w/), the Sonata from the front and Saturn from the rear.

As for brand - I'll bet you're the same type of person who buys crappy Bose sound systems b/c of "image" - lol!

Remember, there are plenty of Mercedes taxis driving around in Europe - not to mention Mercedes economy cars such as the A and B type; Lexus was "just Toyota" in Japan until a few years ago; the Acura TSX "was only" the Japanese/European Accord; etc.

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