The luxury car that Hyundai always wanted to build
2009 Hyundai Genesis
The Genesis is the beginning of something radically different for Hyundai.
This is a serious luxury machine built around a rear-wheel-drive platform and an available V8 engine. The resulting premium-grade sedan, due to arrive this summer, will take on some of the best sedans that Europe, Japan and North America have to offer.
That's a lofty goal and it remains to be seen whether this mainstream Korean automaker, which began a couple of decades ago selling modest little vehicles, can be accepted into an exclusive club dominated by the likes of Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, Lexus and Cadillac, to name some of its key members.
Let the critics scoff. Hyundai seems to think the Genesis deserves to be taken seriously as a true luxury contender and at a price that just might embarrass the competition.
Of course, we've heard that rhetoric from Hyundai before. The company's Azera sedan boasted a similar claim when it arrived for the 2006 model year. It was - and still is - a pretty decent ride, but falls short of making the luxury claim stick.
This time, however, the luxury tag has some serious backing. For starters, there's a new rear-wheel-drive platform with a sophisticated independent front and rear suspension on the menu, a first for Hyundai in North America, although this type of setup has been employed in its native Korea for a number of years. Secondly, the Genesis will be offered with a 4.6-liter V8 that delivers between 368 and 375 horsepower, depending on whether you pump regular- or premium-grade gasoline into the tank. The output level beats nearly every direct and indirect competitor in sight, including the Infiniti M45, BMW 550i, and Chrysler 300C and comes whisker-close to topping the Mercedes-Benz E550 and the Lexus LS460. However, it's important to note that the Hyundai's 324 pound-feet of torque falls short of these potential competitors. As well, the Genesis is the only sedan in the group that fails to offer all-wheel-drive as an option, a feature that nearly every luxury car worth its salt can be equipped with these days.
Of course, it's the Genesis' V8 powerplant that's attracting significant attention, but it's not the only available motor. Base versions will come with a 268-horsepower 3.3-liter V6, while mid-range models will get a 290-horsepower 3.8-liter V6. Both are derived from the Azera and Sonata's front-wheel-drive architecture but, like the V8, they're connected to six-speed automatic transmissions.
The Genesis is wrapped in one of the most inviting bodies ever designed for a Hyundai. There are strong hints of Mercedes, BMW and Infiniti in the shape, but not in an overt or awkward way. In other words, no new ground is broken, but none of the design elements look glaringly out of place. Overall length and width is with an inch of the Chrysler 300, placing the Genesis firmly in the full-size category and providing more limo-like stretch-out space than either an E-Class Mercedes or BMW 7-series.
All Genesis models should arrive with a very high degree of standard equipment (final base content has yet to be announced). At the top end, though, you'll be able to load up with a heated and cooled driver's seat, power rear sunshade, backup camera, auto-leveling Xenon headlights, 17-speaker 500-watt sound package, navigation system, UV-reflective leather-covered steering wheel that stays cool to the touch in bright sunlight when the windows are up and adaptive cruise control that maintains a set distance from the vehicle directly in front.
Genesis pricing is not yet known, but a $30,000-$40,000 range is likely. That certainly undercuts many of its peers, which is exactly what Hyundai needs to attract buyers to the upscale side of its newly revised business plan.
What you should know: 2009 Hyundai Genesis
Type: Four-door, rear-wheel-drive full-size entry-luxury sedan
Engines: 3.3-liter DOHC V6 (268 hp); 3.8-liter DOHC V6 (290 hp); 4.6-liter DOHC V8 (375 hp)
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Market position: The Genesis will attempt to carve out a niche within an established group of premium-priced rear-wheel-drive passenger cars.
Points: * A whole new direction for Hyundai. * Optional V8 among the most powerful in class. * All-wheel-drive option should be part of the program. * Planned Genesis coupe will follow sedan launch. * Available 17-speaker high-performance audio system enhances car's character. * Existing long-term Hyundai warranty already up to luxury-car standards.
Safety: Front airbags; front- and rear-side-impact airbags; side-curtain airbags; anti-lock brakes; traction control; stability control.
The numbers: MPG (city/hwy): 17/24 (3.3, est.) Base price: $30,000 (est.)
By comparison
Chrysler 300
Base price: $25,300
Available from tame to torrid with optional 425-hp SRT8 model.
BMW 5-series
Base price: $45,100
Sporty sedan offers superb handling, impressive V8 power.
Infiniti M35/45
Base price: $43,800
Splendid V6 and V8 performers are roomy and well appointed.
By Malcolm Gunn
Wheelbase Communications
March 15, 2008
Hyundai Unveils Genesis Premium Sports Sedan
Hyundai crafts a rival to $60,000 sports sedans...with a starting price under $30,000 Rear-wheel drive and high-output V8 engine deliver world-class driving experience
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 01/08/2008 Hyundai aims to shatter premium automobile paradigms with the North American International Auto Show introduction of its new flagship, the all-new Genesis sports sedan on January 13. With capabilities and features comparable to $60,000 premium sedans, Genesis will be offered at a starting price under $30,000 when it goes on sale this summer.
Genesis is built on Hyundai's all-new, performance-driven rear-wheel-drive architecture. It offers three powertrains, including 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter V6 engines, and Hyundai's all-new 4.6-liter Tau V8. Tau will produce an estimated 368 horsepower on regular fuel, and lead all its competitors in specific output with 80 horsepower per liter. With technology rivaling more expensive luxury sedans, Genesis showcases features such as XM NavTraffic, Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS), Smart Cruise Control, Lexicon® audio systems and electronic active head restraints.
"While Genesis will compete for customers with cars like Chrysler 300 and Pontiac G8, our engineering benchmarks were Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M, and Lexus GS," said John Krafcik, vice president, product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Genesis provides a potent combination of performance, luxury, and value. We think it has the opportunity to be an extremely disruptive force in the large sedan and near-luxury segments." Genesis ushers in a new era for Hyundai. Its all-new rear-wheel drive architecture will spawn more products in other segments, as suggested by the Concept Genesis Coupe shown at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November 2007.
NEW PERFORMANCE-DRIVEN REAR-WHEEL-DRIVE ARCHITECTURE
Genesis is built on an all-new rear-wheel-drive architecture, its first application in a U.S. Hyundai model. Genesis boasts a near ideal 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution for exceptional handling and more refined steering characteristics. The rear-wheel-drive layout allowed engineers to position the car's front wheels farther forward delivering outstanding handling and steering performance. Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the industry's most important new safety technology, further enhances the vehicle's driving confidence. Hyundai leads all popular car brands in the standard application of ESC, with more than 70 percent of 2007 Hyundai sales featuring ESC as standard equipment.
Genesis reduces interior noise levels and improves ride and handling with a stiffer, lighter body structure. The use of high tensile steel in critical areas in the unibody provides Genesis with 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body structure weight than the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class - despite having a substantially larger cabin than either of those benchmarks. Hyundai Genesis has more interior volume than Mercedes Benz E-Class and BMW 7-Series.
GENESIS VERSUS THE RIVALS
| HYUNDAI GENESIS |
LEXUS GS |
INFINITI M |
PONTIAC G8 |
CHRYSLER 300 |
|
| Engines | 3.8L/290-hp 264-lb-ft V6; 4.6L/368-hp 324-lb-ft V8 (estimates) |
3.5L/303-hp 274-lb-ft V6; 4.3L/342-hp 339-lb-ft V8 |
3.5L/275-hp 268-lb-ft V6; 4.5L/325-hp 336-lb-ft V8 |
3.6L/256-hp 248-lb-ft V6; 6.0L/361-hp 385-lb-ft V8 |
3.5L/250-hp 250-lb-ft V6; 5.7L/340-hp 390-lb-ft V8 |
| Horsepower / Liter | 79.5 V8 | 79.3 V8 | 72.2 V8 | 60.5 V8 | 60.1 V8 |
| Fuel | Regular | Premium | Premium | Premium | Regular |
| Wheelbase, in | 115.6 | 112.2 | 114.2 | 114.8 | 120.0 |
| Length, in | 195.9 | 190.0 | 192.6 | 196.1 | 196.8 |
| Width, in | 73.4 | 71.7 | 70.8 | 74.8 | 74.1 |
| Height, in | 58.3 | 56.1 | 59.4 | 57.7 | 58.4 |
WORLD-CLASS Tau V8
Headlining the Genesis' performance capabilities is Hyundai's all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control. The Tau V8 delivers an estimated 368 horsepower to fit the demands of performance-oriented consumers. Unlike many competitors and most premium sedans, it achieves this impressive power output using regular unleaded fuel - further demonstration of Hyundai's commitment to value. This powertrain combination will launch Genesis to 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds. The Tau produces more horsepower and torque than the powerplants found in Lexus GS450, BMW 750i, Audi A8 and Infiniti M45 and has more horsepower per liter than any of its V8 competitors. The Tau engine is built with flexibility for the future. Future Tau variants may offer larger displacement, forced induction options and other technology enhancements.
STRONG LAMBDA V6 PERFORMANCE
Genesis also delivers spirited performance through its two V6 options -- all-aluminum 3.3-liter and 3.8-liter DOHC V6 engines that deliver an estimated 268 horsepower and 233 lb-ft. of torque and an estimated 290 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque, respectively. To maximize the power spread, the engines utilize Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) on intake and exhaust cam shafts and a new Variable Intake System (VIS) that helps cylinders breathe efficiently at low and high RPM. The better breathing results in outstanding off-the-line acceleration and passing performance, and remarkable fuel efficiency. The V6 engines use an alloy block and cylinder heads for lighter weight and thermal efficiency, and feature timing chains with no scheduled maintenance. Even with their impressive output, all Genesis engines are also environmentally friendly, with all three achieving Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification levels.
ADVANCED 6-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS
Both Genesis V6 engines use an Aisin 6-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission that features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel economy. The transmission offers smooth shifts and a wide spread of ratios that ideally suit both engine's characteristics including a tall-overdrive sixth gear for quiet, efficient highway cruising. Drivers can access the SHIFTRONIC® feature by moving the gear selector into a separate gate. Pushing the selector forward or pulling it rearward will shift the transmission up or down sequentially, adding to driver control. A clear LCD readout on the instrument panel shows the gear that's in use.
The Tau V8 Genesis is mated with an enhanced, high-output ZF 6-speed transmission to handle the added horsepower and torque.
INNOVATIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION
| HYUNDAI GENESIS |
BMW 5 SERIES |
MERCEDES E CLASS |
LEXUS GS |
|
| FRONT | 5-link | McPherson Strut | 4-link | 5-link |
| REAR | 5-link | 4-link | 5-link | 5-link |
Genesis features a suspension design that is among the most sophisticated and refined anywhere, at any price. The front five-link suspension features upper and lower arms linking the front wheels to the chassis. This artfully articulated arrangement creates a virtual king pin axis that dramatically reduces unwanted kickback through the steering wheel as well as improving responsiveness. The five-link independent rear suspension is equally sophisticated, enabling precise suspension geometry for a premium ride and engaging handling prowess. The capabilities of the advanced front and rear-suspension are maximized through Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) allowing tuning flexibility at smaller damper displacements. The ASD suspension provides:
- Improved ride comfort with more body / wheel control
- Increase driving comfort without compromised handling
- Optimizes road surface contact
- Technology used in Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz models
PROGRESSIVE DESIGN MIRRORS ATHLETIC CAPABILITY
Genesis' design is a progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan. To match its dynamic capabilities, Genesis combines strong, sculpted forms which integrate precise details, natural materials and innovative lighting to provide a well-crafted, premium design aesthetic.
HIGH-TECH ACCOMMODATIONS AT ACCESSIBLE PRICE POINTS
The new 2009 Genesis is the most advanced Hyundai ever. From its design and spaciousness to its technology and appointments, it delivers a wealth of features and performance befitting flagship European and Asian brands, but delivers them at a much more accessible price point. Starting with its Lexicon state-of-the-art audio system featuring LOGIC 7® technology, Genesis offers an extraordinary combination of technology, premium appointments, and value. Standard is a soft-touch instrument panel with woodgrain accents, Bluetooth® hands-free mobile phone interface, and USB/iPod® auxiliary inputs. A state-of-the-art navigation system with an eight-inch display is available. The navigation unit is accessed by a user-friendly multi-media controller that also controls the radio. Backing out of tight spaces and avoiding mishaps is much easier with the available backup camera that uses the eight-inch display to show the driver a clear view immediately behind the car.
A leather-wrapped dash, door panels, and console lid surround the driver in a luxurious environment, while heated and cooled driver's seat provides optimal driving comfort. An automatic windshield defogger with humidity sensor and rain-sensing wipers allow crystal clear sight lines. No other car in the segment offers an ultraviolet reflective leather steering wheel, which keeps the surface cool to the touch, even in scorching sunlight. Genesis also offers the conveniences of power rear sunshade, automatic electronic parking brake, proximity key and push button starter.
LEXICON® AUDIO SYSTEMS TEAM WITH XM, HD RADIO™, and APPLE TO OFFER UNRIVALED AUDIO PERFORMANCE AND CHOICE
Rolls Royce Phantom and Hyundai Genesis are the only automobiles to offer a Lexicon-branded state-of-the-art audio system featuring LOGIC 7&Reg; technology. The Lexicon® surround sound audio system includes a 12-channel digital amplifier and 17 speakers producing more than 500 watts of sound in 7.1 discrete audio. Genesis is also the first popular brand to offer the clarity of digital HD Radio technology from the factory. Navigation-equipped Genesis models also include a 30-gigabyte hard drive and XM NavTraffic. Like every 2009 Hyundai, Genesis comes standard with XM Satellite Radio. Auxiliary USB and iPod® inputs allow drivers to fully control and charge iPods directly from the head unit.
ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY
The 2009 Genesis offers Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The advantages of HID headlamps include greater lighting power, daylight-type lighting and reduced power consumption. In addition, the cut lines of the new HID headlights are extremely precise, providing maximum nighttime visibility without distracting other drivers. The lamps also feature an auto-leveling function which keeps the headlights level regardless of how the vehicle is loaded with passengers or cargo. Genesis also offers an Automatic Front Lighting System that allows the headlamps to automatically swivel for better visibility when cornering.
NEW TECHNOLOGIES DELIVER IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE
Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features to help both prevent accidents, and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.
Genesis' total of eight airbags include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.
An electronic active head restraint system will debut on the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, an improvement over mechanically based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.
Genesis has a total of 8 ultrasonic sensors located on the front and rear bumpers. The sensors along with the rear backup camera help detect how close objects are when parking. Distance is indicated on the in-dash screen and accompanied by an audible warning tone.
Forward-looking radar is used in Genesis' Smart Cruise Control system. Smart Cruise Control adjusts vehicle speed to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead in the same lane.
Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The 12.6-inch front rotors have single-piston floating calipers and the rear brakes feature 12.4-inch rotors with single-pistons on V6 models. Twin-pistons and larger rotors are featured on V8 models.
WARRANTY
The all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis is protected by the Hyundai Advantage, America's Best Warranty™. Coverage includes five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection, 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, and seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage. In addition, Genesis buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance coverage at no extra charge for five years (no mileage limit) and that service includes emergency towing, lockout service and limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses. There is no deductible on any of these coverages.
TECHNOLOGY
- Electronic active front head restraints
- Electronic Stability Control
- Eight airbags
- Heated / cooled seats
- High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps with adaptive leveling
- Adaptive Front Lighting System
- Push-button start
- Navigation with backup camera
- Electric parking brake
- Standard Bluetooth technology
- iPod/USB auxiliary inputs
- HD Radio&trade receiver
- XM Satellite Radio® with NavTraffic
- Lexicon® Discrete Surround Audio Systems
- Automatic windshield defogger with humidity sensor
- Rain-sensing wipers
- Smart cruise control
- Five-link front and rear suspension
- Tau V8 engine
- 6-speed transmissions
GENESIS PREMIUM SPORTS SEDAN SPECIFICATIONS (Specifications subject to change prior to on sale date)
| Configuration | Front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports sedan | ||
| Engines | |||
| Type | 3.3-liter V6 | 3.8-liter V6 | 4.6-liter V8 |
| Power (Regular fuel) | 264 HP @ 6,200 rpm | 290 HP @ 6,200 rpm | 368 HP @ 6,500 rpm |
| Torque (Regular fuel) | 233 lb. ft. @ 4,500 rpm | 264 lb. ft. @ 4,500 rpm | 324 lb. ft. @ 3,500 rpm |
| Power (Premium fuel) | TBA | TBA | 375 HP @ 6,500 rpm |
| Torque (Premium fuel) | TBA | TBA | 333 lb. ft. @ 3,500 rpm |
| Construction | Aluminum block and heads | Aluminum block and heads | Aluminum block and heads |
| Bore/stroke | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Capacity | 3342 cc | 3778 cc | 4627 cc |
| Compression ratio | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Valvetrain | Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) |
Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) |
Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC) |
| Valve timing | Continuous variable | Continuous variable | Continuous variable |
| Induction system | Variable | Variable | Variable |
| Recommended fuel | 87 octane unleaded | 87 octane unleaded | 87 octane unleaded |
| Transmission type | Aisin 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control |
Aisin 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control |
ZF 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control |
| Performance | |||
| Top speed | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Estimated 0-60 mph | TBA | TBA | Well under 6 seconds |
| Fuel consumption/emissions | |||
| City | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Highway | TBA | TBA | TBA |
| Recommended fuel | 87 octane unleaded | 87 octane unleaded | 87 octane unleaded |
| Emission controls | ULEV | ULEV | ULEV |
| Suspension | |||
| Front | Virtual king pin axis (5-link) | ||
| Rear | Multi-link (5-link) | ||
| Dampers | Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) | ||
| Stabilizer bar (front/rear): |
26 mm/18 mm | ||
| Wheels | 17-inch and 18-inch multi-spoke | ||
| Steering | |||
| Type | Speed-sensing rack-and-pinion | ||
| Ratio | 14.86 | ||
| Weight distribution front to rear |
TBA | TBA | 53:47 |
| Brakes | |||
| Front calipers | Single piston | Single piston | Four piston |
| Rear calipers | Single piston | Single piston | Single piston |
| Front | 12.6 in. x 1.1 in. | 12.6 in. x 1.1 in. | 12.99 in. x 1.18 in. |
| Rear | 12.36 in. x .51 in. | 12.36 in. x .51 in. | 12.36 in. x .51 in. |
| Curb weight | 3732 lbs. | 3748 lbs. | 4006 lbs. |
| Body & Chassis | |||
| Wheelbase | 2935 mm / 115.6 inches | ||
| Overall length | 5005 mm / 197.0 inches | ||
| Overall width | 1863 mm / 73.3 inches | ||
| Overall height | 1490 mm / 58.7 inches | ||
| Track, front/rear | 1575 mm / 62.0 inches, 1580 mm / 62.2 inches | ||
| Interior dimensions | |||
| Interior volume (SAE) | 109.4 cu. ft. | ||
| Trunk volume (SAE) | 15.9 cu. ft. | ||
| Front leg room | 44.3 inches | ||
| Rear leg room | 38.6 inches | ||
| Front headroom | 40.4 inches | ||
| Rear headroom | 37.7 inches | ||
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 780 dealerships nationwide.
Genesis, Hyundai's New Beginning
Genesis logotype and emblem unveiled
(Seoul, Korea) Marking a new beginning, Hyundai Motor Co. today announced Genesis as the official name of its eagerly anticipated luxury sports sedan. Benchmarking and bettering the competition, the Hyundai Genesis redefines luxury by presenting a credible alternative to the premium automobile offerings from Germany, Japan and the United States.
Adopting a rear wheel drive architecture and numerous technical innovations, Genesis opens a new era of high performance Hyundai motoring.
At the same time, the company has unveiled the Genesis emblem consisting of the Genesis logotype set in a black hexagonal shield framed by a pair of wings. The wings, executed in a hyper-metallic silver, symbolize the spirt of flight and soaring above it all. However, the Genesis emblem will only be applied to the Korean and Chinese markets.
With Genesis, Hyundai opens an exciting new chapter in its 40 year-long history to compete at the very highest levels of the automotive business.
At the pinnacle of the Genesis motoring experience is the all-new Tau V-8 engine which will deliver 375 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai's silk-smooth V-6 Lambda engines will also be offered in 3.3- and 3.8-liter editions. Hyundai pledges excellence at every step of the Genesis ownership experience from purchase to delivery and after-sales service.
Hyundai, seriously
LA JOLLA - Has it really been 20 years since South Korean automaker Hyundai stormed the U.S. market with its low-price Excel? That car, priced from under $5,000, was the best-selling car in California in 1987.Has it been just 17 years since Excel became a late-night TV laughingstock with its poor reliability record? Jay Leno, quoted in Time magazine, joked that high gas prices of the late '80s only pleased Hyundai owners, as a full tank doubled the value of their cars.
Today, Hyundai offers a crossover utility that it says compares to a Lexus, and can cost as much as a car from that luxury brand or one from BMW. Hyundai will come to market next year with a rear-drive, V-8 sedan that many would consider a luxury car. And the car maker says it's studying whether to launch a luxury division, similar to Toyota's Lexus or Nissan's Infiniti brands.
The symbol of that self-improvement, those years of transformation from abhorred to admired, is the Veracruz. The seven-passenger crossover-utility vehicle was exhibited last month on the lawn of the tony Lodge at Torrey Pines, a Craftsman-style, five-diamond resort hotel where the rooms go for about $500 a night.
Hyundai has seen large sales volume boosts over the past decade and regularly wins accolades for its improved quality. Still, the Veracruz - its virtues and its price - can be shocking.
"I can say that I've driven a $38,000 Hyundai and I never really thought I'd say that," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific, an auto-industry researcher with offices in Tustin and Southfield, Mich. But, in back-to-back drives with the Lexus RX 350 SUV, the Veracruz "feels at least as good or even maybe better," he said.
Debut of Genesis
Before most were even aware the Veracruz was on sale, Hyundai Motor America unveiled the ,a href="http://hyundaidealer.blogpsot.com">Genesis, a large, rear-drive sedan that arrived in concept form at last week's New York Auto Show. It featured a 4.6-liter V-8, a navigation system, eight air bags and more. Unlike some pie-in-the-sky concept, this one goes into production about a year from now.
"We're an ambitious company with ambitious, aggressive objectives," said Steve Wilhite, who as Hyundai Motor America's chief operating officer is the company's top non-Korean executive. "We've got a terrific product line and we're doing things necessary to grow our business."
And one of those things, conveyed in a conversation with Wilhite, the former Nissan, Volkswagen, Ford and Apple executive who joined Hyundai in August, might be establishing a luxury brand, a la Toyota's Lexus or Honda's Acura.
"We're a company that isn't bashful about exploring that space," said Wilhite. "It's very hard today as a global player, to look at the market, and to look at what our competitors have done, and not be intrigued by the luxury market and luxury branding."
"They are considering another platform or two to populate an upscale second channel, to take Hyundai into the premium luxury car area," he said. "Boy, these guys are ambitious. They have their pedal to the metal."
When it arrived in the mid-'80s, Hyundai quickly became one of the most successful new automotive nameplates in U.S. history. But, within a few years, Consumer Reports pilloried the Excel for its poor quality. There was even a song parody, "Crappy Hyundai," done to the Bangles' tune "Manic Monday."
The brand retrenched, made improvements and slowly began rebuilding consumer confidence. This year, Consumer Reports gives four 2007 Hyundais its coveted checkmark recommendation. (The Veracruz is too new to be rated.) The brand ranked third, only behind Porsche and Lexus, and ahead of Toyota and Honda, in J.D. Power's 2006 Initial Quality Study.
Rapid sales growth
Hyundai, which totaled 108,468 sales in 1996, reached 455,520 in 2006. That's 320 percent growth. Toyota, which most observers see as the most successful car brand in the United States, grew 77 percent over the same time period. Hyundai dealers sold 42,000 vehicles last month, its best March ever. That total includes 178 Veracruz models.
Just two or three years ago, affordability and an industry-best 10-year powertrain warranty were the Top 2 reasons people bought a Hyundai, said John Krafcik, its vice president of product development and strategic planning.
This year, as Hyundai has added a minivan and a three-row SUV and made stability control technology that prevents rollover accidents standard throughout its lineup, safety has become the No. 1 purchase motivator.
The government and the insurance industry all endorse stability control. Krafcik says 73 percent of Hyundai vehicles sold this year have the technology, vs. 22 percent of Toyotas and 45 percent of Hondas.
"We're the leading popular brand in that technology," he said. "Unfortunately, nobody knows that yet."
Wilhite also makes this point. "The great news for us is that we have wonderful stories to tell. I mean, we don't have to make stuff up about our brand or our products," he said.
The company can talk about quality, safety, its expanding lineup, its increasing investments in the United States.
Still, Hyundai remains a secret to many. The number of people who said they are aware of Hyundai and would consider buying one has doubled since 2003, but that growth is from 11 to 22 percent. Honda and Toyota score in the 60s and 70s, Krafcik said.
Hyundai buyers believe they've made a smart purchase, but they're rather quiet about it.
"We need to turn them into brand evangelists and advocates," Wilhite said.
The Veracruz could help. More stylish than rivals such as the Honda Pilot and Toyota Highlander, it seats seven, has a 260-horsepower 3.8-liter V-6 and the brand's first six-speed automatic transmission. Six air bags, stability control and XM satellite radio are standard. All-wheel drive, a power lift-gate, rear-seat DVD entertainment are options or found standard on some trim levels. Prices range from $26,995 to $34,695 before options.
"(Veracruz) gives us a real nice entry into a growing segment of the market, the mid-size sport-utility crossover vehicle," Wilhite said. The company expects the segment to expand by 50,000 to 100,000 units a year through 2011.
Some stumbles
Yet not all is rosy for Hyundai. Its sales volume grew a scant 0.01 percent between 2005 and 2006. Executives blame a strike that limited the supply of four-cylinder engines.
Automotive News recently reported that Wilhite sent a strongly worded letter to 50 under-achieving dealers. The company has 754 U.S. dealers.
And the embezzlement conviction of Chung Mong Koo, chairman of Hyundai's parent company, has been an embarrassment and has resulted in the slowdown of some management decisions, such as the Georgia factory for its Kia affiliate and its recently announced second engine factory in Alabama. Hyundai opened a U.S. plant that makes the Sonata sedan and Santa Fe sport-utility in Montgomery in 2005.
Wilhite praised Hyundai for listening to its U.S. executives. "We don't have carte blanche, but our voice is heard," he said.
He also notes that Seoul is the most wired city in the world, and that South Korean consumer-electronic companies such as LG and Samsung are now being recognized for their innovations, and not just their ability to make commodity products.
"It's an incredibly robust, dynamic, innovative environment," he said. "But it's not in alignment with Americans' perceptions."
By Matt Nauman
Mercury News
Hyundai Unveils Concept Genesis Premium Sports Sedan
Rear-Wheel Drive and V-8 Engine Promise World Class Dynamics and RefinementNEW YORK, March 4, 2007 – Hyundai presented the world debut of Concept Genesis during a press conference at the New York International Auto Show today. The concept car heralds the future architecture and design of a rear-wheel drive premium sports sedan scheduled to grace the Hyundai lineup in 2008.
"Concept Genesis extends our product range into new territories from a performance, design and packaging perspective," said Steve Wilhite, chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor America. "When it arrives in 2008 it will catapult Hyundai into competition against some potent rivals, and Genesis is up for the challenge."
Concept Genesis rides on a prototype of Hyundai's all-new rear-wheel drive platform, signaling the brand's desire to broaden its appeal to discerning driving enthusiasts. Concept Genesis is powered by Hyundai's newly developed Tau DOHC 32-valve V-8 powertrain. Concept Genesis marks the beginning of premium performance for the Hyundai brand.
"Concept Genesis is a manifestation of Hyundai's extraordinary desire to deliver world-class products across all model segments," said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. "With Genesis, we've got a unique product position -- an all-new, highly capable, rear-wheel drive platform; a high-performance powertrain; and premium, progressive design – all at a price starting well under $30,000."
New Rear-Wheel-Drive Architechture Is A First For The U.S.
Concept Genesis features a rear-wheel-drive architecture, its first application in a U.S. Hyundai model. Rear-wheel drive provides a 53:47 front/rear weight distribution for optimal handling as well as more refined steering characteristics. Concept Genesis' premium handling and steering performance is further controlled by Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the industry's most important new safety technology. Hyundai leads all popular car brands in the standard application of ESC, with more than 70 percent of 2007 Hyundai sales volume featuring this life-saving technology as standard equipment.
ESC continually analyzes road speed, steering input, throttle position, lateral yaw rate and other factors. An onboard microprocessor determines if the vehicle is starting to understeer or oversteer, and can brake appropriate wheels and reduce engine power to keep the vehicle safely on course.
Utilizing ultra high-tensile steel in critical areas in the unibody provides Concept Genesis with a 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body-in-white weight than the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. This stiffer, lighter, larger body provides a terrific foundation for world-class dynamics and lowering noise levels inside the vehicle.
TAU V-8 Powertrain
Adding to the Concept Genesis' performance factor is the all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC® manual control and a limited-slip differential. The Tau delivers well over 300 horsepower to fit the demands of performance-oriented consumers. This powertrain combination will launch Genesis to 60 miles per hour in well under six seconds. The Tau engine is built with flexibility for the future. Future Tau variants may offer larger displacement, forced induction options and other technology enhancements.
Innovative And Sophisticated Sport-Tuned Suspension
Genesis features a suspension design that is among the most sophisticated and refined anywhere, at any price. The front five-link suspension features upper and lower arms linking the front wheels to the chassis. This artfully articulated arrangement creates a virtual king pin axis which dramatically reduces unwanted kickback through the steering wheel as well as improving responsiveness. The five-link independent rear suspension is equally sophisticated, enabling precise suspension geometry for an incredible level of ride and handling prowess. The capabilities of the advanced front and rear-suspension are maximized through driver selectable dynamic settings allowing tailored ride and handling characteristics according to need ... or desire.
Modern Design
Genesis' design is a progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan. To match its dynamic powertrain capabilities, Genesis combines strong, sculpted forms which integrate precise details, natural materials and innovative lighting to provide a well-crafted, premium design aesthetic.
Safety Features
Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Concept Genesis boasts world class active and passive safety features to both prevent accidents, and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving active safety technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with traction control, eight airbags and active headrests.
Concept Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The 12.6-inch front rotors have single-piston floating calipers and the rear brakes feature 12.4-inch rotors with single-pistons.
Technology
- Advanced adaptive cruise control
- Electronic Stability Control
- Eight airbags
- 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
Genesis Premium Sports Sedan Specifications
- Configuration: Front-engine, rear-wheel drive sports sedan
- Wheelbase: 2935 mm / 115.6 inches
- Overall length: 5005 mm / 197.0 inches
- Overall width: 1863 mm / 73.3 inches
- Overall height: 1490 mm / 58.7 inches
- Track, f/r: 1575 mm / 62.0 inches, 1580 mm / 62.2 inches
- Wheels: 20-inch multi-spoke
- Engine type: V8
- Estimated horsepower: Well over 300HP
- Estimated torque: Over 300 lb. ft.
- Displacement: 4.6 liter
- Block material: High pressure die casting aluminum block
- Cylinder head material: Aluminum
- Valvetrain: Dual Over Head Cam (DOHC)
- Valve timing: Continuous variable valve timing
- Variable induction system
- Fuel delivery: Multi-port fuel injection
- Estimated 0-60 mph: well under 6.0 seconds
- Top speed: 130 mph (restricted)
- Recommended fuel: Unleaded
- Transmission type: ZF 6-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC manual control
- Suspension: Front multi-link (5-link) / Rear multi-link (5-link)
- Stabilizer bar (front/rear): 26 mm/18 mm
- Weight distribution front to rear: 53:47
- Brakes: Power-assisted 4-wheel disc
- Front brake diameter (mm / in): 320 / 12.6 ventilated disc
- Rear brake diameter (mm / in): 314 / 12.4 solid disc
- Steering type: Speed-sensing rack-and-pinion
- Steering ratio: 14.86
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.
Hyundai Sees Luxury Brand in Its Future
LA JOLLA, CA - Hyundai Motor America Inc. may consider establishing a luxury brand, a top executive tells Ward’s."We'd probably be silly not to look at it," Wayne Killen, director-product planning, says here during a test drive of the all-new Hyundai Veracruz cross/utility vehicle. "The case could be made that it makes sense for us."
Hyundai already has "cut its teeth" in the fierce U.S. market by competing head-to-head with U.S., Japanese and European brands - and succeeding, Killen claims.
Hyundai's share of the U.S. market grew last year by 0.1 percentage points to 2.8%, compared with 2005. However, sales this year were down 3.1% through February, tracking below the industry's 2.5% decline.
Additionally, the U.S. market is expected to begin seeing Chinese-built small cars, which are bound to be inexpensive and potentially could cut into Hyundai’s value-oriented market segment, Killen says.
"We need to have an option for those customers who want to trade up from their current Hyundai to a more expensive vehicle."
But Kille's conceptual interest should not be interpreted as an official corporate initiative to mimic Japan's top three auto makers, all of which have been building luxury brands in the U.S. for more than a decade.
At a press conference here Thursday, a journalist asked John Krafcik, Hyundai's vice president-product development and strategic planning, whether the auto maker is considering a luxury outlet. Krafcik says there have been no such discussions at Hyundai.
And yet, HMA officials, including Krafcik, have made it clear Hyundai needs to move upmarket and appeal to a more affluent customer base.
At next week's New York auto show, Hyundai will unveil Concept Genesis, a rear-wheel-drive V-8 powered sedan (codenamed BH) that is the same size as the Dynasty sold in South Korea. RWD cars with V-8s have been prevalent in the luxury segment.
In his presentation here, Krafcik says Concept Genesis has a firmer chassis than a BMW 5-Series and is proof that Hyundai can appeal to a market that wants more than reliable transportation and a good value.
"We want to extend to more segments but not leave behind the entry-level buyer," Krafcik tells journalists.
The RWD sedan will go on sale in second-half 2008, he says. "We think this car will be fully equal to the best European sedans," Krafcik says, adding the challenge is instilling that message in the minds of consumers.
Pricing for the new sedan will begin under $30,000, which represents the top end of the range for the front-wheel-drive Hyundai Azera sedan.
Ward's segmentation identifies the Azera as an upper middle car, competing with the Buick LaCrosse, Honda Accord, Chrysler Sebring, Mazda6, Mercury Milan, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry.
Killen sees the production version of the Concept Genesis competing with the Chrysler 300C and Lexus GS 350.
Is Hyundai ready to sell a $50,000 car? "Maybe not today, but we're not far from it," he says. "With Genesis and the Veracruz paving the way, that could be in our future."
Pricing for the new front-wheel-drive Veracruz, derived from the Santa Fe CUV architecture, begins at $26,995 and tops out at $38,000, with saddle leather interior, all-wheel drive and DVD player.
Primary competitors for the Veracruz are the Honda Pilot, Toyota Highlander and Subaru B9 Tribeca. But a secondary competitor is the Lexus RX 350.
For comparison purposes, journalists here were offered a chance to drive the RX 350 back-to-back against the Veracruz.
In a series of clever new TV commercials, Hyundai proudly proclaims its vehicles match up favorably with nameplates from Lexus, BMW and Land Rover and cost a lot less.
By Tom Murphy
WardsAuto.com, Mar 30, 2007 11:09 AM
Powerful car may catapult Hyundai
Keep an eye on Hyundai's stand at the New York auto show this week.The South Korean automaker has a rare chance to re-create its image. Hyundai could vault from selling largely on the strength of low prices and long warranties to becoming a desirable brand that competes with performance and technology.
The car to watch is the Genesis, a rear-wheel-drive concept sedan that's a thinly veiled version of a production model coming next year.
If you want to build a credible, big, powerful car -- anything more than a Honda Accord, Ford Fusion or Saturn Aura -- rear-wheel-drive is vital. Along with all-wheel-drive, it's the only way to get the most performance out of upper midsize cars because running too much horsepower and torque through the front wheels affects steering and handling.
The car's weight also tends to be more evenly distributed over its entire length, and the long-nosed proportions of rear-drive cars lend themselves to striking designs.
How big an impact could the Genesis have on Hyundai?
Think Chrysler 300. Great design, good price and rear-wheel-drive coalesced to create a car that catapulted Chrysler from minivan maker to award-winning star of rap videos.
The Genesis features a 4.6-liter, 32-valve V8 engine that Hyundai says produces more than 300 horsepower. There's a six-speed automatic transmission from German drivetrain expert ZF.
Hyundai will reportedly also offer two V6s in the production model.
Hyundai launches the car with good quality -- a safe bet, given its recent track record -- it must get two other points right to cash in on the new model's possibilities: price and dynamics.
Dynamics come from engineering skill and executive decisions. Hyundai's engineers can probably create a car with competitive ride and handling if the suits in the corner offices let them.
Big rear-drive cars like this are limos in South Korea, and Hyundai executives have already inflicted a soft ride and squishy handling on the brand's other sedans.
The brand's other big sedan, the front-wheel-drive Azera, may determine the new car's pricing.
That could be a problem. Hyundai executives reportedly worry the new car will steal sales from the Azera unless it's priced above the existing car, which typically sells for around $26,000, according to Edmunds.com.
Saddling the new car with an inflated price -- $28,000 or more for a V6 model, according to people who should know -- would be a mistake.
If Hyundai wants to become a prestige brand -- and it does -- it can't hamstring its most promising new car to protect a model that represents the company's past.
April 1, 2007
BY Mark Phelan Detroit Free Press
Free Press Columnist
First Look: Hyundai Concept Genesis
New Beginnings: Hyundai gives birth to its first sport-luxury sedan; Japan gets the labor pains
This car is going to shock you. It's going to shock GM and Toyota, too. Even BMW and Mercedes-Benz are going to pay attention. Hyundai calls it Concept Genesis, but you can forget the concept bit; apart from the odd piece of showcar eye-candy, you're looking at Korea's first production sport-luxury sedan. It has rear drive and a V-8 engine. And it'll be in a Hyundai showroom near you sometime in 2008.
Concept Genesis gives us the first glimpse of Hyundai's much-anticipated BH rear-drive architecture. For a company with a reputation for fast-tracking new models at a pace that makes even the Japanese dizzy, the BH has been a long time coming-more than five years, in fact. But that doesn't mean Hyundai has been slacking; Concept Genesis is on its second exterior (the previous design was scrapped, after the hugely expensive tooling process had been started) and third chassis setup (the rear axle was upgraded from a four-link configuration to five-link only last year). And when the production version launches next year, Hyundai will be a player in a sector that Toyota took 15 years longer to enter.
Chutzpah? Or confidence? Both swirl through a company driven by a fierce determination to succeed and, in particular, to beat the Japanese. Hyundai wants to be the world's fifth largest automaker by 2010, and the BH architecture revealed by Concept Genesis is a key part of the strategy.
The glasshouse looks pure G35, while the rear end is a tasteful mlange of 3 Series and 7 Series cues. What you don't immediately read, thanks in part to the 20-inch alloy wheels, is the car's size: It's longer, wider, and taller
than a BMW 5 Series and Lexus GS, with a wheelbase almost as long a Chrysler 300C's. Hyundai sources say the rear seat package is nearly as good as that of an S-Class Mercedes.
The BMW/Infiniti styling cues signal a similar approach to the engineering, though here Hyundai isn't content to merely play follow the leader: Insiders claim the car's body-in-white, rich in ultra-high-tensile steel, isn't only lighter than that of a 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Lexus LS, but also has 12- to 14-percent-higher dynamic torsional rigidity. Weight distribution is 53/47 percent, front to rear; however, not quite the 50/50 ideal BMW religiously adheres to.
The Concept Genesis's five-link independent rear suspension is mounted to the body via a sturdy subframe. The lower control arm is pressed steel, but all the other links are forgings. The compact coil springs are mounted separate from the shocks, which are located to the body by way of aluminum castings. The front suspension
features a short/long-arm setup executed entirely in forged aluminum, with large cast-aluminum top mounts for
improved precision and rigidity. Steering is via speed-sensitive rack and pinion, mounted ahead of the front axle centerline.
Under the hood is an all-new, all-aluminum 4.6-liter V-8. Codenamed Tau, it's Hyundai's first in-house V-8 and features state-of-the-moment double-overhead camshafts with variable valve timing and a variable induction system. Hyundai isn't quoting power and torque figures yet, claiming only that the engine produces more than 300 horses and 300 pound-feet of torque (which is only to be expected) and is capable of propelling the car, at a target weight of about 3740 pounds, to 60 mph in under 6.0 seconds. The Tau V-8 drives the rear wheels via ZF's smooth 6HP26 six-seed automatic transmission. Paddle-shift manumatic control will be standard on the production version.
Production versions of Concept Genesis also will be available with a V-6, the 3.8-liter Lambda unit currently used in the Azera, turned through 180 degrees and driving through an Aisin six-speed automatic. Hyundai sources say power will be upped from the 265 horses the engine currently produces in the Azera to improve performance.
example. Standard wheels will be 18-inch alloys running 235/50R18 tires, but 19s and possibly even 20s will be available.
The production interior will be upscale, offering the tasteful, well-finished blends of leather, aluminum accents, and wood that we've already started to see in recent Hyundais. Standard equipment will be lavish, as well, with
stability control and eight airbags included, along with sat-nav, satellite radio, and heated and cooled front seats.
Here's the zinger: Hyundai sources expect the V-6 version to start at under $30,000, or roughly in line with a well-equipped Azera. The V-8? No one's saying, but even if Hyundai charged a $5000 premium for the bigger
engine and beefier transmission, we're still looking at a large, fast sport-luxury sedan for about the same money as an entry-level 3 Series or Lexus IS 350.
Only our first test will reveal whether the production version of Concept Genesis delivers the performance, handling, quality, and refinement to match Hyundai's soaring ambition. But it's worth remembering that barely 12 years ago Hyundai was still a cheap car joke, finishing dead last in a J.D. Power quality survey. Now it's aiming at BMW and Lexus. And the shock is, no one's laughing.
| Aiming high, looming large | |||
| Concept Genesis versus the rivals, as defined by Hyundai | |||
| Hyundai Genesis | Lexus GS | Infiniti M | |
| Engines | 3.8L/265+ hp/260+ lb-ft V-6; 4.8L/300+ hp/300+ lb-ft V-8 | 3.5L/303-hp/274-lb-ft V-6; 4.3L/290-hp/319-lb-ft V8 | 3.5L/275-hp/268-lb-ft V-6; 4.5L/325-hp/336-lb-ft V-8 |
| Wheelbase, in | 115.6 | 112.2 | 114.2 |
| Length, in | 197 | 190 | 192.6 |
| Width, in | 73.3 | 71.7 | 70.8 |
| Height, in | 58.6 | 56.1 | 59.4 |
| BMW 5-Series | Cadillac CTS(2007) | Chrysler 300 | |
| Engines | 3.0L/215-255-hp/185-220-lb-ft I-6; 4.8L/360-hp/360-lb-ft V-8 | 2.8L/210-hp/194-lb-ft V-6; 6.0L/443-hp/414-lb-ft V-8 | 3.5L/250-hp/250-lb-ft V-6; 5.7L/340-hp/390-lb-ft V-8 |
| Wheelbase, in | 113.7 | 113.4 | 120 |
| Length, in | 191.1 | 190.1 | 196.8 |
| Width, in | 72.7 | 70.6 | 74.1 |
| Height, in | 57.8 | 56.7 | 58.4 |
Why GM and Toyota should be worried
Concept Genesis isn't just a car, it's Hyundai's ticket to membership of an exclusive club that includes Toyota and GM, Ford, and Volkswagen. The BH rear-drive vehicle architecture that underpins Concept Genesis means Hyundai is about to become a full-line, global automaker. (Full-size trucks? They're on the agenda, but that's another story.)Hyundai insiders say the BH architecture is highly flexible. Shorten the wheelbase, and it can underpin a range of sporty, high-style rear-drive coupes and convertibles. Lengthen it, and it forms the basis for a full-size rear-drive luxury sedan. The rear-drive bit is important: It gives designers the ability to deliver the stance and proportions consumers associate with premium sport-lux vehicles. And it gives engineers the ability to deliver crisp, sporty handling and powertrains with more than 300 horses.
Hyundai's claim of "over 300 horsepower" for the new 4.6-liter, quad-cam Tau V-8 is modest for an engine of that size and specification, but insiders hint it'll produce considerably more than that. It'll need to: Hyundai powertrains have never been class-leading in terms of their specific output. Significantly, Hyundai engineers are careful to point out the Tau can be built in larger displacements and with forced induction and other technologies to boost power.
So put Tau and BH together, and you figure Hyundai now has the ability to build sport-lux sedans, coupes, convertibles, and even limousines with up to 400 or 500 horsepower. Hyundai's target might be nouveau-lux Japanese brands like Lexus and Infiniti, plus near-lux Europeans like VW and Alfa Romeo, but GM and Toyota could suffer collateral damage along the way.
The issue for Toyota is that Hyundai's BH-based cars could potentially offer consumers a range of Lexus-style vehicles at Toyota prices. The problem for GM is the BH cars could hit a similar value/performance/style-driven market segment that's the sweet spot for the forthcoming Zeta-based Chevy, Pontiac, and Buick rear-drive models. You can bet Toyota and GM product planners will be among the very first customers for Hyundai's new sport-lux sedan next year.
By Angus MacKenzie Motor Trend
