Hyundai challenges Euro marques
Hyundai has lifted the covers on its luxury Genesis sedan in Seoul, although it's not known whether it will make it to Australia.
Early signs for the vehicle are positive, at least in South Korea, with Hyundai claiming to have received more than 3500 orders on the first day pre-orders became available in the country. The company has big plans for its flagship model, targeting 62,000 sales in the next year - 30,000 of which are forecast to come from foreign markets.
Whether Australia will be one of those foreign markets is still up in the air. Though the next generation of Genesis models will be made in right-hand drive, Hyundai Australia said it was still reviewing the business case for the Genesis sedan being introduced here.
A Toyota 86-rivalling Genesis sports coupe has been confirmed for the local market but prices and when exactly it will be in showrooms are yet to be announced.
Hyundai Australia has in the past indicated any Genesis models coming into Australia would need to be able to be sold in the realm of $60,000.
"The all-new Genesis will compete head-on with top-tier premium models in the global market including Europe, home to many such premium brands, to enhance Hyundai's brand values and gain leadership in the industry," Hyundai Motor Company chairman and chief executive Mong-Koo Chung said.
Starting from the Bentley-aping badge, the Genesis sedan certainly looks the premium part. A long way removed from the exterior design of other recent Hyundais, the Genesis features a sleek aesthetic Hyundai has dubbed Fluidic Sculpture 2.0.
It has a commanding front fascia and character lines running the length of the body to a sporty rear.
It's all very reminiscent of the luxury brands Hyundai intends to tackle head-on.
It's a 4990mm long, which is getting up near Chrysler 300 territory, which Hyundai says will help improve comfort and provide "best-in-class cabin space".
Double-stitched seats and the use of real wood and aluminium aim to enhance the luxe feel of the interior, while the design of the body and sound-absorbing materials should make for a quiet ride.
Though it's not known what powertrains will make it to Australia should the Genesis sedan be deemed worthy of import, four petrol engines have been revealed for overseas markets.
Most likely to make it here would be the entry-level 3.0-litre V6 offering 190kW and 300Nm. Also available is a 207kW/350Nm 3.3-litre V6, a 231kW/397Nm 3.8-litre V6 and a range-topping 310kW/520Nm 5.0-litre V8.
All are paired with an eight- speed automatic gearbox, while there will be a choice of rear- wheel-drive or Hyundai's HTRAC all-wheel-drive system.
There is a range of convenience and safety features available, including innovations such as a sensor control system which ventilates the cabin when CO{-2} reaches a high level to reduce drowsiness and a boot which will automatically open if the smart key is detected near the boot for more than three seconds.
