The
Hyundai Genesis is a full-size, rear-wheel drive luxury car introduced initially as a
concept carA concept vehicle or show vehicle is a car prototype made to showcase a concept, new styling, technology and more. They are often shown at motor shows to gauge customer reaction to new and radical designs which may or may not have a chance of being produced.General Motors designer Harley Earl is...
in the 2007
New York International Auto ShowThe New York International Auto Show is an annual auto show held in late March or early April. It is usually held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center...
.
Hyundai has introduced the vehicle worldwide, known internally as the BH model, and has initially market the Genesis as a "premium sports sedan," in one body style with three possible engines. The Genesis will at least not initially be introduced to Europe. A
coupe versionThe Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a rear-wheel drive sports coupe from Hyundai Motor Company, released on October 13, 2008 for the Korean market. It is Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive sports coupe, and shares its basic platform with the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan.The Genesis Coupe arrived in United...
was introduced at the 2008 New York International Auto Show and will join the sedan at a later date.
Hyundai targets 55,000 sales of the Genesis in 2008 (35,000 in Korea and another 20,000 overseas) and 45,000 in 2009, with sales goals of 50,000 per year in the United States. According to the Hyundai Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-koo, the Genesis is Hyundai's first entry into the European dominated luxury arena.
According to Hyundai Vice Chairman Kim Dong-jin, the name Genesis is a reflection that the vehicle is the first of many premium cars the company will introduce.
The Genesis sedan is a luxury sedan that was designed to compete with the
BMW 5 SeriesThe BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its fifth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
, Mercedes E-Class,
Infiniti MThe "M" nameplate has been used on various mid-size cars from Infiniti. This includes the M30 Coupe/Convertible, and the M45 and M35 sedans, both of which are unrelated to the M30...
, and
Lexus GSThe Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
. Hyundai described Genesis as "Genesis offers the performance of a BMW 5-Series, the interior packaging of a 7-Series". The Genesis sedan is roughly the same exterior size as Lexus LS 460 sedan, and spacious interior volume than Lexus LS 460, and the Genesis 4.6L outperforms
Lexus GS 460The Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
.
Edmunds.com gave the car 9.5 out of 10 points, stating that it features a cabin comparable to a top-of-the-line
LexusLexus is the luxury vehicle division of Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corporation. First introduced in 1989 in the United States, where Lexus has ranked as the highest-selling maker of luxury cars, as of 2006 Lexus vehicles are sold in 68 countries and territories worldwide...
, but pointed to lacking "brand cachet" as the main problem.
Edmunds.com says “With badges removed, the Genesis could easily pass as a Lexus or Mercedes-Benz, although we doubt many brand-conscious people would give a Hyundai a second glance.” The Hyundai Genesis was named the 2009
North American Car of the YearThe North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 50 automotive journalists.-Example:-Pre-1994:-1994-1999:-2000-2009:...
.
Development and design
Introduced in March, 2007 as the "Concept Genesis", the sedan was designed by Hyundai as a "progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan". Hyundai conceived the idea for the Genesis in 2003. The body design took three years and the total cost of the program was $500 million over a development period of 23 months. Reliability testing ran for 800,000 miles.
Hyundai reportedly benchmarked the BMW 5-Series sedan during the Genesis' development; their press release indicates the Genesis
body-in-whiteBIW stands for Body in White . All activities in the production of a Vehicle Body or Shell before it goes to the Paint shop are done in a weld shop and the end product of a Weld shop is referred to as BIW.Two kinds of BIW Structures :1. Monocoque :...
exceeds the BMW in torsional rigidity by 14%. The production Genesis sedan received a five-star crash rating in every category from the
National Highway Traffic Safety AdministrationThe National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is an agency of the Executive Branch of the U.S. Government, part of the Department of Transportation...
.
Specifications and equipment
Hyundai will manufacture three engines for the Genesis sedan, marketing the car internationally with various combinations of the three:
The
TauThe Tau is Hyundai Motor Company's newest V8 engine, replacing the Omega. It is reported to deliver an estimated and of torque -- on premium unleaded fuel -- at . The engine can adapt to run on regular fuel without damage, although with slightly lower performance.News reports also suggest the...
V8 is Hyundai's first internally engineered 8 cylinder engine and Hyundai's first V8 equipped vehicle offered in North America. The 4.6L engine produces at 6,500 rpm and 333 lb·ft at 3,500 rpm. Hyundai has reported 0-60 mph times of less than 6 seconds.
Car and DriverCar and Driver is an American automotive enthusiast magazine. Its total circulation is 1.31 million. It is owned by Hachette Filipacchi Magazines. Originally headquartered in New York City, the magazine has been based in Ann Arbor, Michigan since the late 1970s.-History:Car and Driver was founded...
reports a 0-60 mph time of 5.3 seconds, while
Motor TrendMotor Trend is an automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line The Magazine for a Motoring World. Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen magazines to...
reports a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds in their October 2008 issue.
The
Lambda 3.8LThe Hyundai Lambda engine family is the company's modern all-aluminum V6. It is manufactured at Hyundai's HMMA plant in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.-3.3 G6DB:The 3.3 L G6DB version was introduced with the 2006 Sonata...
V6 is scheduled for availability in North America, now available in Korean models, producing . In US spec this engine produces at 6,200 rpm and at 4,500 rpm. reports a 0-60 mph time of 5.9 seconds.
The
Lambda 3.3L V6The Hyundai Lambda engine family is the company's modern all-aluminum V6. It is manufactured at Hyundai's HMMA plant in Montgomery, Alabama, United States.-3.3 G6DB:The 3.3 L G6DB version was introduced with the 2006 Sonata...
is available in the Korean market, producing .
In North America, the
V8A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
-powered Genesis features a standard 6-speed
automatic transmissionAn automatic transmission is an automobile gearbox that can change gear ratios automatically as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
from
ZF FriedrichshafenZF Friedrichshafen AG, also known as ZF Group, and commonly abbreviated to ZF, is a German public company headquarted in Friedrichshafen, in the German south-west region of Baden-Württemberg....
(identical to the unit found in the BMW 5-Series), with the base V6 models receiving the 6-speed automatic Aisin transmission also found in the
Hyundai VeracruzThe Hyundai Veracruz is a luxury full-size crossover SUV sold by Hyundai in the countries of United States, Canada, South Korea, China, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and the Middle East. The official date of unveiling in South Korea was October 12, 2006, and was made available in the United States...
. All three engines can run on regular gasoline, an exception to most high-performance engines that require premium fuel, though using premium does boost performance.
Standard features on all models in the US include cruise control, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic air conditioning, leather seat-upholstery and steering wheel, heated front seats with power adjustments, power windows, door locks, and mirrors, remote keyless entry and starting, and a seven-speaker audio system with XM satellite radio.
An optional
LexiconLexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
audio system offers 7.1 channels, 528 watts output, 17 speakers, two 3-way transducer systems, five 2-way transducer systems and digital signal processing that provides equalization among driver and passengers.
Mark LevinsonThe company Mark Levinson, now owned by Madrigal Audio Laboratories specializes in high-end digital audio processors, integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, pre amplifiers, and CD players...
(which equipped in
Lexus LSThe Lexus LS is a full-size luxury sedan that serves as the flagship model of Lexus, the luxury division of Toyota. Four generations of the sedan have been produced, all equipped with V8 engines and rear-wheel drive. Since 2006, all-wheel drive, hybrid, and long wheelbase variants have also been...
) and the
LexiconLexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
, two manufacturers are made by the same company,
Harman InternationalHarman International Industries is an international audio and infotainment equipment company. The company designs, manufactures and markets audio and infotainment products for the car, the home, theatres and venues, as well as electronics for audio professionals...
. The
Rolls-Royce PhantomRolls-Royce has used the Phantom name on luxury cars over the past century:* Rolls-Royce Phantom I, 1925–1931* Rolls-Royce Phantom II, 1929–1936* Rolls-Royce Phantom III, 1936–1939* Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, 1950–1959...
and the Genesis sedan are the only automobiles to offer the
LexiconLexicon is an American audio equipment manufacturing company founded in 1971 and owned by Harman International Industries. Lexicon's roots began in 1969 with the founding of American Data Sciences by MIT professor Dr...
audio system.
The Hyundai Genesis utilizes a speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering, and comes with four-wheel disc brakes. The suspension is a multi-link setup in front and a 5-link setup in the rear. Weight distribution is 53% front / 47% rear for the V8 and 52% front / 48% rear for the V6.
Standard safety features include dual front airbags, front and rear side airbags, side-curtain airbags, ABS, brake assist, EBD, traction control, and electronic stability control.
Crash scores
- Frontal Driver:
- Frontal Passenger:
- Side Driver:
- Side Rear Passenger:
- Rollover:
- "Top Safety Pick" Award by IIHS (US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety)
South Korea
A full production version went on sale on January 8, 2008 in Hyundai's home market of South Korea . Notably, the Korean market Genesis does not carry a Hyundai badge, only the 'Genesis' emblem.
The Korean model is available with a 3.3L V6 producing , and a 3.8L V6 producing .
Hyundai has come under criticism from Korean consumers over the price discrepancy between the US and Korean markets.
YonhapYonhap News Agency is a publicly-funded news agency based in the capital Seoul, South Korea that supplies domestic and foreign news and information to newspaper and TV broadcast and other media in South Korea.-Organisation:...
reports the Genesis costs "58.3 million won (US$57,000) in Korea, whereas in the U.S. it sells for $32,000." This has led to a growing market in reimported Genesises by gray market dealers. Korean regulators are currently investigating whether Hyundai has abused its 75% domestic market share.
North America
Marketed as the Hyundai Genesis in the US and Canada, the vehicle is the largest, most powerful car that Hyundai has ever marketed there.
The Genesis V6 model has a starting price of US$33,000, while the V8 model starts at US$38,000, including destination charge. According to Hyundai Motor America's current Genesis website, the U.S. engines are projected to be 290 HP for the 3.8L V6, and for 4.6L V8 respectively. Power in the 4.6L V8 drops to when regular unleaded fuel is used. (As of April, the 3.3L V6 264 hp lineup has been dropped from coming into the United States. There will be only two cars in the summer of 2008, and they are 3.8L V6 with and 4.6L V8 with 375 hp).
The 3.8 V6 model has standard ESC, fog lights, ABS brakes, an Aisin 6-speed automatic transmission,
BluetoothBluetooth is an open wireless protocol for exchanging data over short distances from fixed and mobile devices, creating personal area networks . It was originally conceived as a wireless alternative to RS232 data cables...
hands-free phone capability, and a push-button starting system that is shared with the
Hyundai VeracruzThe Hyundai Veracruz is a luxury full-size crossover SUV sold by Hyundai in the countries of United States, Canada, South Korea, China, Dominican Republic, Brazil, and the Middle East. The official date of unveiling in South Korea was October 12, 2006, and was made available in the United States...
. It also offers a Premium Package, which adds a leather-wrapped dashboard and door trims, a power sunroof, a Lexicon 15-speaker audio system with a 6 single-feed CD changer, power tilt-and telescopic steering wheel, a power rear sunshade, rain-sensing windshield wipers, and an automatic defogging windshield. The Premium Plus Package offers the Premium Package and special 18-inch wheels. The Technology Package offers another Lexicon audio system with 17-speakers, ventilated driver's seat, a navigation system, a backup camera, and a complimentary XM NavTraffic system. The navigation system adds a back-up camera, and is controlled by a multimedia knob controller by the shift gear.
The 4.6 V8 model offers all the standard features of the Genesis 3.8 model, but adds a woodgrain trimmed steering wheel, 18" wheels, leather seating surfaces, and special lower body chrome trim. The Technology Package is also featured with this trim level. Leather seating surfaces will not be offered on the 4.6 V8 model in Canada.
The Genesis sedan went on sale in the US in August 2008. In its first 5 months of sales, the Genesis under-performed in the competitive US market selling only 6,167 units. According to Hyundai, Genesis saw sales of just 1297 units in its first full sales month and the company expected to move around 8000 units from the US showrooms by the end of 2008.
There had been internal discussions within Hyundai about creating a separate luxury brand to house the Genesis sedan as well as the soon to come Equus sedan in North America, but due to prohibitive costs and potential delays the Genesis and Equus will still remain tagged with the Hyundai brand.
China
To be sold as
Hyundai Rohens in China, the unveiling is scheduled for Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, 2008. Sales began in August 2008.
Europe
According to Hyundai spokesman Oles Gadacz, the Genesis will not be marketed in Europe because of Lexus's failure to thrive in Europe.
According to a September 2007 article in Tradingmarkets.com, " in the eyes of European purchasers of luxury vehicles, Hyundai sedans have been perceived as having a poor image and unreliable durability compared with its rivals." "The planned launch of Genesis comes at a time when Hyundai is striving to shake off its poor-brand image, known for generous warranties and low prices."
Coupe version
A rear wheel drive sports car from Hyundai, dubbed
Hyundai Genesis CoupeThe Hyundai Genesis Coupe is a rear-wheel drive sports coupe from Hyundai Motor Company, released on October 13, 2008 for the Korean market. It is Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive sports coupe, and shares its basic platform with the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan.The Genesis Coupe arrived in United...
and sharing the Genesis Sedan's platform and name, was unveiled at the 2008 New York International Auto Show.
Media coverage
The Hyundai Genesis was listed in Motor Trends 2007 "Top Ten Cars Worth Waiting For" and was featured in TV ads during the third and fourth quarters of
Super Bowl XLIISuper Bowl XLII was an American football game that featured the National Football Conference champion New York Giants and the American Football Conference champion New England Patriots to decide the National Football League champion for the 2007 season...
. As a part of Hyundai's 'Think About It' ad campaign, the ads suggested the Genesis offers "7-series size, 5 series performance, 3-series price."
- See: Genesis Super Bowl TV ad One and Two
During an early review by South Korean reviewer, Hyundai Motor America responded that the South Korean market favors a different kind of large luxury sedan, one that's softer, more luxurious, and more Buick-like; while the North American version would have more sporty suspension. However, even the stiffened model still has much softer feel than
Mercedes-Benz E550The Mercedes-Benz E-Class is a range of executive-size cars manufactured by Mercedes-Benz in various engine and body configurations. The E initially stood for Einspritzmotor, ; a new feature in volume production vehicles at the time that the E-Class first appeared, with the E as a suffix to the...
.
The base Genesis with the V6 engine is priced at $37,995 CAD and compete with entry-level luxury cars such as the
Lexus ESThe Lexus ES series is a family of mid-size luxury sedans sold by Lexus since 1989. Now in its fifth generation, the series has been consistently built on the Toyota Camry platform with a V6 engine, automatic transmission, and front-wheel drive...
350 and
Cadillac CTSThe Cadillac CTS is a mid-size luxury sports sedan and executive car manufactured by the Cadillac marque of General Motors. It was introduced in 2002 as the replacement for the unpopular Cadillac Catera. The release of the CTS is credited with reinvigorating the Cadillac brand...
, though equipment-wise it is comparable to mid-luxury sedans such as the
Lexus GSThe Lexus GS is a series of mid-size luxury sports sedans / executive cars sold by Lexus since 1993. Designed to fill the gap between the ES and LS, and to provide Lexus with a performance sedan to compete in the mid-luxury class, three generations of the GS have been produced to date...
or
Infiniti MThe "M" nameplate has been used on various mid-size cars from Infiniti. This includes the M30 Coupe/Convertible, and the M45 and M35 sedans, both of which are unrelated to the M30...
. The Genesis with the 4.6-litre V8 starts at $43,995 CAD and its performance is comparable with the BMW 550i and Mercedes E550.
Awards
The Genesis sedan named as
Consumer ReportsConsumer Reports is an American magazine published monthly by Consumers Union. It publishes reviews and comparisons of consumer products and services based on reporting and results from its in-house testing laboratory. It also publishes cleaning and general buying guides...
'Top-Rated Upscale Sedan', highest ranked midsize premium car by JD Power APEAL study (beating out the
BMW 5 SeriesThe BMW 5 Series is a mid-size / executive car manufactured by BMW since 1972. The car, now in its fifth generation, is sold in sedan and touring body styles....
,
Jaguar XFThe Jaguar XF is a mid-size luxury car / sports saloon made by Jaguar Cars, as a replacement of Jaguar S-Type.-Jaguar C-XF :Jaguar C-XF is a concept car for the then upcoming Jaguar XF. The design was led by Jaguar Director of Design Ian Callum and Head of Advanced Design Julian Thomson...
), Tops JD Power's Vehicle Launch Index (VLI), Automotive, Performance, Execution awards by J.D. Power, Car of the Year by Autotropolis.com, named AutoPacific ideal vehicle award winner, recognized as a best new model for 2009 by
Kiplinger's Personal FinanceKiplinger's Personal Finance is a magazine that has been continuously published, on a monthly basis, from 1947 to the present day. It was the nation's first personal finance magazine, and prides itself on delivering "sound, unbiased advice in clear, concise language"...
, Top Safety Award by IIHS (US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety),
Cars.comCars.com is a website which launched in June 1998. It is a division of Classified Ventures, which is in turn a joint venture by major media companies including the Gannett Company, the McClatchy Company, the Washington Post Company, the Tribune Company, and Belo.Cars.com claims that two thirds of...
New Car of the Year, Luxury and Value on the Best New Car List by
About.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
, Car of the Year at the 2009 Urban Wheel Awards by Wheels Media, named a “Top 5 Luxury Car for 2009” & "Car of the Month (April)" & "Best Car Buy" by the U.S. National Automobile Dealers Association (NADAguides.com), "Best Bet" awards from The Car Book, MyRide/Autobytel editors' Choice award, named a consumer guide recommended buy, consumers digest (luxury segment) best buy, America's Top 40 New Cars by
Motor TrendMotor Trend is an automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line The Magazine for a Motoring World. Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen magazines to...
, The Genesis was assessed as having the highest residual value by the Automotive Lease Guide while the National Automobile Dealers Association named the Genesis one of the top five luxury sedans.
According to editor-in-chief blog of
Motor TrendMotor Trend is an automobile magazine. It first appeared in September 1949, issued by Petersen Publishing Company in Los Angeles, and bearing the tag line The Magazine for a Motoring World. Petersen Publishing was sold to British publisher EMAP in 1998, who sold the former Petersen magazines to...
magazine, "Hyundai Genesis: A Car Detroit Can Now Only Dream of Building?", The Genesis came close to winning the 2009 Motor Trend Car of the Year title.
USA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth...
praised that Hyundai proves it's a master of luxury. In a survey of over consumers, Hyundai owners placed the Genesis luxury sedan at the top of their classes in AutoPacific's Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) research.
The Genesis has received a number of well-recognized automobile awards worldwide. Most notably, the Genesis has been named 2009
North American Car of the YearThe North American Car of the Year is an automobile award voted annually in January at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The jury consists of no more than 50 automotive journalists.-Example:-Pre-1994:-1994-1999:-2000-2009:...
, the first for Hyundai. It also won the 2009
Canadian Car of the YearCanadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:-Canadian Car of the Year:Canadian Car of the Year winners, as chosen by the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada:-Canadian Car of the Year:...
after winning its category of Best New Luxury Car under $50,000. It also won the 2009 Car of the Year award by China's Autoworld magazine. The Hyundai's V8 Tau engine in the Genesis, which develops on premium fuel and on regular fuel, received 2009
Ward's 10 Best EnginesWard's 10 Best Engines is an annual list of the ten "best" automobile engines available in the U.S. market, that are selected by Ward's AutoWorld magazine. The list was started in 1994, and has been drawn every year since then....
award.
Prada edition
The Hyundai Genesis Prada edition have been released prior to the car’s debut at the 2009
Seoul Motor ShowThe Seoul Motor Show is a biennial auto show held at KINTEX , Goyang, Gyeonggi-do. Hosted by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association , It is recognized as an international show by the Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs d'Automobiles.-2007:The 6th Seoul Motor Show runs from April...
. Developed with the famous European fashion label
PradaPrada S.p.A. is an Italian fashion label designed by Mario Prada, specializing in luxury goods for men and women , founded by Mario Prada. The label is a status symbol...
, the car received many luxurious upgrades. The exterior of the Genesis Prada has been coated in a special matte-finish dark blue paint. The vehicle also comes with exclusive 20-inch nine spoke alloy wheels while the interior includes illuminated flooring, door trims and white Saffiano leather on the seats and dash. Hyundai and Prada worked on only three examples of the Genesis Prada.
RKSport Edition
Hyundai has unveils the high performance version of the Genesis Sedan at the 2008 SEMA Show. RKSport Hyundai Genesis Sedan is a customized, high-performance Genesis sedan that developed by Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc (HATCI) and RKSport, Inc. Powered by a supercharged version of the
Tau V8 engineThe Tau is Hyundai Motor Company's newest V8 engine, replacing the Omega. It is reported to deliver an estimated and of torque -- on premium unleaded fuel -- at . The engine can adapt to run on regular fuel without damage, although with slightly lower performance.News reports also suggest the...
which produces 460-horsepower with the help of an IHI screw-type supercharger and 11 pounds of boost for performance driving. The car reaches 60 mph in 4.8 seconds and clicks through the quarter mile gate in 13.48 seconds at 108 mph. It offers an estimated 18 mpg in city and 27 mpg on the highway.
DUB Edition
Hyundai teamed with
DUB MagazineDUB magazine, founded in January 2000, is a North American magazine covering urban custom car culture and also features celebrities and their vehicles. The magazine also launched the DUB Magazine Custom Auto Show & Concert, a nationwide car show and concert tour that spans 16 United States cities...
to get the attention of those people and show what could be done to a Genesis sedan. The DUB Edition Genesis has a black and white theme inside and out. The color-matched 22-inch TIS Model 12.0 wheels and black roof. The interior features a white leather seats with black piping with, a black suede headliner, and leather and suede door inserts. The sound system has also been completely revamped with an Alpine DVD headunit, 2.7-inch LCD monitors in headrest, and subwoofers in a custom fiberglass enclosure box.
External links