Hyundai Genesis Sedan: Evolving The Brand

Motoring Channel Staff - 10/November/2007

Seoul, Korea — Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive vehicle, the Genesis sedan, has broken cover in Korea.

The new look sedan will spearhead the company's foray into the luxury rear-wheel drive car market and is aimed at increasing its badge value in major markets like North America and emerging markets such as China.

The new Hyundai Genesis sedan will be joined by a hard-charging 2-door coupe in 2009, which can be seen here in concept form.

Hyundai has stated that the new rear-wheel drive sedan will be sold in North America, China, and Korea and will be kitted out with the kind of luxury trimmings you'd expect on a Lexus. 

The vehicle is as yet unconfirmed for Australia.

It will be badged as a Genesis in Korea and China eschewing the Hyundai badge. It is likely to be badged as a Hyundai in the U.S. though there is a chance the company will launch the 'Genesis' brand outside Asia in the future, not unlike when Toyota launched the Lexus brand in 1989.

The new Hyundai Genesis features a 6-speed automatic transmission that diverts engine power to the rear wheels for a proper premium car feel. There is currently a choice of 3.3- and 3.8-litre V6 engines and also the automaker's brand new 4.6-litre V8 engines (codenamed Tau).

While the V6 Lambda engines churn out between around 170 and 200kW, it's the new 4.6-litre V8 that's stealing the limelight with up to 280kW of power.

Hyundai needs a V8-powered rear-wheel drive vehicle to appeal to luxury car buyers, and with about 280 kilowatts (375hp) the new 4.6-litre engine is expected to ruffle a few feathers when it launches in the United States.

Hyundai will unveil the American version of the Genesis sedan at the 2008 Detroit Motor Show in January where it's expected to generate quite a bit of buzz.

The Concept Genesis show car (which was our first look at the new car) launched in March 2007 at the New York Motor Show, and the technical data suggested a zero to 100km/h time of less than 6.0 seconds. Now this was for the concept car, but seeing as the new V8 engine for the production model has turned out to be more powerful than Hyundai initially expected, the new Genesis could be even quicker.

Hyundai says the Tau V8 is a flexible powerplant, and has left door open to future modifications, suggesting possible changes like forced induction, larger displacement, and and other technology enhancements, possibly hybrid.

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- Hyundai Concept Genesis Sedan (2008)
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