Hyundai Genesis News

It, and fellow Korean sister Kia, have improved their build quality in recent years. Now the engineering product is standing up among the more recognised car manufacturers.The i30 small car won our 2007 Carsguide car of the year and Hyundai has not stopped there.Its new premium Genesis saloon is winning best-car awards in North America and we can look forward to other new models soon to be launched in Australia.They include the Genesis Coupe, the i20 small car and the i30cw which is a roomier wagon version of the hatch on which it is based.The Genesis Coupe and the i30cw will be unveiled at the Melbourne Motor Show from the end of this month.The coupe will be offered with a two-litre, turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.8-litre V6 tuned to a big 231kW, and this in a rear-wheel-drive sporty with stability control, traction control and keyless entry.The i30cw wagon is 320mm longer and 40mm taller than the i30 hatchback and on a slightly longer wheelbase. It aims to offer more room for rear seat passengers and luggage and so is a better proposition for small families.The i20 will be a small hatchback, on sale here in the third quarter of this year, boasting technology usually found in larger, more costly cars. It will be fuel efficient and, for its size, have a relatively long wheelbase.Hyundai has grown to be one of the world's biggest car makers and sits in the top 10 most popular makes in Australia.Vfacts figures from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries show last year it sold more than 45,000 new cars in Australia, putting it as eighth biggest-selling brand and ahead of Subaru and Volkswagen. 

And now Hyundai has teamed up with the famed house to collaborate on three special edition Genesis sedans.The companies are boasting about combining the best technology and industrial design with quality materials, craftsmanship and "an innovative new approach aimed at creating a new driving experience."One of the cars will be the star of next year's Seoul Motor Show, before taking pride-of-place in the Hyundai Motor Company headquarters in Seoul.The other two vehicles will be auctioned off at the Prada Transformer - a tetrahedron-shaped temporary building adjacent Seoul's Kyeonghee Palace to host a range cultural and fashion events next year.The proceeds will be donated to a charity designated by both companies.Prada’s design team will create three special edition Genesis sedans in Italy over a four month period, working closely with Hyundai Motor Company’s engineers and own designers, using the houses signature materials."We've made a name for ourselves as a quality automaker, and are now focusing on raising our brand image," said James Choi, Hyundai Motors President of International Sales."We are extremely delighted that Prada, one of the best and most innovative luxury goods brands, has agreed to work with us and infuse their creative energy into our products."Hyundai has offered its first representative in the luxury car segment this year with its new rear-wheel drive V6 and V8 sedan Genesis and says it is opening its doors to "innovative and creative ideas from the world's best.Hyundai says the Prada project lays the foundation for future co-operation between them and other specially-selected partners.

But it may be some time before it reaches Australia.“At the moment it is only being produced in left-hand drive,” Hyundai Australia's Ben Hershman says. “We're anxious to convince head office the the Coupe is important to us here.“It is the car that will show just how far Hyundai has come and how exciting the brand is.”The replacement for the ageing Tiburon Coupe takes Hyundai into new territory with its rear-wheel-drive architecture and sports performance.Powering the top end Coupe is an all-aluminium 231kW 3.8-litre DOHC V6, while at the entry level the engine is a 166kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four.The V6 features dual continuously variable valve timing and with 361Nm of torque on tap the car will set behind a 0-100km/h sprint 6.3 seconds.The V6 is mated to a six-speed ZF automatic. A six-speed manual is also available and features a short-stroke shifter, optimised gear ratios and triple cone synchronisers.The optimised chassis makes for dynamic handling and more accurate steering. Dual MacPherson struts control the front and the rear has a five-link set-up. High strength steel give a stiffer, lighter body structure.Safety fare is likely to include anti-lock brakes, traction control, stability control, six airbags and active headrests. 

Surrounded by hybrid and fuel cell cars of every type and size the stars of the annual Big Apple motorfest remain the muscle cars.

Surrounded by hybrid and fuel cell cars of every type and size the stars of the annual Big Apple motorfest remain the muscle cars.

DETROIT: While they may or may not end up in driveways, there were plenty of vehicles turning heads at this week's North American International Auto Show, including Hyundai's new luxury sedan, a Cadillac coupe, Chrysler's green concept cars and a hybrid Toyota pickup.Slumping US car sales did not slow down the action at the grandaddy of the car show circuit, where car makers introduced more than 50 production and concept models in three media preview days. High fuel prices did not play much of a role, either. For every plug-in hybrid or fuel-cell concept, there was a 620 horsepower Chevrolet Corvette or a brand new full-sized sport utility vehicle from Kia. Chrysler promoted a tiny electric concept car as well as the full-sized Dodge Ram, which made a grand entrance alongside 120 longhorn cattle.“The overriding theme was that there was no theme,” says Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book, the car buyers' guide.Car makers put a head-spinning variety of fuel-efficient technologies in cars at every price range. There was the $US80,000 ($91,000) Fisker Karma, a plug-in electric hybrid sports car with Maserati good looks that can travel 80km on a single charge. BYD, one of four Chinese car makers at the show, unveiled a plug-in hybrid sedan that will go on sale in China for under $US30,000 this year. Ford introduced EcoBoost, a direct injection, turbocharged engine which it says will improve fuel economy by 20 per cent. Even Ferrari unveiled an ethanol-capable F430 Spider.Diesel engines, which are about 30 per cent more efficient than their petrol counterparts, made a big comeback now that cleaner diesel fuel allows them to meet emissions standards in all 50 US states. BMW unveiled its first diesel-powered vehicles for the US market, the 335d coupe and X5 xDrive35d sport utility vehicle. Audi showed a 500 horsepower diesel super car concept, the Audi R8 V12 TDI, which can go from zero to 90km/h in 4.2 seconds. Daimler offered a diesel option on its GLK compact sport utility vehicle, among others.But diesels were not limited to German car makers. Toyota announced it would soon offer a diesel V-8 in the Tundra pickup and the Sequoia SUV, while Honda said it would put a diesel engine in its Acura sedan in 2010. Chrysler put a diesel hybrid in its Jeep Renegade concept vehicle, while General Motors has a diesel engine in its Saturn Flextreme plug-in concept car.David Champion, the senior director of Consumer Reports' Auto Test Centre, says diesel used to connote pollution and big trucks. He is eager to see if clean diesel has changed that perception, and if US consumers will choose diesel even though it is no cheaper than petrol.“Whether the marketplace is going to endorse diesels remains to be seen,” he says.Other car makers met demands for more fuel-efficient vehicles by downsizing. The Hummer HX concept, a Jeep-like offroad vehicle with a removable roof, would be the smallest Hummer ever if it is made. Toyota's A-BAT concept is the Prius version of a pickup, with a hybrid powertrain and a 1.3m bed. Land Rover unveiled the compact three-door LRX concept, while parent Ford showed the Ford Explorer America concept, a reworking of its phenomenally popular SUV that uses a unibody frame — rather than the traditional truck frame — to save fuel and give the vehicle a more car-like ride.“Explorer has been such an important model for them over the years. Taking that in an inventive direction that's still true to the Explorer name could be a big success for them,” Nerad says.Ford also got kudos for the eye-popping design of its Verve concept, which showed what Ford's subcompact may look like when it hits the US market in 2010.“Here's your proof that good design doesn't cost any more than bad design, but it makes all the difference in the world in terms of buzz,” Global Insight car analyst Aaron Bragman says of the Verve.Other cars generating serious buzz were the Cadillac CTS coupe, a sharp-looking, two-door concept that many analysts agreed was a highlight of the show, and the posh Hyundai Genesis sedan.Hyundai hopes Genesis will help it compete with other luxury makers when it goes on sale this year for just under $US40,000, but analysts aren't sure the bet will pay off, saying the Hyundai name means great value but not luxury. “You don't sell Mercedes-Benz and BMW because they're great value. You sell them because of the cachet and the image,” Bragman says. 

Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive represents a $600 million investment for the Korean company and was engineered with the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Lexus GS in mind.This week's launch marked its introduction in Korea. It will make its way to North America in June and China by the second half of the year. It will also be exported to the Middle East.But Australians will have to wait. Hyundai Australia director of sales and marketing Kevin McCann says Genesis hasn't been confirmed for Australia. “The Genesis is a great looking car and a very exciting prospect for Hyundai,” he says.“If we were to launch it in Australia, it would be post 2009.” While it carries a starting price of $49,800 in the U.S., Hyundai Australia says it's too early to say what price it would be if it did become available in Australia.The Genesis is available with a 3.3-litre V6, a 3.8-litre V6 and will also be joined by a 4.6-litre V8 engine later in the year.

Hyundai's first rear-wheel-drive represents a $600 million investment for the Korean company and was engineered with the likes of the BMW 5 series, the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and the Lexus GS in mind.This week's launch marked its introduction in Korea. It will make its way to North America in June and China by the second half of the year.It will also be exported to the Middle East. But Australians will have to wait.Hyundai Australia's director of sales and marketing Kevin McCann says it isn't a model that has yet been confirmed for Australia.“The Genesis is a great looking car and a very exciting prospect for Hyundai,” he says.“If we were to launch it in Australia it would be post 2009.”While it carries a starting price of $US44,000 ($49,796) in the US, Hyundai Australia says it's too early to say what price it would be if it does become available in Australia.The Genesis is available with a 3.3-litre V6, a 3.8-litre V6 and will also be joined by a 4.6-litre V8 engine later in the year. The Genesis concept car was unveiled at last year's New York motor show in March, but this week marked the first public viewing of the production model.“Genesis is the pride of Hyundai technology and symbolises our determination to enter the highly competitive arena of luxury cars now dominated by the Europeans,” Hyundai chairman and CEO Chung Mong-Koo says. “Genesis will consolidate our position as the leader of the Korean auto industry and will pave the way forward for our leap into the global market.”  How well do you think the Hyundai Gensis will do in Australia?