2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

• Competes with: Pontiac G8, Chrysler 300C, Lexus GS
• Looks like: Most Japanese luxury sedans, but no logo on the grille so you won’t know you’re driving a Hyundai
• Drivetrain: 3.3-liter V-6 268 hp, 3.8-liter V-6 290 hp, 4.6-liter V-8 368 hp engine, 6-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

After seeing a nearly finished concept in New York last year, the final production version of the Hyundai Genesis sedan shouldn't be a big surprise. However, Hyundai has plenty of surprises for us when it comes to details about the company's attempt to move upmarket.

The starting price for a V-6 Genesis will be less than $30,000 but, of course, Hyundai is mum on pricing for the top-of-the-line V-8 model, which will pump out a whopping 368 horsepower and 324 pounds-feet of torque — on regular gas, no less. That puts a whomping on most of the competition in this class in terms of power.

The V-6s don't sound like slouches either, with two to choose from producing either 268 or 290 hp. All three engines come with six-speed automatic transmissions.

Hyundai is comparing the Genesis with every luxury make on the market — including Acura, Lexus, BMW and Mercedes — but seeing these early interior photos, we think the Genesis will really compete with the Pontiac G8s and Chrysler 300Cs of the world in terms of interior feel.

Still, there is a lot jam-packed into the Genesis. On the safety side, there are eight airbags, including front- and rear-seat-mounted side airbags, which is not the norm. The Genesis’ electronic active head restraint system is also a Hyundai first. Antilock brakes and stability control come standard.

There are also a number of amenities Hyundai has listed for the Genesis, but it’s not yet saying whether they're standard or optional. We'll post more info when we get a full options list. For now, check out the photos below and feel free to weigh in on whether Hyundai is smart to target luxury nameplates when it's competing on a different level.

Comments

[LM]

No logo on the grill makes it look generic. Perhaps this would have been an opportunity for a new logo. The slanted H was on the Excel, right?

"Active head restraints are also a Hyundai first with the Genesis." the current elantra, sonata, azera, and veracruz all have active head restraints.

[Dave T.]

sorry. It's a new electric active head restraint system that's all new. Edit made above.

I like Hyundai, but like most mainstream brands, their dealerships are awful. Luxury buyers demand different treatment and with one real luxury car, it will be kinda hard for the sales people, I think, because lets face it, the level of service is very different when you compare buying a civic to an RL, corrolla to LS, versa to M, aveo to STS, focus to Navigator, etc.

I think "Genesis" is a cool name for a brand- maybe they could make a small boutique brand with seperate dealers- like those crazy Japanese did. Seemes to have paid off. :)

[KJ]

Just as I have been saying for quite some time now Hyundai needs a new logo. The melted and warped "H" is old and represents the poor quality of past Hyundai Excels. By not putting any grill logo does as one post above mentions, makes it generic.

[L.S.]

The looks are extremely generic with a bit of BMW and Honda in there and selling this at the same dealership next to an Accent or Elantra is definitely not going to help them.

In any case, I'm extremely doubtful that those in the market for a luxury sedan will give up the badge cache that easily and consider a Hyundai.
As someone pointed out before me, I think they're just testing the waters here for a potential new separate luxury brand.

[matt]

wow that is a nice car!!! so is the inside

but the steering wheel just remind you once again that its a Hyundai....

[Joe W.]

Holy crap. It has iDrive.

[D]

Of course it didn't come out anything like the concept! Very Lexus looking in front. The interior is nice except that cheap looking steering wheel!!

[Kevin]

Hmm, I thought they were gonna use the actual Genesis logo that looks like a Mini logo from Korea. The grille doesn't look as cool as the Korean one and looks like a skeleton... But still, this car is gonna change Hyundai. :)

[Dave T.]

I actually really like the logoless grille. It gives it an organic look and actually is the least generic part of the car. I don't think Hyundai buyers care if there's a big H on the front and they'd give that up for a better design.

[jon]

What happened to the Azera?

[Yeah!!! Awwww. Yeah!!!!]

It's like all the luxury brands had a pot luck. Don't get me wrong, this car is a banger. But for under 30 or even mid 30's for the V8, you aren't going to get the luxury conquest into it. It's price ego. What you will get is a bunch of Honda, Camry, Altima, Malibu buyers thinking twice about how much they are getting for their money.

Marketing will tell if this lives or dies. No new logo is going to change the fact the brand has a bad rep. It got off on the wrong foot. Look at Infiniti, that brand flopped when it launched and critics still don't name drop it in articles...like this one for example.

In the end Hyundai nailed it and kicked open the door on affordable luxury for the masses. I can't wait to see this Lexus LS sitting next to its rivals on the 405 or at the valet.

Make it in a V8 hybrid and it's all over.

[John]

That interior is way to similar to the Infiniti Q45

[joe]

wow hyundai about time a bigger car but not at the right time, the resale value is just like a kia, i will stick to the camry cmon ppl this genesis looks like a mixture of lexus,camry and the mercedes s550 from the front, and the back looks like a BMW and the interio dashboard looks alot like a infiniti Q45.and i can assure you is going to be like the kia amanti is going to loose its resale value really big, like i said i would stick to the camry xle or hybrid even though more money or less horsepower but i know is going to be worth it.

[Infosaur]

If anything I think this looks like a crib from the Infinity/Lexus school of design. The interior though, seems kinda Buick to me. From some angle the car works really well, in others it looks like a car from a Mylanta ad where the copywriters didn't get approval to use a certain mfg's car in their ad so the cars are digitally altered to look genaric (or at least the badges are removed, or sometimes blatently taped over with electrical tape)

How it drives and handles is the $2mil question. HP is nice but if it rides too floaty it's just not gonna find buyers. Although Hyundai made that mistake with the XG already so maybe they've learned.

And one final note, I like the rear, but after looking at last year's concept I miss the crease in the hood and the notch in the grill. It kinda gave the nose a little signature. The wave form grill bars are a little unusual (I wonder if this was something Mazda was gonna do) It coul be a unique signature but personally it's not for me.

[TOYOTAtakingovergm]

look at discrimination, it competes with the "Pontiac G8, Chrysler 300C, Lexus GS". if it competes with the GS, how come it doesn't compete with the m-class, 5 series, infiniti m series, caddy sts, etc. are you, Dave T, saying only the GS and not the aforementioned cars competes with the genesis even tho the GS is in the same class as the others. if the GS competes with the genesis then all those other cars in that class competes wit the genesis!!! This is just one of the many discriminatory practices of cars.com!!!

[Bowrider]

Don't blog on the site ToyotaHumper if you don't like it. Please don't spoil a good web log with rediculous comments like that, YarisLover. If you want it to compete with those cars, TercelThumper, than go ahead and have your comparison in that crazy little Xb head of yours.

[J]

So the Genesis will be a coupe or a sedan?
I remember seeing a concept on Motro Trend with the same name.

A very stately and beautiful design; I don't see how mixing all the elements from other luxury-car brands is a bad thing (as if Hyundai hasn't done that before anyway...). However, I agree that the steering wheel looks very flimsy and out-of-place for such a grand vehicle. The front is almost reminiscent of the Maybach design.

[Graham]

Although most drivers of such vehicles probably never push their cars hard, it makes a lot of difference to how positive a review of a luxury car is if a car handles well, reviewers generally being more critical. In the case of the Genesis I think its handling will be crucial to its success.

If it wallows around like a Buick, reviewers will dislike it and it will get generally poor - or at least condescending - reviews. If it manages to be as good as a Mercedes it will get disproportionately better reviews.

I don' think there's much chance it will equal a BMW or even an Infiniti, but if it does, then not only will I be extremely surprised, but it has the potential to be more disruptive of the existing luxury marques than Lexus was nearly 20 years ago.

[Aussie Boy]

the front end looks slightly like the new S-class and thev tail lights look like BMW ones, but u have to admit hyundai are getting better with their style and quality.

[Aussie Boy]

by the way the Pontiac G8 would be in a different leauge if GM had vbased it on the Holden (HSV, Holden Special Vehicles)Clubsport R8 or GTS which are in a class of high performance family sedans

[Justme]

It kinda looks like an S Class in the front Q45 from the rear and a BMW from the side angle all in all quite a nice looking vehicle Not sure if I would buy it with the same steering wheel that the Accent that the Sonata has but again very nice to see what you get when you cross breed many cars... Beautiful Mutt Hyundai has there

I think taking luxury styling cues from established luxury marques is a good idea. If this looked like a hyundai, it wouldn't look luxurious because hyundai us not synonimous with luxury. Lexus, for example all the LS's until the current one, had lots of Mercedes styling cues. Acura and Infiniti were mostly original, and look which brand is most successful. Even know, although I really like the "L'finesse" styling language, the LS still favors a 7 series BMW more than a little bit.

[Dean3927]

The Genesis project began with the goal of creating a luxury sports sedan, reflected perhaps in the torsional rigidity (14% or so stiffer than the 5-series, I heard) and the 5-point multi-link suspension (which the 5-series and the E-class do not offer). I think it will handle quite well - I am not worried that it will float like a Buick. Here's a link to the catalog (in Korean):

http://www.bobaedream.co.kr/board/data/data_view.php?code=national&No=89921

And the press release:

http://hyundainews.com/Media_Kits/2009_Models/Genesis/Press_Release.asp

[Bowrider]

The WSJ featured an aricle on the Genenis today. In the photo, the car appears to have a logo on the hood, just above the grill. It is reminiscent of what Kevin mentioned in his comment.

[Dave T.]

Bowrider,
That's the Korean version. It won't be sold here so no logo on top of the hood and those wheels won't be sold here either I don't believe.

[rogjd]

IT looks just like the Lexus LS...hyundai needs to find a design identity because none of its cars really stand out from the crowd....they are bettering in quality and overall the cars look really well built especially the interior on the genesis but noone wants to but a car that noone can recognize and differentiate from the other models out there. I do give props to them putting over 350hp in the V8

[J]

Before thinking of the LS, it looks much more like the last gen S-class to me.