Hyundai Genesis

[996GT2]

Just saw this ad while watching the SuperBowl, and found the level of features to be pretty amazing in a car priced at $30k for the 3.8L V6 model. Starting prices for the V8 model are around $35k.

Info:

http://www.leftlanenews.com/hyundai-genesis.html

Picture Gallery:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos...hyundai-genesis-sedan/

I think the styling is part Lexus LS (lights), part Mercedes (grille), and part BMW 5-series (Bangle tail, anyone?)...but overall, I think the car looks pretty decent, and for the price ($30k for a V6, maybe $40k for a fully loaded V8), the features are astonishing.

Highlights:
3.3L, 264HP, 3.8L, 290HP, and 4.6L, 375HP Engine Options
6-speed automatic transmission with manual shift (Aisin on V6, ZF on V8)
Runs on regular gas

Some of the options and features:

Heated/Cooled Seats
Bluetooth/iPod Dock
Rain sensing wipers
Adaptive headlights
Adaptive cruise control
Proximity Key, push button start
Nav system with 8" display
Backup camera
HD/Satellite radio
30GB in-dash HDD
500-watt, 17-speaker Harmon/Becker Lexicon Audio System (apparently the only other car with a Lexicon system is the Rolls Royce Phantom)
10Year/100K Mile warranty

 

[thomsbrain]

It will be a car to take seriously once it is released. If nothing else, maybe it will encourage the other manufacturers to keep working hard.

 

[T2urtle]

if i was to get this. the H on the steering wheel is the FIRST to go.. it looks so out of place. its a nice looking wood interior with the dumb chrome emblem...

car looks really nice. 10/100k very tempting because none of the higher end guys can afford to do that. but its still a hyundai so i wonder about the design and engineering behind cars like this.

 

[iamwiz82]

IMHO, costs have to be cut somewhere to get those kinds of features at that price point. Even parts made in Korea/China don't come that cheap, in the end.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: T2urtle
if i was to get this. the H on the steering wheel is the FIRST to go.. it looks so out of place. its a nice looking wood interior with the dumb chrome emblem...

car looks really nice. 10/100k very tempting because none of the higher end guys can afford to do that. but its still a hyundai so i wonder about the design and engineering behind cars like this.

IMO Hyundai is quite capable of making an excellent luxury sedan. My dad has an Azera and it's quite nice for what it is. They are more or less comparable to Toyotas and Hondas nowadays, albeit with lesser fit and finish than the Lexus/Acura divisions. The Genesis is more of an old-man car than anything I would personally buy, but I bet it will be a great car for the money, and I wouldn't be surprised if they increase the price significantly after selling it for an artificially low price initially (as Lexus did with the LS).

 

[BarneyFife]

This car is going to be a flop.

 

[rh71]

When Hyundai decided to change their image with the highly touted and respected Sonata, they needed to change their logo as well. I see that same logo now and the same thoughts of cheapness come to mind. Everything else looks a lot better these days.

 

[MovingTarget]

Hyundai has really improved their lineup over the past few years imho and should be taken seriously. The Genesis, if it doesn't turn out to be an Edsel , will truly show that they can make a true full-size traditional car as good as anyone. The v6 price point is a little too high when comparing it to say, an Impala LTZ, but is close. I hope it does well.

 

[GTaudiophile]

LOL. I see massive depreciation on this thing.

It's also a rip off of Lexus (exterior) and Mercedes/Audi (interior).

 

[KDKPSJ]

I totally agree it should have something other than "Hyundai" brand. In Korea, this car will be introduced as Genesis-brand. (Of course, we all know it's from Hyundai anyway) They should have done the same thing in US market as well.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
LOL. I see massive depreciation on this thing.

It's also a rip off of Lexus (exterior) and Mercedes/Audi (interior).

The original LS was a blatant ripoff of the Merc S-class, but it paved the way for Lexus to become a true competitor in the marketplace. I wouldn't buy a Genesis, but I bet it's a hell of a car for the money. If I'd been asked 8-10 years ago, I would have said I would never buy a Korean car, but that may no longer be true.

 

[redgtxdi]

I'm seriously considering this car as the BMW5 I could never afford, unless the facelift on the new Sonata (I need to see it in person to decide) is better than it looks like online. (I'd consider Azera, but just a little too "elderly" look for me)

I probably wouldn't get the V-8, but one of the two V6's.


Hyundai has tunnel vision to be exactly like Toyota. I'm already a Toyota fanboy and they are doing exactly the same thing!! They deserve my money for trying relentlessly!!

FWIW, I have a customer who has a 1990 LS with the original engine in it. 500,000 mile + last time I asked him and aside from the extremely cracked leather seats, the sucker still looks like a great car. You would NEVER think the car was 18 years old, because the LS changed so little throughout the 90's in general.

I hope similar for the Genesis!!

 

[theeedude]

I wouldn't get it. Seriously, it looks like one of those generic Mercedes wannabe cars here in Japan. Got no character of its own, just a bunch of imitations. Reminds me of the Kia Amanti.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: senseamp
I wouldn't get it. Seriously, it looks like one of those generic Mercedes wannabe cars here in Japan. Got no character of its own, just a bunch of imitations. Reminds me of the Kia Amanti.

I don't think it's fair to compare it to one of the most hideous cars ever made just because it's Korean and somewhat derivative in design.

 

[fbrdphreak]

375HP V8, 6-speed auto, and 0-60 in <6sec? Definitely traction limited.

 

[PricklyPete]

It does look like a peach of a deal, but...

1) I'm waiting on reviews on how decent the handling is before I get excited about this car.
2) The look is nice...but it is a tad boring.
3) as iamwiz said...costs have to be cut somewhere...so either they are making no money whatsoever on this product to improve their brand image...or there was cost cutting somewhere.

 

[Vetterin]

I also saw the commercial last night and it did catch me off guard. I like what I see, but I would really be interested in the MPG figures.

 

[halik]

That might be a great product, but i still think it's foolish to have commercials compare it to BMW/MBenz

Also that grille looks like something from Aliens (the movie)...

 

[thomsbrain]

Originally posted by: GTaudiophile
LOL. I see massive depreciation on this thing.

It's also a rip off of Lexus (exterior) and Mercedes/Audi (interior).

The depreciation on any BMW, Audi, or Mercedes (with the exception of the M, S, and AMG models) is plenty massive. The price of a lightly used high-end Camry gets you an only slightly more used current-gen 7-series.

And I don't think anyone would complain about a Mercedes/Audi interior. People complained that the Lexus LS was a rip-off when it first came around. It proved to be extremely successful.

 

[BornStar]

Does this logo look familiar to anyone else?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

I like it.

 

[alfa147x]

Originally posted by: BarneyFife
This car is going to be a flop.

couldn't have said it any better

 

[Arkaign]

This is the attitude GM should have taken in bringing the G8 over here. Don't pull punches. Make it classy, offer a 6-speed manual, and don't make it look like the cheapest car in your 90s lineup.

Hyundai has continued to make large strides. Kudos.

EDIT: I must admit, this car is amazingly derivative, but that doesn't bother me if the results are good. These days it's very hard to come up with an original 'look'.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

Originally posted by: thomsbrain

The depreciation on any BMW, Audi, or Mercedes (with the exception of the M, S, and AMG models) is plenty massive. The price of a lightly used high-end Camry gets you an only slightly more used current-gen 7-series.

And I don't think anyone would complain about a Mercedes/Audi interior. People complained that the Lexus LS was a rip-off when it first came around. It proved to be extremely successful.

Actually 3-Series and A4/S4s have great resale - it's the larger cars that have poorer resale (presumably because they are often leased by corporate execs and turned in, and most people who can afford a big, complex car like that want a brand-new one with a warranty. It's interesting how used 5-Series are very close in price to 3-Series.

 

[DivideBYZero]

5 Series / S class combined. The styling is derivative, but if it is built well then people may not care. It looks good, it just looks, the same.