Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai Genesis Luxe Sedan Gets Upgrade to V8 Power

The Hyundai Genesis sedan has been slowly gaining favor with the luxe crowd since its introduction in 2008. But the one complaint from serious would-be buyers was absence of a V8 engine. The Korean carmaker has now solved that.

Hyundai unveiled the 5.0 liter V8 2012 Genesis R-Spec sedan, which will produce 429 horsepower and 376 lb.-ft. of torque. The engine is mated to a an eight-speed automatic transmission, which included a manual shift mode.

Tags: Chicago Auto Show, hyundai, hyundai genesis, hyundai genesis R-Spec, Hyundai Gensis Sedan, v8 engine

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Five Non-Luxe Car Brands Hoping To Graduate To Luxe Status

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

In the early and mid 1990s, the line dividing luxury cars from non-luxury was simple: $30,000. Today, most people would say it was $40,000, but they would get an argument.

After all, when a loaded Chrysler Town and Country or Honda Odyssey minivan crests $40K, can we really use that pricing standard? A luxury minivan?

Then, there is the discussion about brands. BMW is a luxury brand. Volkswagen and Hyundai aren't. Right? Not so fast. A Volkswagen Touareg SUV starts at $44,000 and climbs North with options to above $60K for the Hybrid version. Hyundai's new Equus sedan starts at $58,000.

Here are five brands seeking credibility with luxury car buyers and the products they are reaching with:

Chrysler: As Italian automaker Fiat restructures the Chrysler brands it has acquired after the U.S. automaker went through bankruptcy in 2009, it is hoping to position Chrysler as a kind of "value luxury brand." The Chrysler 300 sedan is the linchpin in the effort. While the base model starts below $28,000, the two other trim levels, Limited and 300C, easily reach between $44K and $48K when the technology, safety and luxury option packages are checked. "The 300 is for the successful person who doesn't forget whey they came from," is the way Chrysler brand CEO Olivier Francois puts it.

The new 300 is the second generation design of the car that captured the attention of the hip-hop community when it first came out in 2004. Snoop Dog and Jay Z were among those who praised the "gangsta" design of the car. That has been toned down in the new design in part to try and reach a broader audience--let's say, more the Black Eyed Peas and Linkin Park crowd than P Diddy and Cee Lo Green.

Tags: buick lacrosse, BuickEnclave, Chrysler 300, hyundai equus, Hyundai Genesis, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Jeep Overland, luxury cars, Volkswagen Touareg

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Hyundai to Offer Luxury Models with All-Wheel Drive

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

We may not have believed it if you told us a few years ago, but Hyundai of all automakers is making serious headway into the premium market, taking on the Japanese luxury marques with aplomb. The Genesis coupe and sedan and the recently launched Equus make for sound arguments, but buyers discounting the rear-drive, premium Korean automobiles for their lack of all-wheel drive – an increasingly popular option on luxury vehicles – are rapidly running out of excuses.

Hyundai has now confirmed that the next-generation of both the Genesis and Equus will be available with all-wheel drive, putting the high-end Hyundais up against Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volvo, Infiniti, Acura, Cadillac and other luxury marques that offer full traction on their sedans and coupes.

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Tags: Equus, Genesis, hyundai, hyundai equus, Hyundai Genesis, hyundai genesis coupe, Hyundai Genesis Sedan

JD Power & Associates Ranks Hyundai Genesis Highest in New Vehicle Launch Index

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

If you've ever shopped for a new car, chances are you've heard of JD Power and Associates, the company that ranks every new car in a variety of categories and under a wide array of criteria. But while many of JD Power's awards are based on long-range factors like customer satisfaction or resale value, the firm has just announced a new category that evaluated the market performance of new cars that just hit the market. And the inaugural winner? The Hyundai Genesis, the luxury sedan launched by the Korean automaker to do battle with the likes of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. Surprised? Imagine how they feel in Japan and Germany.

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Tags: genesis, hyundai, hyundai genesis, HyundaiGenesis, j.d. power and associates, j.d. power associates, J.d.PowerAndAssociates, J.d.PowerAssociates, jd power, jd power and associates, jd power associates, JdPower, JdPowerAndAssociates, JdPowerAssociates, vehicle launch index, VehicleLaunchIndex

The Prada Hyundai

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Cars & Autos

Can Prada make a Hyundai chic? The famed Italian fashion house has designed a version of Hyundai's upscale sedan, the Genesis which will be exhibited at the the Seoul Motor Show next April. There will be just three of these cars and two will be auctioned for charity at the Prada Transformer, a temporary building which will host cultural, artistic and fashion events in Seoul.

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Tags: hyundai, hyundai genesis, HyundaiGenesis, korea, prada, prada transformer, PradaTransformer, seoul