It's clear that Hyundai is leaving no stone unturned these days in its quest to dominate the automobile market in every segment. At the New York Auto Show, the South Korean automaker introduced the North American production version of its all-new flagship model, the 2011 Equus that's already on sale in its home market.
Hyundai is pitting the Genesis sedan's big brother against rivals such as the Lexus LS 460 and Mercedes-Benz S 550, but at a much lower price as the Equus will launch in the U.S.A. this summer with a starting price in the mid $50,000 range.
"We've applied the lessons in engineering excellence we've learned with Genesis to the Equus, while adding a new level of customer experience that will further differentiate our take on luxury from the traditional premium brands," said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America.
Built on a lengthened version of the Genesis' rear-wheel-drive architecture, the Equus is 7.2 inches longer (203.1 inches vs. 195.9 inches) than its smaller brethren. In South Korea, Hyundai also offers a LWB version of the car that measures a Rolls-Royce-like 215-in. (5,460mm) in length.
It is powered by the firm's 4.6-liter Tau V8 engine that delivers an estimated 385 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque (378 horsepower and 324 lb-ft using regular fuel).
The V8, which is hooked up to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control, launches the Equus from zero to 60 miles per hour in less than 6.4 seconds.
Other highlights include an electronically-controlled air suspension and Hyundai's Vehicle Stability Management system (VSM) that optimally manages Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the electronic parking brake, smart cruise control and the seatbelt tensioning system.
[NY Show Photos by Phil Alex]
34 Comments:
It looks good to me! I like how Hyundai/Kia are moving forward and the vehicles they are coming up with are not what you would expect from a former under dog of the automotive world!
TOYOTA CROWN
http://toyota.jp/crownroyal/exterior/bodycolor/index.html
I saw that at the Motor Trend auto show in baltimore like a month ago...
One Word: AWESOME!
For 50K I'd rather buy 5series or E class or certified 7 & S any day over this misunderstanding.
To Anon #3,
What you saw was not the 2011 US-Spec Equus, like the one shown.
Note to Hyundai: Adding excessive, tacky chrome to the bumpers and wheels does not make a car look more premium.
MY GOD...... it's Beautiful!
Well this is already better than the Lexus LS (virtually everything is), but I doubt this will get cross shopped with the S-class.
Beautifulest sedan in the world, ha ha
The design does not do anything for me. It does not say elegant. The profile reminds me of a late 60's Chevy. It looks like something that one of the Chinese automakers would come up with. To me, Hyundai could have done a lot better for their flagship vehicle.
A S-Class shrunk. Impossible to sell in Europe. But for Americans just another fancy import car from abroad. They will love it! A S-Class for 50.000 Bucks - of course...
The Equus at the late January/10 Portland Auto show looked just like this one except it was black.
Couldn't see the interior so couldn't comment on that.
Like the Genesis sedan, this cars was impressive on the stand and drew a pretty fair crowd all weekend.
TOYOTA CROWN=UGLY
http://toyota.jp/crownroyal/exterior/bodycolor/index.html
For an older driver that cannot afford a new S-class but refuses to give up size and luxury appointments, this will be the solution. I can see Hyundai is going to be very successful with their new direction, regardless of how snooty European car lovers are to their overpriced houses on wheels.
"...Takes on Lexus LS and Mercedes S-Class"
LOL!!!
I like it. But how will hyundai
dealers support the kind of clientel
this car and the Genesis is aiming for?
Will they set up a seperate tent like
Toyota does with Scion? Imagine this car parked
next to an Accent...lol
interesting to see this unfold.
it looks elegant enough, but goes not break any new ground. intentional, i think. what will draw people to it is all of its features, non-offensive styling and bargain basement price. well done.
The current crop of competently designed Hyundais generally communicate "We're just as good as the other guys now, and you can tell cause we're a lot like everybody else." And right when they move beyond that with the prog and edgy new Sonata, they come up with this thing, a sludgy total hodgepodge of design cues from every other upper middle and luxury level car on earth.
It's doubtful this will be cross shopped with the already established LS or S-Class. In the looks department alone, it's tacky and aftermarket - LED strips from Pep Boys and distasteful chrome bits everywhere. The interior is far from the highly rated LS, even the S-Class does a better job.
"The interior is far from the highly rated LS"
Have you even looked at the LS's interior lately? It most certainly isn't worth what it's priced at.
"Have you even looked ar the LS's interior lately? Its most certainly isn't worth what its priced at."
-Yes i have looked at it and oh..no.. i LOVE it.
"-Yes i have looked at it and oh..no.. i LOVE it."
I see you're easily impressed by trinkets and cheap plastics.
they usin' high quality materials ..., all of them,( Hyundai included ) and there is nothin' cheap about this car. u know how much is production price for led diods on Audi??? much less then those u get in "PEP BOYS" !!! how much they ask for it??? around $3000, what's your point?!? that car is conservative , as it should be, u can compare this car with Sonata. my opinion: i think , that'll be more reliable then many other brands in this segment...
"u know how much is production price for led diods on Audi??? much less then those u get in "PEP BOYS" !!! how much they ask for it??? around $3000, what's your point?!?"
That you can't spot where you're getting ripped off on grossly marked-up electrical componets that cost less than 10 cents to manufacture irrespective of manufacturer?
It may cost that much on the option sheet, but if you're smart, you know how much it really costs. You evidently don't care and quite likely enjoy living beyond your means.
I mean, that WAS english you were trying to type out wasn't it?...or is english your second language and you first being whatever you spew forth after another feast of lead paint chips from your walls?
^ Yes, english is my "OTHER" language of many i can speak... how many of them u know??? american i guess... they always so "smart". That, what i wrote, it's called "OPINION"
"how many of them u know??? american i guess"
Well if you're going to be THAT stupid, then I can read, write, and speak in fifteen different versions of English.
Now piss off and buy some grossly overpriced LED's in which you lie to yourself by calling it 'quality'. You seem like you have a poor grasp on money, that's probably why you had to leave your country in the first place.
that's all u know , get angry, when somebody tell u the truth!!! "americans"
that's just prove your stupidity... and i did leave my country to many times,it's called "traveling" not because of money..., but i'm 100% sure, that u never did leave your" USA" u would't make it for one week somewhere else...but we were talkin about the car, and if somebody will buy it, then he will get the same quality of led's, like those in audi
Who is that POS who is blabbering on money. Coming from a country which does not know anything about finances and is lying in debt..taking loans and trying to keep up in life.
The Pos American does not realise that the other guy was talking about many other languages not versions of English. Your are a bad representative of your country. It makes one think that Americans are dumb and know only about thier country.
"that's all u know , get angry, when somebody tell u the truth!!! "americans"
that's just prove your stupidity... and i did leave my country to many times,it's called "traveling" not because of money..., but i'm 100% sure, that u never did leave your" USA" u would't make it for one week somewhere else...but we were talkin about the car, and if somebody will buy it, then he will get the same quality of led's, like those in audi"
The funny part is that you think i'm an american.
Fool.
i saw on my own eyes, like american couple were kicked out of restaurant in southern France, because they were so rude to servant and they called for manager, that manager kicked them out and everybody was clapping hands. i think ,that proves something... but anyway, the other guy was probably talking about many other languages, not versions of english. And if we are about those cars, he was right, there is no difference in quality if u compare hyundai with audi or lexus with benz etc. I agree with him. that car is conservative and that's what those people who will buy this car, are looking for. Have a good success hyundai
The exterior of the Equus is very nice, but inside is just not luxurious. The inside is too bland and not sophisticated or plush at all.
anonymous number 2 is probably in luv with toyota crown....lol..Equus is hot! bth in and out..just giv it tym people pls!!!
Yikes! What a bunch of wasted electrons above...^
Hyundai builds great cars, would they now please build a small Pick-up. One that gets 22 MPG to 30+ MPG in two wheel drive. Some of us need the early eighties Isuza pick-up reconstituted. Mine would get 22MPG in Hi-4-wheel drive running forest roads at speed. To much fun. A sports car with a utility box.
nice! sayonara Japanese automakers!!
I like it. But how will hyundai
dealers support the kind of clientel
this car and the Genesis is aiming for?
Will they set up a seperate tent like
Toyota does with Scion? Imagine this car parked
next to an Accent...lol
interesting to see this unfold.
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