10 reasons why your next executive saloon has to be the Genesis 4.6

[JCE]

This is a reading thread if you want the 10 reasons to buy one then scroll down.

Article: August 1st, 2008

Numbers. It's all about the numbers. Longer and wider, with a longer wheelbase and shorter turning radius than BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, and Lexus ES. Lower coefficient of drag, 0.27, and better fuel economy than most. A stiffer body than those of the Bimmer, Benz, and the Lexus LS 430 (Hyundai sees much of the Lexus range as its competition). Its optional Tau V-8 is "best-in-class," making more horses (375) than V-8s in the 550i, E550, GS 460, or Infiniti M45 and does 0-to-60 mph in well under six seconds (5.5s in fact). It's built in the world's largest auto factory, Hyundai's 1.62-million unit-per-year Ulsan plant.

7 Series size, 5 Series performance, 3 Series price, Hyundai says.

Hyundai's first indigenous rear-drive sedan and in-house-developed V-8 comes 41 years after the company began assembling knock-down Ford Cortinas, 34 years after it built its own first car, 17 years after it began building its own engine design. And at least four years before Ford can return to the rear-drive sedan business in North America. Impressive, by those numbers.

Words paint a different picture, however. When Hyundai confirmed it was working on a rear-drive sedan a couple years ago, the motoring press leapt to the words "sport sedan." Hyundai subsequently toned down the hyperbole, saying the Genesis (developed under codename "BH") would offer Infiniti/Lexus-like luxury and performance at a typically cut-rate Hyundai price.

The Genesis is no sport sedan. It is luxurious, yes, and the V-8 is strong. Heck, the base 290-horsepower, 3.8-liter V-6 is really good in this car, and it's coupled, as is the Tau V-8, to a ZF six-speed automatic transmission that ticks off smooth up- and downshifts. It also provides better balance, 52/48 front/rear versus 54/46 for the V-8, an engine that makes good, if overly muffled, sounds under full throttle.

A limited first drive at the Namyang Research & Development Center revealed Hyundai hasn't strayed from its cushy car roots. You may have read about the Korean journalists who criticized the car as too soft when it launched in its home market last January. Hyundai's American engineering team, led by ex-GM guy Wendell Collins Jr., reworked the sedan's multilink front and rear suspension for our market, with stiffer springs, shocks, and damping. It's worked, to the extent that extracting cushiness out of a suspension inherently designed for comfort can work. It's no 1960s American floatmobile, having been stiffened up about as much as possible without sending the ride/handling equation off-kilter. Damping is especially good, reminiscent of a Honda Accord's.

On Namyang's tight handling course, the Genesis's suspension handles transitions reasonably well. Push it hard, though, and the front tires scrub into the pavement. It's not the kind of treatment you expect a large luxury sedan to take, but you do expect to try it on a sport sedan. The car is biased considerably toward understeer, and there's no steering with the throttle, electronic stability control on or off. As with most any Lexus or Mercedes, you can't turn ESP off completely.

The speed-sensitive rack-and-pinion steering is a bit numb and on the light side, offering less feedback than an Infiniti M35 provided for comparison, and requiring small corrections on the banks of Namyang's high-speed oval. The Genesis V-6 tops out at a tire-limited 130 mph on the oval, and the V-8 will do an autobahn-friendly 155. Germany's autobahn will not be the Genesis's natural habitat, however. While smaller Hyundais and Kias have successfully attacked European rivals on their turf, Hyundai says it won't export the Genesis to Western Europe as long as Lexus flounders there. The Genesis will be available in North America and much of Asia, Africa, and Russia.

Page 2

It'll be a hit with drivers who value maximum comfort and a modicum of prestige over handling dynamics. The Genesis is nicely trimmed, with the right amount of chrome and a two-tone interior featuring a leather-wrapped dash (which serves to minimize the unconvincing fake wood appliques), door panels, console lid, and seats. Its long list of features includes high-fidelity Lexicon Logic 7 audio (only the second car with that brand, after the Rolls-Royce Phantom) and a navigation system with backup camera. You control the HD radio, navigation, climate, and iPod with the Driver Information System, which looks like BMW's iDrive button. Fortunately, it works much better, with controls duplicated elsewhere on the dash.

Fit and finish is generally good, with consistent stitching for the leather dash along the panel breaks. Hyundai didn't sweat the details, though, because elsewhere they're less impressive. The hood gap is a bit too wide. The Genesis has plastic-finished gooseneck hinges (not bad, but they're not gas-filled shocks) and parcel shelf speaker and subwoofer bottoms of that high-end Lexicon system are left exposed. A $21k Chevy Malibu's trunk is finished better.

Hyundai has big plans for its rear-drive platform, including the upcoming BK sport coupe. And it has big plans for its somewhat ill-timed V-8. Dong-Jin Kim, Hyundai's vice chairman and CEO, says 4.6 liters is the small end; the engine can be bored and stroked up to 5.5 liters, which will serve nicely in the not-for-U.S. long-wheelbase Genesis, eight inches longer than the standard sedan and two inches longer than the front-drive Equus V-8 it replaces. The 4.6 will get gas direct-injection in a couple of years, pushing horsepower past 400, Kim says. Hyundai would have to raise the BK coupe's hood to fit the Tau, "and why would we?" he asks. The BK V-6 "leaves a lot of room for the tuning guys."

Finally, Hyundai has added the Chrysler 300C and Pontiac G8 GT to the Genesis V-8's competitive set. This makes infinitely more sense than comparing the car with Mercedes and Lexus-the American cars are scratching and clawing for respect in their own country, where German icons and Japanese perfectionists rule the big luxury-car segment. The Hyundai Genesis will do well in a new, little sub-segment heretofore to be called "value-priced luxury cars." Next to the Yank tanks, though, its bigger numbers don't feel big enough to propel the car past your expectations of the Hyundai brand.

I tried to find the November comparo with numbers but couldn't. Anyway the list:

10. Doesn't look like its trying too hard.
9. Makes a pleasant noise.
8. Is more sophisticated than people think.
7. 17 speaker Lexicon radio, do I need to say more?
6. Absolutely comfortable in any seat.
5. Toys, the car has a ton of kid standard.
4. Goes quickly in either 3.8L V6 or 4.6L V8 trims.
3. Shows that you don't have to spend $55,000 USD or more to get REAL luxury.
2. Looks squarely at Japan and laughs in the face of Lexus.
1. The price is outstanding for what you get.

The point of this thread is to spread the word even further that the Genesis is a brilliant platform and people need to rethink about the current executive saloons and what they REALLY offer for your hard earned money. At $37,250 USD for a base V8 Genesis and $32,250 for a base V6 saloon you get so much value and practicality that it would be stupid to buy the twice as expensive Lexus. Plus, its almost as fast as the hideously ugly 300C--and out handles it.

I saw one in person. Sat in one in person. Looked at one in person. And I am STUNNED at the brilliance. Seriously, Hyundai has come along way from the Excel in the 1980's and the Pony from the 1970's to 1980's. The page 2 portion of that review actually doesn't make much sense in terms of the negtive comment about the boot. I'm sorry but a craptastic Chevy Malibu and its $21,000 USD boot interior is NOT "finished better", please. That's where the pro-GM love seeps out from MT. But still an overall decent review.

Hyundai in 1975:

Hyundai in 2009:

 

[McLaren]

It is a fantastic car, no doubt, but a big part of the reason it's so cheap (price wise) compared to all those other brands is because it's a Hyundai. People will gladly dish out $50,000+ for those other cars because they've established themselves for such cars; Hyundai hasn't.

Anyways, the article is ok, but I noticed 1 issue. Why are they comparing the engine power to the 550i, E550, M45, & GS460, and then state the Genesis isn't a sport sedan? The M45 & GS 460 are the top of line in their models while the 550i & E550 models are directly under the M5 & E63 AMG. I can't speak for the E550, but the 550i is a car designed to be as close to an M5 as BMW wants & it does pretty well; it's basically the M5 in a 400Hp version & toned down.

And then there's this:
7 Series size, 5 Series performance, 3 Series price. Hyundai says this, but then states it won't be selling the Genesis in Western Europe because of "Lexus". I'm pretty sure it's BMW & Mercedes they're afraid of going up against in their native region considering the price & spec. difference between here & there.

 

[neanderthal]

The European luxury car makers are very well established in Europe and Lexus is having a hard time time capturing the success they had in North America. But then again, I would go so far as to say that the Euros are less tolerant of craptastic cars than we are. Otherwise they would be buying the same junk we've bought here from the Big 3. The Cadillac Cimarron would have spectacularly failed there.

Although they do buy cars like the Kangoo. Go figure.

 

[homeforsummer]

And then there's this:
7 Series size, 5 Series performance, 3 Series price. Hyundai says this, but then states it won't be selling the Genesis in Western Europe because of "Lexus". I'm pretty sure it's BMW & Mercedes they're afraid of going up against in their native region considering the price & spec. difference between here & there.

True. I'd expect the car wouldn't look nearly as much of a bargain if it was introduced over here.

Although they do buy cars like the Kangoo. Go figure.

Cars like that make a lot of sense to a number of people. I wouldn't have one myself but I do see the appeal to families who can't stretch to a proper MPV. Being based on a commercial vehicle makes it cheap in all respects. And you can chuck all sorts of crap in it and not really worry about scuffing it up a bit, which is more than can be said for the over-luxuried people carriers on the market. But I digress.

 

[YSSMAN]

*shrug*

I still don't care much for the car. Its brilliant by most accounts, but it just doesn't move me when I see it, or worse yet, when I'm in it. Really, hand on heart, I think the SHO is what ruined the Genesis for me. They're almost identical in most measurements, but when the bill comes down, I'd rather hand my cash to the man from Detroit.

 

[Anghammarad]

Well I won't buy one since I'm in western Europe. Even if they were sold here I still wouldn't buy one. Why? It's a Hyundai.

 

[McLaren]

Well I won't buy one since I'm in western Europe. Even if they were sold here I still wouldn't buy one. Why? It's a Hyundai.

And this is exactly why the Hyundai is the price it is.

*shrug*

I still don't care much for the car. Its brilliant by most accounts, but it just doesn't move me when I see it, or worse yet, when I'm in it. Really, hand on heart, I think the SHO is what ruined the Genesis for me. They're almost identical in most measurements, but when the bill comes down, I'd rather hand my cash to the man from Detroit.

I highly doubt the SHO will be as ground breaking as this is for the company building it. It's what makes the whole Genesis line really amazing for what it is.

 

[///M-Spec]

A credible alternative to a Lexus ES350? Probably.

A credible alternative to a BMW 550i or Infiniti M45? No.

But competition is always a good thing.


M

 

[JCE]

It is a fantastic car, no doubt, but a big part of the reason it's so cheap (price wise) compared to all those other brands is because it's a Hyundai. People will gladly dish out $50,000+ for those other cars because they've established themselves for such cars; Hyundai hasn't.

Anyways, the article is ok, but I noticed 1 issue. Why are they comparing the engine power to the 550i, E550, M45, & GS460, and then state the Genesis isn't a sport sedan? The M45 & GS 460 are the top of line in their models while the 550i & E550 models are directly under the M5 & E63 AMG. I can't speak for the E550, but the 550i is a car designed to be as close to an M5 as BMW wants & it does pretty well; it's basically the M5 in a 400Hp version & toned down.

And then there's this:
7 Series size, 5 Series performance, 3 Series price. Hyundai says this, but then states it won't be selling the Genesis in Western Europe because of "Lexus". I'm pretty sure it's BMW & Mercedes they're afraid of going up against in their native region considering the price & spec. difference between here & there.

They are making a mistake not selling it in Euro at least in small numbers. People will buy an affordable luxury saloon that sticks it to the competition while not being a compromise. And if people want to drop $40,000~60,000 more on a German car or Jaguar just because of the badge? That irks me more than anything.

*shrug*

I still don't care much for the car. Its brilliant by most accounts, but it just doesn't move me when I see it, or worse yet, when I'm in it. Really, hand on heart, I think the SHO is what ruined the Genesis for me. They're almost identical in most measurements, but when the bill comes down, I'd rather hand my cash to the man from Detroit.

But since most of that money you drop for the SHO won't end up in real hard working American hands it makes it pointless. Plus the SHO isn't really that much of a better car, infact I prefer the Genesis to the Taurus. I just do.

I still wouldn't buy one. Why? It's a Hyundai.

Badge snobbery?

A credible alternative to a Lexus ES350? Probably.

A credible alternative to a BMW 550i or Infiniti M45? No.

But competition is always a good thing.


M

Yes it is, this is why Hyundai needs to sell it worldwide. This thing really does do Mercedes, Lexus and Audi levels of luxury and performance without costing thatmuch.

 

[EA11R]

It's a fantastic car. Best of all -though a little saddening- it's very rare over here. I've only ever seen one, and it was gorgeous.

 

[McLaren]

They are making a mistake not selling it in Euro at least in small numbers. People will buy an affordable luxury saloon that sticks it to the competition while not being a compromise. And if people want to drop $40,000~60,000 more on a German car or Jaguar just because of the badge? That irks me more than anything.

Well, unfortunately, the Germans are very proud of the cars they build, & most of Europe tends to have a lot of respect for Mercedes, BMW, & Audi luxury cars.

But, I think Hyundai's making a good decision staying out of Western Europe. As neanderthal said, even Lexus is having a hard time establishing itself next to the German "Big 3", and if Lexus can't steal the Europeans away, I don't think Hyundai can either at this point. Is it badge snobbery, sure, but that's the sad truth.

 

[Giancarlo]

I respect Hyundai -- no matter how much ignorance may be shown by fools who still judge it as a lower-tier auto manufacturer -- because of the fact that they know what customer satisfaction means. They know what they do and they do it damn well. That's way more than you can say for most of the world's other auto companies.

Many of you may not know that it's thanks to J.D. Powers that Hyundai has experienced the exponential growth that they have over the past 10-15 years. But before he helped the Koreans, he proposed the same ideas to GM. And of course, they rejected him because SUVs were selling way too well. Look at where that's gotten them.

 

[YSSMAN]

I highly doubt the SHO will be as ground breaking as this is for the company building it. It's what makes the whole Genesis line really amazing for what it is.

True, but I don't think "groundbreaking" should make any car the Jesus-mobile of any particular segment. The old Jaguar XJ had been around literally forever, but I was still convinced it was the best car in it's segment.

But since most of that money you drop for the SHO won't end up in real hard working American hands it makes it pointless. Plus the SHO isn't really that much of a better car, infact I prefer the Genesis to the Taurus. I just do.

You do know that the 2010 Taurus is built just outside of Chicago, right? I believe the majority of the parts are made in the US as well. Not bad for an American car company building what is arguably one of the best American cars on the road today...

I dunno. I've been in both a Genesis 4.6 and an SHO (have not ridden, however), and I'd say its about a draw in terms of quality. I liked the seats better in the Ford, but the overall dash layout in the Hyundai was less cluttered. Dollar for dollar, its an interesting comparison. Fuel economy, size, price and performance are nearly identical between the two. Both are excellent vehicles, but the Ford is a more compelling choice for me.

 

[McLaren]

True, but I don't think "groundbreaking" should make any car the Jesus-mobile of any particular segment. The old Jaguar XJ had been around literally forever, but I was still convinced it was the best car in it's segment.

I never said it was a Jesus-mobile, I just think it's an amazing car for someone like Hyundai to offer. A car that they're being smart about pricing unlike Cadillac's biggest mistake.

If I thought it was a Jesus-mobile, I would have thought the 550i comparison was fine.

 

[TheCracker]

1 reason why your next executive saloon won't be the Genesis 4.6

It's a Hyundai.




A Korean car just doesn't cut the mustard down at the golf club, no matter how good it may or may not be.

 

[Anghammarad]

Badge snobbery?

Guilty as charged.

But I also feel that BMW and Mercedes are grossly overpriced. I would rather buy and Audi or a Lexus (or even a VW)

 

[Paulie]

Hmm, I don't know if this is a Caprice or Commodore sized/market segment vehicle?

1 reason why your next executive saloon won't be the Genesis 4.6

It's a Hyundai.




A Korean car just doesn't cut the mustard down at the golf club, no matter how good it may or may not be.

Pfft, 60yr old golfers don't know cars, hence the lack of Hyundai badge. If they ask what it is just say "Oh, ah, yeah.......it's a new German brand called.......Iadnuyh". (Pronounced Eee-ad-noy). Did anyone see what I did there?

 

[Pupik]

A Korean car just doesn't cut the mustard down at the golf club, no matter how good it may or may not be.

That's why there's no (Hyundai) badges on the front, but a single Genesis badge on the rear. After 3 minutes, the talk moves to business anyhow, after an empty 15-second exchange of "how's the wife and kids".

Your average elder statesman will do anything to save a buck, and that's why so many darn Lexuses are sold every year.

Seriously, if enough people buy them, brand perception changes very quickly. Acura and Lexus were considered a joke...for about 3 months.

 

[TheCracker]

That's why there's no (Hyundai) badges on the front, but a single Genesis badge on the rear. After 3 minutes, the talk moves to business anyhow, after an empty 15-second exchange of "how's the wife and kids".

Your average elder statesman will do anything to save a buck, and that's why so many darn Lexuses are sold every year.

Seriously, if enough people buy them, brand perception changes very quickly. Acura and Lexus were considered a joke...for about 3 months.

That depends on the market. In the UK (and probably large parts of Europe too), Ford, Vauxhall, Honda, Peugeot, Renault and Citroen all used to sell 'Large executive/family saloons'. With the exception on Peugeot and Citroen who still(?) sell handfulls of their largest saloons each year, none of the others now do. The market has been diluted somewhat by people buying SUVs and people carriers instead, but for those who want a large car, they want a premium badge to go with it too. Lexus, and even Cadillac, have tried to take a piece of the BMW, Merc, Audi cake and come away with either a tiny slice or a couple of crumbs. Hyundai will be lucky to get that. Will they even attempt to sell it in Europe?

 

[///M-Spec]

Guilty as charged.

But I also feel that BMW and Mercedes are grossly overpriced. I would rather buy and Audi or a Lexus (or even a VW)

I'm not sure what prices are like in your country, but here in the US, Audis, BMWs, Mercs and Lexi are priced practically right on top of each other for similar models.

Audi and Lexus used to play the 'value' card quite well. However, in the last 10 years, they've cashed in on their brand equity and are soaking their customers are thoroughly as BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Seriously, if enough people buy them, brand perception changes very quickly. Acura and Lexus were considered a joke...for about 3 months.

This.

It took less than 10 years for Lexus to be taken seriously. Within 20, they are regarded as the best at what they do (in their primary market, at any rate).


M

 

[Omnis]

1 reason why your next executive saloon won't be the Genesis 4.6

It's a Hyundai.




A Korean car just doesn't cut the mustard down at the golf club, no matter how good it may or may not be.

It does at the yacht club. People were ga-ga over this car at the Ft. Lauderdale autoshow.

It's not a sport sedan in the 3.6 trim. The Tau hauls ass though. I prefer the Genesis over the M45 and the GS.

Badge snobbery will subside with time. But it's kind of funny how quickly they went from sour to sweet as far as quality is concerned. Regardless, they're the only ones making profits so we'll see what comes of it.

 

[JCE]

You do know that the 2010 Taurus is built just outside of Chicago, right? I believe the majority of the parts are made in the US as well. Not bad for an American car company building what is arguably one of the best American cars on the road today...

Show me a window sticker where it shows the percentages of the parts content in the car. Also, I said hard working Americans not UAW workers.

 

[Joey D]

According to this article:
http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=top&subject=ami&story=amMade0709

90% of the Taurus is made from domestic parts.

Which U.S.-Built Cars Have the Highest Domestic-Parts Content?

The American-Made Index rates cars built and bought in the U.S. Among our considerations are sales for each car, as they correlate to the number of U.S. autoworkers employed to build any given model and to build the parts that go into those same cars. If you're looking only at domestic-parts content ratings, build location and future status — i.e., cars that aren't facing imminent cancellation — here's what NHTSA lists as the top U.S.-built 2009 models:

Ford Taurus 90 percent Chicago
Lincoln MKS 85 percent Chicago
Toyota Sienna 85 percent Princeton, Ind.
GMC Savana 1500 82 percent Wentzville, Mo.
Chevrolet Express 1500 82 percent Wentzville, Mo.
Buick Lucerne 81 percent Detroit
Chevrolet Malibu 80 percent Kansas City, Kan.
Honda Odyssey 80 percent Lincoln, Ala.
Toyota Avalon 80 percent Georgetown, Ky.
Toyota Tundra 80 percent San Antonio
Toyota Venza 80 percent Georgetown, Ky.

Source: NHTSA, automaker data

 

[YSSMAN]

Thanks Joe... I had no idea that the parts content was that high (I had figured somewhere between 65-70%). The Taurus is a brilliant car, beyond what most had predicted, despite falling short on a few (high performance) expectations.

Come to think of it, has anyone done a comparison between the SHO and Gen 4.6?

 

[McLaren]

Probably not due them to not being actual, direct competitors. As the original article states, the Genesis is not a sport sedan in any way, while the SHO is. Or at least, I would hope it is for being named the next SHO.