In the beginning, Hyundai created a luxury sedan and it was good. If you never thought you'd utter luxury and Hyundai in the same sentence, think again. The Korean automaker will be launching its brand new 2009 Hyundai Genesis, the dawn of its luxury sports sedan lineup. Boasting the size, power, and comfort to rival that of Lexus, BMW, and Mercedes contenders, but at nearly half the cost, the 2009 Genesis also provides hints to a new direction for Hyundai.
One of those directions is its first ever rear-wheel drive platform and five-link front and rear suspension. Together, Hyundai predicts a smoother ride and better handling. The Genesis will also be the first Hyundai vehicle to offer a V8 engine, a 4.6-liter Tau V8 that will deliver 368-hp and run on regular unleaded. Premium gas boosts horsepower to 375. Promising 0-60 in under six seconds, it will be matched to a ZF 6-speed Shiftronic automatic. Hyundai claims it provides more horsepower and torque per liter than similar luxury sedans from BMW, Lexus, and Infiniti. Two V6s will also be on hand -- a 3.3-liter 264-hp and a 3.8-liter 290-hp, both paired with a 6-speed automatic.
Luxury features include a roomy interior (Hyundai says there's more room than the BMW 7 series), leather upholstery, wood trim, and a center console with a central control knob. Moving up to the V8 adds the real bells and whistles, such as adapative cruise control, heated and cooled seats, a navigation system, xenon self-leveling headlights, and a 17-speaker LEXICON surround sound audio system. All this comes with the standard Hyundai 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty we've all come to know and love, and a long list of high quality safety features, including ABS brakes, eight airbags (dual front, side impact, and side head curtain), and electronic stability control. The 2009 Genesis is the first mainstream sedan to feature electronic head restraints.
