Preview – 2011 Hyundai Equus

By Casey Williams – MyCarData

Before the Genesis Sedan and Coupe, the idea of Hyundai building high-performance luxury cars and sport coupes was a foreign thought. However, the Sedan has been compared favorably to high-end Japanese, German, and American competitors. Coupe buyers cross-shop high-performance sports cars. I’ve driven both cars and was incredibly impressed. Both were developed from the ground-up to match the world’s best and succeeded. Hyundai is ready to shock you once again.

Having recently debuted at the Seoul Auto Show, Automotive News reports the Hyundai Equus will come to the U.S. for 2011. In Korea, the Equus competes with the Lexus LS, Mercedes S-Class, and BMW 7-Series. While a high-end Genesis retails for about $43,000, the Equus will likely push $65,000 fully loaded. Based on stretched Genesis architecture, the car is probably worth the money. But, that’s rarefied territory that gave the Bentley Continental-based VW Phaeton absolute fits.

Exterior styling is an obvious interpretation of the Genesis and Sonata. The front is taller and more rounded while side profiles are broken with character lines that are a mix of Buick LaCrosse, Rolls-Royce, and the new Mercedes E-Class.

Photos of the Equus provided by Hyundai show a cabin awash in stitched leather, panels of wood, and arrays of electronics. Front passengers have access to an in-dash screen and joywheel that presumably controls the navigation, audio, and climate controls ala BMW 7-Series. Rear seats are separated by a wood-paneled console. The car is 7.2 inches longer than the already-spacious Genesis, insuring rear riders will revel in decadent amounts of space.

Hyundai has not said what powertrains will come to the U.S., but Korean models are equipped with the same 3.8-litre V6 and 4.6-litre V8 engines that move the Genesis. Most, if not all, Equus models sold here will come with the powerful V8.

Some people reading this may need to be revived after reading the Equus’ likely price, but I suspect most others will have a sense of peace. Hyundai has risen from, let’s face it, building pieces of junk to some of the highest-quality and best-warranted vehicles on the road. During 2008, the Korean company built over 2.8 million vehicles. In 2011, about 5,000 units of its global output will come to America in the form of a high-end luxury flagship. This is going to be good.