Conicelli Hyundai

Hyundai's new flagship the Equus sedan is built on Hyundai's all-new, innovative, premium rear-wheel-drive architecture, shared with the 2009 North American Car of the Year Genesis sedan and the performance-focused Genesis Coupe.

The new sedan will be sold in the US beginning in late 2010 as a 2011 model. Pricing, packaging, specifications will be announced closer to launch, but modifications to the design are being considered that would bring the vehicle into the $48,000-to-$60,000 price range. A prototype was displayed at Conicelli Hyundai in November 2009.



Scott Oldham, Editor-in-Chief of Edmunds Inside Line, says:

 "The A-pillars are carved carefully to permit a panoramic view ahead. There are heated and cooled front seats with three-level temperature adjustment. There's a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, wood on portions of the steering wheel rim and an elegant clock on the center stack. I can't hear the engine, which is idling at 600 rpm. The window switches, shifter, iDrive-like interface controller and navigation system are all plucked right from the Hyundai Genesis. The gauges are similar to the ones in the Genesis, as is the four-spoke steering wheel. And there's a 'Sport' button just to the right of the shifter.

 "I also notice that the car feels spacious. Nice and wide, which it is. In fact at 74.8 inches wide, the Equus is the same width as a BMW 7 Series and a full inch wider than the Lexus LS and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class." Source: http://www.insideline.com/hyundai/equus/2011/2011-hyundai-equus-first-ride.html

According to Autoblog's Alex Nunez, "Outside, the Equus is more ornate than the Genesis, with a bright grille, highly-polished wheels and a pedestrian-impaling hood ornament. The sheetmetal details are nice, too...especially the subtle fender bulges over the rear wheels.

"But inside the cabin the Equus shows that it's truly meant to do battle against the likes of the Mercedes S-Class, Lexus LS and BMW 7 Series. All the toys are present: push-button start, a console-mounted control interface for the in-car systems, classy wood accents, upmarket switchgear, and even Grey Poupon snack trays for the rear passengers. Oh, those rear passengers get massaging back seats, as well. It's very impressive looking and it stinks of quality. If Hyundai ever decides to gamble and attack the next price segment up from the Genesis sedan, they clearly have the ammo to do so. The Equus is the real deal."

Hyundai Equus has been named by Forbes as one of the 10 Most Exciting Cars of 2010. Read Forbes article. See more about Equus at hyundaiusa.com

Conicelli Hyundai will update details as they become available.