At a super-secret special test drive preview for the Korean media, Hyundai Motor Co. unveiled the sports sedan Genesis a full month prior to what was supposed to be the "official" unveil at the Detroit Auto Show and a full month after they showed off the coupe concept version at the LA Auto Show. The car features a rear wheel drive architecture and the new Tau V8 engine which will deliver 375 horsepower to the rear wheels through a six-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai's V6 Lambda engines will also be offered in 3.3- and 3.8-liter editions.
Hyundai officials told members of the media to expect the cheapest version of the Genesis will cost just under $30,000 and top out at just under $40,000 and that Lexus is the target they're gunning for. Although we're assuming this Genesis will be the Asia-spec version of the up-market sedan for the Korean and Chinese markets, with the North American one to be introduced in January, we've got no evidence either way to tell us that this isn't the same vehicle, flair and all, that we'll be seeing next month in Detroit.