Hyundai will also ditch the Equus name for the U.S. market, so expect something less painfully evocative of Harry Potter-on-horse love making. Like the Hyundai Genesis did to rivals like the BMW 5-series, Audi A6 and Lexus GS, it's expected that the not-an-Equus will make the 7-series, A8 and LS feel a little bit silly, at least in the minds of budget-minded buyers like Kwame Kilpatrick.

HYUNDAI TO SELL ITS FLAGSHIP SEDAN IN U.S.

Crafted to rival Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and the world's most prestigious luxury automobiles, marking another step in Hyundai's growth as a leading brand

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif., August 12, 2009 – Hyundai is shaking things up at the annual Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance by announcing its intention to launch its most premium luxury sedan in the U.S. next year.

Hyundai's flagship, badged as the Equus in the Korean market, will be on display and on the roads surrounding the annual gathering of collectible classic luxury automobiles throughout the week, giving attendees a glimpse of the company's most prestigious model.

"We showed the car at the New York Auto Show earlier this year, and the response was fantastic," says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. "Since then, we've had a fleet travelling around the country, capturing input from our dealers and consumers. Here, too, the response was extraordinarily positive, and similar to the market reaction to the award-winning Genesis, so we've decided to bring it to the U.S."

Hyundai's flagship sedan, developed under the codename "VI," launched this year in Korea. The Equus nameplate used there has adorned the company's flagship model for 10 years, where it enjoys a reputation for quality and luxury in a place where Japanese and European luxury marques such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes are coveted.

Here in the U.S., the runaway success of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis, which has garnered worldwide critical acclaim and remarkable sales success, gave Hyundai reason to consider expanding its brand further into the upper echelon of automotive luxury. But it was dealer and consumer response to a summer-long tour that saw Equus sedans visiting Hyundai showrooms across the country that solidified the decision.

DETAILS OF U.S. PLANS TO COME

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

The new sedan will be sold in the U.S. beginning in late 2010. Pricing, packaging, specifications, and the final name of the car for the U.S. market will be announced closer to launch.

The super horsey from Hyundai made it's North American debut here on the New York Auto Show's carpet as a tease for what Hyundai is capable of in the luxury realm. With a price tag starting at $96,000 it has a lot to answer for. The car gets both the 4.6 liter Tau V8 and a bigger version clocking in at an even 5.0 liters (a homage to another "pony" car?) cooking up around 420 HP. In addition to the big mills, it'll get an 8 speed automatic transmission, Lane Departure Warning System, Vehicle Stability Management System and Pre-Safety Seatbelt System.

Inside are all the accommodations one would expect for high-powered Korean businessmen: leather, rear entertainment system, power window shades, little pseudo-iDrive knobs front and back, table trays in the rear, kimchi bar — the works. If interest in the car is high enough, we might be seeing the next Asian luxury import that'll never compete with established luxe brands like Lexus.

The Equus will sit at the top of the Hyundai ladder with goods like a 3.8 V6 and optional Tau 4.6 V8, six speed automatic transmission, an air-riding suspension with aluminum control arms, a 17 speaker Lexicon sound system and a leather lined interior fit for any nationalistic Korean businessman. The company plans to run about 13,000 units a year with the entry level V6 model starting off at about $44,400 and the V8 model starting at around $70,900. Complete details below:

SEOUL, KOREA – March 16, 2009: EQUUS, Hyundai Motor Company's new flagship sedan has arrived in showrooms across Korea.

Representing the pinnacle of Hyundai engineering and design sophistication, the all-new EQUUS will serve as an effective import fighter in the Korean luxury sedan market taking on the best from Germany and Japan.

As the replacement for the first-generation EQUUS which has been retired after ten years in the marketplace, the new successor was developed under the VI project codename over a period of three years and represents a total investment of 500 billion won (approximately AUD$513 million or US$337 million).

Hyundai plans to sell 13,000 units in the Korean market this year, increasing that number to 19,000 units in 2010. The new flagship sedan will also make its way to overseas markets such as China and the Middle East starting in the second half of this year, competing with other world-class vehicles.

Available in four trim levels, EQUUS will be priced at 63.7 million won (approximately AUD$65,500) for the entry level VS380 model and will top out at 105 million won (approximately AUD$108,000) for the VS460 Prestige. Later this year, the range will be extended to include a long wheelbase edition which will be powered by a 5L V8 ‘Tau' engine.

Powertrains
EQUUS comes with a choice of two sophisticated engines: The ‘Lambda' 3.8 V6 and the award-winning ‘Tau' 4.6 V8. To maximise power while minimising emissions and fuel consumption, both engines feature all-aluminium construction, continuously variable valve timing, variable air induction systems and are mated to six-speed transmissions. The ‘Lambda' V6, good for 213 kW and a peak torque rating of 358 Nm, delivers an impressive fuel economy rating of 10.8 litres / 100 km. The ‘Tau' 4.6 V8, named by Detroit-based Ward's Autos as one of 2009's ‘Best Ten Engines', delivers 269 kW and 439 Nm of torque with a fuel economy rating of 11.4 litres / 100 km.

Suspension
Front and rear, EQUUS rides on 5-link suspension featuring lightweight aluminium control arms. Such a multi-link setup for both the front and the rear is uncommon in the industry but through a careful optimisation of the wheel geometry and bushing characteristics, stability and ride quality were optimised. To improve shock control over the wheels, Hyundai worked in partnership with ZF-SACHS to develop Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) which features an innovative relief valve, a design EQUUS shares with only one other car in the world, its luxury stable-mate Genesis. The air suspension is electronically governed to minimise body roll, nose-diving and other undesirable characteristics.

EQUUS also comes equipped with an Electric Parking Brake which is automatically released once the vehicle is put into drive gear and an Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering System which reduces fuel consumption.

Safety
EQUUS elevates driving safety to a whole new level with the introduction of Vehicle Stability Management which integrates the Lane Departure Warning System, Pre-Safety System, Third Generation Smart Cruise Control (SCC) and other sub-systems to provide unparalleled active and passive safety. Using smart optics, the Lane Departure Warning System issues an audible warning if the car deviates from the driving lane without signalling. SCC uses radar waves to automatically regulate the brakes and throttle and maintain a safe distance from the car ahead. If a collision danger is detected, the Pre-Safety System automatically applies the brakes, triggers a flashing warning light on the TFT-LCD which is followed by an audible alert and a vibration in the seatbelt harness. If a collision is unavoidable, full braking force is automatically applied and front seat belts are reeled in within a split second in order to maximise protection.

Another new safety improvement is the addition of a Knee Air Bag for the driver. With two front, four side and two side curtain airbags, this brings the total airbag count to nine.

Video cameras in the rear and front eliminate blind spots during parking and backing up manoeuvres, reducing the risk of accidents while the new Parking Guidance System provides a computer graphic overlay on the display screen to assist the driver. High Intensity Discharge Head Lamps with Adaptive Front Lighting System varies the angle of the light beam according to the steering direction for safer driving.

Comfort and convenience
Whether driving or being driven, EQUUS opens up a new realm in motoring luxury. Heating, for example, is to be found in unexpected places-steering wheel, seat cushions and backrests- providing a welcome touch on a chilly day. On hot summer days, the seat cooling system and glove box drink chiller will be appreciated in hot, sticky weather while the massage system in the rear seats relaxes and refreshes while en-route.

EQUUS is also equipped with an advanced Driver Information System whose menus are accessible through touch-screen menus or jog wheel which has adjacent buttons for menu short cuts. DIS displays navigational maps, personal cell phone directories (downloadable via Bluetooth) and serves as the central control of the 17-speaker Lexicon Sound System. Logic7.1 is able to transform the EQUUS cabin into a veritable concert hall with surround-sound wizardry.

A 3.5-inch display nestled between the speedometer and the tachometer provides a rich variety of information displayed in colourful graphics using the latest Thin Film Transistor Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) technology. From the tyre pressure to the AV system and lane departure warning system, fifteen different vehicle functions can be monitored using this high-resolution colour screen.

[Source: Hyundai]

Two new photos have leaked of the 2010 Hyundai Equus, this time it appears that they've been taken from a dealer brochure rather than super spy shots'r'us. As we reported earlier, the South Korean domestic S-Class will boast an estimated $96,000 price tag which at the time made us scratch our heads. Looking at it now and seeing the interesting blend of Buick LaCrosse and Lexus LS460 it all starts to make sense.

For the moment, for the South Korean market only, the 2010 Hyundai Equus will be the most advanced and expensive Hyundai ever and will feature the new 4.6 liter TAU V8 and a new 5.0-liter V8 making a tad over 420 horsepower while riding on a lengthened version of the Genesis sedan chassis. All we can say is copy/paste.

[via thecarblogger]

The Hyundai Equus will be the most advanced and expensive Hyundai ever. Available in the South Korean market only, the Equus is a lengthened version of the Genesis chassis and will be optionally equipped with a new 5.0-liter V8 making over 420 HP and delivering 0-to-60 times of less than six seconds. With an overall length of nearly 17-feet, it’s over seven inches longer than the Hyundai Genesis.

But it's that price tag that's the most shocking. Obviously it's for a fully-optioned, 5.0-liter V8-equipped sedan. The Equus will also be available with the Genesis’s 3.8-liter Lambda V6 and 4.6-liter Tau V8, so, according to the well-informed Hyundaiophiles at Hyundai Blog, its starting price is more likely to be in the region of $70,000 when it goes on sale in South Korea next year. [via Hyundai Blog]

Codenamed VI, the 2010 Equus is an all-new full-sized flagship sedan from the Korean manufacturer, Hyundai. The all-new Equus will ride on an extended-length version of Hyundai’s rear-wheel drive platform first seen on the Genesis Sedan and Genesis Coupe. It replaces the old Mitsubishi co-developed front-wheel drive Equus sold in Korea.

The 2010 Hyundai Equus will receive the first vehicle in the line up to receive the in-house developed 8-speed automatic gearbox and will be mounted to the 4.6-liter V8 engine already on duty in the Genesis Sedan. Six months after the Equus goes on sale, Hyundai will release a direct injection 5.0-liter V8 capable of putting out 400+ horsepower. For the sake of fuel efficiency, it’s rumored that Hyundai will include a cylinder deactivation system to the larger engine.

Along with the new 8-speed transmission and 5.0-liter V8, the 2010 Equus will feature many new safety technologies including a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM2) and a Pre-Safety Seatbelt System which predetects a front-end collision and automatically initializes the seat belt tensioners.

We’re not sure when Hyundai will first show the new flagship Equus Sedan, but it’s likely that it’ll hit South Korean showrooms in February 2010, with a U.S. release date shortly after. In the meantime, check out our gallery showing the first design sketches of the 2010 Hyundai Equus Sedan.

[via Hyundai-Blog]

Later this year, Hyundai will up its ante in the US car market, to include a car in the $30,000 range. If you've been following along, you'll know the car may be called the Equus, in reference to the company's Equus concept shown in 2002, and the executive car of the same name Hyundai sells to Korean salarymen and government whatwhats. Now, as The Car Connection reports, the final product will be unveiled at the New York auto show this April, ahead of a market intro later in the year. TCC says a V8 is imminent, while other sources have indicated the base engine would be the corporate 3.8-liter V6. Expect considerable luxe for the money — like wood trim, leather surfaces and seating, and tons of those safety bags that inflate on impact. – Mike Spinelli

Spy Shots: '08 Hyundai Equus [The Car Connection]

Related:
More on the Hyundai Equus [internal]

Hyundai's upcoming rear-drive sedan, codenamed BH (aka Equus), apparently has been flaunting its Korean-made luxe all over suburban Detroit — exposing its kinky C-pillar and other salacious whatnots. While we'd heard the new executive car would hit market for MY 2008, powered by a version of Hyundai's workhorse 3.8-liter V8 V6, Winding Road reports Hyundai will offer a V8, though we're still unclear clear on its origin (i.e., homemade or sourced). As if Buick didn't have enough to worry about. – Mike Spinelli

Hyundai Equus Caught In Detroit [Winding Road]

Related:
More on the Hyundai Equus sightings [internal]

What will Hyundai's next upmarket. rear-drive sedan be called? It may take the Equus name, like its Korean executive-car counterpart, or it could get an entirely new designation. Either way, Streetfire.net put up a spy video of that sedan — clad to the hilt in obfuscative leather — reportedly codenamed BH. According to spies, its 116" wheelbase surpasses that of current Equus, and a 270-hp, 3.8-liter V6 will reside under the hood, though a V8 may also be in the offing.

Related:
Spy Photos: 2008 Hyundai Horse, er, Equus [internal]

Despite Chairman Chung's penchant for slushies, Hyundai's plan to attack every automotive genre, right up to the V8, rear-drive luxury category, continues unabated by scandal. The company's plans to bring a new upmarket sedan to the US — like those it sells in Korea — have been vaguely public since 2002, when it unveiled its 2002 Equus Concept. The Car Connection has new spy shots of a prototype of that car, reportedly set to debut
in 2008 either under the Equus banner or by another name, possibly replacing the Azera. Watch for a Korean debut of the new model later this year.

MORE PHOTOS: 2008 Hyundai Equus [The Car Connection]

Related:
Spy Photos: Hyundai's Luxury Equus [internal]

Edmunds Inside Line obtained some shots of Hyundai's forthcoming entry in the US luxury-car market, the Equus. Hyundai has been selling the current generation of the car, which gets its name from the zoological genus of all horse-like animals (like the Zebra and that tiny horse that looks like a Great Dane puppy), though the current model is decidedly un-horselike.

Developed with Mitsubishi and launched in 1999, the Korean Equus is an executive car with a quad-cam, 32-valve, 4.5-liter V8 engine and adaptive five-speed automatic, and rear-wheel drive (in its latest version) — mainly used to transport government officials and corporate titans. In 2002, Hyundai indicated it was serious about addressing the US luxury-car market by showing its new Equus concept (pictured) on the North American car show circuit. The spy shots reveal a car the could share some of the blockiness and heft of the concept, if not its more radical body lines and cut-ins. Reports that emerged last year had pegged the Korean domestic launch of the new Equus at late 2006, and the US launch in 2007 as a 2008 model. And don't expect the horsey name to carry over.

Hyundai's 2002 Equus Concept

Spy Shots: 2008 Hyundai Equus [Edmunds]

Related:
Hyundai Opens First US Plant in Montgomery, Alabama; Spy Photos: Clearly a Hyundai Santa Fe; Spy Photos: 2007 Kia Magentis/Optima [internal]