Genesis Pushed

Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. is hurrying to launch Korean production of its new rear-wheel-drive V-8 luxury sedan, unveiled in the U.S. at the New York auto show this spring, as quickly as possible, Ward's learns.

However, the new flagship, codenamed the BH and based on the Concept Genesis show car, will not go on sale in December in Korea, as local media reports suggest.

“The sales launch reports are not correct,” a company spokesman says. “The sales launch of the BH will not take place until sometime in the first half of 2008,” he says, adding the new model likely will be offered later in the year.

“Modification of the assembly lines of the No.5 plant at Ulsan is under way on an accelerated schedule,” he says.

The BH will be offered with a 3.8L Lambda V-6 in Korea, the spokesman says, noting U.S. engine options are not fixed yet, but a V-8 will be available.

Hyundai said earlier the BH will be powered by a new all-aluminum DOHC 4.6L V-8 mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic from Germany's ZF Friedrichshafen AG.

The engine, dubbed Tau, was developed with variants in mind, such as a larger-displacement V-8 or forced induction, the auto maker has said.