Hyundai Goes Upmarket with Genesis

Hyundai Motor America makes its highly anticipated foray into the luxury segment with its new Genesis sedan.

The '09 Genesis will be available with three engines when it goes on sale in the U.S. this summer.

The car marks many firsts for Hyundai, as it is the auto maker's initial rear-drive model and offers its first V-8 engine.

Hyundai estimates the all-aluminum, Tau 4.6L engine will produce 368 hp and 324 lb.-ft. of torque in the Genesis, bettering the horsepower figures of the Lexus GS, Infiniti M, Pontiac G8 and Chrysler 300 V-8s and generating the most horsepower per liter at 79.5.

John Krafcik, HMA vice president-product development, says the Genesis will compete with lesser-priced cars such as the Chrysler 300 and Pontiac G8, but says the car's engineering benchmarks were the Mercedes E-Class, Infiniti M and Lexus GS.

“We think it has the opportunity to be an extremely disruptive force in the large sedan and near-luxury segments,” he says.