Cars.com's Kelsey Mays takes a look at the new 2011 Hyundai Equus. The Equus stands to be a new flagship for Hyundai, slotting above the recently introduced Genesis.
Transcript
(hard rock music) <v Narrator>Cars.com Auto Reviews Hi, I'm Kelsey Mays for cars.com. This is the Hyundai Equus. You may have thought that Genesis was the top car in Hyundai's lineup. Actually, the Equus is Hyundai's new flagship car.
It's the new top dog here. It's going to be coming out in the states sometime next summer, that's summer 2010, this is a Korean model. A few things are going to change, but we're going to look at what makes this car different from the Genesis. Like the Genesis, there's not a Hyundai badge anywhere up here on the grill. In fact, I couldn't really find one anywhere on the outside of the car. There is a hood ornament. Hyundai says this is probably going to be optional. It's going to be a dealer option. You can get it or not. Hood ornaments on a Hyundai, that's interesting. I don't know what I think. Hyundai says the Equus is about seven inches longer than the Genesis. That doesn't translate into a whole lot more room up here. I've got plenty of it, but you know, we're not talking voluminous dimensions here. There is certainly a higher level of quality I can see. The suede headliner comes down all the way to the dashboard. There's leather wrappings, all along the dash and along the steering wheel here. Not as crazy about some of these finishes on the buttons, more Hyundai, less Lexus-like than I would like. In the backseat there certainly is a lot more room here. This car has a ton of amenities. I've got heated and cooled seats and a little mirror here. I also got my own sunshade, kind of cool. Not sure how many of these are gonna make their way into the U.S. car. Hyundai says that the Korean model will have obviously more rear seat amenities. The Equus uses the 4.6 liter V8 from the Genesis, that's the optional engine in that car. Certainly has a little more weight slung around than in the Genesis. It feels a little heavier, doesn't get up and go quite as fast, but still a very smooth powertrain. Also very smooth, is ride quality. A well-mannered suspension, perhaps not as firm as in a BMW, but certainly of Lexus quality, same thing with the steering. It's very smooth, very easy to turn the wheel. Kind of nice fluid like motions. Very quiet too. Now Hyundai says this car is probably going to cost somewhere close to something like Lexus LS 460. So that means $50,000 or more for a Hyundai. The company that sells Accents and Elantras. The Genesis was a very impressive feat. The Equus, well, we'll have to wait and see. (hard rock music) - [Narrator] For more car related news, go to cars.com or our blog, KickingTires.net
