[pure]

Years ago it was a well-known American fact that Korean cars are weak, unreliable and cheap. Brands like Kia and Hyundai are recently unveiling a new niche: building functionable cars that we want. To prove to the auto industry Hyundai are producing the Genesis luxury sports model.


It is to compete with high-end brands like BMW (5-Series), Lexus (GS), Mercedes (E-Class) and Acura (RL). Horsepower is 368 and 0-60 is only 6 seconds. The car powers up on either V6 or the new V8.
The price? Only about $30,000 USD.





Your ideas on this car?

[IbnMardhiyah]

If its selling for $30K then its def. not competing with the 5-series.

[wheelworks]

The seat looks ugly.

[Wolfn]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

If its selling for $30K then its def. not competing with the 5-series.

The pricing, styling, power, and luxury aim the Genesis squarely at the BMW 5 Series/Lexus GS/Infiniti M45/Cadillac CTS.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by Wolfn

The pricing, styling, power, and luxury aim the Genesis squarely at the BMW 5 Series/Lexus GS/Infiniti M45/Cadillac CTS.

Last time I checked, the 2008 5-series started off around $40K and up.

[Wolfn]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Last time I checked, the 2008 5-series started off around $40K and up.

Genesis will be starting around $35,000, and options will likely push it will into the $40,000 range.

The Cadillac CTS is another example. It starts around $30,000, but competes directly with the BMW 5 series.

[bihari]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Last time I checked, the 2008 5-series started off around $40K and up.

i think its competing with regards to features, it even has a knob that is just like the bmw i-drive (the knob behind the shifter)

[IbnMardhiyah]

Originally Posted by bihari

i think its competing with regards to features, it even has a knob that is just like the bmw i-drive (the knob behind the shifter)

yeah, I saw that, but if I buy a 5-series i'm not paying just for features.

[sixpakistan]

This isn't a "sports-luxury" car, it's a "high powered rwd cruiser" .. as witnessed by the big engine, bloated curb weight, and automatic transmission.

That target "segment" includes cars like the 5 series or the Mercedes Benz E class (though neither of these cars get decent engines for their size until the highest
end models).. but realistically, noone is going to test drive a BMW or a Benz, and then decide to go take a Hyundai for a spin because they couldn't make up their mind.

Even if this was a car capable of competing at that level (and it's pretty obvious it won't be), why would someone in the market to buy a luxury
car (target demographic: successful 40-something white male) want to deal with going to a Hyundai dealership? Do they want to stand in line behind
Joe Sixpack while he gets his Elantra serviced? Do they want the same techs whose job it is to work on Joe Sixpack's Elantra mucking around under the
hood of their "luxury" car? If something happens to the car, what're they gonna get for a loaner.. an Elantra similar to Joe Sixpacks?

Not to mention the lack of "status" associated with a mere Hyundai.. it's not gonna impress coworkers or neighbors. Right or wrong, status is one of the main
reasons people buy expensive cars. Most of them don't know anything about cars.

Anyway, it will probably have some success competing with the Acura TL (at least in warm weather states), Chrysler 300C, Cadillac CTS, and the like.

[Wolfn]

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

That target "segment" includes cars like the 5 series or the Mercedes Benz E class.. but realistically, noone is going to test drive a BMW or a Benz, and
then decide to go take a Hyundai for a spin because they couldn't make up their mind.



Anyway, it will probably have some success competing with the Acura TL (at least in warm weather states), Chrysler 300C, Cadillac CTS, and the like.

Hyundai is targeting people who have the money to buy something flamboyant like the BMW 5 series, but don't want to be noticed that much. For example, people who have money to buy the flamboyant Rolls Royce Phantom but don't want to be noticed would probably buy the plain-looking Mayback. Hyundai has the same approach here.

Also, you're correct about the 300c and CTS, since the price for those is close to the Hyundai.

[sixpakistan]

Originally Posted by Wolfn

Hyundai is targeting people who have the money to buy something flamboyant like the BMW 5 series

The 5 series is about as flamboyant as a Volvo S60 (one of its direct competitors). It's a staid car. The 6 series coupes/verts are the "flamboyant" versions of the 5 series.

[Wolfn]

Originally Posted by sixpakistan

The 5 series is about as flamboyant as a Volvo S60 (one of its direct competitors). It's a staid car. The 6 series coupes/verts are the "flamboyant" versions of the 5 series.

Flamboyant:




Boring:

[sixpakistan]

The only thing flamboyant about the Bimmer are its ZSP rims. The 5 series isn't a flamboyant car.. it's a 3 series for the middle aged.

[IbnMardhiyah]

Wolfn you've gotta be kidding.

I don't know of anyone who considers any of the BMWs as "flamboyant" - not even the 7-series.

Mayback or RR, on the other hand, are - but only if its someone who's trying real hard. Otherwise if the owner has a personal net worth of a couple billion, then neither of those would necessarily be flamboyant.

[sixpakistan]

Originally Posted by IbnMardhiyah

Wolfn you've gotta be kidding.

I don't know of anyone who considers any of the BMWs as "flamboyant" - not even the 7-series.

Mayback or RR, on the other hand, are - but only if its someone who's trying real hard. Otherwise if the owner has a personal net worth of a couple billion, then neither of those would necessarily be flamboyant.

"Flamboyant" BMWs would include the E93 convertible, any of the 6 series coupes or convertibles, and of course the M5 or the M6 coupes. I don't consider the M3 or the Z4 M coupe to be "flamboyant" per se since they are true GT & track cars (the Z8 definitely is, though).