LAS VEGAS, Nevada - Sometimes past experiences can be quite scarring and leave an impression we're not likely to forget anytime soon. Be it a traumatizing accident, the loss of something important or a crappy car. Trust me, it can be quite life-altering to own a car that's a piece of junk the moment you drive it home. And unfortunately, the make of that scarring vehicle will forever hold a tarnished place in your heart.
Such has been the case with Hyundai over the years. As we sat around the dinner table on our last night in Las Vegas, stories began to surface around the table of family members’ experiences with Hyundais in the past (from the Pony to the Stellar, right up to the '03 Accent)—unfortunately, not all of them were positive. However, those stories proved just how far the Korean automaker has come over the years.
Looking at this car, one might be surprised to see Hyundai’s off-kilter “H” resting on the rump, but trust me, it's there. Sleek and full of “fluidic” design (their words), the Genesis shows Hyundai's dedication to stepping it up and really bringing a sense of luxury to their brand. From nose to tail, the Genesis makes a statement. It's not as much of a statement as the Equus (its more prestigious brother), but it certainly has something to say.
Head on, the first thing you'll notice are the newly-integrated LED accents in the headlight design. Giving the car an aggressive, feline-like look, the new headlights are just the beginning. Move your gaze down the side panels, across the sportier rocker panels and back to the trunk, and you'll spot the redesigned taillights above the dual asymmetrical exhaust tips that, in my opinion, balance the Genesis out perfectly.
Two versions of the Genesis will be offered in 2012, a base 3.8L and a much sportier, more-powerful V8 R-Spec version. Engine aside (which I will get to in a moment, don't you worry), the looks differ from model to model only in the alloy wheels and the rear badge; 17” for the V6 version and 19” for the R-Spec.
In all honesty, I barely noticed the difference between the two models and had to pay attention to the trunk badging to assess which Genesis I was about to get into, which I like. One of the only other companies I know who make their sportier models hard to detect are Audi—it's like a subtle “Try me” on the road.
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| The Genesis shows Hyundai's dedication to stepping it up and really bringing a sense of luxury to their brand. (Photo: Miranda Lightstone/Auto123.com) |
Such has been the case with Hyundai over the years. As we sat around the dinner table on our last night in Las Vegas, stories began to surface around the table of family members’ experiences with Hyundais in the past (from the Pony to the Stellar, right up to the '03 Accent)—unfortunately, not all of them were positive. However, those stories proved just how far the Korean automaker has come over the years.
Looking at this car, one might be surprised to see Hyundai’s off-kilter “H” resting on the rump, but trust me, it's there. Sleek and full of “fluidic” design (their words), the Genesis shows Hyundai's dedication to stepping it up and really bringing a sense of luxury to their brand. From nose to tail, the Genesis makes a statement. It's not as much of a statement as the Equus (its more prestigious brother), but it certainly has something to say.
Head on, the first thing you'll notice are the newly-integrated LED accents in the headlight design. Giving the car an aggressive, feline-like look, the new headlights are just the beginning. Move your gaze down the side panels, across the sportier rocker panels and back to the trunk, and you'll spot the redesigned taillights above the dual asymmetrical exhaust tips that, in my opinion, balance the Genesis out perfectly.
Two versions of the Genesis will be offered in 2012, a base 3.8L and a much sportier, more-powerful V8 R-Spec version. Engine aside (which I will get to in a moment, don't you worry), the looks differ from model to model only in the alloy wheels and the rear badge; 17” for the V6 version and 19” for the R-Spec.
In all honesty, I barely noticed the difference between the two models and had to pay attention to the trunk badging to assess which Genesis I was about to get into, which I like. One of the only other companies I know who make their sportier models hard to detect are Audi—it's like a subtle “Try me” on the road.
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| Two versions of the Genesis will be offered in 2012, a base 3.8L and a much sportier, more-powerful V8 R-Spec version. (Photo: Morgan J Segal) |