Will Rear-Drive Car Feature an All-New Luxury Nameplate or be Badged Hyundai With news just out about Hyundai's upcoming rear-drive sports car (see automotive news section for May 27, 2005: Hyundai
| |
| With news just out about Hyundai's upcoming rear-drive sports car, there's even more talk about a rear-wheel drive luxury model making it to North America. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
Confirms Development of Rear-Wheel Drive Sports Car), there's even more talk about a rear-wheel drive luxury model making it to North America. Currently, Hyundai sells its Equus luxury sedan to dignitaries and top-tier executives in South Korea, and other markets, but thus far has left its North American operations out of the luxury loop, other than showing it every now and then at auto shows.The same goes for its radical Equus HCD-7 concept, that when first shown at the 2002 Chicago Auto Show (see concept car or prototype section under Hyundai for 2002 Hyundai Equus HCD-7 Concept). While a little over the top, as far as Hyundai's normally conservative
| |
| While a little over the top, as far as Hyundai's normally conservative designs go, the Equus HCD-7 pointed the way to how a future luxury model might appear. (Photo: Hyundai Auto Canada) |
designs go, the Equus HCD-7 pointed the way to how a future luxury model might appear, while causing those who saw it to ponder the potential of Hyundai creating a sub-brand to market higher priced premium models, similar to what Toyota has done with Lexus and Nissan with Infiniti. And now, it seems, that the long-touted rumour of a new luxury line, above Hyundai and its top-tier XG 350, soon to be replaced by the Azera, could be a reality sooner than later. As reported in Wards Auto, April 27, 2005, a decision on a separate luxury division may come as soon as 2007 or 2008, with cars and SUVs following shortly thereafter.