Review: Hyundai's Genesis goes elite with luxurious G90

You can't drive the new Genesis G90 without reminding yourself how far this brand has come.

The first time we got behind the wheel of what was then the new Hyundai Genesis was 2009. At the time, the notion of a luxury car from South Korea's largest automaker seemed far-fetched.

Even worse. The notion that buyers would shell out more than $40,000 for a Hyundai seemed absurd. The automaker had not yet overcome a lingering (and undeserved) reputation for poor quality and only the first inklings of a styling renaissance were showing up. Yet we were oh-so-wrong. That Genesis, a true luxury car without the snob appeal, was kind of a breakthrough that made the auto industry take notice of Hyundai.

Now, less than a decade later, Hyundai has taken another leap to be competitive in the big leagues.

Genesis has been spun off from Hyundai and is a standalone brand. The cars will still sell for less than a Mercedes-Benz or BMW, but the gap will narrow because, over time, the bet is that the Genesis logo will come to be seen as just as prestigious.

Which bring us to the G90. This is the brand's new flagship sedan, a chance to show off the best that it can be. And there is plenty to admire.

For starters, it's a big car. The G90 comes in at 17 feet in overall length with a wheelbase alone has been stretched 4.5 inches compared to the Hyundai's last full-size luxury sedan, the Equus. One reason is that this is one of those luxury sedans, like Lexus' LS, that feels as though it's designed around the back seat.

There's ample space in back for executives who want to be chauffeur-driven. A nifty pull-down armrest lets honored rear-seat guests control the entertainment and climate-control systems. Not quite the customized massage unit in the LS, but still sophisticated.

With an analog clock on the dash and all the comfort, a car like the G90 risks being seen as stodgy. But in this case, it actually feels quite modern.

Genesis sweated the details. The center infotainment screen is large and  has sharp detail. All the buttons and dials are surfaced in a way that makes them a delight to touch. Then there's the quiet. The car was given touches like triple-sealed windows to shut out noise. When you gently close the rear doors, they sort of suck themselves to the closed position.

The quietness of the cabin is profound enough that you have to strain to hear the car going through the gears of its eight-speed automatic transmission.

Likewise, the engine options are just as slick. The base is the new twin-turbocharged Lambda V-6, good for 365 horsepower. We've always liked the Tau V-8, which produces 420 silky horses.

The Genesis considers its competition to be the flagship sedans of the world's best-known luxury car makers. At $68,100 plus $950 in delivery charges, the price is a bargain compared to a BMW 7 Series sedan at $81,500 or Mercedes-Benz S Classat $96,600.

And so it goes. We weren't entirely enchanted by the G90. There were a few things we'd change, mostly involving the convenience of the controls. The climate-control knobs are situated too close to the auto-control knobs and it was hard to know which one you were grabbing without looking. Likewise, some other buttons, like the one that opens the trunk from the inside, are hard to reach.

But all-in-all, this sedan sets just the right standard for the level of luxury and detail that Genesis is going to need to establish if it is to go up against the best in the industry. Indeed, it has come a long way in short time.

What Stands Out

Luxury details: Love the texturing on the buttons and controls

Quiet: Triple sealed windows.

Rear seat: The place to be.

2017 Genesis G90

What? A luxury sedan

When? On sale now

Where? Made in South Korea.

How big? 17 feet long

What makes it go? A 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6 that puts out 365 horsepower or a 5-liter V-8 with 420 horsepower.

How thirsty? For the V-6, 17 miles per gallon in the city, 24 mpg highway and 20 combined. For the V-8, 16 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway and 19 overall.

Overall? A cost-competitive choice for luxury car buyers

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Mark Wahlberg buys his mom a Hyundai Azera!

Mark Wahlberg bought his mom a new car as an early Christmas present.

The 45-year-old actor has splashed out on some lavish gifts for his family this year, not least of all the brand new Hyundai Azera that the star handed to his mother Alma before they headed out to the Boston premiere of his new movie 'Patriots Day' - which is based on the terrible events of the Boston bombings - on Wednesday (12.14.16).

Speaking to 'Entertainment Tonight', Alma said: "I looked out my front door today, and there was this brand new car sitting out there with the big red bow on it!

"Don't laugh! He bought me a brand new Hyundai Azera, my favorite car in the world!"

But the 'Deepwater Horizon' actor has admitted the car probably wasn't as big of a surprise as he would have liked, as his mother "kept asking" him if he could buy it for her.

He said: "She was in love with this Hyundai. She kept asking me, and I kept saying no, and she told my sis that I was getting one anyway, so then I was like, 'Alright, let's just get it for her.'

"I wanted it to be a surprise. If you're going to do it, you gotta do it right."

The starting price for the flashy car is a cool $34,100, but money is no object for Mark when it comes to making his mother happy, as Alma says he's "grateful" to have her.

She revealed: "I don't know if there's words [to describe how proud I am], but he's come a long way.

"About a year and a half ago, I said to him, 'You know the rules, call your mother! You have to call your mother!' And he's like, 'Well I was busy.' I said, 'No, no, no, all you have to do is: 'Hi Ma, how ya doin? OK I gotta go!'

"So, he's called me every day for the last two years. Every day...And you know what I love? He's grateful, and so that makes me really happy."

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Hyundai to show self-driving technology at CES

South Korea’s leading automaker Hyundai Motor Co. is planning to show off its self-driving technology at the largest consumer electronics show in Las Vegas next month, the company said Thursday.

Two models of Hyundai’s Ioniq hatchbacks -- one electric and one hybrid -- will hit the road without a driver during the annual Consumer Electronics Show, which will be held from Jan. 5-8. 





Hyundai unveiled its self-driving Ioniq concept car at the the Los Angeles Auto Show on Nov. 16. The car has received the highest level of driving automation from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia Motors last year joined a growing list of companies pushing autonomous driving. In November 2015, the group unveiled its plans to invest $1.7 billion by 2018 to develop a smart car which integrates autonomous driving and the latest IT technologies. The company has a goal to produce self-driving cars by 2020. 

On Monday, the company signed a memorandum of understanding with the city government of Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, to develop “Vehicle to Everything Communication System,” or V2X. V2X is a core communication technology among vehicles, passengers and infrastructure, aimed to improve safety. The company said it will be building infrastructure for V2X system while the city will provide necessary traffic signal data and assistance. 

At the CES, Hyundai will also be introducing its technology under the theme of ‘innovation for mobility freedom’ at the CES, the company said. 

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Hyundai's new Genesis brand nabs former Bugatti designer

Former Bugatti designer Alexander Selipanov has been hired as Chief Designer at the Global Genesis Advanced Studio, a part of Hyundai's new luxury arm. He will be starting his new position in January 2017.

“I am sincerely excited about this opportunity, because it will be a new chapter in my career. As I have been working with well-established brands so far, Genesis is a new and refreshing challenge to me,” said Selipanov. “In addition, I am also honored to join this exciting journey, as it is a very rare chance to launch a luxury automotive brand and be part of its history. With growing expectations and curiosity around Genesis, I cannot wait to contribute my expertise and passion to the brand.”

Selipanov, a Russian national born in 1983, began his design career at the Volkswagen Design Center in Potsdam, Germany after he graduated from the Art Center College of Design in California in 2005. After VW, he joined Lamborghini, working on the exterior design team for the Huracán. In 2014, he was appointed Head of Exterior Design at Bugatti where he was responsible for the exterior design of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo show car.

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Money Order: Hyundai Adds Value Edition to 2017 Elantra Lineup

“Value” might be the perfect Elantra mantra. It’s already a popular buzzword for the entire Hyundai brand, and now it’s officially becoming a trim option on some of its cars. The $22,285 Elantra GT Value Edition came last year, then the $17,285 Accent Value Edition about two weeks ago, and now the 2017 Elantra Value Edition joins the party, priced at $21,085.

The Elantra lineup is getting pretty crowded. It already has the base SE, the Earth-minded turbocharged Eco trim, the more spirited Sport model, and the range-topping Limited. There’s also the GT, if you’re looking for a hatchback. The Value Edition slots in between the $18,985 SE with a six-speed automatic transmission and the $21,485 Eco with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic and brings a nice allotment of features for less cash than it would cost to add them individually.

Motivating the Value Edition is the same 147-hp 2.0-liter Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder that’s found in the SE and the Limited. It’s paired with a six-speed automatic transmission, and that’s the only available powertrain. But that’s not where the Value Edition’s $1215 in savings comes from.

The car comes equipped with a bevy of tech features, including LED running lights, blind-spot detection with lane-change assist, a proximity key with push-button start, a 7.0-inch infotainment display with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto capabilities, and a motion-activated trunk release. It also has a power sunroof, heated front seats, a power driver’s seat, Bluetooth, dual climate controls, an auto-dimming rearview mirror, a leather-covered shift knob, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel. It’s basically a combo of the SE’s $800 Popular Equipment package and its $1300 Tech package (which would bring the SE to $21,085, the same price). But then it also adds the power sunroof, lane-change assist, and the power driver’s seat, which are not included in those packages. And therein lies the value.

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Hyundai plans 'Hyper Connected Car' for 2020

Hyundai Motor is stepping-up its efforts to develop connect car technologies ahead of the launch of a ‘Hyper-connected Intelligent Car’ in 2020.

The Korean brand’s independently-developed ccOS (connected car Operating System) will bring advanced integrated technologies to customers by optimising high-speed transmission and reception of data within the vehicle to support increasingly complex features, a statement said.

Earlier this year, Hyundai Motor established an Infotainment Software Development Team in its Namyang Research and Development Centre dedicated solely to developing ccOS technologies.

Hyundai Motor’s strategy to develop its own platform optimized for connected car operation is centered on advancing how vehicles communicate with their internal and external environments but intelligent remote support, fully autonomous driving, smart traffic functionality and mobility hubs will also be a focus of the developments.

A spokesman for Hyundai said: “The first ccOS-installed vehicles are set to be available in 2020 under the concept ‘Hyper-connected Intelligent Car’, after conducting substantial simulation tests to ensure compatibility.

“As for the new ccOS-installed concept vehicle, Hyundai Motor is to explore a variety of applicable connected car services such as OTA (Over-The-Air) software update with which customers can wirelessly update their vehicle’s infotainment system, without the need to visit a service center in person.”

Advancing its ‘Open Innovation’ plan, Hyundai Motor and Cisco are working to develop car network technology, another core platform requirement to enable the rapid development of connected cars.

Hyundai Motor has also opened a new Big Data Centre in China to reinforce its venture toward connected car development.

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2017 HYUNDAI ELANTRA SPORT FIRST DRIVE: HOLDING A UNIQUE PLACE IN THE ELANTRA LINEUP

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Adding a sport trim is a tricky thing. It is easy to set yourself up for criticism. If the changes amount to little more than an appearance package and engineering tweaks to coax more from the powertrain, the brand’s definition of sport can be diluted. And if you go big in an effort to make the variant stand out, it opens the automaker up to comparisons with the best in the field, regardless of whether they are warranted.

The 2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport is treading into this potential minefield as it makes its way from Korea to U.S. dealers.

The current-generation Elantra launched in January with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine. The Eco followed in February with a 128-horsepower 1.4-liter turbocharged engine that that gets 40 mpg on the highway. The new Sport slots between the Eco and the top-of-the-line Limited.

In the past, Hyundai fell into the mild upgrade camp because the Sport was largely an appearance package. But in 2015, the automaker hired Albert Biermann from BMW’s M performance division to install new processes and ways of looking at vehicle dynamics. By making Sport models live up to their name, he’s making them a warm-up for the launch of Hyundai’s sports car sub-brand, which will be named N for Namyang after the Korean R & D center and proving ground. N will make its debut in 2018 starting with a completely overhauled and reinvented Veloster.

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Biermann’s handiwork is evident in the 2017 Elantra Sport, which was designed from the outset to set itself apart from the rest of the Elantra family. The Sport has a more aggressive face with a blacked-out hexagonal grille, standard HID headlights, and horizontally mounted LED daytime running lights. From the side, you see the deeper rocker panels, and the wheels have grown to 18 inches and wear 225/40R18 Hankook Ventus S1 Noble Ultra High Performance all-season tires. (Other models range from 15- to 17-inch wheels.) The back has a unique rear fascia, dual chrome exhaust outlets, standard LED taillights, and a rear decklid.

Hop inside, and the standard interior is black. Everything, including bolstered leather seats with “Sport” embroidered in the back, a flat-bottom steering wheel, and the headliner, is black. Red stitching and needles in the sport instrument cluster are the only nods to color.

What really matters is whether Biermann improved the dynamics. Hyundai ripped up the back end to swap out the coupled torsion beam axle for a multilink rear suspension and added a rear stabilizer bar. It has higher spring rates, stiffer damping, larger front brake rotors, and more insulation to reduce noise and vibration. We got to test its mettle over a 280-mile drive through Death Valley with some uneven pavement, and it showcased a spirited but comfortable ride.

The Sport has the same 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine that is in other vehicles, but it has a different intake than the Veloster and is tuned for more horsepower than in the Sonata. To make it sound meaner, engineers added porous material to the air intake pipe so the sound would emanate. It’s enough of an exhaust note to reward the Sport buyer without being overly loud and telegraphing more power than the car delivers.

That being said, the car accelerates smoothly and drops a gear like clockwork at 100 mph to continue to gain speed to its 130-mph max. We hit 125 with confidence. The car remained calm and stable, showing no signs of skittishness at high speeds. Steering held firm but felt somewhat numb.

Performance specs are modest: 201 hp at 6,000 rpm and 195 lb-ft of torque at 1,500–4,500 rpm. It beats the regular Elantra’s 147 hp and 132 lb-ft but doesn’t pretend to take down a Fusion Sport with 380 lb-ft of torque. Nor does it aspire to topple the VW GTI as a small performance car.

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What it does is allow the Sport to hold its own unique space in the Elantra lineup and offer drivers a fun car at a modest price.

Hyundai thinks one in 10 Elantra buyers will go for the Sport, especially as there are no plans to offer a hatchback. The Elantra Sport with a six-speed manual transmission starts at $22,485, and Hyundai thinks 30–40 percent of buyers will opt for the stick that shifts smoothly with a nice feel and weight. With the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and paddles, it has a starting price of $23,585. Add the $2,400 Premium package (even with the manual) to get navigation, a sunroof, an upgraded sound system, dual-zone climate control, and Hyundai’s Blue Link connected-car suite. Choice of color, transmission, and one package are the only decisions for a buyer to make. The price puts it thousands of dollars below a Volkswagen Jetta GLI. The Sport also competes against the outgoing Honda Civic Si and the Nissan Sentra SR Turbo.

The Sport whets the appetite for Hyundai N vehicles still to come. Against its modest goals along this path to greater performance, this Elantra scores well.

HYUNDAI ACCENT ADDS VALUE EDITION TO THE LINE UP

The J.D. Power Initial Quality Study Segment Winner continues to offer tremendous features and pricing

SUPERIOR TOWNSHIP, Mich., Dec. 2, 2016 – A Value Edition comes to the already economically priced, feature-laden Accent for the 2017 model year. At just $16,450, the Value Edition costs but $705 more than the base Accent with 6-speed automatic transmission, yet includes several desirable features. Now the Accent crams even more content into its small-on-the-outside, commodious-on-the-inside, IQS-segment-winning shell.

2017 Hyundai Accent Value Edition includes: 16-inch machine finish alloy wheels with P195/60R16 tires Rear disc brakes Steering wheel mounted audio controls Cruise control Bluetooth hands-free phone system Sliding armrest storage box

PEPPY POWERPLANT
An all-aluminum, 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, called Gamma, propels the Accent. It produces 137 peak horsepower at 6300 rpm and 123 lb-ft of torque at 4850 rpm. The Gamma makes use of several advanced technologies like Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI), Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (D-CVVT) on both intake and exhaust camshafts, and a variable length intake manifold. To reduce lifetime operation costs and increase reliability, the Gamma engine features a maintenance-free silent roller timing-chain. The Accent comes with either a six-speed automatic or manual transmission. With the manual, the Accent achieves an EPA-estimated 27 city, 37 highway, and 31 combined mpg.

COMPACT YET COMMODIOUSDespite similar exterior dimensions to many of today’s traditional subcompacts, the EPA classifies the Accent as a compact sedan, rather than subcompact, due to its over 103 cubic-feet of interior volume as a sedan and 111 cubic-feet as a hatchback. The five-door also offers more cargo behind the rear seats than a Honda Fit.

Hyundai sprinkled convenient storage spaces throughout the cabin, including larger bottle holders in the front doors and a storage tray at the base of the center console. An available sliding armrest adds even more storage options. The Accent’s rear seats split 60/40 and fold for increased cargo flexibility, making it a handy IKEA™ hauler as well.

SAFETYSix airbags help protect occupants in the event of a collision: two front airbags, as well as driver and passenger side and curtain airbags, which protect both front and rear passengers. The Accent’s standard front-seat active head restraints help prevent whiplash by automatically reducing the space between a front occupant’s head and the restraint during certain rear collisions. All this is in addition to a cadre of standard passive safety features like Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Traction Control (TCS), and Vehicle Stability Management (VSM), which integrates control of the ESC and motor-driven power steering (MDPS) to provide handling assistance in slippery conditions and emergency maneuvers. The system delivers counter-steering when required to assist the driver and keep the vehicle stable.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICAHyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 830 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle limited warranty, Hyundai’s 10-year/100,000-mile power-train limited warranty and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance. Hyundai Blue Link Connected Care provides owners of Hyundai models equipped with the Blue Link telematics system with proactive safety and car care services complimentary for one year with enrollment. These services include Automatic Collision Notification, Enhanced Roadside Assistance, Vehicle Diagnostic Alert, Monthly Vehicle Health Report and In-Vehicle Service Scheduling.

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Hyundai's new i20 rally car is all new, all awesome

Hyundai's been on a big performance bender this year. After debuting some incredible concepts at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, the automaker just lifted the veil on its all-new rally car.

This new rally racer, based on the i20 hatchback (otherwise known as the Elantra GT in the US), will be Hyundai's third car in the FIA World Rally Championship series. Hyundai joined this league in 2014, hoping to expand its horizons in the world of motorsport. In 2017, Hyundai's three cars will run under the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team banner.

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Good luck getting your Hyundai Elantra GT up to 380 horsepower.Photo by Hyundai

While there is an i20 beneath this ridiculous exterior, it's hard to find. That's because rally cars are a menagerie of aerodynamic bolt-ons and, well, more aerodynamic bolt-ons. The diffusers are huge, the front canards look like they could slice a block of limestone and the wing is large enough to look pretty silly.

Under the hood is a 380-horsepower engine, which is 80 more horsepower than in 2016. Changing FIA regulations dropped the curb weight between 2016 and 2017, as well, so this thing is going to be delightfully quick as it careens over crests and drifts through small European hamlets.

The car may be all new, but the drivers aren't. All three drivers for 2017 are the same as last year -- Thierry Neuville, Hayden Paddon and Dani Sordo will contest each round of the WRC in the team's three cars. If the rally championship were won on looks alone, Hyundai would be off to a very early start. And without Volkswagen participating in 2017, it may actually have a chance to win some races.

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