After officially being unveiled for the 2011 model year with a 385 HP 4.6-liter V8 engine, the Hyundai Equus is getting a boost for the 2013 model year. The sedan has received a 5.0-liter V8 engine that delivers a total of 429 HP with Premium fuel or 421 HP with Regular, mated to a new, in-house eight-speed transmission. The transmission adds two additional ratios to enhance acceleration, shifting smoothness, and transmission efficiency by more than 6% compared to the previous six-speed transmission.

Next to these changes, the 2013 Equus->ke3333 comes with a new White Satin exterior with Saddle interior addition to the color palette. Also, a new Gran Premio Gray exterior color will replace Granite Gray beginning with the September 2012 production. In terms of exterior or interior design, no changes have been made.

Prices for the 2013 Hyundai Equus will start at $59,250 for the Signature model and at $66,250 for the Ultimate.

Hit the jump to read more about the 2013 Hyundai Equus.

2013 Hyundai Equus

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2013 Hyundai Equus
  • Engine/Motor: V8
  • Horsepower: 429 @ 6400
  • Torque: 376 @ 5000
  • Transmission: 8-speed automatic
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Exterior and Interior

The 2013 Equus will continue with the same design language it has sported over the years. Up front, it will get a subtle horizontal radiator grille and HID well-proportioned headlamps with jeweled detailing. On the side, the most impressive feature is the satin chrome side window daylight opening finish, while for the rear, the Equus gets bold taillights, strong shoulders, a fully-integrated asymmetrical exhaust tips, and rear LED turn signal indicators.

For the interior, Hyundai has placed some of the most amazing materials available: leather upholstery, Microfiber suede headliner, natural wood trim, and a leather-wrapped French-stitched instrument panel. The Equus will also be offered with a Lexicon-branded state-of-the-art audio system that includes 13-channel digital amplifier and 17 speakers producing 608 watts of power in 7.1 discrete surround sound audio as standard.

For the 2013 model, the Equus will be offered with a choice of four exterior colors: White Satin Pearl, Black Noir Pearl, Granite Gray/Gran Premio Gray, and Platinum Metallic. These colors will be combined with three interior themes: Cashmere with genuine Birch Burl wood, Jet Black with genuine Walnut wood, and Saddle with genuine Walnut wood.

Engine

Under the hood, you will find a 5.0-liter Tau DOHC V8 engine that delivers a total of 429 HP at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb-ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm. The engine is mated to a Hyundai-developed eight-speed transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual shift capability. The transmission adds two additional ratios to enhance acceleration, shifting smoothness, and transmission efficiency by more than six percent compared to the previous six-speed.

The 2013 Equus comes with a rear-wheel-drive system and delivers an excellent 52/48 front-to-rear weight distribution.

Prices

Model / Option Code

Model

Engine

Transmission

MSRP

E0422R85 / 01

Signature

5.0L GDI V8

8-Speed Automatic Transmission with SHIFTRONIC

$59,250

E0422R85 / 02

Ultimate

5.0L GDI V8

8-Speed Automatic Transmission with SHIFTRONIC

$66,250


Equus Signature key standard features

-5.0L GDI DOHC Tau V8 engine

-Eight-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC

-Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)

-Electronically Controlled Air Suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)

-19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires

-Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD

-Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with TCS and Brake Assist

-Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system with pre-collision warning

-Nine airbags: Advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags

-Electronic active front head restraints with power controls

-Electronic seatbelt pretensioners

-Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

-Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

-Smart cruise control

-High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED turn signal indicators

-Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) with auto-leveling

-Fog lights and automatic headlights

-Front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera

-Dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors with turn signal indicators and approach lamps

-Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper

-Proximity key entry with push-button start

-Illuminated scuff plates, inside door handles and door armrest

-Premium leather seating surfaces and Microfiber suede headliner

-12-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjustment and 10-way power front passenger seat

-Driver seat massage system

-Heated and cooled front seats

-Heated, wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel

-Power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel

-Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver-side seat, mirror and steering wheel

-Leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim

-Electroluminescent cluster (Supervision) with 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen

-Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold

-Power windows with auto-down/up

-Navigation system with DIS and multimedia controller

-608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers

-iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks and iPod connection cable

-XM Satellite Radio and NavTraffic with 90-day trial subscription

-Bluetooth® hands-free phone system

-Dual automatic temperature control with air quality system

-Windshield-wiper deicer, rain-sensing wipers and auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor

-Electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink and compass

-Acoustic laminated windshield, front and rear side windows

-Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof

-60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats

-Power rear sunshade

-Luggage net

-Premium-grade floor mats

-Premium-grade trunk cargo mat

-First-aid kit

Equus Ultimate adds or replaces:

-50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function

-First-class passenger-side rear seat with leg support and massage system

-Cooled rear seats

-Rear-seat entertainment system with eight-inch monitor

-Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator

-Rear-seat power up/down head restraints with manual tilt

-Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors

-Power rear side-window sunshades

-Forward-view cornering camera

-Power trunk lid

Competition

As Hyundai itself pointed out, the Equus targets luxury sedans like the Lexus LS 460 and the Mercedes S-Class->ke359. While many have said that Hyundai would never raise to the same luxury or performance level delivered by its German competitors, they should take another look at the success of the Genesis->ke2924. We are pretty sure that it is just a matter of time until Hyundai steals many more of the German automaker's customers.

2013 Hyundai Equus

2012 Lexus LS 460

2012 Mercedes S550

Fuel Type

Premium/Regular

Premium only

Premium only

Horsepower/Torque

429 hp/376 lb-ft

380 hp/367 lb-ft

429 hp/516 lb-ft

Fuel Economy
city/highway/combined

15/23/18 mpg

16/24/19 mpg

15/25/19 mpg

Transmission

8AT

8AT

7AT

Length

203.1 inches

199.2 inches

206.5 inches

Width

74.4 inches

73.8 inches

73.7 inches

Height

58.7 inches

58.1 inches

58.0 inches

Front Headroom

38.7 inches

38.0 inches

37.8 inches

Rear Headroom

38.1 inches

38.0 inches

38.5 inches

Front Legroom

45.1 inches

43.7 inches

41.9 inches

Rear Legroom

38.9 inches

35.8 inches

42.3 inches

Curb Weight

4,449 lbs.

4,350 lbs.

4,455lbs.