Technically, this is not the first time the Hyundai Genesis will be wearing Prada, but it seems that people enjoyed the whole collaboration between the Korean automaker and the Italian fashion house.
For this installment, Hyundai used a 2012 Genesis and is positioning it as one of the most luxurious models the company has ever built. Aesthetically, the Genesis Prada will be offered in three colors – Black Nero, Blue Baltico, and Brown Moro – and will include a host of other items, including distinguishable dark chrome accents, a new “shark-fin” antenna, a limited Genesis Prada badge and GP500 emblem, and a set of 19” alloy wheels. Inside, the Genesis Prada will be dressed with “Saffiano” leather – Prada’s signature top quality leather - upholstery with a piano black trim and a new rear entertainment system.
As for performance, the Genesis Prada will be powered by a 5.0-liter V8 engine that produces 424 horsepower and 376 lb/ft of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai will be offering the Genesis Prada through customized personal orders. The initial plan is to have only 1,200 units of the car, distributed mostly in the Korean market with a limited number of models headed to the rest of Asia and the Middle East.
The New York Auto Show is fast becoming a busy event with automakers left and right introducing their new 2012 model line up of vehicles.
In the middle of all the chaos, Korean automaker Hyundai presented the all-new 2012 Accent, a car that promises to take the popularity of its predecessors to a whole new level. Thanks in large part to the car’s new and upscale "Fluidic Sculpture" design, the new Accent sure looks like it doesn’t belong in the subcompact market anymore.
At the very least, it’s changing the game in the market. “The 2012 Hyundai Accent reinvigorates the subcompact segment, similar to what the game-changing Sonata and Elantra have done in their categories,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president, Product and Corporate Planning, Hyundai Motor America.
On top of the Accent’s new design, Hyundai made no bones about the car’s performance and capabilities, promoting the car as a class-leader across the board.
“The Accent’s class-leading standard fuel economy is another showcase of Hyundai’s dedication to improving fuel efficiency with advancements to traditional gasoline powered vehicles and is the fourth nameplate in Hyundai’s lineup delivering 40 mpg on the highway,” O’Brien said.
While it’s easy to promote the car given the drastic changes done to it, we’ll reserve all our judgments until we get to experience the new Accent first-hand. But for now, we do have to give props to Hyundai for a design well-done. Who knew that their "Fluidic Sculpture" language would translate well to the Accent too?
Details on the Hyundai Accent after the jump.
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Seeing as this is effectively their hometown auto show, Hyundai was out in full force at the Seoul Motor Show with a host of new offerings. One concept that the Korean automaker brought was the Blue2 Sedan Concept, a car that the Korean automaker is pegging as the next generation FCEV sedan.
The car bears the codename HND-6 and is being touted as Hyundai’s very first Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle that’s powered by hydrogen and is capable of delivering 90kW – around 120 horsepower – and estimated fuel economy figures reaching an impressive 82 miles per gallon.
Aesthetically speaking, the Blue2 Sedan Concept has an exterior whose design language is being described as ‘Intersected Flow’ with other external features complementing the contoured form of the car, including the LCD screen panels on both the front and back, side cameras in place of the standard side mirrors, a roof camera, and automatic opening doors.
Inside, the Blue2 Concept features an asymmetrical dashboard, wider seats to make room for a spacious interior cabin, and a couple of out-of-this-world features, including what the company is describing as a Transparent Organic Light Emitting Diode (TOLED) monitor that has been officially christened the Gorilla Glass. This monitor appears more accurate and vivid compared to standard LED screens. Another unique feature is the Motion Sensor Moustick, a haptic wheel and motion sensor that respond to the driver’s touch and hand movements, giving drivers a new experience.
Hyundai has announced the debut of the new i40 in March at the Geneva Motor Show. With the new i40, Hyundai will launch the new brand slogan "New Thinking. New Possibilities." The station wagon version will be the first body version to be launched and will be followed by a sedan version later this year.
At the car’s official launch Allan Rushforth, Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe said: "Offering more for less has always been a fundamental principle at Hyundai, and now we are advancing this with our new brand direction under the ‘New Thinking. New Possibilities.’ slogan. The i40 is a perfect example of how we are offering the best and making it accessible to everyone. From stunning design and specification, to industry-leading technology and aftersales care – the i40 sets itself apart from its competitors."
Hit the jump to read more about the 2011 Hyundai i40.
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While a lot of automakers these days have been struggling and scrambling to get their footing back in the industry, Hyundai has been one of the few bright exceptions. Continuing on its rapid ascent to the top of the industry, Hyundai’s momentum doesn’t appear to be slowing down - and probably won’t anytime soon.
At the Chicago Auto Show, the Korean automaker will be bringing a couple of new vehicles, including the new Genesis R-Spec version. As a 2012MY, the Genesis R-Spec is the latest in a long line of new variants of Hyundai’s Genesis family.
The 2012 Hyundai Genesis R-Spec comes baring a few aesthetic modifications, as well as a choice of three exterior colors: Black Noir, Platinum Metallic, and Titanium Gray. Being a sportier version of the Genesis, the new model should be available towards the tail end of March 2011 at a price that we are guessing will be similar - albeit a bit higher - to the current base model.
UPDATE 08/08/2011: Check out our review of the 2012 HYundai Genesis R-Spec by clicking here!
Details on the Hyundai Genesis R-Spec after the jump.
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