Watch Out Lexus LS… Hyundai’s Equus is On Your Tail
Canadian Auto Press
It doesn’t seem like all that long ago that Mercedes-Benz guffawed at the thought of the Japanese entry-level brand Toyota entering the luxury segment with its Lexus nameplate, followed quickly by Nissan’s Infiniti brand and Acura by Honda. Mazda nearly came to the fore with its own upscale marque but sold its Millenia sedan under its namesake brand after much speculation, which is what Hyundai seems to be doing with its luxury models.
2011 Hyundai Equus
First it was the Genesis sedan and then, in performance at least, the Genesis Coupe followed. Now the Korean automaker is taking on those same Japanese premium brands and the Europeans that inspired it all with a full-size premium sedan of its own, the Equus.
We’ve reported on the Equus a number of times before, even last year when it showed up at the New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) in home market trim, but as for what will be available here it’s all been speculation. Now we’ve got the facts yet again from NYC where the car debuted this week in North American specification, and it’s quite an impressive ride.
The North American-spec Equus pulls most of its design cues from the much-loved Genesis sedan, a good thing. Just the same, it would hardly look out of place beside a Mercedes S Class or Lexus LS, with a fairly distinctive and quite large horizontally ribbed and centre-split chrome grille, LED-enhanced headlamp clusters, large fog lamps set into the sporty lower valance, Mercedes-like chrome finished rub mouldings on the bumpers, narrow turn signal indicators integrated into the side mirror housings, lower side sill chrome mouldings, and long and gracefully arcing side window cutouts enhanced with deep tinted glass. The taillights are Genesis-like, but also aren’t unlike those found on the LS or 7 Series BMW, while chrome trim appliqués add richness to the overall design.
Speaking of richness, the interior won’t let any luxury car aficionado down. Supple perforated leathers and fine woods will ensconce occupants in hedonistic opulence, coupled with the latest infotainment hardware and capped off with a similar rear seating ottoman system as offered by Lexus in its top-line LS models and Maybach’s much-revered super sedan, with room for two divided by a rear centre console with seat and audiovisual controls plus a mini fridge. The seats will also feature ventilation, heating and massage. Nice touches like an analog clock just below the large-screen navigation system add a little olde-world charm to the real world of modern technology, while audio sounds come via a Lexicon stereo system.
The car should perform well despite a curb weight that’s likely over the top, due to a 385hp V8 connecting through to a six-speed automatic transmission. Expect pricing to sit in the $50,000 to $60,000 range in USD, with a Canadian (CAD) MSRP slightly higher.
Replacing the regular owner’s manual will be a “multimedia tablet” device that should wow friends and neighbours. Just which aftermarket electronics company will supply the tablet is yet to be announced, although an iPad was shown on the big screen at the car’s introduction, so it might get the nod. Not only will the tablet replace the owner’s manual, not only offering a more manageable source of information but also capable of being updated regularly, the device will be able to manage customer/dealer interactions such as service appointment scheduling.
As Hyundai repositions its brand toward the entry-level luxury segment, it will also deliver a premium ownership experience that will not only include the new Equus, but also the Genesis sedan and Coupe, by only selling top models at specially chosen dealerships.
If Hyundai’s Genesis sedan is any indication of how well the Equus will perform and how impressively it will be crafted, Lexus and other premium brands had better keep a close watch. And the Equus appears even more upscale and better finished than the Genesis.
