It’s the All-New Genesis G90, but Don’t Call It a Hyundai
A luxurious horse of a different badge.
Having come from Pony to Equus, Hyundai now seeks to scrub all mention of horseflesh from its most expensive sedans. And all mention of Hyundai, too, come to mention it. Meet the new G90 flagship sedan, the pointy end of Hyundai's new Genesis premium brand.
The G90 is a tad larger than the Equus it replaces, offering Mercedes-Benz S-Class room for E-Class money. There's a new badge on the nose too, but the bigger differences here are in design and material quality. There's a touch of Audi here as per usual, and a smidgen of BMW 7 Series. The winged badge may be Bentleyesque, but pry it off and the G90 could be a döppelganger for any of the big Europeans.
The interior looks to be a huge improvement over the old car; the Equus was nice enough in concept, but featured leather that looked more Hyundai than Lexus and a cabin design that felt as if the company was stretching an Elantra into luxury. This new car, like the present Genesis sedan, can compete on more than just price: genuine wood trim, Italian leather, German ergonomics.
There's an impressive suite of technologies as well, including a 360-degree camera, 12.3-inch high-resolution screen, surround-sound audio and available induction charging for your smart phone. In the Korean market, a semi-autonomous function for highway driving will also be available. Under the hood, your stable ranges from the 311 horsepower, 3.8-liter V6, to a turbocharged 3.3-liter good for 365 hp, to the range-topping 419 hp Tau 5-liter V8. Both rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive are on offer.
Genesis as a brand is expected to roll out five more models by 2020: three sedans, a replacement for the current coupe, and a new crossover. The G90 will crown the lineup, a thoroughbred born of humble parentage.
