Hyundai Genesis Revealed in Korea

Hyundai's groundbreaking Genesis sedan has been officially unveiled in its

home market of Korea with great enthusiasm. Billed as Hyundai's finest product over forty years of car making, it's the vehicle that will take the brand to the next level in luxury and respect. The Genesis will, for the first time, be Hyundai's way of accessing the prestige market, and has brands like Lexus and Mercedes-Benz in its sights.

Previewed by the attractive Genesis Concept, the road-going car has made it through more or less unchanged. Hyundai has fine-tuned most of the shapes, like the headlights and grille, which interestingly give the front end the look of Mercedes-Benz's S-Class. As for the rest of the car, its shape, specifically the way the rear pillar is set, is quite curvy and resembles the Infiniti G Sedan from certain angles. Some of the finer details of the car aren't set in stone, so things like the grille and the bumpers could change for different markets.

In Korea and China, the Genesis models (sedan and coupe) won't feature Hyundai's traditional italicized "H" logo, but instead the brand has issued a new

logo for its prestige vehicle. A hexagon shape, with the name "Genesis" is surrounded by a pair of wings, a symbolization of "soaring" over the competition. We've heard a few comments likening it to Bentley's winged "B" logo. North American models won't feature this emblem, though.

The Genesis will be offered in three different forms, with two V6 engines and the brand new “Tau” V8. The entry level V6 is the 3.3-liter unit featured in the Sonata and Santa Fe, while the mid-level V6 is the 3.8-liter used in the Azera and Veracruz. Both models enjoy uprated power from their respective siblings, at 265 horsepower and 305 horsepower respectively. The V8 is rated at 380 horsepower. All three motors drive the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic transmission.

We also can't help but be impressed by some of the

luxury features that Hyundai has managed to fit into the Genesis. In terms of high-tech gizmos and gadgets, the car will feature a navigation system, adaptive headlamps that swivel, and "smart" radar-based cruise control to automatically slow the car down if there's a vehicle approaching in front. Hyundai has also partnered up with a prestigious brand for its stereo system Lexicon (a subsidiary of Harman/Kardon), which also make stereo systems for BMW, Rolls-Royce and other high-end brands.

The North American debut of the new Genesis will occur in a matter of weeks, with the big launch happening at this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Pricing has been estimated to hover around the $30,000 mark for a well-equipped V6 model, and around $40,000 for the one with the V8.