Genesis Luxury Sports Sedan - In the beginning.

Hyundai Motor Co. opened a bold new era with the world premiere of Genesis luxury sports sedan at a VIP-filled launch ceremony. With its artfully-sculpted modern exterior form and understated, clean character lines, Genesis projects an authoritative, sophisticated presence. Developed under the BH project codename over a period of four years, Genesis represents an investment of 500 billion won (approximately $600 million).

"Genesis is the pride of Hyundai technology and symbolizes our determination to enter the highly competitive arena of luxury cars now dominated by the Europeans. Genesis will consolidate our position as the leader of the Korean auto industry and will pave the way forward for our leap into the global market," Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-Koo.

Using the Mercedes E-Class, BMW 5-series and Lexus GS as the engineering benchmarks for the Genesis program, the development team broke with over two decades of front engine, front-wheel drive architecture and adopted a rear wheel drive configuration. With the new layout, Genesis attains the near-ideal 53:47 front:rear weight distribution which facilitates optimal handling dynamics.

INNOVATIVE BODY MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Genesis is manufactured at the company's Ulsan plant at a new purpose built facility which adopts numerous innovations in manufacturing. One of the most noteworthy is the use of adhesive bonding which is used to supplement the traditional body welding process. The adoption of dual joining techniques-adhesive and welding-yields a significantly more rigid body than is possible using a single joining technique.

Historically, automobiles have been assembled using multiple spot welds but Genesis' steel body breaks with this tradition. Critical seams are joined using an adhesive coating which creates a high-strength chemical bond. This is then supplemented with traditional multiple spot welds to yield unmatched joint quality and body stiffness.

Genesis' body is an impressive engineering achievement offering 12~14 percent high dynamic torsional rigidity than a BMW 5-series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class or Lexus LS. More impressively, Genesis achieves this higher rigidity with a body-in-white weight that is actually lower than the competition. This rigid body structure allowed Hyundai chassis engineers to resolve two mutually contradictory goals: maintain precise steering and excellent handling capabilities while delivering a quieter, more comfortable ride. And to provide a super strong safety cage, Genesis engineers specified two grades of high strength steel.

POWERTRAIN

Genesis today comes with a choice of two engines: the 3.3-liter V-6 Lambda (262ps with a fuel economy rating of 10km per liter) and it's larger V-6 sibling which displaces 3.8-liters (rated at 290ps and 9.6km per liter). Later in the year, the all-new 4.6-liter V-8 Tao engine will join the lineup.

To maximize the power spread, the V-6 Lambda engines utilize Continuously Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) on intake and exhaust camshafts and a new Variable Intake System (VIS) that helps cylinders breathe efficiently at low and high RPM. The better breathing results in outstanding off-the-line acceleration and passing performance, and remarkable fuel efficiency. Both V-6 engines are made of an lightweight aluminum alloy block and cylinder heads for thermal efficiency, and feature timing chains with no scheduled maintenance. Even with their impressive output, all Genesis engines are also environmentally friendly and achieving Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification levels.

ADVANCED 6-SPEED TRANSMISSIONS

Power is delivered to the rear wheels through an Aisin 6-speed SHIFTRONIC automatic transmission that features an overdrive lock-up torque converter for improved highway fuel economy. The transmission offers smooth shifts and a wide spread of ratios that ideally suit both engine's characteristics including a tall-overdrive sixth gear for quiet, efficient highway cruising. Drivers can access the SHIFTRONIC® feature by moving the gear selector into a separate gate. Pushing the selector forward or pulling it rearward will shift the transmission up or down sequentially, adding to driver control. A clear LCD readout on the instrument panel shows the gear that's in use.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES DELIVER IMPROVED SAFETY PERFORMANCE

Maintaining Hyundai's emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features to help both prevent accidents, and maximize the well being of its occupants in the event of a collision. Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

Genesis' total of eight airbags include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.

An electronic active head restraint system will debut on Genesis. Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, an improvement over mechanically based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the U.S.-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.

Genesis has a total of eight ultrasonic sensors located on the front and rear bumpers. The sensors along with the rear backup camera help detect how close objects are when parking. Distance is indicated on the in-dash screen and accompanied by an audible warning tone.

Forward-looking radar is used in Genesis' Smart Cruise Control system. Smart Cruise Control adjusts vehicle speed to maintain distance from the vehicle ahead in the same lane.

Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The 12.6-inch front rotors have single-piston floating calipers and the rear brakes feature 12.4-inch rotors with single-pistons on V6 models.

INNOVATIVE AND SOPHISTICATED SPORT-TUNED SUSPENSION

Genesis features a suspension design that is among the most sophisticated and refined anywhere, at any price. The front five-link suspension features upper and lower arms linking the front wheels to the chassis. This artfully articulated arrangement creates a virtual king pin axis that dramatically reduces unwanted kickback through the steering wheel as well as improving responsiveness. The five-link independent rear suspension is equally sophisticated, enabling precise suspension geometry for a premium ride and engaging handling prowess. The capabilities of the advanced front and rear-suspension are maximized through Amplitude Selective Dampers (ASD) allowing tuning flexibility at smaller damper displacements. ASD technology, adopted by Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, optimizes road surface contact, improves ride comfort with more body / wheel control and increases driving comfort without compromised handling.


ADVANCED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY

Genesis comes with Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights. The advantages of HID headlamps include greater lighting power, daylight-type lighting and reduced power consumption. The lamps also feature an auto-leveling function which keeps the headlights level regardless of how the vehicle is loaded with passengers or cargo. Headlamps also swivel automatically for better peripheral visibility when cornering.

Genesis' other innovative features include:

•	Driver Information System with a 30GB hard disk drive and user-friendly multimedia jog/shuttle wheel controller provides near-instant control over navigation, audio entertainment system (CD/DVD/MP3 personal audio such as i-Pod), cellphone with Bluetooth connnectivity, DMB television. All DIS functions are software updatable giving Genesis owners easy and quick access to the expanded features and latest improvements.
•	A premium surround-sound audio system by Lexicon® with 17 speakers and a 12-channel 528W amplifier featuring LOGIC 7® technology. Rolls Royce Phantom and Hyundai Genesis are the only automobiles to offer Lexicon®.
•	Electronic Parking Brake: simply flick the switch to ngage/disengage the parking brake
•	Auto-Hold Brakes which during stops eliminates need for driver to keep constant pressure on brake pedal; brakes are released automatically upon application of throttle pedal
•	Smart Cruise Control use radar waves to help maintain safe driving distance while cruise control feature is engaged
•	Smart Key Technology with key proximity sensor which enables driver to simply "press" button to start or stop engine
•	State-of-the-Art Sachs sports-tuned Electronic Air Suspension raises or lowers vehicle height to optimize aerodynamics and improve road-holding during high speed driving

THREE TRIM LEVELS

Genesis is available in three trim levels: Grand, Luxury and Royal. Korean pricing for the Grand entry level model equipped with the 3.3-liter Lambda engine begins at 40.5 million won (approximately US$44,000. inclusive of taxes, calculated at 920 won per US$) and tops out with the Royal at 52.8 million won (58.3 million with the inclusion of the VIP pack).

Genesis will be covered by a three-year 60,000km bumper-to-bumper warranty and five-year 100,000km powertrain warranty and the Genesis ownership experience includes membership in the exclusive Genesis Purple Club which promises to raise the bar for luxury car customer care programs.

This year's sales goal for Genesis has been set at 35,000 in the Korean market in 20,000 in export markets which include North America, China and the Middle East. year's sales goal has been set at 80,000 units, with 45,000 earmarked for export. Genesis is due to arrive this year in North American showrooms by June and in China in the second half.