VIDEO: Exactly who is Hyundai marketing the Genesis to? You decide.

Agent008 submitted on 01/18/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 11:51 PM
from: www.autospies.com

Tags: 2008 Detroit Auto Show, 2008 Hyundai Genesis

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2008 Detroit Auto Show

2008 Hyundai Genesis

VIDEO: Exactly who is Hyundai marketing the Genesis to? You decide.

After starting a seemingly unending Flame War with our review of the 2008 Hyundai Genesis, we thought it would be best to let you decide for yourself just who the car maker is marketing to.

If you have trouble viewing the video above, click here to download it

The AutoSpies.com 2008 Detroit Auto Show photo gallery is sponsored by Lexus.

2008 Detroit Auto Show Photo Gallery

VIDEO: Exactly who is Hyundai marketing the Genesis to? You decide.

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Agent004 - 1/18/2008 11:53:36 PMView My AgentSpace

-13 Boost

It appears to me that the German car drivers are headed in the right direction and the Genesis car driver is on the wrong side of the road. That's why they all swerved...

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sold2early - 1/19/2008 9:30:36 PM

-3 Boost

You are correct, Carguy; status is of paramount importance to the typical luxury car buyer and anyone who wants and can afford the true luxury brand offerings will not consider Hyundai under any circumstances. I do believe the Genesis will succeed, but it will do so by stealing away sales of fully optioned Camrys and Accords.

If Hyundai's goal is to truly compete against the luxury brands, they will have to create a luxury division just like the Japanese manufacturers did.

DaHarder - 1/19/2008 12:52:33 AM

+9 Boost

The Hyundai Genesis is for those looking for:

- Advanced Powertrain Options

- An Abundance of Luxury Accoutrements

- One of the Industry's Best Warranty Programs

- Luxury Car Styling

- Outstanding Fit/Finish/Build Quality

- All at a heretofore Unheard of Price Point...

Think: Same Overall Philosophy That Toyota Had When The 1990 Lexus LS400 Was Brought to Market i.e. A new Definition of the Luxury/Value Combination

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autopro - 1/19/2008 11:48:03 AMView My AgentSpace

-13 Boost

Nice try.I don't why your promoting this car,I'm sure its a decent,but its a camry,accord competior.The build quality is only average,and quality of materials is only on par with toyota and honda.

david999 - 1/19/2008 3:25:50 PM

-9 Boost

"Outstanding Fit/Finish/Build Quality"

Compared to what? Maybe a VW or a Tata, not a Lexus , BMW or Mercedes.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/20/2008 12:53:20 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

david999, what makes you think VW has bad build quality? They're not reliable, but they're beautifully finished, much moreso than any Toyota.

Anyway, this car will have excellent build compared to the Avalon, Lucerne, 300, Maxima, etc.

LexusKindaGuy12 - 1/19/2008 1:01:34 AM

+1 Boost

so its basically saying that the germs and lexus and cadillac swerved first, meaning that they lost the "who has more balls" game.

i wonder if they had to buy those cars...lol

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LexusKindaGuy12 - 1/19/2008 1:02:08 AM

-1 Boost

I meant germans*

aeyjay - 1/19/2008 7:43:00 AM

+5 Boost

There wasn't a Cadillac in the video.

DaHarder - 1/19/2008 1:01:38 AM

+9 Boost

In Addition:

How Dare You Even Refer To The Nonsensical/Uninformative Ramblings (of 001) as Witnessed On That Journalistically Embarrassing Video As An Actual REVIEW?

Did He Even actually Drive The Vehicle?

No - And Until I Read a Fair Assessment Of The Hyundai Genesis By Someone Who Has Driven It, Tested It and Is Objective in Their Position Concerning The Vehicle, That Video Means NOTHING!

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DaHarder - 1/19/2008 12:53:36 PM

+6 Boost

"yet he said it looked like a last-gen Infiniti."

Therein lies your error, taking what He/001 said as some kind of automotive gospel.

We've long established that the alleged 'video review' was little more than One Individual (seemingly) Hell Bent On Finding Any/Everything They Possibly Could To Criticize About The Hyundai... Often Maliciously!

That Video Was Less Than PATHETIC, and for many did very serious damage to the credibility of 001 as one to provide anything resembling unbiased/concise automotive commentary.

BMW4me4ever - 1/19/2008 4:09:42 PMView My AgentSpace

-11 Boost

dahard .. doh! as homer simpson would state. What are you crapping? same build quality, fit & finish as the germans and Lexus. try some visine to clear your eyes. I was at detroit and sat inside the genesis. Now, it is a nice car for $30k price range and that is it. It doesnt have the quality in leather, fit & finish, materials as the BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Lexus do. This is why it costs less. idiots

DaHarder - 1/19/2008 10:47:02 PM

+6 Boost

"What are you crapping? same build quality, fit & finish as the germans and Lexus"

Stop (Over) Reacting For a Change And READ!

"- Outstanding Fit/Finish/Build Quality "

Never Did I Mention The Word 'SAME' Anywhere In Any Of My Posts Regarding The Issue At Hand, So Please Refrain From Over Exaggerating Things In Some Lame Effort To Substantiate Your Weak Argument.

Thanks...

Designer1 - 1/19/2008 1:50:04 AM

-1 Boost

Now that's one of the silliest car commercials that I've ever seen. Look how slow the cars are moving, there's no action performed to show anything out of the Genesis, other than driving in the wrong way.

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aeyjay - 1/19/2008 11:51:52 AM

+1 Boost

I recall a recent BMW ad with a 3 series, A4, CTS, IS, and G35 in which all the cars were silver (including the BMW) and going in the same direction. The BMW took the exit ramp and the advertiser spoke of BMW's independence as a company. He also touted their free service. BMW's ad made sense and I believe Hyundai's ad does as well.

The speed that the vehicles were traveling is not relevant to the point of this ad. It's Hyundai demonstration of going 'against the grain' so to speak.

The Genesis is truly getting a lot of buzz LOL. What better name for a car the truly seems to be marking the beginning of a new era in vehicles: Setting a higher standard for premium luxury vehicles while making people reassess what true value is.

Think about it.

lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 10:26:01 PM

-7 Boost

good crap. We all know you get your jollies from lowly Hyundais but it really gets annoying when you say "think about it" at the end of your useless defenses for them. What I'm saying is say whatever it is you're trying to say and be done with it. Dont advertise for Hyundai, its incredibly obnoxious.

Agent004 - 1/19/2008 1:33:44 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Kaiser:

One a day my man.

But thanks for the opinion on the auto-loading video, we will fix it to not play automatically.

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Porschinator - 1/19/2008 4:52:36 AM

-2 Boost

I guess we will have to wait until you come up with the perfect car site. 8-P

Hyundai is going in the right direction. Went from this:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/hyundai_misc.html

To this:
http://www.strategicvision.com/press_release.php?pr=27

Hyundai knows with BAD press comes BAD sales.

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JUGNU - 1/19/2008 4:58:03 AMView My AgentSpace

+1 Boost

I don't see Audi A6 in there. What Hyundai don't consider them? Why

anyway i think Genesis is good car, great value for money and we should just appreciate for what it is and congretulate Hyundai.

and don't think too much about comparisons after all they'll make sense when Genesis will be tested.

for now just don't bash the car unnecesserily.

JUGNU

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VISO - 1/19/2008 1:24:44 PM

-9 Boost

Because they're ignorant like most in the American market.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/19/2008 3:00:53 PMView My AgentSpace

-2 Boost

Because they couldn't afford the one-year lease rate.

aeyjay - 1/19/2008 8:01:30 AM

+4 Boost

More than likely, this car will be cross shopped with the Avalon, 300C, Maxima, ES330, RL, S80 and Lincolns new MKS as opposed to the vehicles depicted in the ad.

If you can appreciate the car for what it is, it makes perfect sense. If you try to make it into something it's not, you've already missed the ship.

Technology and innovations in general become less expensive and more reliable over time. It is up to the manufacturer to capitalize on this and provide the customer with products that deliver the most for the money if they want to stand out. It all comes down to design execution and quality of materials (since safety standards are stricter already).

Hyundai is doing a great job with their advertising and I think it is working. Hyundai and Saturns ads are similar at the moment... (Hyundai: Think about it and Saturn: Rethink).

Its time that we praise success instead of being arrogant badge whores that think whats on the bonnet determines their worth in this world. In all honesty,, most people don't care what you drive. I'd rather associate with a nice person that drove a Genesis as opposed to some pompous ass that drives a BMW anyday.

Deboost that. Think about it.

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lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 10:29:59 PM

-5 Boost

I've thought long and hard about it and I've come to the conclusion that I hate hyundai even more for their lame campaign slogan.

tattedtwice - 1/21/2008 4:30:34 PM

+2 Boost

I'd say compared to an idiotic ad campaign where a pontiac grand prix lookalike called an is350 is dropped from a helicopter, or a camry lookalike is 'self parking' between crystal glasses, Hyundai's ads are brilliant.

SevorbeupstryIsBack - 1/19/2008 9:38:50 AM

-7 Boost

If they showed that commmercial here in europe, everybody would be on the floor laughing

hahaha like so rofl

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SixxFive - 1/19/2008 10:51:44 AM

+7 Boost

Autospies seems to be fixated and deeply disturbed about the Genesis - car seen at a car show - but not yet driven or completely evaluated. My impression of the video demonstration is that they are simply stating that they are offering a car that offers many similar features of others - and if your world is not ruled by what emblem you have resting on your hood or grill, you may consider Hyundai and save 20-30K. If you have seen a Hyundai commercial lately, it all makes sense.

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Agent004 - 1/19/2008 1:36:52 PMView My AgentSpace

-11 Boost

If you have any respect for designers, you wouldn't buy this car. That is my beef with it. They ripped off a design, and didn't even care to make it look less obvious.

tpaguy - 1/19/2008 11:08:30 AM

+2 Boost

Boy do the autspies have it all wrong here.... Hyundai' marketing strategy is quite clear! They're using the prestige and status of the luxury car makers to tell their buyers "buy a Hyundai and YOU WILL (the driver) be on the same playing level as BMW, Mercedes".

Anyone who seriously tests the Genesis against a 5-series, E-class will most likely see that it's not an apples to apples comparison, but THAT DOES NOT MATTER IN THIS CASE.

The Hyundai buyer does not hold the same pyschographics as a BMW, Lexus, or Mercedes buyer. If Hyundai can succeed in having THEIR demographic "Perceive" their purchase of the Genesis will be empowering, then they will succeed.

Think about it... The Genesis buyer is the guy/gal that will be thinking they were able to afford a car that is equal to or possibly even "better" than their bosses (or company's owners) car. It's kind of like those Mecury commercials running about a year ago, but Hyundai's strategy is more in your face and organized.

It's a somewhat risky strategy, but then again, the Genesis is risky to begin with too. Hyundai is pushing new limits and trying to expand their target market.

To the spies, why does it matter so much to you that the Genesis is being marketing the way it currently is? Is it because you somewhat feel threatened as a luxury car owner/buyer? If so, get over yourself. Hyundai's message is not directed to you, and in fact, if you were secure with your status/ect, you wouldn't care one bit that Hyundai uses your luxury car maker as a benchmark (or strategic comparison).

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aeyjay - 1/19/2008 11:32:46 AM

+1 Boost

Great point... here's a simple comparison:

A kid on a 10speed bicycle on the sidewalk pulls next to a new motorcycle and says "Let's race"... is the motorcyclist threatened or even concerned? No.

Hyundai gives the people a car that has features comparable to cars with much higher MSRP's and pulls up that much closer to the 'Big Boys'.

This alone gives some a reason to feel threatened , or cheated since they paid more for the 'history' 'badge' or the ever present 'magic feel'. Is there a threat posed to other marques (especially in an economy that seems to be becoming more socially/environmentally aware - and less impressed by the old 'suit and tie' pretentiousness of past times)

Think about it.

lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 11:56:13 AM

-9 Boost

Who is Hyundai marketing the Genesis to? I'll tell you: people who can't face the facts that they simply cannot afford a luxury car (such as Lexus, Mercedes, or BMW). Those are the only people who would buy this because anyone who can afford the epensive luxury cars will go for those over a Hyundai.

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aeyjay - 1/19/2008 1:43:06 PM

-3 Boost

Those who can afford the Mercedes, Lexus, or BMW are the EXACT people that would buy this car. These SMART people would rather put the extra $$$'s into something more valuable like:

Their homes, kid's education, family vacations etc.

While they are out enjoying life, overstressed and overworked individuals will be stuck in their little hometown with their big shiny car with a high payment and even higher repair bills.

Some people just don't get it.

Think about it.

aeyjay - 1/19/2008 1:47:58 PM

-1 Boost

Did I mention investments? Yes, they would rather invest their money. With such smart decisions being made by these consumers over the years, they may be able to treat themselves to a real luxury car someday.

As in Aston Martin, Bentley, Maserati, Ferrari - Those are badges truly worth bragging about but once youre at that level... everything speaks for itself.

Hyundai doesn't have to prove anything. They speak truth and realness to the masses for all concerned.

Go Genesis!

BMW4me4ever - 1/19/2008 4:17:37 PMView My AgentSpace

-5 Boost

aejay ... what are you talking about? I am successfull and enjoy driving, that is why I am on my 5th BMW. I go to racing schools at least once a year. I would never consider buying a hyundai vs a BMW 535i. Those that do and think it is a fair comparison have obviously not taken the time to really understand the workmanship and art that goes into building a Luxury car ( lexus, bmw, mercedes, audi, jaguar ) ... there is no comparison ... Kind of hypocritical that you think people that buy luxury cars dont enjoy life. What kind of car does your boss drive, does he go on vacation, live in a nice house, dress well, have money saved to cover expenses? YES .

idiot statements ...

aeyjay - 1/19/2008 5:11:38 PM

0 Boost

The execution of my comments didn't come off correctly BMW4meforever... I didn't mean for it to sound personal, but a little more generalized for the 'typical' American purchasing a premium vehicle. It was geared towards those that are concerned with whats on paper and the warranty etc as opposed to the brand.

I am my own boss, and when I did have one, I drove a nicer car than he did ;-)

lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 8:37:32 PM

-3 Boost

aeyjay, what are you, Hyundai's spokesperson? Here's the problem with Hyundai's "Think About It" philosophy: people with money aren't going to drive a Hyundai. Period. Hyundai's reputation is tinny pieces of junk, just face it. Rich people who want a good reputation will go for the Lexus, Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Aston Martin, Bentley, etc.

aeyjay - 1/19/2008 9:09:23 PM

+1 Boost

True... 'rich' people won't, but 'wealthy' people will. It all boils down to ego now. Hyundai's past is just that, it's past. I'm not trying to start any trouble on here guys though, it's a car... not a person.

I DO sound like a spokesperson for Hyundai don't I! I should call my agent! No, seriously Lexus350, I'm just a sucker for the underdog - which is Hyundai. It makes me happy to see them come such a long way from the crap they used to put out.

Bottom line... WE are making this car popular whether we give good or bad feedback. I honestly hope that they (Hyundai) come up with their own design language for the company though.

lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 10:34:51 PM

-9 Boost

I wouldn't pride myself on being a wannabe Hyundai spokes person. And I could sit here and prove to you why you're wrong but apparantly you too thick headed to even care.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/20/2008 1:25:25 AMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

Maybe he just has his own opinion? Lay off a little. He's not "wrong" for rooting for Hyundai, just like how you're not wrong for disliking them.

tattedtwice - 1/21/2008 4:36:39 PM

-1 Boost

"Who is Hyundai marketing the Genesis to? I'll tell you: people who can't face the facts that they simply cannot afford a luxury car (such as Lexus, Mercedes, or BMW). Those are the only people who would buy this because anyone who can afford the epensive luxury cars will go for those over a Hyundai."

"Who is toyota marketing the ls400 to? I'll tell you: people who can't face the facts that they simply cannot afford a luxury car (such as Mercedes or BMW). Those are the only people who would buy this because anyone who can afford the expensive luxury cars will go for those over a toyota." Signed, toyota hater, '89

VISO - 1/19/2008 1:25:35 PM

-5 Boost

Slow news day I guess.

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autopro - 1/19/2008 2:41:48 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

We owned a hyundai dealership,the engines were crapping out before the 5yr loans were over.People just parked their cars and stoped paying their notes.It would take several more years to prove their reliability before I would ever buy or recommend that anyone should buy one.Most people on this sight were too young to know the whole history of hyundai in the US. they burned alot of people with their deplorable product.

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aeyjay - 1/19/2008 3:19:32 PM

+1 Boost

I agree with you autopro... as someone born in the 80's, I only heard the tail end of the Hyundai saga. One of my relatives owned an Excel that never gave her problems really which is probably an exception to the rule. She didn't drive it hard though, which is probably why she was one of the fortunate ones. Hyundai is apparently aiming at the latter end of my generation: 20's to early 30's - young professionals with a sense of where the company is NOW. I'm so happy that the standards are being raised to higher levels. It will truly amaze me if we begin getting Chinese cars imported here that apparently aren't any better than Hyundai was in the 80's.

America should not accept sub-par quality vehicles from them (Chinese). I've watched some of their crash tests and they are pretty scary! Death on wheels.

david999 - 1/19/2008 4:04:06 PM

0 Boost

Hyundai should try to make a low cost car that competes better against Honda and Nissan, instead of wasting their resources on "make believe" projects like the Genesis. Step into a Hyundai dealership and one will soon realize they are nowhere near the league of the premium brands.

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aeyjay - 1/19/2008 5:13:18 PM

-3 Boost

May I have "Kia" for $100 Alex.

lexusis350 - 1/19/2008 10:37:16 PM

-7 Boost

A Kia for $100? What a rip off.

BFABS - 1/19/2008 4:07:21 PM

-1 Boost

I'm not really taking any sides but just to put things in a better perspective. How is this car any better in size, engine power/ size (v8), luxury and even badge prestige from cars like Chrysler 300c/ SRT or Pontiac G8's top spec. This more of a marketing gimmick that will likely work for those people who have already bought a Hyundai and are looking to upgrade. More than 98% of the people on this website will not buy a hyundai even if they made the Audi R8 (but not based on a Lamborghini). But neither would many of us buy a Camry. But a majority of the people who have bought a cheap hyundai previously might aspire to this one mostly because of the hype.
Basically, it's competition will be other standard car manufacturers that offer V8s for cheap. For example: Chrysler 300C, Pontiac G8. Just my 25cents

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Anthony - 1/19/2008 5:53:38 PM

+4 Boost

This is exactly the Lexus playbook from 1990. However, there are differences that I think are key. For one, when Lexus hit the scene, Mercedes and BMW's quality was less than desirable, which allowed Lexus to play up the whole "luxurious and reliable alternative" argument. Also, Lexus took on the flagships from the Germans, which to this day was a pretty ballsy move.

The Hyundai Genesis is not the most reliable car in that commercial, and it is not taking on the flagships from each of those brands. And also, in my opinion, that commercial does not have the finesse or elegance of any Lexus or Mercedes commercial either.

Regardless of all that, this car will allow people to enjoy some of the luxury and performance of those cars without the price tag. It will kill in sales against the Avalon and the Maxima crowd, but that is it. Hyundai's most brilliant move here is letting the media hype this car up so much. Congratulations auto media, you saved Hyundai millions in advertising.

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tpaguy - 1/19/2008 6:47:11 PM

+1 Boost

I respect your opinion, Anthony, but I do disagree with you on one point.

In my opinion, Hyundai is not trying at all to pull a Lexus LS-style launch. If they were, they would have also copied Lexus' approach on the superb level of service and merchandising at the dealership level (that is what ultimately ensured the launches success). People who bought LS' were raving not only about the car, but also the service and dealership experience.

I've seen nothing from Hyundai that would lead me to believe that they are trying to pull a Lexus-style launch. If they were, they'd would have already partnered with their dealers to enhance the look and merchandising of their showrooms. They'd also implement a new service model that would "wow" their new clientele.

BMW995 - 1/19/2008 7:32:33 PM

+3 Boost

Sad to hear all the status people blast Hyundai. If the quality is above average Hyundai will be a big success (although, like all other cars I would not buy this car during it's first model year). The most important attribute of the Genesis is that it is RWD. Therefore many people who would buy it would not consider an Avalon, Camry or Maxima. The true competition is 300C and G8. If it handles very well and I expect it will, I will seriously consider buying this car for my wife. I simply don't like large FWD cars, they have poor handling and understeer way too much, and I expect there are many like me.

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g2ok - 1/19/2008 10:37:08 PM

+5 Boost

I recently got a Hyundai Sonata as a rental car and it was a very competent sedan, so if the Genesis is a higher end vehicle, then it's probably as good as any $35k car.

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g2ok - 1/19/2008 10:42:03 PM

+4 Boost

I would also add that if this thing is close to $30k, then it's not really inexpensive. I think all the other comapanies have just raised prices like crazy.

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NewBeginning - 1/20/2008 9:00:18 AM

-1 Boost

Walmart VS Nordstrom

Who makes more money?

That's what hyundai is doing.

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NewBeginning - 1/20/2008 9:44:26 AM

0 Boost

and when hyundai makes $50K+ cars, they will have a different brand. Good thing is when hyundai brings out luxury brand, they'll benchmark more upscale cars like Bentley and Rolls royce.

Good for us, bad for lexus

NewBeginning - 1/20/2008 10:08:52 AM

0 Boost

W.J.D.W,K.D.B

Ps1982k

aeyjay - 1/20/2008 12:14:13 PM

+3 Boost

Individual ego vs. group dynamic...
Supermodel vs. 'girl next door'

I have an appreciation for brands that exercise craftsmanship to a higher level like BMW, Bentley, Aston, Porche, Ferrari and even Lexus. I am also for basic quality from brands showing much improvement like Hyundai and GM.

As BMW4me4ever stated, he is successful and enjoys driving and therefore should drive a vehicle that meets his standards of excellence, craftsmanship, and performance etc.

For other people that are successful and live without the passion for vehicles as we do, would consider other vehicles because of their value. These are the same people that could afford to shop at Neiman Marcus but choose to shop at Target.

On a final note, I now understand why some people wouldn't dare buy a Hyundai. Please forgive some of my old posts on here for I didn't do all of my homework on this company before spilling out a bunch of words on the keyboard. This company (Hyundai) REALLY put a lot of people through hell with blown engines, etc. So I UNDERSTAND some of your sentiment guys (and gals). Knowing what I know now, I feel that they have to keep proving themselves before I'd ever consider one.

Still growing up, AJ

Anthony - 1/20/2008 3:10:49 PM

+3 Boost

Lexus is already benchmarking cars like Bentley and Rolls Royce. The new LS has been called an $80K Rolls Royce in several reviews already.

I am still not getting the linkage as to why some seem to believe that Lexus has more to worry about than any other luxury brand? Hyundai may be moving more upscale, but then again, so is Lexus still. The next step for Hyundai is to chase the Lexus F division with high-performance vehicles to compete with the IS-F and the LF-A. Lexus is not standing still.

NewBeginning - 1/21/2008 12:46:13 AM

0 Boost

"Lexus is already benchmarking cars like Bentley and Rolls Royce. The new LS has been called an $80K Rolls Royce in several reviews already."

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Are you a comedian?
Lexus LS is like Honda fit comparing to Rolls Royce.

Anthony - 1/21/2008 1:19:31 AM

+1 Boost

Stop fighting it. You are only making yourselves look more ridiculous.

"The driver’s seat should be singled out for praise too. It’s like sitting on a sumo wrestler. Couple that to the gearbox, which changes so smoothly you cannot feel the shifts, and you have a car that can be compared to the Rolls-Royce Phantom. "

http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/driving/jeremy_clarkson/article1358270.ece

And there are plenty more of where that came from...

The only Lexus "in trouble" with the release of the Genesis is the ES. They are in the same price bracket, and both cater to the 'entry-level luxury' segment. The Hyundai will have its advantages over it, such as the larger interior space, the engine availability etc., but that is as far as it goes.

Need I remind you that the ES is the best-selling sedan in the Lexus line-up, and continually does well. And if the ES is in trouble, then the BMW 3-Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class are in trouble as well, seeing as they are all in the same segment.

S4cabriofoxone - 1/22/2008 10:09:27 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

"You are only making yourselves look more ridiculous."

Yes, you are, Anthony, because Jeremy Clarkson was the ONLY PERSON to say that, EVER, and the Lexus fanboys such as yourself are ALWAYS bringing it up.

OMG, because Jeremy Clarkson says it, it must be true! But OMG, when he said he liked the Hyundai Tiburon better than the Lexus SC, I hated him! I have double-standards!

Anthony - 2/9/2008 8:20:07 PM

+1 Boost

He was NOT the only person to say that. You know that, I know that, and if I have to, I will make everyone know it. Man am I glad I came back to read this.

mercuryguy - 1/20/2008 4:37:56 PM

-1 Boost

One of the nicest cars I sat behind the wheel of at the Detroit Auto Show, was the VW Phaeton. It seemed perfect in terms of luxury. I remember renting a Kia, the side doors were paper thin, and the parking brake lever looked like it was made from a Coke Can. Who is going to drive a these cheap golf cart like cars here in the US when we obviously share our roads with double trailer Tractor Trailers pulling 60, 70, 80,000 lbs at 70 mph. Imagine that amount of energy steam rolling over you in a joke of a car like this. Plastic won’t protect you from these kind of forces, ever, period. It is simply a matter of physics. Ever see an accident scene, cars today shatter into a million pieces that can only be swept-up. If you want to survive, you need a full twin-rail frame like only the Lincoln Town Car has. You know, it surprises me that the American consumer, has demanded that the big 3 install airbags in all cars, even in the 70s when the technology was too expensive to make them available without bankrupting the manufacturer. Now, safety means nothing, as a few more miles per gallon now seems to be the priority and safety comes in dead last. Can we ever make up our minds on what we want? Surely it can’t be one of these things. If we are running out of gas, lets switch to bicycles now, or maybe even going back to the horse and buggy makes more sense. Maybe the invention of the automobile was an ill-conceived since it requires energy the planet can not sustain or replenish.

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Bored - 1/20/2008 5:33:23 PM

+2 Boost

Some of you guys are way too sensitive about this (time for an enema?). Hyundai knows who they are and so do the consumer. There is nothing wrong with offering a product that aspires to be more than it's perceived to be. I think it's a great plan and think the the ad gets it. At worst, consider the Genesis nothing more than an option at its price range. Granted, people can just lease it or anyone willing to pay for this car can find a certified pre-owned luxury vehicle of the same size and price, but most likely would be 4 years old.

Hyundai's quality has improved a bunch in the past 10 years, but will never be at the level of their German and Japanese competitors. Who cares, really!? Anyone that wants one knows that, so a reminder isn't necessary.

As for Agent 001's video post, he should be ashamed of himself. How the hell could he possibly believe that the Genesis is suppose to be a true competitor to German and Japanese luxury, despite the way Hyundai is promoting it? It's pretty obvious by all the posts here that no one is falling for that angle. Why Agent 001 had a hissy fit over the car is beyond me.

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NewBeginning - 1/20/2008 6:44:40 PM

-1 Boost

"Hyundai's quality has improved a bunch in the past 10 years, but will never be at the level of their German and Japanese competitors."

Are you kidding?

read these

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2004-04-28-jdpower-quality-report_x.htm

http://www.wheels.ca/article/27844

http://www.reuters.com/article/tnBasicIndustries-SP/idUSN0443263020070604

http://www.garyromehyundai.com/Hyundai_JD_Power_Report.cfm

NewBeginning - 1/21/2008 8:39:26 AM

+1 Boost

koreans make better, cheaper, and more reliable cars than any other auto companies in the world right now.

Wake up and stop denying.

NewBeginning - 1/21/2008 8:42:10 AM

0 Boost

This car is not out yet buddy.

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ydl08 - 1/21/2008 1:59:22 AM

+2 Boost

Some people are getting it all wrong. Hyundai is not dumb although they seel their car for a cheap price it doesn't mean they don't make any profit right?
thats dumb. I think what they are trying to say is they can get waht they can get from lexus or bmw for around 30k, very exaggerated but if this is not the point maybe they are dumb lol!!

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A4ORCE - 1/21/2008 4:21:09 AM

+3 Boost

Lexus killer it may not be, but I just looked at the specs for both and:

Length, width, height, wheelbase:
Genesis: 195.9, 73.4, 58.3, 115.6
LS460: 198 , 73.9, 58.1, 117

Both run 4.6 liter motors and 380 and 368 respectively. Yeah, there are a bunch of other things to consider, but man, it's pretty clear where they set their sights on. I saw the specs for others in this size (750, S550) and it comes closest in size to the Lexus.

That said, I'm pretty sure it's not designed to steal away the Lexus customers as much as offer the $30k crowd LS460 traits. If Hyundai wanted to go all out, they'd have created a new brand. This could be the stepping stone to creating that new brand, but who knows...

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NewBeginning - 1/21/2008 8:20:54 AM

0 Boost

Hyundai Genesis wasn't created to compete LS460.

Hyundai is creating LS460 crusher under project name VI(Equus)

Not only VI is bigger than LS460, it's more powerful and technologically advanced. More importantly it will be priced $30-40K below than LS460.

My point is though, how is Lexus going to compete when Hyundai comes out with premium brand $50K Bentley Rolls Royce?

A4ORCE - 1/21/2008 12:41:10 PM

+1 Boost

I know it wasn't created to directly compete, hence the "Lexus killer it may not be..." I merely stated that the Lexus was clearly benchmarked.

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1995e34 - 1/21/2008 12:46:27 PM

-2 Boost

i think the hyundai will be EXTREMELY popular in rental fleets.

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Agent250 - 1/21/2008 1:17:53 PM

+1 Boost

Apparently they're targeting BMW and MB because those are the only 2 car fronts you see up close in the video. That way, the Genesis owner could show their friends the video and show that the Genesis is better than a BMW and MB.

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PlanB - 1/21/2008 2:34:33 PM

+3 Boost

Wow. I know Hyundai has to be pretty happy right now, You can't buy the kind of buzz(good and bad) they've created thus far over this car. Personally I don't think they're seriously targeting the top luxury sedans either, but the fact they benchmarked those cars when creating the Genesis and mentioned their names has just gotten people seriously upset over nothing. The only car companies that will feel the pinch of the Genesis will be those models that come closest to its specs at its pricepoint and thats it. Those cars will be forced to step up their game because I do believe Hyundai has sort of forced their hand to start engineering cars that can also put out the perception of "more for less".

But I also commend Hyundai. Yes I'm also old enough to remember the crap they put out not even 10 years ago. But they have made a complete turnaround to become a legitimate competitor to Toyota and Honda. The more competition there is, the better off we are as the drivers.

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tattedtwice - 1/21/2008 4:20:45 PM

0 Boost

LMAO @ the gs's quivering body. I knew this thing was a sad attempt at a sports sedan, but it's hilarious seeing how it can't handle a low speed avoidance manuever.

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	Agent008 Anything less than 6 cylinders is just plain silly
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