Hyundai Equus coming to U.S. by mid 2010 with $60,000 Price Tag

Having won the 2009 North American Car of the Year award for its Genesis Sedan, Hyundai is hoping to capitalize on this success. Therefore, Hyundai is expecting to bring the second-generation Hyundai Equus to U.S. by July of next year, with a price below $60,000. As a luxury saloon, the price is really competitive. The Equus is hoped to compete the Lexus LS 460 which starts at about US$64,700 with shipping, as well as the Mercedes Benz S-Class.

In fact, the Hyundai Equus has already been sold in South Korea. And it’s priced from $50,000 but a fully loaded version can range up to $81,000 in price.

However, the Americans won’t have to wait until next year to see the Equus. At April’s New York Auto Show, Hyundai displayed its flagship to help gauge the public's reaction and find out how much people would actually be willing to pay for it. It’s confirmed that there are about 100 Equus units which will be being tested by dealers and consumers in the US this summer.

The Equus is based on the same RWD platform as the award winning Hyundai Genesis. Power is from the same engines in the Genesis, a 286hp (213kW) 3.8-litre Lambda V6 and the 361hp (269kW) 4.6-litre Tau V8. Only the V8 is earmarked for the US. A long-wheelbase model will eventually be offered, complete with a brand new 5.0L version of the Tau V8. This new 5.0L unit is likely to be the sole powertrain used for U.S. versions.

Measuring in at a generous 5,160mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,495mm in height, the Equus certainly has the luxury saloon size factor. Some of the possible options include tilting rear seats, massagers and TV screens in the rear seats.

100 Hyundai Equus sedans coming to U.S. this summer

Hyundai has developed a new large luxury saloon called the Equus, which it sells in its home market of South Korea as well as a few select markets around the world. Hyundai now wants a bigger share of the luxury pie. So beginning this summer, the plucky Korean automaker plans to ship 100 Hyundai Equus sedans to the States.

Latest reports indicate that the car could eventually be sold in the U.S. as a rival to luxury flagships such as the Mercedes Benz S-Class and Lexus LS, but the Hyundai will likely be priced around the $50,000.

The information comes from a Hyundai insider, who revealed that the Equus will almost certainly arrive in U.S. showrooms within the next “two or three years". The carmaker used last month’s New York Auto Show to help gauge the public's reaction and find out how much people would actually be willing to pay for it, and the event proved so successful that Hyundai now plans to bring 100 examples to showcase in dealerships all around the country. The first cars will arrive by the middle of the year, Hyundai spokesman Oles Gadacz told USA Today.

Having won the 2009 North American Car of the Year award for its Genesis Sedan, there is mounting speculation that Hyundai will attempt to capitalize on this success by eventually launching the Equus in the U.S. as well.

Hyundai has previously hinted at the Equus being sold in global markets as the 'Genesis Prestige’, where it could be a competitor to cars like the Mercedes Benz S-Class and Lexus LS. Measuring in at a generous 5,160mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,495mm in height, the Equus certainly has the size factor nailed.

The powertrain lineup is also respectable, with the Equus launching with a 286hp (213kW) 3.8L Lambda V6 and a 361hp (269kW) 4.6L Tau V8. A long-wheelbase model will eventually be offered, complete with a brand new 5.0L version of the Tau V8. This new 5.0L unit is the powertrain that likely be used for the U.S. models.

The previous Hyundai Equus first entered production back in 1998 and had barely undergone any changes since then. The car was developed together with Mitsubishi, which sold it as the Proudia in Japan.