Move Uptown?

Hyundai Concept Genesis.

What's special about it?
We knew Hyundai wanted to move uptown, but we didn't know it would happen this soon. The company has built a rear-drive, V8-powered, full-size luxury sedan under the working name "Hyundai Concept Genesis." It will go into production in 2008, minimally changed from the prototype you see here, with a base MSRP under $30,000.

In spite of the short time frame and bargain price tag, this is no fly-by-night foray into the luxury sedan world. Concept Genesis represents four years of development work — the longest Hyundai has ever spent engineering a vehicle. The rear-wheel-drive architecture and V8 engine are clean-sheet designs, and the exterior bodywork has gone through two iterations.

But it's hard to say if the Concept Genesis will really measure up to titans BMW and Mercedess out on the road. For one thing, this Hyundai is a larger car. It rides on a 115.6-inch wheelbase, which is 3 inches longer than either of the German cars, and at 197 inches from nose to tail, it's 6 inches longer overall. In addition, body-in-white weight doesn't include the suspension, drivetrain, interior components or even the exterior panels, so final curb weight is very much an unknown.

Hyundai hasn't gotten into performance specifics, promising only that the Genesis sedan's double-overhead-cam, 4.6-liter V8 will produce "well over 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque." The V8 has variable intake valve timing, and with a ZF six-speed automatic transmission driving the rear wheels, it should propel Concept Genesis to 60 mph in under 6.0 seconds.
We have yet to get a look at the Concept Genesis interior, but we do know it will offer the requisite load of technology and upscale amenities, including push-button start, an electric parking brake, adaptive cruise control, DVD navigation with a backup camera, Bluetooth, separate USB and MP3 player input jacks, and a surround-sound Infinity audio system. Stability control and eight airbags are among the standard fare, and HID headlights will also be available.