DETROIT – About 10 years ago nobody would have thought of buying a big luxury car from Korean automaker Hyundai.
However, times have changed and so has Hyundai. On Monday the company showed off the second generation of its large luxury model, the 2015 Genesis sedan, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.
The new car has a more aggressive front end than the previous model, featuring a large grille, slanted headlights and LED accent lights.
Overall the shape of the car is smoother. In fact, Hyundai managers say we can expect to see the Genesis design cues showing up on other Hyundai models, including the all-new Sonata that will be revealed later this year.
Hyundai leaders say the Genesis has more interior space that its competitors. Anyone sitting in the cabin will enjoy the leather seats, a 17-speaker system and available heated rear seats.
The driver gets plenty of toys, too, starting with a heads-up display for speed and other critical information. The Genesis also comes with adaptive cruise control, a blind-spot monitoring system, a forward-collision warning system and a lane-departure warning system.
Hyundai has even developed an app specifically for Google Glass that will allow wearers to do things like lock and unlock the car, search for gas stations and even remotely start the car.
There are two engine options in the 2015 Genesis. Buyers can choose between a 5-liter and 3.8-liter V-8 engine, which have both been upgraded over the 2014 models.
Getting that power to the ground can be done in an available all-wheel drive system that will be the first such system for any Hyundai sedan.
The new Genesis is expected to arrive in dealer showrooms this spring.