The floor of the ongoing New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) has seen the unveiling of the most advanced concept vehicles this year. Car manufacturers have made it a point to unveil their developed concept vehicles at the country's largest motor show.
This year, one of the car manufacturers which have made the event the backdrop for the unveiling of their advanced concept vehicle is Hyundai. The South Korean company presented what could be the future of Hyundai vehicles in the United States - the Genesis concept car.
The vehicle is a rear-wheel drive luxury sedan designed to increase the popularity and prestige of the brand among American car buyers. The Genesis is set to become Hyundai's flagship for the 2008 model year. The company is currently known fro producing economy cars but the company wants to elevate their status by producing premium sedans for the United States automobile market.
Steve White, the Chief Operating Officer for Hyundai Motor America, has this to say at the unveiling of the Genesis Concept vehicle: "Concept Genesis extends our product range into new territories from a performance, design and packaging perspective. When it arrives in 2008 it will catapult Hyundai into competition against some potent rivals, and Genesis is up for the challenge."
The concept vehicle has a rear-wheel drive configuration and this is considered to be a first for a Hyundai vehicle released in the United States. The configuration gives the Genesis a good handling capability. The handling of the Genesis is further enhanced by the use of an electronic stability program. ESP is the latest safety feature being used in the auto industry. The program uses sensors which detects various factors. The gathered pieces of information are then processed by an onboard computer to determine whether the vehicle is under steering or oversteering. The program can then correct the driver's steering faults.
Hyundai is the leading car manufacturer in providing ESP for their production vehicles. For the 2007 model year, 70 percent of Hyundai's vehicles are equipped with ESP as part of the standard features.
Another advanced feature that the Hyundai Genesis brings to the table is its advanced powertrain. The Genesis is powered by an all-new Tau 4.6-liter V8 engine. The huge engine is mated to a ZF six-speed automatic transmission which facilitates smooth transfer of power form the engine to the rear wheels as smooth as a . The transmission also features the SHIFTRONIC® technology which allows manual gear changes. The combination of the engine and the transmission allows the 300 horsepower produced by the engine to reach the wheels with limited waste. With that amount of power and high torque rating, the Genesis can reach 60 miles per hour from a standstill in less than six seconds. That ability makes the Genesis one of the fastest vehicles in its class.
The suspension of the vehicle that gives it good handling and ride comfort is touted as one of the most sophisticated in any vehicle today. For the front end, the Hyundai Genesis employs a five-link suspension system. For the rear, the Genesis uses also a five-link suspension system configuration.
