Official: New Hyundai Genesis coming to UK & Europe

The new Hyundai Genesis – Hyundai’s range-topping car in the US and South Korea – is to be launched in Europe next year, Hyundai confirm.

We’ve long thought it was time for Hyundai to bring higher-end cars to the UK and Europe as the perception of their cars as budget offerings only has morphed in to an acceptance that Hyundai’s range of cars is actually a credible mainstream force. Now that looks set to happen.

Last month we reported that it looked like Hyundai are planning on introducing the new Genesis in the UK after we learnt they had plans to build RHD Genesis for Australia, and Hyundai has now confirmed they will be launching Genesis in Europe next year.

In doing so, Hyundai will be taking on not only the Japanese luxury brands – Lexus and Infiniti – but established European luxury catr makers like Audi, BMW, Jaguar and Mercedes. But Hyundai feel the time is right to to push the brand recognition of Hyundai to the next level. A Hyundai statement said:

We have to overcome the challenge of competing with established European brands,” Hyundai said in statement. “We expect the Genesis to play a crucial role in improving our brand recognition.

That will mean a proper luxury car from Hyundai in the Genesis, complete with the same V6 and V8 engines currently offered in the US as well as the option of 4WD from Hyundai’s HTRAC setup, which electronically splits torque between front and rear axles depending on road and driving conditions.

More details when we get them.