New Hyundai Genesis Coupe - the first 'Genesis' car?
Hyundai are planning to launch a new Genesis Coupe and we have an official tease photo. But will the new Genesis Coupe launch the Genesis Brand?
The Hyundai Genesis isn’t a car we see this side of the Pond. It’s a grown-up coupe with a proper dose of power and it’s expected the new Genesis will get a 3.8 litre V6 with 333bhp driving the rear wheels. Which sounds rather appealing.
But Hyundai has concentrated on more frugal cars in the UK and Europe, so we haven’t had the option to buy a Genesis Coupe. But we wonder if that’s going to change soon?
A couple of weeks ago we reported that Hyundai’s product manager in Australia had let slip that Hyundai are planning on launching a premium brand in the next couple of years to take on Lexus and Infiniti, and that it will be called Genesis.
The plan appears to be to a saloon and coupe aimed at the BMW 3 Series, and a bigger 5-Series size car aimed at E-Class and 5-Series with RWD, 10-speed auto ‘box and a choice of big V6s and big V8s.
So perhaps the new Genesis Coupe will be the opening salvo for the new Genesis brand? Hyundai could follow the lead of Lexus and not use the premium brand name in its own market, but drop the Hyundai bit in overseas markets and just call this new car the Genesis Coupe.
It would make sense, especially as there’s no way Hyundai can market a car called Genesis and a brand called Genesis too. It’d be a bit like having a Toyota Lexus or a Nissan Infiniti. But launching the new Genesis as just ‘Genesis’ makes sense.
We’ve asked Hyundai UK about the Genesis Brand plans, but they won’t say anything. The whole Genesis luxury brand rumour has been around for a while, but the news that Genesis is coming being confirmed by a Hyundai guy in Australia has to have credibility.
Should be interesting. Especially for Lexus and Infiniti.
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