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2011 Hyundai Equus, Genesis To Get 429-HP 5.0-Liter Tau V-8

 
22 25,127 views Jun 22, 2010
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2011 Hyundai Equus

HI-RES GALLERY: 2011 Hyundai Equus

Hyundai confirmed its flagship Equus sedan for the U.S. last summer, just after the Pebble Beach Concours, and later pegged the starting price in the mid-$50,000 range. Now we have word straight from Hyundai via our executive editor Marty Padgett, on the scene in Korea, that the car, due for sale later this summer, will also get a 429-horsepower, 5.0-liter version of Hyundai's Tau V-8 engine--and so will the 2011 Genesis Sedan.

But the Equus won't get the bigger V-8 for launch. Instead, the first buyers of the car will have no option but the 4.6-liter Tau V-8, rated at 385 horsepower and 333 pound-feet of torque. The 5.0-liter mill, rated at 429-horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque will become available next March. Both engines are slated to get an eight-speed automatic transmission. The big V-8 is more than stout enough to run with the BMW 750i's 400-horsepower 4.4-liter V-8, though it falls short of the potent V-12 engines found in the BMW 760i and Mercedes-Benz S600.

It's not yet clear that the Genesis Sedan will also inherit the eight-speed auto, though it's likely. It will definitely be available with the uprated 5.0-liter V-8, a move that's been contemplated since 2008. The bump in power will give the Genesis buyer an option that reaches up to and beyond the realm of BMW's new 4.4-liter twin-turbo, direct-injection V-8 in the 2011 550i. The existing 4.6-liter Hyundai engine already outpaces the 382-horsepower V-8 in the Mercedes-Benz E550.

The unexplained element in this 5.0-liter equation, however, is how Hyundai plans to differentiate the models--not just within the Equus and Genesis ranges, but between Equus and Genesis. As a flagship model, the Equus could be expected to offer an exclusive engine option, much as BMW's 760i and Mercedes-Benz's S600 do. On the other hand, Hyundai's unconventional approach to the luxury marketplace has proven successful so far, so we'll assume they have it figured out.





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Comments (22)

  1. By Iain Posted: 6/22/2010 8:09pm PDT

    Selling a Hyundai for over $50K is a big statement. Why would a consumer buy Korean over a European marque?
     
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  2. By Damien Thomas Posted: 6/22/2010 8:11pm PDT

    Why can Hyundai offer a 5.0-liter V8 with 429 horsepower and an 8-speed automatic and the best that 100-year old Ford can do is muster 412 horsepower from its new 5.0?? Don't even get me started on GM and its dinosaur 6.0-plus V8s. What a joke!
     
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  3. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/22/2010 8:37pm PDT

    Throw on a turbo or supercharger and right there you can take on the V12 but with better fuel economy.
     
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  4. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/22/2010 8:43pm PDT

    Damien Thomas, you do realize that the Tau runs on premium gas as compared to the Ford and GM, so kind of an unfair comparison
     
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  5. By guest Posted: 6/23/2010 3:48am PDT

    And GM's OHV 6.0+ liter engines are physically smaller and lighter than most 5.0 liter OHC engines. And they put out more torque at lower RPMs which makes them more usable. And they are cheaper and simpler to make than most OHC engines. And they're pretty much bulletproof since they've been around forever. Go get educated on engine design before you try to talk trash about the small block Chevy.
     
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  6. By Rob Posted: 6/23/2010 5:32am PDT

    To ad to NoNameDenton's commments, rather than add a turbo or supercharger they can go with the new "Green" technology which they are using lighter, longer lasting, and better batteries than the competition and make it a V-8 Hybrid as their top model ala lexus 600h to compete with them as well as the 12 cylinder variants out there. Plus, with the new 35 MPG around the corner, only makes sense to increase power with a battery and still get better MPG.
     
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  7. By beelzebub Posted: 6/23/2010 6:17am PDT

    Sales of the Genesis are already lack luster so that does not bode well for an even more expensive vehicle.
    A v8 in this day & age? Guess they don't want to hold on to the maker w/ the highest MPG title.
     
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  8. By darius Posted: 6/23/2010 6:52am PDT

    NoNameDenton it runs on either.
    guest you are very correct.
    beelzebub don't let this powerful V8 fool you Hyundai is still the most fuel efficient full line automaker on the planet and don't bet mad because they have the money and resources to make fuel efficient 4-cylinders and V6s with direct injection AND turbos as well as traditional engines like this powerful V8. Trust me Hyundai knows what they want in their luxury oriented vehicles like this Genesis.
     
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  9. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/23/2010 2:41pm PDT

    darius, yes it does run on either but ONLY GETS MAXIMUM POWER FROM PREMIUM, you left that part out
     
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  10. By TnTPhilly Posted: 6/23/2010 5:24pm PDT

    With the entry level 7-Series setting you back $67K and 5-Series $43K, this car should give a lot of folks pause. Badass. Now all we need is a hybrid Tau V8 with tree-uprooting torque and we have ourselves a champion!
     
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  11. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/23/2010 7:22pm PDT

    I think the turbo would be better, tests have show that they high ball those hybrid numbers on the MB and BMW, DI and the turbo like what BMW and Ford are doing would be better
     
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  12. By darius Posted: 6/24/2010 4:54am PDT

    NoNameDenton and you might want to take note that it will take off less than 10 hp as all of Hyundai's engines do when using normal gas. That means it will still be making around 420 hp.
     
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  13. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/24/2010 5:02pm PDT

    Darius, you think your funny but your not, and if you read any articles, you would know that Ford is under rating the 5 liter V8 so it would match the Tau running on regular.
     
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  14. By darius Posted: 6/24/2010 7:16pm PDT

    No...you think I think I'm being funny but I know I'm not. How do you that Hyundai isn't doing the exact same thing? What are you arguing for?
     
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  15. By Damien Thomas Posted: 6/24/2010 7:41pm PDT

    You guys just don't get it. Hyundai is beating (or at least coming close to) the likes of GM and Ford, and even the Europeans, companies that have been around for a hundred years. The other carmakers need to seriously life their game.
     
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  16. fb_100001388502068 avatar Mecinic Lee Posted: 12/14/2011 5:23am PST

    i am a mechanic and all i have to say is hyundai came a long way but GM and Ford have been makeing nothing but power for a really long time and hyundai is just starting so maybe they could make some power but there is nothing that an 89 5.0 mustang with minor tunning won't take care of
     
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  17. By NoNameDenton Posted: 6/24/2010 8:42pm PDT

    darius, Hyundai never overestimates or underestimates its numbers, if you read the testing done on dynos you would realize that.
     
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  18. By WhoKid Posted: 6/28/2010 3:51pm PDT

    Way to go Hyundai...For better or for worse, you have to admit that what hyundai is trying to put out shows that they are trying to get better and compete with marquee brands, I think its fair to say alot of people in there autobahn tested german luxo barges don't really drive them to there max capabilities..All hyundai wants to do is convince people it can put out a competetive product, and canibilize sales from them...Which i think is more that i can say for Ford (exception maybe of there eco boosted stuff and 5.0) GM's Corvette and CTS and the V), Chrysler/Dodge (fill in Blank here)
     
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  19. By WhoKid Posted: 6/28/2010 3:58pm PDT

    Oh and it doesn't hurt to have a 10 Year 100,000 Mile train warranty that BMW, Mercedes, Audi simply dont offer...
     
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  20. By American Idol Posted: 7/17/2010 3:55pm PDT

    well I'm impressed by what Hyundai can offer year over year.... no one can really argue about the fact that because of what hyundai offers(better deals and options for healthy competition), American consumers are in a better market place today-
     
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  21. By Chico Posted: 7/26/2010 1:48pm PDT

    Is the Equus already available in the US? If not - any launch date from Hyundai?
     
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  22. By GENESISOWNERS.COM Posted: 9/15/2010 1:36pm PDT

    First...check out my videos on youtube of my v8 Genesis. Search for Rocketbuilder. I am a die hard Toyota/Lexus fan. When I received a call from the manager at Hyundai of Decatur I was signing the papers for a new ES350 decked out at $52K. I got up from the table and told him I would be back if I wanted the Lexus. I arrived at Hyundai to check out the V8 and was the first and ONLY one to drive the car. I walked away with $10G's in my pocket, a V8 that will just about out run everything in its class, and a warranty for 10/10. Check us out at genesisowners.com Lexus, MB, BMW....watch out! FORD...no comparison!
     
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