OK, so I’m not convinced this full-size sedan shootout deal isn’t important for Hyundai. In other words, America loves an underdog. And while there’d be a lot more love if the underdog in question was American, as the alpha dog in the cross-hairs is German, well, that’s that, really. And this whole tugging on superman’s cape deal couldn’t come at a better time for the Korean brand. While no one would cross-shop a Genesis against a 7-Series, never underestimate the power of making class-bound shoppers feel good about not being able to afford something better. VW NA was born of reverse snobbery– and abandoned that market position for MOR. If the Phaeton had been priced at $35 to $45k… Anyway, Hyundai’s also in tune with the political climate. By “going negative” on BMW, they tap into the prevailing “I hate fucking everyone” gestalt. And you know what? I want to drive one of these Genesis things. FAST.
Find Reviews by Make:
I like the Genesis, but really, does that matter? These are luxury cars! Add in an Evo, an STI and a G8. If they are faster, does that make them better luxury cars?
Mr. Farago’s comments all make sense. But, the video kind of puzzles me.
At first watch the video makes it point quite plainly. The Genesis is faster than the BMW 7 series. It got to the finish line first. Anyone can “get” that, no? But then I started thinking…. there was a finish line, but they didn’t say how far it was from the starting line. But, despite the fact that the distance is not stated, the time each car registers is made a focal point. 5.69 seconds for the Hyundai. Okay, great. 5.69 seconds to go how far? If the time was, I dunno, anywhere between 13-16 seconds one might guess that it’s a quarter mile. This wasn’t a quarter mile. Or 1/8 mile.
I *think* they’re comparing 0-60mph times. But what does a finish line have to do with the time it takes a car to reach 60mph? And is it possible that each car reaches 60mph at a different distance from the starting line, thus rendering the “finish line” even more meaningless?
Taken one step further, was there even a finish line at all, or was the final camera angle positioned by that line of cones by mere coincidence?
srclontz : I like the Genesis, but really, does that matter? These are luxury cars! Add in an Evo, an STI and a G8. If they are faster, does that make them better luxury cars?
Do Pistonheads really think that luxury cars are supposed to be sedate? From 6.9L Benzes and rip-roaring 500cid Caddies of yesteryear to cars like the Genesis, this is what luxury is all about. Luxury cars that ride well and don’t handle especially well are still fun to drive, folks.
(that said, the 750i rides firmer and handles better in my informal testing)
And a Corvette Z06 is faster than a F430 in a straight line.
But which one would you rather have in your garage?
The Genesis is the MKS Lincoln should have built.
Z06. Lower maintenance, less phlegm to clean off if you park it outside.
Sure the Hyundai is faster than the BMW, but I’d take the Bimmer because of it’s handling card (if price weren’t a factor).
JEC
I’d take the ZO6.
I think I really want the coupe. The vids I’ve seen of the couple make it seem to be a very smooth operator. I need to look up the sedan.
While no one would cross-shop a Genesis against a 7-Series
Modern, realistic scenario: “Our company is making job cuts and the CEO just bought a new luxury car! Can you believe that? Oh, it’s a Hyundai…well, good to see it’s affecting everyone.”
In other words, never underestimate the power of a brand to project a false sense of humility and compassion.
Re: srclontz
DEF of Luxury:
“2. a condition of abundance or great ease and comfort : sumptuous environment”
“3. something adding to pleasure or comfort but not absolutely necessary”
What makes things luxury or luxurious? If a jacket has a nice fur inside, (a fur coat) that’s luxurious attribute, unnecessary but luxury. Genesis has most of the luxury attributes.
Your statement should be rephrased as…
I like the Genesis, but really, does that matter? These are luxury “branded” cars! Add in an Evo, an STI and a G8. If they are faster, does that make them better luxury “branded” cars?
Re: mjrmjr
One of the point of the video is that the Genesis is just as fast, if not faster than the 750i. Idea that a car (Hyundai) that costs thousands less is fast/faster than the 750i is a cool idea. It is also Comparing Hyundai Genesis to the top of the line BMW. So, it’s a good comparison. I am not sure whether Acura RL sedan would compare to 750i? Is the RL faster than 750i? Is the RL faster than the Genesis? You see where this going? Also, the car seems just as good, too. The review by the TTAC and others are confirming that the car is very good.
RE: SupaMan
I am not sure How you would handle 750i. How else would you drive? Most people drive straight lines. The don’t do twisty roads and fast slalom tests.
Do you remember the age of “premium” everything? Well, that movement pretty much crapped the bed. Conspicuous consumption is dying, if not dead already. I believe that understatement will takeover as the latest trend in consumer purchasing. When, and if, people return to buying cars again, I believe the Genesis will sell well for this reason.
SupaMan :
BMW’s handling card comes from rear wheel drive, mutilink rear and independent strut front suspension, and a rigid body – not the propeller on the hood – the Genesis has all of those things.
JEC :
And a Corvette Z06 is faster than a F430 in a straight line.
But which one would you rather have in your garage?
A new 7 is a nice ride, but it isn’t a handmade, carbon fiber tub, rare, barely street legal race car that was at one time the best street legal car in the world. The 7 is a stamped steel boat full of electronics and other crap designed with planned obsolescence. They are probably the least desireable used BMWs, and can easily be found under $10K in the previous generation.
” A Corvette Z06 is faster than a F430 in a straight line.
But which one would you rather have in your garage?
A GTR
no_slushbox : The 7 is a stamped steel boat full of electronics and other crap designed with planned obsolescence. They are probably the least desireable used BMWs, and can easily be found under $10K in the previous generation.
You probably already know this, but take it from the guy who had a 1996 750iL: an initial 10k buy-in will explode into a 20k sinkhole in a matter of months.
And that not including the unique parts of the V12 model!
My point with the Z06/Ferrari comparison is that these sorts of comparisons are in fact pointless and just the usual sort of bench-race dick-waving you hear allllll the time. Apples to oranges nonsense. Bravo Hyundai, your marketing is now on par with drunken pub top-trumps games.
I’d probably chose a Z06 as well because it’s less of a cockmobile (wait, did I just say that about a Corvette?).