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Hyundai decides against putting company logo on Genesis grille

02/07/2008, 12:04 PM

By admin

Mostly luxury cars are adorned proudly with the maker’s logo on the grille or hood. Not the Hyundai Genesis. Hyundai has decided to omit its logo from the grille of the new Genesis luxury sedan, the company announced this week.

At the Detroit auto show, the automaker showed one version of the Genesis with the Hyundai logo and one without. Apparently, reaction to the version without the logo was more positive, so that one will see production.

Hyundai’s vice president of product development disclosed the decision at the Chicago Auto Show this week, according to trade publication Automotive News.

Many consumers associate the Hyundai nameplate with economy cars, so it’s likely Hyundai feels the need to shun the image as much as possible. There were rumors about a new Hyundai luxury brand, but so far that idea has not materialized.

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02/07, 12:25 PM

posted by:

SR

I’d keep the logo off, too. Will fool some people until they see the back. I don’t care what Hyundai builds, I’ll never buy one.

02/07, 12:26 PM

posted by:

manhertm

I like the grille without the logo. The version with the logo looked really generic with the straight lines.

02/07, 12:28 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

In an age when logos are getting bigger than a baby’s head, this is refreshing and smart.

02/07, 12:29 PM

posted by:

nitinsharma1000

Same here. Owners dont wanna tell others that their car is a Hyundai. When ppl walked away from the show car with the logo it wasnt that they disliked the logo, they disliked the marque.

02/07, 12:33 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

hyundai should be proud of how far they have come, do you think toyota was ever afraid to put the t on their cars? now look at them.

02/07, 12:43 PM

posted by:

Veda

^^ Isn’t that the reason why the Lexus was conceived for the American market? Anyway, the Genesis without the logo looks better aside from the fact that it should’ve been in a separate luxury division. It’s what Acura sets out to do but in this case the price is cheap enough for people to forget their ego.

02/07, 12:43 PM

posted by:

golf4me

I think it’s a smart move. I think there are a lot of ill informed people who would avoid this vehicle just because of the brand/logo. This way, when they see their smarter friend in one, they’ll say “WOW that’s a really nice car…what is it??” instead of seeing the logo and saying “ugh, a ****ty Hyundai.” I’ll wager that once this car gets some following, the logo will go on…

02/07, 12:46 PM

posted by:

Veda

I just want to know the MSRP’s and the delivery dates. When is it supposed to be out anyway?

02/07, 12:54 PM

posted by:

SwerveEarly

They should sell them in unmarked lots next to actual Hyundai dealers.

Just another way for Hyundai to cut corners.

02/07, 12:56 PM

posted by:

DrFill

This is a non-story
But having a non-descript front end is hard to sell as a positive.
DrFill

02/07, 12:58 PM

posted by:

johnnycanuck

So let’s get this straight. The people who buy one of these will obviously do so knowing full well they’re buying a Hyundai, but a lot of potential customers who see one on the road will have no idea what they’re looking at because there’s no logo. Makes perfect sense to me. Not.

02/07, 12:59 PM

posted by:

lucklaster

Don’t blame ‘em.

02/07, 1:13 PM

posted by:

SwerveEarly

They are also only using 4 lug nuts on 5 stud wheels and not putting air in the spare tire. Nickles and dimes people.

02/07, 1:18 PM

posted by:

Chris C.

Logo or not, it is what it is. I don’t understand why Hyundai would launch a luxury car under its economy line. I do not believe Lexus would have made the strides they have had the LS400 first been launched as a Toyota, or if GM first released the CTS as a Chevrolet then decided to move it to Cadillac.

02/07, 1:23 PM

posted by:

corvette

smart move, feel bad for the sucker that falls for it.

02/07, 1:24 PM

posted by:

Jake1

In the early days of Photoshop (V1) I took a photo of a Ford Taurus (2nd gen) and placed an Audi logo in the “grill” area. I was surprised by the number of people who really thought it was an Audi and really liked it.

02/07, 1:46 PM

posted by:

Scarface03

I think I’m more in line with our Canadian friend here, johnnycanuck. If it’s an aesthetic issue, then you can integrate the logo better with the grille, resize the logo, or add a twist (perhaps not as extreme as the Dodge Viper, which doesn’t have a Dodge logo, but a bespoke snake head).

I can see maybe doing something like this for the model itself. E.g., the Dodge Neon SRT-4 didn’t have any “Neon” badging on it, obviously to distance itself from its econocar roots. But to do that with the make of the car?

I’m not a Hyundai hater. They have much to be proud up, and they *are* a force to be reckoned with. Put the badge on the grille and be proud, I say.

02/07, 1:48 PM

posted by:

odie

Put the logo backwards iadnuyh, sounds very German. No one will know. :)

02/07, 1:53 PM

posted by:

rsg

Attractive, good value of a car that isn’t going to be recognized as a product of the manufactucter because they’re ashamed of their perception in the marketplace? This worked out well when Oldsmobile tried it with the Aurora, if by “well” you mean out of business within 5 years. Not that I think Hyundai could ever go out of business but it doesn’t convey a sense of confidence in their abilities to appeal to a different customer..

02/07, 2:04 PM

posted by:

CTS DRIVER

veda good point, i take it back they WERE afraid to to put the t on the grill.

02/07, 2:08 PM

posted by:

journey4him

So what’s next, the Exodus?

02/07, 2:40 PM

posted by:

6.3AMG

THE XG350 WAS AN E-CLASS LOOK ALIKE…THIS NEW GENESIS
IS AN S-CLASS LOOK ALIKE…WITH LESSER PERFORMANCE.
& LESSER ENGINE…LOOKS NICE BUT YEAH ITS STILL A HYUNDAI! GENESIS FOR 30K S-CLASS FOR 88+K
ID TAKE A S63 AMG OR S65 OVER THE GENESIS ANYDAY.

02/07, 2:55 PM

posted by:

SRT-4Ken

============>>choronicles? Revelation?? lol

02/07, 3:06 PM

posted by:

RicardoHead

Hey, if it saves money and they pass it on to the consumer, great. I personally remove every logo/badge possible on a vehicle. Only exceptions are if there are mounting holes or and indentation or something. Badges are only there either to appease the psychologically insecure or to have a free billboard for the manufacturer. Why anyone wants them is beyond me – just more junk to wax around.

02/07, 5:16 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

Removing the grill suspends judgement. You judge the metal then the badge. Super duper wuper luper smart.

02/07, 5:17 PM

posted by:

meanpants555

And that’s grill with an ‘e.’ Unless they are putting one on the back porch.

02/07, 5:42 PM

posted by:

maximus

^swerveearly : HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!

02/07, 6:35 PM

posted by:

zoomzoomr

The two Super Bowl commercials showed a Genesis with the European grille and black “Genesis” badge on the hood.. much classier than the two options they showed at Chicago. I hope Hyundai decides to keep the Euro grille.

02/07, 6:36 PM

posted by:

DeansterTJ

All I can tell you is when the commercial for the Genesis came on during the Super Bowl and the voice over said “Introducing the 375 horsepower Hyundai Genesis” the whole room turned around and said “What? 375 hp from a Hyundai?” And the discussion went on for a good 10 minutes.

02/07, 6:53 PM

posted by:

gbb

No use trying to hide it, sooner or later most will figure out its a Korean POS and that the buyers have the IQ of a lab rat.

02/07, 7:36 PM

posted by:

1c3d0g

gbb: well said. Not that Hyundai’s bad, but they still need some ways to go before even thinking about a luxury division, IMHO.

02/07, 8:22 PM

posted by:

sharpie

And this is news? Kia did that a few years ago with its Amanti!

02/07, 8:23 PM

posted by:

AxeHead

Hyundai Logo is ugly anyways – they need to change it. Looks like a 6 year old kid on espresso practicing to write with a slant tried to print an H – whoever their marketing agent is who came up with that one should get the Axe in the Head.

02/07, 9:08 PM

posted by:

autonut

Agree with AxeHead. It was the age of oval: Hyundai logo, Toyota logo they are quite ugly. Honda has an OK “H” just does not have a decent grille to drop it on (except Element and Odyssey)

02/07, 9:31 PM

posted by:

Veda

“LOOKS NICE BUT YEAH ITS STILL A HYUNDAI! GENESIS FOR 30K S-CLASS FOR 88+K
ID TAKE A S63 AMG OR S65 OVER THE GENESIS ANYDAY.”

If you’re not getting more for paying more with the S Class then it’s a scam. Sure I’d want to own a S63 that costs 3-4 times as much, but “wanting” is not the same as “purchasing” which is a real issue in the real world. For 30K, presumably you get something that’s very closely resembles the E or S Class, I say that’s a trade off in $ saved that a lot of people would appreciate. Everyone wants a Ferrari, why are they driving Corvettes?

02/07, 9:38 PM

posted by:

Veda

BTW compared to the S63, you can get a baseline 30K Genesis for your college kid and an Audi TT-S or S5 and still have leftover for accessories.

02/08, 10:15 AM

posted by:

Z06ified

” Everyone wants a Ferrari, why are they driving Corvettes?

Comment by Veda, posted on February7 at 9:31 pm ”

Because vettes are more fun! :) Seriously. Ferraris are fun too of course, but when they start at $180k, you end up always worrying about it. I can park my Z06 in most parking lots and not have to worry about it too much still being there when I get back. I can take my Z06 to the track and beat the piss out of it all day long, and it doesn’t break. And if it does break or need new brakes, or whatever, its easy to work on and parts are relatively cheap. Can’t say that about a Ferrari, yet the track performance of my ‘02 Z06 matches that of an F360 Challenge Stradale.

When you don’t have to worry about your car being stolen, vandalized, breaking, or costing you an arm and a leg to repair, you can enjoy it more.

02/08, 11:00 AM

posted by:

6.3AMG

YEAH THE S63 IS BLOODY EXPENSIVE! WHICH IS WHY I WAS
ALSO CHECKING OUT THE E63…

02/08, 2:42 PM

posted by:

jamak

I was unfortunate enough to have owned a new hyundai for about 3 years.What a piece of junk ! There was always something going wrong and their famous warranty was useless because the dealers allways try to blame the owners for problems and try to get them to pay for repairs. I would rather buy a used car from another manufacturer.

02/08, 2:57 PM

posted by:

Veda

Z06ified: Oh I agree 100% which is why my “slave” abusable toy car’s gonna be either a light TT-S or a GT-R. The AM Vantage will be mostly in my garage. But my point was that not everyone’s hella rich, thus the cheaper alternative.

02/08, 3:05 PM

posted by:

Veda

jamak: I’ve owned about a total of 9 Hyundais so far. All except 2 of the most recent models overheated and had to spend quite a considerable time in the workshop. Still, it’s impressive to see how far they’ve gotten every year which is why I’d give their top of the line model a chance. At least they’ll try very hard not to screw this up.

02/08, 6:29 PM

posted by:

CA36GTP

Ummmm….don’t you still have to go to a HYUNDAI dealer to buy one??

02/14, 11:43 AM

posted by:

tripleonefive

What Hyundai should do is sell the Genesis in a separate part of the dealership to separate it from the other lower offerings

02/16, 12:38 PM

posted by:

jackjimturkey

Good decision. The one without the Logo looks better.

Veda: good response to CTS

golf4me:”I think there are a lot of ill-informed people who would avoid this vehicle just because of the brand/logo. This way, when

they see their smarter friend in one, they’ll say ‘WOW that’s a really nice car…what is it?’ instead of seeing the logo and saying ‘ugh, a ****ty

Hyundai.’”

You’re probably right.

Chris C.:”I don’t understand why Hyundai would launch a luxury car under its economy line.
I do not believe L—s would have

made the strides they have had the ‘LS400′ first been launched as a Toyota.

I think so. Just would’ve had to charge a reasonable price for it.

rsg: the Aurora was underrated.Themarket just wasn’t ready for it. GM needed to show it could make a great regular car first.

RicardoHead: “Badges are only there either to appease the psychologically insecure or to have a free

billboard for the manufacturer.”

In the Midwest, dealers stickanother badge on the backof the car,so everyone knows where you got it. I hate that crap.

tripleonefive:” What Hyundai should do is sell the Genesis in a separate part of the dealership to separate it from the other lower offerings.” I agree,and (controversy here) not every dealership should get the Genesis.Only thosewho can build a raised platform for it, and whose employees aren’t convicted felons.

 
 
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