Hyundai ’s all-new Genesis Sedan currently hails as the marque’s flagship model here in the United States, but that could change within the next few years. If the New York Auto Show is any indication, Hyundai’s Equus global flagship model could be on our shores within three years.
Hyundai says it brought its new Equus model to the New York show to simply gauge public interest, but Inside Line claims there is a little more to it. In fact, one inside source revealed to Inside Line that the Equus will hit the U.S. market by 2012.
“You wouldn’t be far off if you said the car was coming to the United States,” the source said. “Our chairman wants it.”
The Equus is essentially a long-wheelbase Genesis Sedan with more content, which is causing Hyundai some concern on how to price the big sedan. In Korea, the Equus retails from the equivalent of $96,000, which wouldn’t fly here in the U.S. Instead, Hyundai is eyeing a $50,000 price point, which would give Genesis buyers another model to move up to.
Although Hyundai has yet to officially chime in on the topic, the fact that the Equus is on display at the New York show proves that Hyundai is at least seriously considering the car for the U.S. market. However, a $50,000+ Hyundai is really starting to push the envelope, so maybe the launch of the Equus would be the perfect time for Hyundai to launch its Genesis luxury brand.
