Hyundai is set to lock horns with the elite of the UK executive car market after it confirmed that the Hyundai Genesis will be sold in the UK in right-hand-drive form.
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The latest 2015 Hyundai Genesis was first shown at the 2014 Detroit motor show in January and will arrive in the UK and Europe this summer. Power comes from a 311bhp 3.8-litre V6 that sends drive to all four wheels via the HTRAC all-wheel drive system. All Genesis models use an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
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The Genesis will not be sold through the existing network of UK Hyundai dealers, but will be sold directly through Hyundai’s head office. potential customers will have the car delivered and personally demonstrated to them, while a full collection and delivery service will be offered for any after-sales work.
Hyundai only expects to sell around 20 Genesis models a year, with the brand targeting Korean diplomats as well as existing Hyundai customers who wish to upgrade their cars. That means it will get a full five-year warranty, just like Hyundai’s other UK models.
Modest sales targets of around 1,000 units across continental Europe indicate a desire to gain a small foothold in the competitive executive car segment where the likes of the BMW 5 Series, Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF and Audi A6 hold sway.
Hyundai Genesis 2015: a diesel engine is possible
It’s demand from other right-hand-drive markets including South Africa and Australia that has prompted the conversion of the Genesis to RHD form. Allan Rushforth, chief operating officer of Hyundai motor Europe, has also indicated that global demand for the car could result in new engine options. “If we can demonstrate demand and underwrite the volume, we’ll look at a diesel.“