really!? maybe the V8 with tech is a bit out of reach, but saying that middle class people can't afford a Genesis is like saying that they can't afford a Maxima, Avalon, Taurus or Passat (CC included). middle class people sure didn't have a hard time affording all those ridiculous full size SUVs (at $40k+), although later they weren't able to afford the gas (11 mpg at $4.00 a gallon = over $10 a day easily for most drivers). i find it a bit hard to believe that a middle class family with two incomes can't come up with around $400 a month (average V6 lease).
Most "middle class" people cannot afford the Maxima, Avalon, $40K SUVs, etc.
The median household income in the US is about $44,400.
A little less than 35% of all households make $65k+.
Go up to $80K+, that figure drops to about 25% of all households.
At $100K+, it's only 15% of all households.
That $400 or $4800 yearly lease payments doesn't include the $3,500 due at signing and when one takes into account the after-tax value, it's like spending $6,200 pre-tax.
Also, keep in mind that a family usually has two car payments.
I don't know how you personally define middle class is but the target market or demographic segment for the Hyundai Genesis are middle class consumers (incomes of $25,000 to $99,999). Remember Hyundai's mantra for the Genesis sedan is "affordable luxury" and for the Genesis coupe "affordable performance".
Actually, the target is the upper middle-class or professional class.
People w/ household incomes less than $75k really can't afford a $30K+ vehicle (or if they do so, aren't being financially prudent).
And "affordable luxury" doesn't mean getting something for peanuts; the Genesis sedan, while in the E segment sells at a price of a D segment vehicle (C Class, 3 Series, IS, G37) - a pricepoint which is out of reach for most middle class households.
You can't compare the advertising campaigns of the
Infiniti M series or the Lexus GS because currently they are both older Mid-Level Luxury sedans that were introduced in 2006 and will have or already have brand new models in the pipeline in 2010 (
Infiniti M) or 2011 (Lexus GS) while the Hyundai Genesis is still technically a brand new model.
Uhh, the Genesis sedan is closing in on 2 years of sales in the US, hardly a "brand new" model.
As for the M and GS, when was the last time you saw national commercials dedicated those models?
Maybe 2007, but more likely 2006.