I don't think Genesis needs its LFA yet. No one says that can't do it, nothing to prove in the engineering department.
They should focus on their street image and dealer network. Most people still won't buy a 70k Hyundai let alone 150k.... And a convertible?!?
Shouldn't have such a US-centric take.
Genesis' most lucrative market, by far, is Korea, where they already move a fair amount of LWB G90s (which one could say is their Maybach type offering), and considering the booming business Bentley and Rolls have been doing in Korea, Genesis is eying taking a piece of that highly lucrative segment.
The delay in the dealer network is due to the lack of supply.
Dealerships, which are independent businesses, aren't going to invest millions in a new standalone dealership if they aren't going to get enough allocation to keep them in business.
But with a new plant about 2.5 years away, dealerships have started to invest in new facilities as they see a light at the end of the tunnel with regard to supply (plus, they are required to build new facilities by a certain deadline in order to keep their Genesis franchise).
Now, one could say that Genesis/HMG should have addressed the supply issue earlier, but that involves billions of dollars.
Anyway, if true, this halo model wouldn't be coming onto the market until most, if not all, of the new Genesis facilities are up and running.
As for the LFA, don't think it did much to elevate the Lexus brand, but a big part of that is due to Lexus selling mostly tarted-up, FWD Toyota-based models.
Otoh, the R8 did a fair amount in uplifting Audi's image.
Also, considering that Genesis ATP of $63k is by far the highest among the Asian lux brands (and higher than Audi) and should only continue to rise with the addition of the eGV70 and GV90, think they are in the best position among the Asian lux brands in doing a halo model.
www.motor1.com
