Self Parking & Around View in the UK Market Car

[Curt@MSN]

Hyundai has all the details on the UK market Genesis now on their website:

http://www.hyundai.co.uk/new-cars/genesis

Among the *interesting* differences between our US market cars and the UK:

(The only engine/drivetrain offered in the UK is the V6 & RWD. There are NO options for the car.)

(1) Like the Aussie RHD car only the 8" nav system is offered. I wonder if this is due to Hyundai not having a setup for the hand controller that accompanies the 9.2" system for RHD drive cars or something else.

(2) Auto-Parking is standard (Smart Park Assist)

(3) Around View Monitor is standard...I guess there is at least some hope we could see this in the US in 2016? Please.

(4) 19" alloys standard.......take note Hyundai US brand managers

(5) "Mood Lamp" - any idea what that is? Perhaps we already have this?

(6) 60:40 Power Folding Rear Seat !! Could we have this please.

(7) Ventilated REAR seats...and it has the fancy rear center armrest controller from the KDM car (and others?) Which I realize we have zero chance of getting given we have the Equus. Interestingly it doesn't appear to have the rear seat monitors.

(8) Standard FOG LIGHTS....don't get me started.

(9) LED Daytime Running Lights....could we have these as well please. I had a Genesis following me running down to Chicago on I-90 over the weekend and the amber just has to go....it does (as others have noted) look really dated.

(10) ....lastly with regard to this feature: "12v Power Outlet In Front Console Box And In Instrument Facia Multi Box: ... does this indicate their car has a 12V outlet in the center console box as well as the ones we have up forward of the shifter? I find it odd the US car doesn't have one inside the center console/armrest box.

The car in the UK is pricey compared to the US car (but that seems to be true across the board with the premium cars in the UK) and there are some interesting omissions as you compare them side/side. I do find it pretty interesting (maybe I should say confusing) how the brand managers from different countries slice & dice the features.

Curt

 

[MagicRobert]

Great info.

One side note to add: it is not uncommon for European spec autos to come with larger wheels. I first ran across this with Mazda. The rationale is that Europeans have decent roadways in general, and bent rims is not a huge problem.

The US has roads that are getting more and more like 3rd world country are not a new problem - and bent rims on larger wheels and lower profile tires is a significant problem as a result.

BTW, I ran into this in 2007. Roadways are worse now.

 

[Aquineas]

It is interesting, and some of those options I would have liked, specifically: definitely 3, maybe 7, definitely 9, likely 10.

Hyundai is straddling a fine line here. Obviously Hyundai would like to charge more for the Genesis and offer these features and other upmarket features. At the same time, I would be very surprised if Hyundai made money at all on the Genesis in its current form. The car, in addition to the Equus, are halo-cars for Hyundai, kind of like the LS400 was for Lexus.

It is my belief that the 3rd generation Genesis is going to be a huge jump for Hyundai, representing a completely new platform and body with different materials. I have no insider information at all, but an educated guess would mean a body made almost completely of aluminum and/or composites. I believe these changes on their own will add a significant cost to the Genesis, not only because of the increased development costs (~$500 million for the 1st gen, <$500 Million for the second gen, likely a lot more for the 3rd generation because the engineers and product planners are busting their tails right now trying to figure out how to cut 600-800 pounds from the Genesis in a cost effective fashion), but also due to the manufacturing cost per vehicle: to my knowledge, Hyundai doesn't own their own aluminum manufacturing capability like they do with steel (Hyundai owns several steel mills and is opening more to supply not only their own steel production needs, but also to supply steel to others.)

Where I'm going with all this is, for the 3rd generation, there will be enhanced development costs and enhanced production costs, and then there's another element which may represent increased per-unit cost: the cost of a new brand, which is estimated to be $2.5 Billion over a 13 year period. The last one will only be incurred if (when) Hyundai elects to launch their own brand, but the irony is, in order to charge what they'd like to charge for the Genesis, a new brand may be necessary.

 

[Curt@MSN]

Have any forum users thought about doing a Survey Monkey poll for "future features" and sending the results off to Hyundai via the Hyundai Listens site?

I am tempted to put one together if I thought anybody at Hyundai would at least look at the results.

Maybe there is already one floating around?

 

[Heymjo]

I think the poll is a great idea. I don't know how to do it, but i would certainly participate. Why not just send it to the president of Hyundai America?

 

[salaburg]

me too!