(January 14, 2013) DETROIT — Having finished 2012 with five-straight years of premium segment sales growth with its Genesis and Equus vehicle lines, Hyundai today unveiled its design direction for future premium vehicles with its HCD-14 Genesis concept at the North American International Auto Show.

"We’ve departed from industry convention in many of our premium product, marketing, sales and service approaches, and it’s worked out pretty well, with Genesis and Equus now delivering a nine percent retail market share in their premium segments, higher than the five percent retail share Hyundai brand achieves in the overall industry,” said John Krafcik, president and CEO, Hyundai Motor America.



“This success paves the way for a new generation of rear-wheel drive premium products. HCD-14 Genesis gives a hint of the design direction we’ll be taking, and an indication of the focus we’re placing on driving dynamics and technology.”

Genesis and Equus’ premium segment success extends beyond sales and market share. In residual value retention, ALG rates Genesis’ 36-month residual value higher than both its Asian and domestic competition, while Equus residual values exceed its well-established European competitors after three years of ownership.

Further, Genesis and Equus are attracting higher buyer demographics to the Hyundai brand than ever before. Since the launch of Genesis in 2008, the share of Hyundai buyers with household incomes above $100,000 has increased by 25%, indicating just how far products like Genesis have improved demographics for the brand. Finally, despite capacity constraints, Genesis Coupe annual sales have exceeded those of its Infiniti G37 premium coupe competitor since its introduction to the premium sport coupe segment in 2009, and it remains one of the fastest turning vehicles in Hyundai’s lineup.

HCD-14 Genesis conveys a fluidic-precision, liquid-metal design language. Craftsmanship quality is conveyed via gemstone-like design surfaces. A bold front fascia surrounds brushed metal grille surfaces with a deep vertical grille opening. The corners of the rear hood incorporate heat extractor design accents that integrate seamlessly with exterior mirror design.

From the side view silhouette, classic rear-drive sport sedan proportions are conveyed by an extended dash-to-axle length, short overhangs, large-diameter wheels, sharply-tapered greenhouse, and short rear deck. Large wheels were developed from a mix of premium lightweight alloys with carbon fiber surrounding the voided areas of the wheel design.

“We instilled HCD-14 Genesis with a premium-sport 4-door coupe road presence,” said Christopher Chapman, chief designer, Hyundai Design North America. “Its sleek and lightweight silhouette does not punish the wind, but uses fluidic precision with dramatic surfacing that conveys natural restraint. Inside, a driver-centric cockpit prioritizes dramatic sculpture over infotainment button overload. Laminated and milled-wood detailing delivers a fresh, topographical map-like visual interest throughout the cabin-length center console.”

Opening the rear door reveals a rear-hinged configuration, with a single, oversized, brushed-aluminum hinge articulating diagonally from the rear door cutline. With both doors open, HCD-14 Genesis has an inviting and commodious cabin ambience.

Inside the cabin, a double-cresting-wave center console design carries from the instrument panel through to the rear seats. This design-wave theme further influences the interior door handles and rear headrest hoods. Gauges and driver data are provided via an eclectic fusion of both analog and digital sources, with aviation-derived design cues. The driver-focused cockpit offers an asymmetrical center stack, with critical driving functions separated from passenger comfort functions. The center console even includes an iPad® tablet storage station, keeping it secure in spirited driving.