Hyundai has set February 2009 as the launch date for its all-new flagship sedan that will serve as a replacement for the ten-year-old Equus (also known as Centennial in some markets) that was developed in co-operation with Mitsubishi. Codenamed ‘VI’ for the time being, the new luxury sedan will sit above the Genesis in Hyundai’s line-up. However, the ‘V1’ will only be available in Unlike the front-wheel drive Equus, Hyundai has adopted a rear-wheel drive architecture for the ‘VI’ in order to make it a more credible competitor against the Lexus LS460, BMW 7-Series and Mercedes-Benz S-Class luxury sedans. Compared to the Equus, the ‘VI’ will be longer, wider and taller measuring 5,160mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,495mm in height. Power will come from either a 3.8-liter Lambda V6 engine or a 4.6-liter Tau V8. In the second half of 2009, Hyundai will also add a top-of-the-range limousine edition with a stretched wheelbase and a 5.0-liter variant of the Tau V8. -Continued
Hyundai supports that its new top-of-the-line sedan will serve as a showcase of the company’s most advanced technology including a second-generation Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM2), a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) which employs a vision sensor to monitor traffic lane markers and a Pre-Safety Seatbelt System which on detecting an imminent front-end collision, will automatically reel-in the safety belts to maximize the safety of the occupants.
