Higher for Hyundai

We've seen the spy photos of Hyundai's forthcoming rear-drive, upmarket Genesis model -- now here's a look at the car that will sit on an even loftier perch in the company shed.

With an expected production date of 2009, the bigger, as-yet un-named Hyundai -- which will be rear-drive -- should follow a year after the 5 series-size Genesis (making it about the same as a 7 series?) and, according to our spy gurus Carparazzi, will be benchmarked against the likes of Cadillac and Lexus, not to mention the iconic Germans.

Speculation is that V6 power is a certainty, and V8 power (as to be offered in Genesis) a necessity. The Genesis will be the recipient of a 32-valve, 4.6-litre bent eight with variable valve timing producing in excess of 220kW and 400Nm. The bigger car's V8 is rumoured to produce more like 260kW.

The styling can be judged to a certain extent despite the protective front and rear cladding on the obviously close to production development car, and looks like a substantially bigger brother to the new i30 series.

Even though there appear to be elements closely related to the Genesis prototype pictured in our earlier report (more here), the Carparazzi pics show the upmarket model's waistline is quite different, with an upward sweep where the Genesis is raised at the B pillar and falls away, Benz CLS style, to the A and C pillars. The Genesis also has a chopped off rear side window with a dummy quarter vent where the bigger car sweeps back in a teardrop shape to the C pillar.

Expect an iDrive type control system, plus much of the next-generation technology seen in Benz and BMW models.

But whether or not such a Hyundai -- which, according to the company's new naming convention should be called i60 -- could be expected here is another matter. Local executives are on the record as saying the Korean company is wary about inflicting Australian customers with a $50,000-plus Hyundai, let alone the tag they would place on a car aimed at offering 7 series and S-Class attributes.

-- with Carparazzi

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