IOL Motoring Staff
That imposing chrome grille that you've been staring down in the gallery above belongs to a car that will be Hyundai's first serious attempt to challenge the likes of Audi and BMW in South Africa.
Scheduled to hit our shores during the second half of 2014, the second generation Hyundai Genesis takes a more daring design approach than its predecessor, which was never sold here.
According to Hyundai this is the first model to incorporate the second phase of its 'Fluidic Sculpture' design language, its core theme being “simple and harmonious design with refined fluidic elements.”
Hyundai's CEO Mong-Koo Chung unashamedly proclaims that the new sedan will compete head-on with top-tier premium cars in the global market, including Europe.
Measuring 4990mm in length and 1890mm in width, the new Genesis is actually slightly larger than the latest BMW 5 Series and like its German rival, this Hyundai sends its power through the rear wheels - although it will also mimic the BMW in offering the option of all-wheel drive.
On the subject of power, the Korean-market gets to choose between four petrol engines. These include three Lambada V6 units in the form of a 3-litre that pushes 189kW and 304Nm, a 207kW/347Nm 3.3-litre and a 232kW/397Nm 3.8-litre.
Top of the pile is a 5-litre Tau V8 that's good for 312kW and 519Nm. Acceleration from 0-100km/h takes 8.6, 7.2 and 6.5 seconds for the respective V6 versions and just 5.4s in the case of the V8.
A whole host of advanced new technologies make their debut on the latest Genesis, a highlight being Emergency Steer Support, which automatically adapts the suspension and ESC stability control settings to prepare for an emergency steering manoeuvre.
What's more, Hyundai also offers an Advanced Smart Cruise Control system, which uses both radar and camera sensors, in addition to the usual segment mod cons like lane departure warning, head-up display, rear cross traffic alert and around-view monitor.
The South African range, pricing and specifications will be announced closer to its on-sale date. One thing that Hyundai's local representatives have hinted at, though, is that its price tag will be suitably competitive.