John Krafcik, Hyundai's vice president of product planning and strategy in the U.S., confirmed to Edmunds' Auto Observer that the South Korean automaker indeed will produce a coupe version of its upcoming Genesis luxury car.
The coupe will be rear-wheel drive and only be offered with a V6 engine, not a V8. Krafcik wouldn't provide timing for its introduction except to say it will be after the sedan is introduced.
The production version of the Genesis sedan, he confirmed, will make its debut at the Detroit auto show in January. The concept was unveiled at this spring's New York auto show. Both V6 and V8 engines will be available from the start when the rear-drive sedan goes on sale in early 2008 as a 2009 model, he said.
Krafcik said Hyundai likely will offer a diesel engine in its Santa Fe or Veracruz SUVs as it currently does in Europe. But that will be another three years or so. He noted the diesel versions of both, particularly the Santa Fe, are doing extremely well in Europe.
At the Los Angeles auto show in November, Hyundai will unveil an as-yet-unnamed new model — the Elantra something. That blank is to be filled in later this summer. Krafcik describes the Elantra whatever as being in the category of the Mazda 3 and Scion hatchbacks. The sporty, 2.0-liter hatchback is built in Korea and will be added to Hyundai's plant in the Czech Republic. It goes on sale in the first quarter of 2008 with volumes eventually expected in the 20,000 to 30,000 a year range.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Hyundai Exec Confirms Genesis Coupe
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