Luxury sedans from the likes of Lexus and Mercedes-Benz are going to be in for a hot time in the very near future. That’s because the Hyundai Equus—recently picked by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com as one its “Top 10 Summer Sizzlers”—will soon join the fray with an unrivaled combination of intelligent luxury and uncompromising performance.
Wearing subtle yet sophisticated sheet metal, the Equus takes a progressive approach to exterior design with premium accents such as bold front air intakes, a front lighting system that includes LED position lamps and adaptive headlamps, rear LED turn-signal indicators, strong shoulder lines and fully integrated, asymmetrical exhaust tips. In the Equus’ roomy cockpit, natural wood accents, soft-touch materials and leather trim coddle the driver and passengers alike, while an electronically controlled air suspension allows the driver to fine tune the car’s ride and handling to meet his or her preferences. Owners can also tune in to a powerful premium sound experience, courtesy of an available Lexicon LOGIC 7 audio system with surround sound, a 13-channel digital amp, 17 speakers and 608 watts of power.
There’s also a full complement of advanced standard safety technologies, ranging from electronic active head restraints to a lane-departure warning system to Hyundai’s Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system. VSM manages the car’s stability control system, electronic parking brake, smart cruise control and seatbelt tensioning system to optimize vehicle safety.
Under the hood, the Equus relies on Hyundai’s proven 4.6-liter Tau V8, twice named to the prestigious Ward’s 10 Best Engines list. Mated to an advanced six-speed automatic boasting SHIFTRONIC manual controls, the engine develops a robust 385 hp and 333 lb-ft of torque using premium fuel, and 378 hp and 324 lb-ft of torque with regular gasoline. Significantly, when drinking the good stuff, the Equus offers more standard horsepower than either the Lexus LS460 or Mercedes-Benz S550.
Of course, the most significant aspect of the vehicle’s launch is that, per the kbb.com website, the Equus will combine its “tasteful exterior styling” and “megaload of premium interior appointments” with Hyundai’s typically high-value approach to pricing. Although a final MSRP was not set at press time, the automaker is targeting a base sticker price of between $50,000 and $60,000. When you consider the LS460 starts at more than $65,000 and the S550 opens at above $91,000, expect the Hyundai to hit the bull’s eye with Hyundai Dealer Washington DC luxury buyers when the Equus makes its debut.
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