Genesis. Sounds like a great new beginning, and it is. The 2009 Hyundai Genesis sedan is the first V8-powered rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan from the Korean carmaker for our market, and it’s a game-changer in many ways. As with the Sonata and Azera that preceded the Genesis, Hyundai is taking the fight to the establishment.

This time, however, it has taken aim at the Germans. In its own words, Hyundai says of the 2009 Hyundai Genesis V8, “It’s the size of the BMW 7 Series with the performance of the 5 Series and at the price of the 3 Series.”

It’s an imposing goal, yet we have to admit that the Korean company has missed the target only slightly. Instead we’d say what Hyundai has actually produced is a car that’s the size of the first-generation Infiniti Q45 with the performance of an M45 and at the price of a G35.

That’s still pretty darn good in our book. And that isn’t even accounting for the budget-friendly 2009 Hyundai Genesis V6 that will also be available this summer…read more at Edmunds.com