Hyundai VI/i70 caught in the wild
Hyundai’s upcoming flagship sedan, the 2010 Equus, has been caughtout in the wild.
Codenamed VI, this super luxury Hyundai limousine is scheduled to debut in February next year. It will replace the ageing Equus, which has been on sale exclusively in South Korea and a few international markets.
Unlike the current model, the VI will adopt a rear wheel drive architecture, which should make it a more credible competitor against BMW 7–Series and Mercedes Benz S–Class.
The all-new Hyundai Equus sedan will provide the pinnacle of luxury and some of the most advanced automobile safety technologies, including the second generation Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM2), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and Pre–Safety Seatbelt System.
When the Equus goes on sale, it will be available with 5.0L Tau engine, producing somewhere around 400 and 420 ponnies. But this will not be the only engine offering that the VI gets.
It will also be available with larger, 5.5L V8 engine, as well as with smaller 4.6L V8 engine. They will both benefit from cylinder deactivation, whila an integrated supercharger is also possible. Reportedly, the top speed of new Equus is set to be limited at 250km/h.
There are still 5 long months until the projected launch date, but closer the date, more images we will get. So stay tuned! Now hit the jump to see a couple of more spy shots…
Hyundai VI spy shots:
October 17th, 2008 at 12:18 am
I bet they won’t offer this in the states. Hope they do. This car will probly make or break Hyundai.
October 17th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
…and since Hyundai seems to be big on greek names for their engine block, it would be cool if they named the car the Omega” the last greek letter of the alphabet. Just a thought.
October 17th, 2008 at 6:58 pm
The Omega would be out of question on the European market, since Opel still has the name trademarked. They should come up with a name that sounds as good as Genesis.
October 18th, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Actually, Omega is already used for their old v8 engine, which is being used for Equus.
For VI, I think it will be a bigger displacement version of Tau or even a forced induction version of it.
October 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
VI will be powered with Tau engines, including 4,6L (the same as in genesis) and 5,0L. Some rumors also indicate a larger 5,5L V8 will also be available.
But those are only runours. Let’s wait and see, the month of February is not that far away (that’s when VI debuts in Korea).
October 21st, 2008 at 5:32 pm
Do you think this car will include as an option the Haldex all wheel drive system that Hyundai was rumored to start a contract with in the late summer? This would be an awesome second debut for the company… their second luxury car which whould feature all wheel drive as an option.
What this company really needs is a micro luxury car the new economy. Something no other car company has done. Like a car between the Accent and Elantra sedan w/ all wheel drive 4cyl., with leather or high end cloth with unique colors, Nav system, infinity audio, integrated car seat antilock breaks, traction control and keyless entry. Getting 40+mph highway and costing under $20,000. It would sell like hotcakes! Like the i10 is a European, India car, this whould be a car for the North American market. It would be like the comming full circle from the Excel. From a small cheap heap to a lux car in 20 years. This way they can excersize their techological prowess and sell higher volume. If anyone could do it…Hyundai could. I’d buy it.
October 22nd, 2008 at 5:26 pm
I don’t expect Hyundai to release anything like that, until a few other companies do and turns out to be a story of success.
Hyundai is always playing safe, perhaps this is their major hurdle they need to overcome to really become a leader in the field.
October 22nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
I agree!
October 24th, 2008 at 7:35 am
so in the light clusters i see 5 lights. running lights, hi beam, lo beam, turn signal and…. the lights along the bottom possibly audi-esque led lights?
October 29th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Speaking of playing it safe, I’ve often wondered why Hyundai hasn’t done much in the form of alternative fuel/hybrid system research. Since plenty of other car manufacturers — including luxury — are well into this technology then it should follow that Hyundai…”follows”.
November 14th, 2008 at 7:32 am
Since that Genesis is quite well received and success, hope that this upcoming i70 will bring the Hyundai’s brand to a higher level…