2012 Hyundai Equus
Posted Mar 29th 2012 12:00PM
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Hyundai Spreads The Five-litre Love
To hear Hyundai tell it, the company stumbled on something of a hit with the Equus. According to the automaker, the vehicle beat sales projections and was also good enough to snag the company nearly six per cent of the premium luxury sedan segment in North America last year. So, how does the Korean automaker plan to build on this early Equus momentum? By adding power, of course.
For 2012, the Equus packs the same 5.0-litre V8 engine found in the Genesis Sedan R-Spec as well as a new eight-speed automatic transmission that helps keep fuel economy in check. With a few interior tweaks thrown in for good measure and the same gamut of standard equipment, the Equus continues to be a great reason to give the old stalwarts of luxury a second thought.
Despite the significant mechanical revision, the 2012 Hyundai Equus remains identical to its predecessor outside. The vehicle still wears a proud grille, LED-trimmed headlights and a suitably massive Equus badge on the hood. Even the 19-inch chrome wheels are carryovers from 2011. Still, that's no surprise. The Equus is barely more than two years old, and while the exterior aesthetics aren't likely to wow anyone, we doubt buyers count pupil-dilating styling among reasons to bring the Korean luxury barge home at the end of the day.
At its core, the Equus remains an amazing luxury bargain, and that hasn't changed indoors. Our "base" Signature tester carried an MSRP of $64,499 plus destination and included an embarrassing wealth of equipment. With technology like parking assist, smart cruise control and a 7.1-speaker Lexicon sound system to comfort tricks like a 12-way power adjustable massaging driver's seat and automatic dual-temperature control, the Equus Signature isn't found longing for standard gear. If you need more equipment in the rear of the cabin, there is always the $71,999 Ultimate, which includes: massaging and cooled rear seats, rear monitors along with a control panel and fridge to boot.
Engineers did take the time to give the interior a once-over with slight adjustments. The front seats now boast a more comfortable head rest design as well as improved ventilation. Likewise, the rear bench now features a softer centre cushion on five-seat models. Otherwise, the gauges, dash and center stack all remain unaltered for 2012.
Pop the hood, and the story changes, however. The 2011 Equus was forced to lug around up to 2,090 kg (4,600 pounds) with a 385-horsepower 4.6-litre V8. While the engine was perfectly adequate for quietly floating around town, it wasn't exactly capable of producing eye-widening acceleration. Hyundai upped the ante for 2012 with the same 5.0-litre V8 found in the front clip of the Genesis Sedan R-Spec. The engine is good for a full 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at a similarly lofty 5,000 rpm. Needless to say, the V8 is happiest in its upper octaves where speed piles on quickly.
Despite an additional 44 horses, the 2012 Equus manages to return 13.7 L/100km (15 mpg) city and 8.6 L/100km (23 mpg) highway with a combined of 11.4 L/100km (20 mpg). Yet the numbers are nearly identical than last year's model in both categories, thanks in no small part to the new eight-speed automatic bolted behind the engine.
As you'd expect, the 2012 Equus is a good bit quicker than its forbear. On the road, the vehicle now feels capable instead of merely adequate. Bury a right foot in the throttle, let the engine pull past 6,000 rpm and the bruiser bolts down your lane of choice with authority. Unfortunately, the new thrust isn't paired with any suspension or steering revisions. Expect to endure the same spiritless steering feel and overly soft suspension, even in Sport mode.
Fortunately, the eight-speed automatic transmission is as smooth in this application as it is in the Genesis R-Spec. The gearbox clicks through cogs seamlessly, keeping the engine breathing easy under the hood. Likewise, the shift logic is excellent. Get frisky with the accelerator and the transmission will jump down to the appropriate gear and hold until redline before shifting. It's the right kind of perfect.
With a new drivetrain, it's hard to find an argument against the Equus. Competitors like the Lexus LS460, BMW 750i and Audi A8 all land with price tags thousands of dollars higher than the Equus with less equipment. While the cabin isn't as refined as some of the high-dollar German luxury rides on the market, the model still carries an unsurpassed warranty for the segment wrapped in an attractive, if not conservative, exterior. If badge appeal isn't on the top of your priority list, park the Equus in your garage and enjoy rolling around on a mattress stuffed with the cash you saved.
Image Credit: Copyright 2012 Zach Bowman / AOL
To hear Hyundai tell it, the company stumbled on something of a hit with the Equus. According to the automaker, the vehicle beat sales projections and was also good enough to snag the company nearly six per cent of the premium luxury sedan segment in North America last year. So, how does the Korean automaker plan to build on this early Equus momentum? By adding power, of course.
For 2012, the Equus packs the same 5.0-litre V8 engine found in the Genesis Sedan R-Spec as well as a new eight-speed automatic transmission that helps keep fuel economy in check. With a few interior tweaks thrown in for good measure and the same gamut of standard equipment, the Equus continues to be a great reason to give the old stalwarts of luxury a second thought.
Related Gallery2012 Hyundai Equus
Despite the significant mechanical revision, the 2012 Hyundai Equus remains identical to its predecessor outside. The vehicle still wears a proud grille, LED-trimmed headlights and a suitably massive Equus badge on the hood. Even the 19-inch chrome wheels are carryovers from 2011. Still, that's no surprise. The Equus is barely more than two years old, and while the exterior aesthetics aren't likely to wow anyone, we doubt buyers count pupil-dilating styling among reasons to bring the Korean luxury barge home at the end of the day.
At its core, the Equus remains an amazing luxury bargain, and that hasn't changed indoors. Our "base" Signature tester carried an MSRP of $64,499 plus destination and included an embarrassing wealth of equipment. With technology like parking assist, smart cruise control and a 7.1-speaker Lexicon sound system to comfort tricks like a 12-way power adjustable massaging driver's seat and automatic dual-temperature control, the Equus Signature isn't found longing for standard gear. If you need more equipment in the rear of the cabin, there is always the $71,999 Ultimate, which includes: massaging and cooled rear seats, rear monitors along with a control panel and fridge to boot.
Engineers did take the time to give the interior a once-over with slight adjustments. The front seats now boast a more comfortable head rest design as well as improved ventilation. Likewise, the rear bench now features a softer centre cushion on five-seat models. Otherwise, the gauges, dash and center stack all remain unaltered for 2012.
Pop the hood, and the story changes, however. The 2011 Equus was forced to lug around up to 2,090 kg (4,600 pounds) with a 385-horsepower 4.6-litre V8. While the engine was perfectly adequate for quietly floating around town, it wasn't exactly capable of producing eye-widening acceleration. Hyundai upped the ante for 2012 with the same 5.0-litre V8 found in the front clip of the Genesis Sedan R-Spec. The engine is good for a full 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at a similarly lofty 5,000 rpm. Needless to say, the V8 is happiest in its upper octaves where speed piles on quickly.
Despite an additional 44 horses, the 2012 Equus manages to return 13.7 L/100km (15 mpg) city and 8.6 L/100km (23 mpg) highway with a combined of 11.4 L/100km (20 mpg). Yet the numbers are nearly identical than last year's model in both categories, thanks in no small part to the new eight-speed automatic bolted behind the engine.
As you'd expect, the 2012 Equus is a good bit quicker than its forbear. On the road, the vehicle now feels capable instead of merely adequate. Bury a right foot in the throttle, let the engine pull past 6,000 rpm and the bruiser bolts down your lane of choice with authority. Unfortunately, the new thrust isn't paired with any suspension or steering revisions. Expect to endure the same spiritless steering feel and overly soft suspension, even in Sport mode.
Fortunately, the eight-speed automatic transmission is as smooth in this application as it is in the Genesis R-Spec. The gearbox clicks through cogs seamlessly, keeping the engine breathing easy under the hood. Likewise, the shift logic is excellent. Get frisky with the accelerator and the transmission will jump down to the appropriate gear and hold until redline before shifting. It's the right kind of perfect.
With a new drivetrain, it's hard to find an argument against the Equus. Competitors like the Lexus LS460, BMW 750i and Audi A8 all land with price tags thousands of dollars higher than the Equus with less equipment. While the cabin isn't as refined as some of the high-dollar German luxury rides on the market, the model still carries an unsurpassed warranty for the segment wrapped in an attractive, if not conservative, exterior. If badge appeal isn't on the top of your priority list, park the Equus in your garage and enjoy rolling around on a mattress stuffed with the cash you saved.
Image Credit: Copyright 2012 Zach Bowman / AOL
