Hyundai Genesis Concept sedan car introduced in March, 2007 was designed by Hyundai as a "progressive interpretation of the modern rear-wheel drive sports sedan". Hyundai conceived the idea for the Genesis in 2003. The body design took three years and the total cost of the program was $500 million over a development period of 23 months. Reliability testing ran for 800,000 miles.
The Hyundai Genesis V6 model has a starting price of $33,000, while the V8 model starts at US $38,000, including destination charge. According to Hyundai Motor America's current Genesis website, the US engines are projected to 290, and 375 hp for the 3.8L V6, and the 4.6L V8 respectively. Power in the 4.6L V8 drops to 368 hp when regular unleaded fuel is used. (As of April, the 3.3L V6 264 hp lineup has been dropped from coming into the United States. So there will be only two cars in the summer of 2008, and they are 3.8L V6 with 290 hp and 4.6L V8 with 375 hp).
The Genesis has received a number of well-recognized automobile awards worldwide. Most notably, the Genesis has been named 2009 North American Car of the Year, the first for Hyundai. It also won the 2009 Canadian Car of the Year (Best New Luxury Car under $50,000). The Hyundai's V8 Tau engine in the Genesis, which develops 375hp on premium fuel and 368hp on regular fuel, received 2009 Ward's 10 Best Engines award.
