Hyundai's Equus Flagship Sedan Launched in Korea, could make it to the U.S.

What you're seeing here is the all-new Equus, Hyundai's Mercedes-Benz S-Class-sized flagship luxury sedan that was unveiled today in Korea. Not surprisingly, the actual production model features a much less dramatic design than what we were promised by the teaser sketches released by Hyundai earlier this year. While the outgoing model used a front-wheel drive architecture, the new Equus is based on a modified version of the rear-wheel drive Genesis platform with power coming from the same 3.8-liter Lambda V6 and 4.6-liter Tau V8 engines.

In the second half of the year, Hyundai will also introduce a long-wheelbase version of the new Equus equipped with a 5.0-liter variant of the Tau V8.

Compared to its Asian-market predecessor, the 2010 Equus is longer, wider and taller measuring 5,160mm in length, 1,900mm in width and 1,495mm in height. Technological highlights include a second-generation Vehicle Stability Management System (VSM2), a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) that employs a vision sensor to monitor traffic lane markers and a Pre-Safety Seatbelt System which on detecting an imminent front-end collision, automatically reels-in the safety belts.

Even though Hyundai has officially announced that there are currently no plans to export the 2010 Equus to the North American or European markets, Korean news outlet Ohmynews claims that the Equus will be launched in the States, most likely as the 'Genesis Prestige'.

Via: Worldcarfans

Infiniti Releases Essence Concept Teaser Photo

Following an earlier announcement, Infiniti went ahead today and issued the first teaser photograph of its Geneva Show-bound concept car that will be called 'Essence'. The Japanese firm has not revealed any particular details on the car other than it has been produced in collaboration with Louis Vuitton and that it will be 'one dramatic concept' previewing 'an exploration into the brand's future'.

The image appears to illustrate the car's swoopy C-pillar and pronounced rear-wheel arch, leading us to believe that the Essence could be previewing a proposal for a high-end sports coupe. If that's the case, then it wouldn't be too farfetched to say that there's a good possibility that it could be based on the underpinnings of the Nissan GT-R. But better wait for more information to come in before we make any more speculations.

Fiat 500C: Convertible Version Unveiled ahead of Geneva Show

These are the first official photos of the new Fiat 500C, a rag-top convertible version of Fiat's highly successful retro-mini due to be revealed at the Geneva Motor Show in early March with sales expected to start in Europe in the spring of 2009. The 500C is said to pay homage to the open-top 1957 model, which translates to a sliding back canvas rooftop that stretches out to the rear hatch window.

Available in three colors (ivory, red and black), the soft top will be matched with several body colors, two of which have been designed specifically for the 500C in a Pearl Red and a Warm Grey.

While it may not offer the same open-sky experience as the MINI Convertible, Fiat's solution will help to keep the 500C's price down making it one of the most affordable cabriolets in the European market.

The new 500C is exactly the same size as the basic model (3.55 m x 1.65 m x 1.49 m), and as you may have already guessed, it will be offered with the the same three powerplants: 1.3-litre 75HP MultiJet Turbodiesel coupled to a 5-speed manual transmission, and the two 1.2-litre 69HP and 1.4-litre 100HP petrol engines, available with either manual or robotised Dualogic transmission.