Hyundai Genesis V8

Sporty and luxurious saloons are traditionally the domain of German manufacturers, but now the Koreans are daring to encroach on their territory. The Hyundai Genesis V8 makes use of an all-new rear wheel drive chassis, a 4.6-litre V8 mated to a six-speed manual ‘box and an up-to-the-minute interior.

Hyundai claim their sports saloon has 12 to 14 per cent better torsional rigidity than the BMW 5-series or Mercedes E-class, and with a well-balanced 53/47 front to rear weight distribution it promises to be a rewarding drive. Despite this it boasts more room in the cabin than a 7-series! Other innovations inside the Genesis include a heated and cooled driver’s seat, an ultraviolet reflective steering wheel that stays cool to the touch even in direct sunlight and a 17-speaker premium sound system found in only one other car on the road – the Rolls-Royce Phantom.

Power is available from 3.3 and 3.8-litre V6 petrol engines, plus the flagship V8 unit. The eight-cylinder will produce around 375bhp – good for 0-60mph in six seconds – and should appear again in a new Hyundai Coupe later this year.

The latest from Hyundai is that unless a diesel is added to the engine line-up, the Genesis is unlikely to make it to the UK. It goes on sale in the US and Korea this summer starting from ,000 (around £15,000).