Hyundai has some decisions to make. It seems the company's decision makers can't decide which grille design they're going to go with on its new luxury sedan, the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. Right now they have two to choose from, and they're both being displayed on the Detroit auto show floor. Wheels, too...
Notice the wheels on the red car are different from the wheels on the black car in the photo Hyundai sent us just last week.
According to Wayne Killen, Hyundai's director of product planning, he and his team are gathering opinions over the next few days, but Hyundai could end up using either, both or neither design.
Personally, I like the funky grille without the Hyundai badge and sportier-looking wheels on the black car. Tell me, which do you like better? -- Scott Oldham, Inside Line Editor in Chief
merks62 says:
04:29 PM, 01/13/08
Hyundai, I declare should go for the stack of chrome seagulls. No one will mistake it for anything else. The aftermarket will surely offer an alternate to anyone who hates it.
billt9 says:
04:34 PM, 01/13/08
Chromed seagulls.
black wheels.
That 2nd budget Hyundai grille dooms the car to $15,999 special.
estreka says:
05:07 PM, 01/13/08
Chromed seagulls.
Black wheels.
The other grille looks cheap.
The other rims look like hubcaps.
hondacura4 says:
05:14 PM, 01/13/08
1st grill, incorporate the H logo and loose the verticle center bar.
The rims from the black Genesis.
firstwagon says:
05:43 PM, 01/13/08
Chromed seagulls
Neither wheel does anything for me.
daytona_500 says:
05:48 PM, 01/13/08
I like the top grille too, but it really does need a badge. If Hyundai is so proud of this vehicle and thinks it will change a lot of perceptions, then shouldnt they want people to know it's a Hyundai?
The wheels on the red car are better to me.
zach101 says:
06:28 PM, 01/13/08
I think Hyundai should go with the "seagull" grill and add a hood ornament with the Hyundai logo. As for the rims, I prefer the ones on the red Genesis but both should be offered in my opinion.
roar02ram says:
07:48 PM, 01/13/08
Chromed seagulls, although I think some chrome horizontal slats would be classier. And the red wheels, all the way.
4ron says:
09:38 PM, 01/13/08
No contest - let's show some class:
Chromed seagulls (or call them waves)
Black car wheels
How can Hyundai be confused at this stage?
An Azera owner
sdricke says:
10:33 PM, 01/13/08
WOW! What a Hyundai!
Seagull grille w/ an emblem;
Red Car wheels with a little more shine.
The car SCREAMS Acura RL, but still beautiful.
stovt001 says:
12:28 AM, 01/14/08
Top grill, bottom wheels. No contest
rats says:
02:36 AM, 01/14/08
EASY, the two part grill (probably the only part of this car that's distinctive) and the black car's wheels although this isn't terribly too important.
The bottom grill looks like something from the Ford Focus's part's bin.
jak51 says:
07:28 AM, 01/14/08
I like the 1st grille of the red car and the wheels of the red car also.
felonious says:
09:09 AM, 01/14/08
Let's make it unanimous - chromed seagulls FTW!
Regarding rims, I dislike the red-car rims less than the black-car rims.
jriz says:
09:47 AM, 01/14/08
Chromed seagulls, but it needs a badge. Otherwise, it's like Hyundai is ashamed to put its name on it. If so, put a model-specific badge like the Olds Aurora or Riviera.
Or they could combine the two grilles, like this.
http://www.carspace.com/jriz/Albums/jriz%27s%20Album/Genesis%20Grille%203.jpg/page/photo.html#pic
alman08 says:
09:53 AM, 01/14/08
if the product planners have a problem choosing which grill and wheel to be used on the company's new flagship sedan, they all ought to be fired!
ateixeira says:
11:02 AM, 01/14/08
Chromed seagulls
Black rims. Red rims for base cars.
stephen987 says:
02:49 PM, 01/14/08
Will this car replace the Azera, or complement it? I don't like either set of wheels, or either grille, actually.
hondacura4 says:
04:54 PM, 01/14/08
"The car SCREAMS Acura RL, but still beautiful."
Acura wishes the RL looks this good. If this car resembles anything it would the G35 with a bit of 5 Series thrown in.
ktwnzsmartguy says:
06:36 PM, 01/14/08
The chrome seagulls and the rims from the first car. Well, I remember the XG350 didn't have the Hyundai logo, but that wasn't a big hit...
imacdaddy says:
07:12 PM, 01/14/08
I would be cool with the "chrome seagull" grille if it only had some sort of badge on the bonnet. I have to go with the alternate grille with the Hyundai badge in it because I simply think that this car without any badges on the front end visually links itself to other badgeless rubbish cars like the previous Kia Optima, Hyundai XG350, and the Kia Avanti. The Genesis needs a badge, whether it be the corporate Hyundai Badge, or the winged 'Genesis' logo on the bonnet, otherwise, it says to the world that Hyundai is ashamed of their new flagship, and does not stand by their product 100%. The car looks cheap without a badge on the front; give it a badge!
As for the wheels, the 18"s on the red car with the beefy spokes look superior to the wheels on the black car with the spindly, thin spokes. I truly hope that the fat spoked rims make it to the North American market, as should the Genesis with a badge adorning the front end as any other proper luxury sedan would.
infimini says:
04:55 PM, 01/15/08
the top grille with the badge looks much nicer... not including the badge cheapens the car and shows hyundai isn't proud of it
gtr4me says:
06:43 PM, 01/25/08
It's too much money for a Hyundai...
dypark says:
08:56 AM, 09/19/08
I was in Korea few weeks ago. The Genesis in Korea had the seagull grill and the rear badge is a winged design resembling an Aston Martin and not the ugly "H" design.