Monday, May 21st, 2012
Hyundai vs. BMW?? The thought might strike any car enthusiast ? or anybody who?s ever heard of car brands, actually ? as a little strange.? Strange like having a duel between cats and oranges, or even monster trucks and pram carriages.? Both parties have their uses and their pros and cons, but have virtually nothing to do with each other.
While Hyundai and BMW do produce a similar product (that?s cars, for those of you not keeping score at home), it?s unlikely that anybody?s ever really seriously considered comparison-shopping between the brands.? Somebody who?s in the market for a Hyundai, traditionally, likely has a very different set of wants, needs, and pocketbook depth than somebody looking for a BMW – just like somebody looking for a studio apartment is likely in a different category than one in the market for a penthouse.
This was true until Hyundai announced the release of the 2011 Equus, a flagship luxury sedan set to release at 55,000 United States dollars, which puts it smack in the middle of 5-series territory.? Mind-blowing, perhaps, but it is absolutely crazy to think that Hyundai, a brand that?s generally noted for being a value-conscious choice can compete on a luxury level?
The actual answer: hard to say, considering that the car hasn?t been released yet.? But if you consider that the basic Equus comes with a 4.6 liter V8 that can kick at 385 horsepower while a basic 2011 Beemer 7-series only comes with a V6 3.0 liter, one has to assume that Hyundai is primed to play with the big boys.
Even more unsurprising: the Equus still retails for about 30,000 less than a BMW 7-series.? Maybe it hasn?t come out to play yet, but we?re intrigued ? when the Equus does break out onto the market, it?s definitely got our attention.
This is Justin from Media Needle. The Equus is definitely an intriguing car — it’s luxury car that’s affordable and comparable to other higher-profile luxury cars. It blends some hi-tech in as well as evidenced by the iPad driver’s manual that it comes with.