The second generation Hyundai Equus sedan was released in Korea in 2009 and it got to the U.S. in late 2010. The market reacted well to it because of its choice of efficient engines and rear wheel drive. In the 2012 model year, the sedan was improved with an 8-speed automatic transmission and Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. The sportier model powered by a re-engineered 429 HP and 376 lb·ft of Torque, 5.0-litre V8 engine was introduced. For the 2014 Hyundai Equus, the powertrain will not be changed, the styling will undergo a minor upgrade, but we expect a major change to come in the form of transmission system used.
Just like what was done on the Genesis Coupe, the makeover of the Hyundai Equus 2014 model will be radical. The headlights will have LED accents; each of them will have a quad bulb arrangement. It looks like the grille borrowed the fluidic design language from the 2013 Santa Fe.
Does 2014 Hyundai Equus to Get 10-Speed Automatic Transmission and AWD?
According to some reports, Hyundai is ready to introduce a 10-speed automatic transmission in the mix! This was always destined to happen, but we were shocked by the timing. Luxury automakers have been increasing the gear ratio gradually. From the seven to the eight, from that to the nine-speed transmissions. Lexus started when it brought an eight-speed mark to the market, and before we could say a word, we heard of ZF’s nine-speed coming. If the reports we have heard are true, Hyundai has delivered a strong blow. Some few months ago, it introduced its first 8-speed automatic transmission, but instead of allowing the dust to settle, it skipped the 9-speed transmission and moved straight to develop the first ever 10-speed automatic gearbox! This move, we believe was made as part of the renowned automakers plan to meet the strict new emissions laws.
Reportedly, the all-new automatic transmission is being developed specifically for the future luxury models and apart from the 2014 Hyundai Equus, it will still be available in certain Hyundai vehicles like Santa Fe crossover vehicle and Veracruz CUV, which will be released before the end of this year. Genesis luxury sedans and Genesis Coupe replacement are other vehicles where we expect the 10-Speed Automatic Transmission to be used. This forth-coming transmission system is a joint project of Hyundai and Kia. So, apart from the 2014 Equus and other Hyundai models mentioned above, we also expect the system to find its way into some future big-sized Kia vehicle models.
The Korean automaker has also moved to fulfil buyers’ needs by introducing an All-Wheel Drive option in the Hyundai Equus 2014 and 2014 Hyundai Genesis model. Many industry watchers believe that the AWD variant will increase their sales especially in places where Rear-Wheel Drive can be tricky to drive on snow-covered surfaces.
Hyundai has not released the pricing information of the 2014 Equus, but we expect it to retain the $66,900 we paid for the 2012 Hyundai Equus. It will not be the best built, flashiest or the most luxurious car, but the middling interior quality expected, the understated aesthetics and the peerless ride quality will all be worth paying for.
Related posts:
Recent Comments