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First official pictures of Korea's first proper V8 executive saloon

Korean car-maker Hyundai yesterday released the first official pictures of its Genesis executive saloon.The new luxury four-door will appear at next month's Detroit motor show. Pictures of it have leaked out onto several car industry blogging sites over the last few weeks, prompting commentators to criticise the big saloons derivative looks, which seem a far cry from those of the bold Genesis concept that appeared at the New York motor show earlier in 2007.The road car’s profile, it’s been suggested, owes a substantial creative debt to the BMW 5-series, while at the front and rear, Lexus’ new LS-series limousine has been the inspiration. No pictures of the car’s cabin have been seen yet, however “if the treatment there is as imitative as the exterior,” one commentator opined, “a lot of expectant people are going to be disappointed.”The new Genesis saloon will be the first car from growing Korean car-maker Hyundai to take on the established might of the premium segment within their own territory. Armed with a new V8 engine and rear-wheel drive, it’ll offer US buyers a $35,000 alternative to other, much more expensive executive saloons from BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Cadillac, Lincoln, Lexus, Infiniti and Acura.According to the latest information from Hyundai UK, it will not be imported to Britain, but the decision as to whether the smaller V6-powered Genesis Coupe will make it to the UK has yet to be made.

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