Photo Gallery: 2011 Hyundai Equus

When Hyundai’s flagship sedan, the Equus, goes on sale in the U.S in December, it’ll start from as little as $58,900, rising to $64,900.

Prices include a $900 destination fee, free upkeep for 5 years/60,000 miles, complimentary valet service which includes a sales-person picking up and delivering the car for maintenance, and an iPad instead of an owner’s manual.

The Equus undercuts rivals by a substantial amount; the Lexus LS460 w/380bhp starts at $65,380, while the Mercedes S400 Hybrid w/295bhp starts at a hefty $91,000.

The Genesis-based Equus is only available with a 4.6 litre V8 petrol engine that pumps out 385bhp and is mated to a 6 speed automatic transmission. All that power goes to the rear wheels.

Entry-level Signature trim comes standard with a 17 speaker, 608W Lexicon sound system, bi-xenon headlamps w/LED day-time running lights, electric air suspension, heated wood/leather steering wheel, Alcantara suede headlining, front and rear parking sensors w/rear parking camera, ventilated leather front seats w/rear heated seats and drivers massage front seat.

The flagship Ultimate grade is offered with front camera, electric tail-gate, rear seat entertainment system w/ rear refrigerator, reclining and ventilated rear seats w/powered headrests, rear seat massage and leg support, rear seat refrigerator and a rear seat entertainment system.

"When you're spending this much for a new car, you don't want to feel like you've been short-changed on engineering, technology or features," said John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America president and CEO. "Equus Signature has the technology and content of fully-optioned flagship models from Lexus and BMW, while Equus Ultimate delivers a specification approached only by our competitors' low-volume, special-order models."

Press Release:

"At Your Service" Summary:

•Valet service – The dealership will pickup and deliver the owner's Equus for maintenance, replacement of wear items or warranty work

•Replacement vehicle – If alternative transportation is needed while service is being performed, the dealer will provide a Genesis or Equus at no cost

•Maintenance – Covers all factory maintenance for the first five years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first

•Wear items – Covers brake pads, brakes discs, wiper blades and battery

EQUUS SIGNATURE KEY STANDARD FEATURES:

•4.6L DOHC Tau V8 engine

•Six-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC®

•Electro-Hydraulic Power Steering (EHPS)

•Electronically controlled air suspension with Continuous Damping Control (CDC)

•19-inch chrome alloy wheels with P245/45R19 (front) / P275/40R19 (rear) tires

•Four-wheel disc brakes with Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) and EBD

•Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with TCS and Brake Assist

•Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system with pre-collision warning

•Nine airbags: advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, driver knee airbag, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags

•Electronic active front head restraints with power controls

•Electronic seatbelt pretensioners

•Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)

•Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS)

•Smart Cruise Control

•High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights with LED turn signal indicators

•Adaptive Front Lighting System (AFLS) with auto-leveling

•Fog lights and automatic headlights

•Front and rear parking assistance system with rearview camera

•Dual power-folding heated auto-dimming side mirrors with turn signal indicators and approach lamps

•Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with rear bumper

•Proximity key entry with push-button start

•Illuminated scuff plates, inside door handles and door armrest

•Premium leather seating surfaces and Alcantara® suede headliner

•12-way power driver seat plus lumbar adjustment and 10-way power front passenger seat

•Driver seat massage system

•Heated and cooled front seats

•Heated, wood-trimmed and leather-wrapped steering wheel

•Power tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel

•Integrated Memory System (IMS) for driver-side seat, mirror and steering wheel

•Leather-wrapped dash and real wood interior trim

•Electroluminescent cluster (Supervision) with 3.5-inch TFT LCD screen

•Electronic parking brake with automatic vehicle hold

•Power windows with auto-down/up

•Navigation system with DIS and multimedia controller

•Apple iPad interactive owner's manual

•608-watt Lexicon 7.1 Discrete surround-sound audio system with 17 speakers

•iPod/USB and MP3 auxiliary input jacks and iPod connection cable

•XM® Satellite Radio & NavTraffic® with trial subscription

•Bluetooth® hands-free phone system

•Dual automatic temperature control with air quality system

•Windshield-wiper deicer, rain-sensing wipers and auto-defogging windshield with humidity sensor

•Electrochromic auto-dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink® and compass

•Acoustic laminated windshield, front and rear side windows

•Power tilt-and-slide glass sunroof

•60/40 power reclining and heated rear seats

•Power rear sunshade and rear side-window sunshades

•Luggage net

•Premium-grade floor mats

•Premium-grade trunk cargo mat

•First-aid kit (PIO)

EQUUS ULTIMATE ADDS ULTRA-LUXURY FEATURES:

Equus Ultimate adds or replaces:

•50/50 split rear seats (four-passenger seating) with reclining function

•First-class passenger-side rear seat: leg support and massage system

•Cooled rear seats

•Rear-seat entertainment system with eight-inch monitor

•Thermoelectric rear center console refrigerator

•Rear-seat power up/down head restraints with manual tilt

•Rear-seat illuminated vanity mirrors

•Forward-view cornering camera

•Power trunk lid