A Genesis is not a luxury Hyundai. It’s the Grandeur.
It has a fascinating history. In the 1980s, it was a rebadged Mitsubishi Debonair. It wasn’t until 2005 that it changed to an in-house platform. The original purpose of the car was to be a flagship model, but it was demolished in 1996 by the more luxurious Dynasty.
In 2005, the Dynasty was scrapped and the Grandeur took its place as the top-of-the-line model. However, it lost that position three years later with the release of the Hyundai Genesis. The Grandeur was promoted to Hyundai flagship status in 2015, when Genesis became a luxury brand.
The Grandeur, also known as Azera in certain markets, has had a mid-cycle facelift since October 2016. Hyundai will give its top-of-the-line sedan a special edition in South Korea, named after the French word “white”. Le Blanc’s new interior is predominantly white.
This bold choice is certainly one you’d expect from a Genesis vehicle rather than a mainstream Hyundai. The 2021 model year will also feature safety and driver assistance improvements, as well as a new interior design in beige and black. N Performance parts are also available for Grandeur models, including lightweight 19-inch wheels, larger brakes with red aluminum disc calipers and a sport-tuned suspension.
According to reports in Korea, this is the last update of the Grandeur’s current-gen model. It will be able to reach over 5 meters (nearly 193 inches) for the first-time.