2010 Hyundai Equus Renderings Emerge

Hyundai seems undaunted by the crisis hitting the global automotive industry. At least, in how they're still pursuing a strategy of cracking the premium market and taking the brand upscale.

Here the Korean automaker has released design sketches of its next generation flagship luxury sedan. The model formerly known simply as the VI will now adopt the Equus name and will be making its debut in South Korea in February 2010. But this Equus will be using Hyundai's new rear-wheel drive architecture from the Genesis platform instead of being a front-wheel drive like the Equus of old.

The new Equus will come with a series of high-tech cabin gadgets that a customer would come to demand from a car in this class. These include safety features such as Vehicle Stability Management System, Lane Departure Warning System and Pre-Safety Seatbelt System which can tighten belts in the split-seconds before a crash.

Under the bonnet there will be a 4.6 liter V8 engine which Hyundai Blog says will be followed later by a 5.0 liter V8 with about 400 hp. Hyundai Blog reports of "rumors" that both engines may feature direct-injection gasoline technology. A rumor that shouldn't worry the German premium brands too much, who've had that technology for years and are still generations ahead of their would-be Korean competitors.