Hyundai Genesis Prada Additional Images and Details Released Prior to Seoul Debut

Fresh images of the Hyundai Genesis Prada have been released. Hyundai and luxury fashion label Prada worked on three special models of the Genesis over a period of four months as a way of helping the Korean automaker realise some of its ambitions of being a player in the premium sector. In fact, the Genesis itself was created to take Hyundai higher in the premium segment. The media was impressed and the car won the 2009 North American Car of the Year award.

Some of the aspects that Hyundai and Prada covered together were the illuminated flooring, door trims and white leather on the seats and the dashboard. The exterior was finished in a unique matte finish and painted in a dark-blue colour. To add to the Genesis' premium feel, 20-inch nine-spoke alloy wheels were fitted.

The three cars are to have different fates. One will be revealed at the 2009 Seoul Motor Show while two are to be put up for auction at the Prada Transformer. Money earned from their sale will be donated to charity.

Press Release

Genesis reborn with innovative input from Prada, one of the world's leading luxury brands

• Design development took place at Hyundai Motor's R&D center in Korea and in Prada's Design Center in Italy
• Limited edition of three cars, two of which will be auctioned for charity

Hyundai Motor Company (Chairman & CEO Chung Mong-Koo) presented the new "Genesis Prada" today in Seoul, the first of only three units produced by the Korean automaker in partnership with Italian luxury goods maker Prada, to be officially unveiled at the Seoul Motor Show on April 2. Of these three unique cars, one will remain with Hyundai as a milestone of the Genesis history and development, while two will be auctioned for charity and the income will be donated to an institution which will be announced at a later stage.

The "Genesis Prada" represents a unique edition of the Genesis - selected as the 2009 North American Car of the Year ? and is characterized by a special design that reflects Prada's (CEO Mr. Patrizio Bertelli) sophisticated innovation, attention to detail, uncompromised quality approach and values both in the design and in the materials.

For this project, designers from Hyundai and Prada worked together for over four months since last November, both at Hyundai's R&D center in Namyang and at Prada's Design Center in Italy, where a Genesis models were delivered to allow a 1:1 scale development.

In particular, with regards to the design of the bodywork, Prada developed a sporty interpretation of the Genesis bodywork, complemented by alloy rims designed and produced by Prada in Italy. The paintwork is in matte metallic midnight blue, combined with metal parts in titanium, whereas the dark matte plated gold replaces the existing shining chrome for the radiator grill, the emblem, and the outer handles.

The innovations introduced by Prada include also a 20-inch alloy wheel and an outer antenna with edge shape.

For the interior, the dashboard and the upholstery have also been revisited and artisan-crafted in "saffiano" leather - the top quality leather that, more than any other, is identified with the Prada brand - to obtain a luxurious and sophisticated finish.

Finally, in order to underline to an even greater extent the unique image of the "Genesis Prada," a new special technology was applied to all gold plated details and all wood grain parts.