Hyundai’s changing the Equus’ 4.6-liter, 385-horsepower V-8 with a brand new engine. It is the same 5.-liter V-8 installed in the more compact Genesis R-Spec sedan, so that as it will for the reason that vehicle, the large V-8 is ranked at 429 horsepower within the Equus, and also at 376 pound-ft of torque. Hyundai states individuals figures place the Equus atop the 2011 Lexus LS 460 and also the Mercedes-Benz S550 for overall output. So that as it’s completed with the Genesis’ V-6 and V-8 engines, Hyundai’s fitted that one with direct injection.

Also new with this year: an eight-speed automatic transmission having a sport-change mode, using the host to last year’s six-speed automatic. Other changes are stated to enhance the engine’s block stiffness, for better charge of noise and vibration.

As we have seen with lots of other cars switching to eight-speed automatics, the Equus does not appear to obtain a lot more confused by its sudden abundance of gears. Upshifts within our test vehicle were fast and almost imperceptible. The Five.-liter Equus certainly feels more willing, as well as in both flagship four-door as well as in the Genesis R-Spec we drove lately, the bigger-displacement Tau V-8 sounds a little more potent, having a rounder exhaust note, compared to 4.6-liter version.

Hyundai states the aim using the new V-8 is not huge enhancements in -60 miles per hour occasions, although it needs the 2012 Hyundai Equus will shave individuals tenths from published acceleration figures. Mainly, it’s to place some marketing distance between its robotically related luxury sedans. The brand new powertrain also includes enhanced gas mileage, though, and which might be a more significant change. That old engine was ranked at 15/23 mpg within the Equus, and also the new powertrain should hit an Environmental protection agency-ranked 16/24 mpg.