2006 Hyundai Azera: Global and democratic luxury in the premium
sedan world
Luxury has to be exclusive. Right?
But to be exclusive, it has to be dearer, less reachable. Still
right with us?
At least, that's classic luxury school.
But how about luxury in a global world, beyond the old slogans
of passing cherished goods from father to son, because, 1,
technology is moving fast, too fast anyway to keep products
up-to-date for more than just a few months after their launch,
and 2, because the most advanced technologies are growing
cheaper and cheaper, or more and more approachable, thanks to
better materials, production efficiencies, and growing market
demands? If cost is dropping, should luxury remain expensive for
the sake of it then? Should exclusivity remain too closely tight
to high prices?
Maybe yes, and maybe not, the latter argument being based
especially on the fast advance of Japanese and now Korean brands
into luxury land. Of course, the first "maybe yes" argument
should hold too, since these same luxury Lexus, Infinity, and
now Hyundai models have to remain dearer than their Toyota,
Nissan and Hyundai brands siblings, to keep their image hovering
somewhere above the "commoner's" car.
However, it is precisely between the "maybe yes, maybe no", that
another luxury concept is unfolding, a concept of reasonably
dearer luxury, but not necessarily an out-of-reach one, leaving
the real expensive class to the Rolls Royce, Maybach, Bugatti...
club.
What if more and more people are finding it more interesting to
get more luxury for their money, like a large sedan plus a
compact secondary hatch, for the price of one car from a
traditional luxury brand... especially that when it comes to
electronics glitches, all cars seem the same! That is where the
door seems wide open for new luxury entrants like the 2006
Hyundai Azera which comes to replace, with stronger size and
equipment arguments, the previous generation known as Grandeur
or XG 350.
So, what does the new Hyundai Azera offer now, for a price
expected to start in the US market below the US$30,000 (The 2005
XG350 MSRP started at US$24,899).
As Hyundai puts it, the new 2006 Hyundai Azera is an "affordable
premium sedan" destined to redefine the way people think about
premium sedans... "because the terms "premium" and "attainable"
have been exclusive until now".
With standard safety technology including Electronic Stability
Control and upscale convenience features, the Azera aims to
prove that riche content and affordability can coexist.
Hyundai admits that its new flagship sedan takes its inspiration
from some of the biggest names in the upscale-car field, only to
claim beating them at their own game in terms of interior
roominess and standard safety features and equipment.
Says Robert Cosmai, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America.
"The all-new Azera offers the roominess and luxury of cars
costing far more and delivers on Hyundai's promise of superior
safety and value. Azera will earn distinction for... content
that is generally reserved for higher-priced luxury sedans." The
2006 Azera is backed by standard Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) with a Traction Control System (TCS). By continually
analyzing road speed, steering input, throttle position, lateral
yaw rate and other factors, an onboard microprocessor determines
if the vehicle is starting to understeer or oversteer, and
automatically engages one or more brakes, and reduces engine
output to help the driver maintain the intended path.
In addition, Azera comes with other active-safety features
including projector headlights and fog lamps, bright LED tail
lamps with 132 individual fast-acting lighting elements for
better visibility, double-wishbone front and multi-link rear
suspension, large four-wheel disc brakes, and Anti-lock Braking
System (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD).
Azera's passive-safety features start with a total of eight
airbags, including advanced dual front airbags, front and rear
seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain
airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants. Active
front head restraints help prevent whiplash.
Security is further advanced with a HomeLink integrated
transceiver, an engine immobilizer, and a remote keyless entry
system with alarm.
Roominess - The new 2006 Azera offers standard dual front
automatic climate controls, electrochromic auto-dimming mirror
with HomeLink, power driver and passenger seats, and wood grain
and metal grain interior accents. Leather seating surfaces are
standard in the Limited model, as are a power rear sunshade and
electro luminescent instrument cluster. An Air Quality System
(AQS) helps improve passenger comfort in urban environments.
For audiophiles, the available premium Infinity audio system
includes a seven-channel, 315-watt digital amplifier with an
in-dash six-disc CD auto-changer driving 10 speakers in eight
locations, including a subwoofer. The system also includes
speed-sensitive volume and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
Engine and performance - Azera comes with an all-new,
all-aluminum 3.8-liter DOHC V6 engine that delivers a 263
horsepower and 255 lb-ft. (345 Nm) of torque.
To maximize the power spread, the engine utilizes Continuously
Variable Valve Timing (CVVT) and a Variable Intake System, which
helps cylinders breathe efficiently at both low and high RPM, as
well as achieving ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)
certification levels
The engine uses an alloy block and cylinder heads for
lightweight and thermal efficiency, and features timing chains
with no scheduled maintenance (instead of the belts found on
many V6s, which must be replaced at set intervals).
Married to the modern V6 is an equally advanced five-speed
automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual control. It offers
smooth shifts and a wide spread of ratios that ideally suit the
engine's characteristics - including a tall overdrive fifth gear
for quiet, efficient highway cruising.
Drivers can access the SHIFTRONIC feature by moving the gear
selector into a separate gate. Pushing the selector forward or
pulling it rearward will shift the transmission up or down
sequentially, adding to driver control. A clear LCD readout on
the instrument panel shows the gear that's in use. Chassis &
suspension - Hyundai engineers benchmarked some of the best cars
in the category before designing the Azera's unibody and
four-wheel independent suspension system. Utilizing high-tensile
steel in critical areas in the unibody increases stiffness and
ensures high resistance to flexing, enhancing ride and handling
qualities and lowering noise levels inside the vehicle.
To this rigid structure is attached a double-wishbone front
suspension and multi-link rear suspension system complete with
specially tuned twin-tube gas-charged dampers and front and rear
stabilizer bars.
Together with the engine-speed-sensing rack-and-pinion power
steering, the suspension is designed to provide unerring road
feel while quietly isolating the passenger cabin from unwanted
noise, vibration and harshness. Two tires sizes are available.
The Azera SE uses 16-inch five-spoke aluminum alloy wheels and
225/60HR16 tires, while the Limited gets 17-inch 10-spoke alloys
and 235/55VR17 tires.
AZERA SE - The Azera SE is designed for those who are interested
in a combination of spaciousness, performance, and safety
technologies. It includes standard features such as the
five-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC, the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System
(TCS), a six-speaker AM/FM/CD audio system with MP3 capability,
and eight airbags. Upscale features include LED tail and brake
lamps, auto dimming inside rearview mirror with HomeLink, power
driver and passenger seats, and active front head restraints.
Optionally available are a power sunroof, premium 10-speaker (in
eight locations) Infinity audio system with an in-dash CD
changer, and heated front seats.
AZERA LIMITED - The Azera Limited standard features include
17-inch 10-spoke alloy wheels with 235/55VR17 tires,
leather-trimmed seating, heated front seats, and an electro
luminescent gauge cluster.
The Limited also has steering-wheel wood trim, a power rear
sunshade, and bumper moldings with chrome-inserts.
A 10-speaker (in eight locations) Infinity audio system with
subwoofer and an in-dash 6-disc CD changer is optional, as are
power adjustable tilt-and-telescopic steering column, integrated
memory system, power-adjustable foot pedals, rain-sensing wipers
and other upgrades.
The all-new 2006 Hyundai Azera is covered in the USA
five-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper protection,
10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty,
five-year/unlimited mileage roadside assistance and
seven-year/unlimited mileage anti-perforation coverage.
In addition, Azera buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance
coverage at no extra charge for five years (no mileage limit)
and that service includes emergency towing, lockout service and
limited coverage for trip-interruption expenses (no deductible
on any of these coverages).
*** Note: (Copyrights-free specifications and features tables
are available for download from
http://www.motiontrends.com/2005/m11eng/hyundai/azera.shtml)