Automotive World

At the 2011 edition of the Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai is lifting the covers of the new generation of its Azera sedan that will go on sale shortly as a 2012 model.

As Hyundai pointed out, the 2012 Azera is the seventh new vehicle in Hyundai’s 24/7 version 2.0 product initiative, which means seven new models every 24 months, and comes on the heels of the all-new Tucson, Sonata, Equus, Elantra, Accent and Veloster.

The Azera is the North American version of the Korean market Grandeur that was launched in the beginning of the year.

According to Hyundai, the Azera competes against the likes of the Ford Taurus, Nissan Maxima, Buick LaCrosse, Toyota Avalon and even the Acura TL and Lexus ES350.

As most of you probably already know, the Azera is based on the South Korean market Hyundai Grandeur that was introduced in its home market this past January.

While the Grandeur is available with a 201HP 2.4-liter four-cylinder and a 270HP 3.0-liter V6, Hyundai says that the North American model will be equipped with a 293HP V6 engine that delivers 29mpg highway.

Named the Genesis Coupe Hurricane SC, the prototype is the result of a two year development effort of Hyundai America Technical Center Inc. (HATCI) in cooperation with Magnuson Products, Rhys Millen Racing, Harman International and Torvec Inc.

“One of the many exciting aspects of this project is that the Genesis Hurricane SC is not just another pretty face for the show circuit, but rather it is a hard working lab-rat that will push the bounds of this car and the whole vehicle segment," said Terry Peddicord, director of sales at Magnuson Products.

Making its world premiere today at the Las Vegas 2011 SEMA Show is the RM500 Genesis Coupe complete with Hyundai's most powerful stock engine under its hood, the 5.0-liter Tau V8.

“From the moment I saw the Tau V8 engine in the Genesis R-Spec and Equus, I knew it would be a perfect fit for the Genesis Coupe, adding even more performance and power to the dynamic coupe,” said Rhys Millen, owner, Rhys Millen Racing [RMR].

Even though the show is less than a week away, Hyundai and Rhys Millen won't give out many details in the 40-second-long teaser video. The only valuable clue we get is a quick glimpse at a tail lamp that looks a lot like the one featured on the Genesis Coupe, but we're not 100 percent sure.

You can watch the video for yourself right after the break.