autoevolution
 

Ex-Lamborghini Manfred Fitzgerald to Lead Hyundai's Genesis Brand

After a twelve-year career at Lamborghini, where he played a crucial role in transforming the Italian carmaker into an even more luxurious car brand, Manfred Fitzgerald has been hired by the Hyundai Motor Company to lead the Genesis brand as the new Senior Vice President, starting with January 2016.
Manfred Fitzgerald 1 photo
Photo: Lamborghini
Fitzgerald will have to establish and execute marketing strategies as well as other business operations that will consolidate the Korean automaker’s image as a value-for-money brand and help it become a real rival in the global luxury car market.

The 52-year-old will join other non-Korean executives brought for the same purposes, such as Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer, Luc Donckerwolke of Bentley, or Albert Biermann of BMW at the company’s headquarters in Seoul.

Hyundai Motor revealed the first model of its newly developed premium division earlier this month, called the Genesis G90. Although until now the company used this designation for a premium model in its range, it plans to develop an entire luxury model lineup under this name.

For the G90, Hyundai designers went for an elegant approach to the full-size luxury sedan segment. Customers will be able to choose from a broad range of engines including the 3.8-liter V6 GDi, a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6, and a 5.0-liter V8 from the Tau series.

The exterior brings new dimensions, as the new premium vehicle announces an overall length of 5,205 millimeters (204.9 in), 1,915 millimeters (75.4 in) width, and a 3,160 mm (124.4 in) wheelbase. The gross vehicle weight is between 2,420 kg (5,335 pounds) and 2,595 kg (5,721 pounds).

The Hyundai Genesis G90 features the best gizmos the South Korean carmaker has to offer, including the first clinically-validated Smart Posture Caring System - unfortunately available only in South Korea - that automatically adjusts the seat, steering wheel, outside mirrors and the head-up display to suit the driver’s optimal position.

Hyundai’s latest premium model will be sold in South Korea as the EQ900 starting with 2016 and on an international level from the second half of next year.
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
press release
 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories