Hyundai tried to upscale their cars with the Equus, which was launched in 2010 as a 2011 model on the U.S. market. It was meant to be a competitor for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS.

The 2010 Equus was at its second generation. Its predecessor was based on the Mitsubishi Proudia, but the car was not sold on the U.S. soil or in Europe. In 2010, Hyundai unveiled the second generation at the New York Auto Show.

The car’s design had various inspirations from the Nissan Altima, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Lexus LS, and the BMW 7-Series. The car had only one Hyundai badge, on the trunk lid. The car’s symbol was a bird showed on the hood and on the wheel’s center caps.

Inside, the Equus offered almost everything fitted as standard. The 8” infotainment unit was controlled via a rotary knob located between the front seats. The walnut wood trim and leather all around the cabin were just part of the equation. All the seats get heating and massage functions. For the right-rear passenger, the seat was a recliner, with feet support. From the rear, the passenger could control the climate control unit and it had a dedicated infotainment unit with a screen attached in the back of the center console, between the front seats. In the rear armrest, there was a refrigerator with enough space for two cans and a couple of sandwiches.

Under the hood, the Equus was launched with a 4.6-liter V8 mated to a 6-speed automatic gearbox, but that setup was replaced a year later with a 5.0-liter V8 mated to an 8-speed automatic.