Genesis Stretches Luxury Dollars With G90 Limousine

As though we needed more proof that Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury arm has the Germans in its crosshairs, Genesis has placed an extended-wheelbase version of the G90 on the Asian market. Called the “Limousine Prestige,” the South Korean marque’s new model is a clear attempt to move in on Maybach’s territory.

While most agree that Genesis has done a rather good job of delivering legitimate lavishness at bargain prices, the addition of a limo will undoubtedly force it be held to a higher standard. Thankfully, this seems like the right car for the job. Whereas the G70 is focused on delighting the driver, the brand’s larger sedans sacrifice sportiness to make more room for comfort — a fair trade, especially considering it used to be the go-to formula for all reputable luxury vehicles before low-profile tires became the norm.

The G90 is soft enough to produce more body roll than we’ve grown accustomed to in modern-day cars. It’s not sloppy; it just isn’t terribly interested in thrilling you when it can make you feel like a safe and comfortable big shot. Ultimately, the driver’s loss — if it’s even fair to call it that — becomes the passengers’ gain. That, in addition to the G90’s already massive dimensions, makes it the perfect choice to be redone as a limousine.

At 216 inches, the stretched sedan gains almost a foot in overall length and can proudly proclaim itself to be even longer than a Mercedes-Maybach S. Genesis also added a smidgen of headroom for the Prestige. Quilted leather adorns just about every area a hand might accidentally come to rest, but it’s most noticeable on the upgraded reclining rear seats, which boast more levels of adjustment than anyone could possibly need.

Additional fancy-pants inclusions include an opulent rear console with most of the controls you’d find up front that don’t involve piloting the vehicle, wireless device charging, leg support for when you want to put your feet up, and dual headrest displays.

While you’ll find some subdued chrome detailing on the exterior and a bit of window tint, the Limousine closely resembles the standard G90 arriving on dealer lots in a couple of months. It even uses the same 5.0-liter V8 and eight-speed automatic transmission. It also receives all the standard equipment and driver-assistance features Genesis is surprisingly generous with.

This strategy helps the brand further undercut its German rivals. Things like multi-zone climate control, navigation, LED headlamps, adaptive cruise control with lane-keeping, and power-operated shades are all things you’d expect to see on a limo, but it’s already standard on the base, short-wheelbase G90, meaning Genesis didn’t have to add as much pricy equipment to build the stretch.

Adjusted from South Korean won, the Limousine Prestige starts at $138,941 (USD) — substantially less than the $169,600 entry point for a Maybach S560. Weirdly, that makes it sort of the value option in a segment where the very notion is gently ridiculous. Though we imagine it won’t be long before the model gets out of Korea, there’s little hope it will ever make its way to North America.

[Images: Genesis Motors]