At the opening day of the 2014 Busan International Motor Show that runs from May 29 to June 8, Hyundai pulled the covers off two models, including the all-new AG premium large sedan and the revised Grandeur, which we know as the Azera in North America.

With the new AG that is scheduled to debut in Korea later this year slotting between the Grandeur and the Genesis sedan, Hyundai purportedly wants to recapture some of the ground it lost to German premium carmakers like Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz over the past couple of years, targeting middle-aged buyers.

Hyundai said the AG will “offer quiet and sophisticated driving comfort, while adopting a series of advanced convenience features” adding that it expects the car to “reinforce the premium image” of the company in Korea.

The front-wheel drive model is based on the underpinnings of the Grandeur offering a more refined, almost Teutonic look combined with an upright face with some hints of Buick . Not much else was released about the AG, as even the windows were blacked out to cover the interior, with Hyundai saying it will share more information closer to launch.

The other debut in Busan is the 2015 Grandeur that gains some minor cosmetic revisions such as the redesigned front bumper with LED fog lamps, new grille and tweaked rear fascia, along with a remodeled center console featuring the latest HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning) controls and as a new 8-inch navigation screen as standard.

Under the hood, there’s a new (Euro VI) 2.2-liter R turbo diesel unit that produces 202PS (199hp) and 441Nm (45 kg/m) of peak torque, while Hyundai made some improvements to the standard Theta II 2.4-liter GDI petrol engine that delivers 190PS (187hp).

Other enhancements for the 2015 Grandeur include the revised motor-driven power steering system, and added standard content such as the Blind Spot Detection (BSD), Front Collision Warning System (FCWS), and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) systems.

“Amid tougher business conditions and fiercer competition, Hyundai Motor is continuously striving to provide products and services with solid fundamentals,” said Choong Ho Kim, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor, in an email statement. “We place customer satisfaction before anything else, and the improved Grandeur and ‘AG’, introduced today, are at the center of these efforts, fully reflecting our customers’ voices.”

By John Halas

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