The Genesis was added to the range to compete with the 5 Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6, but very clearly didn’t deliver what buyers in that class really want – a badge, and diesel power. The Genesis wasn’t cheap and focused on smoothness and luxury ahead of fuel economy, using a 3.8-litre petrol V6 in a market dominated by diesels.

Rare car spotters take note: Hyundai has stopped selling the Genesis luxury saloon in the UK after shifting just 50 in two years. To put that into context, in 2015 alone BMW sold over 21,000 5 Series cars in this country.

Originally it cost £47,995, which rose to over £50,000 by the time it was taken off sale. A base diesel German rival is about £14,000 less, so it’s not really surprising that it didn’t sell. Demand for a truly premium Hyundai product was overestimated, and the American-style spec clearly didn’t appeal to British buyers.

Off the back of such calamitous sales figures for the Genesis, Hyundai is reportedly in no hurry to bring its Genesis luxury brand to the UK. As part of that expansion of its upmarket activities, the Genesis saloon, as we knew it, is renamed the G80, and there are also G70 and G90 saloons for some markets.

For now, though, you can count the Hyundai Genesis among the rarest cars on UK roads. Most of us will never actually see one, so if you do, savour the, err, thrill.

Via: Autocar