- 2011 Hyundai Equus will come with an Apple iPad as the owner's manual.
- Owners can schedule service appointments using the iPad.
- The Equus luxury sedan goes on sale in the U.S. this fall.
NEW YORK — When the 2011 Hyundai Equus goes on sale this fall, the Korean automaker intends to pamper well-heeled customers and prospects, with free in-home demonstrations and service calls. As a bonus, Equus buyers will get a free Apple iPad, the hot new wireless multimedia tablet, from which they can schedule service appointments and access an electronic owner's manual.
The manual-on-an-iPad appears to be an industry first—part of Hyundai's effort to create an aura of exclusivity around its new flagship sedan.
Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik says the launch of the Equus "has driven us to create an innovative customer experience designed to save our customers time...We'll use what we learn from Equus to upgrade the customer experience for all Hyundai owners."
Krafcik said the electronic owner's manual will be "interactive," but the device also will be a fully functioning iPad. Equus owners can use the device to schedule free service pickup and delivery, as well as free loaners.
Inside Line says: Looks like Hyundai has the Equus target audience pegged—no doubt correctly—as affluent tech geeks. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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vipersrt10640 says:
06:13 PM, 04/18/2010
I think that Hyundai is growing up. This 40+ year old car company is getting to feel what the other automakers have already felt.
dustyred14 says:
12:11 PM, 04/18/2010
Epic fail marketing for an epic fail car.
The car is nice, I'm sure. But if Hyundai is assuming that people with $55k to blow on a car are going to do so on one badged as a Hyundai, I think they're in for a surprise. These are going to be even harder to move off the lot then the Genesis.
I also agree with whomever stated that people who have this kind of money to spend on a car could careless that it comes with an iPad. They will probably already have one lol.
Personally, I'm a tech geek, and I do not want a Hyundai or an iPad :)
uq35 says:
11:36 PM, 04/07/2010
VW Phaeton anyone? People who spend this sort of money aren't going to be wooed by the thought of an iPad, nice try Hyundai, youve got your fingers in way to many pies. Unlike the sports coupe segment, you cant buy over consumers with driving dynamics,people buy luxury cars for the status. If I saw someone with this car, Id wonder why his family didnt love him/her enough to stop them from throwing away so much money.
ne1butu2 says:
10:23 AM, 04/07/2010
This car is a gaudy knockoff of every german and Japanese flagship sedan. If anyone parked one of these in my neighborhood, everyone would assume that it was a realtor, event planner, or some other kind of person who needs to appear to be in the same financial class as their wealthy clients. Let's just be realistic, Hyundai just isn't there. And it's completely dumb to sell a car that has a $600 electronic device like this in the glovebox. Hell, why not throw in a Leica camera too!? I expect to see a lot of these cars with broken window glass on the ground next to it.
juan_mx says:
11:30 AM, 04/05/2010
I apologize if I hurt some feelings, but I still believe this car is ugly.
They changed the grille from vertical (in the original Equus driven by Edmunds) to horizontal ,
and it reminds me of some old japanese luxury cars.
The rear, with the Hyundai logo (the original Equus had apparently the Equus brand logo)
combined with the Equus logo in the steering wheel shows indecision from Hyundai to market
this car as a separate brand.
My guess is that at some point they considered using "Equus" as the luxury brand of Hyundai.
31ejmfdz says:
09:16 AM, 04/05/2010
And Ipad is 'made in China' product.
The ipad product is engineered by Taiwan company, foxconn. It manufactured by foxconn factory in China.
only s/w is apple.
31ejmfdz says:
09:13 AM, 04/05/2010
Korea have great infrastructure of IT industry.
I don't think hyundai need borrow their paperless manual system from apple. They should create their own paperless manual.
And nobody buy this car for a iPad.
iPad is just bonus. That title mean confusing.
31ejmfdz says:
09:08 AM, 04/05/2010
It is hardly says this car is ugly.
Only idiot and blind person confusing its emblem as Acura look-alike logo.
31ejmfdz says:
09:05 AM, 04/05/2010
I don't it is really i-pad is.
btw, Paperless e-manual is very creative idea.
It looks like a Equus targeting to "Tech-geeks, steal wealth person".
juan_mx says:
05:53 AM, 04/05/2010
They should give you, in addition to the iPad, half a dozen of bumper stickers that say
" I bought this ugly car because they gave me an iPad"
and...
What is with the upside down Acura look-alike logo in the center of the steering wheel?
Shouldn't it be the "H" instead, like in the trunk......confusing, to say the least.