American Express Centurion Card holders choose… Hyundai

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By Tim Beissmann | July 13th, 2011

It comes as little surprise that BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Porsche are the most popular car brands among some of the wealthiest people in the US… but Hyundai?

Holders of the American Express Centurion Card – a near-unlimited credit card with a number of other added benefits – are unashamed fans of German luxury cars.

Twenty-two per cent own a BMW, 21 per cent have a Mercedes-Benz and 15 per cent have a Porsche – and plenty probably have all three. Next on the list are Lexus (11 per cent), Ferrari (eight per cent) and Acura (seven per cent).

Then it gets interesting. Tied on six per cent with Audi and Bentley is Hyundai, a brand that many would consider to be the odd one out in the esteemed company above.

That means the Korean manufacturer ranks ahead of luxury brands like Rolls Royce, sports cars like Aston Martin, Lamborghini and Maserati, and popular everyday runabouts from General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Toyota.

Hyundai US CEO John Krafcik revealed the brand’s surprisingly high ranking in a presentation last week, as reported by The Wall Street Journal.

Mr Krafcik proudly trumpeted the stats while revealing the new specifications of the 2012 Hyundai Genesis, which now scores a 320kW 5.0-litre R-spec V8 engine linked to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

The luxury Genesis sedan is priced from $US34,200 ($32,200) for the entry-level 3.8-litre model, considerably less than premium offerings from Europe and Japan. Hyundai is on track to deliver 30,000 Genesis vehicles in the US in 2011.

The Hyundai Equus is the brand’s flagship model designed to take on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class and its competitors. Priced from $US58,000 ($54,600), the Equus is considerably cheaper than the $US91,000 ($85,600) S-Class.

Are you surprised by the tastes of the rich and famous? Could you overcome badge snobbery to buy a luxury Hyundai, or would you stick with the traditional prestige brands? Let us know in the comments section below.

nobody

I guess consumers are becoming alot smarter. If a brand provides a car with better warranty, cheaper spares and overall good value then why stick to the more expensive brands. In some cases the options are are an absolute rip off.

Andronicus

Maybe the reason they got super rich and have a limitless credit card is the fact they count their pennies. Lots of rich folk appreciate value and costs, thats how they got rich.

shag

rich people do not neccessarily have to have a good taste

Kevintheking

Mercedes are not that bad

JK

I bet rich people are thumbing you down

JK

Maybe the rich are trying to be modest. Look at the Equus and Genesis, both don’t scream “LOOK HERE”, while providing the same quality and luxury.

If I see a Ferrari or Rolls Royce, it attracts my attention.

AndrewF

Indeed. For a long time Lexus cars were so conservatively styled they practically came with their own cloaking device, while providing luxury and performance comparable to other ‘look at me, I’m rich!’ brands. Now Lexus cars are starting to develop more personality I can see Koreans slipping into the niche Lexus vacated with their Genesis and Equus…. neither of which is available in Australia anyway, are they?

JK

As I have personally seen them, I wouldn’t say the Genesis or Equus are conservatively styled as they have their own presence on the road.

Rather, they’re looks are much more uninspiring. They look like a classic luxury car if you know what I mean.

Lars

Perhaps American luxury car dealers are as arrogant as their cousins in Australia and people get sick of being ripped off, specially when you start to get competitive alternatives.
AcuraTSX

$85,600 can barely buy a new E class yet alone the S class. LCT sucks.
Fiz

Maybe a high percentage of the card holders are accountants LOL
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

I’ve been told that the majority of equus sold in USA are from Koreans in South Korea, since the equus is much cheaper in USA then it is in South Korea, they buy it from USA and export it to SK
shane

I suppose americans are not that rich anymore and a hyundai is the best thing they can aspire to

Sumpguard

…or they are fed up with picking their BMW up from the workshop?

Phil

If that was the case, then they’ll soon become fed up with picking up their Hyundai from the workshop (see Hyundai and BMW results from CA article: “New car quality drops: interior tech and engines to blame”)

HSV

Looks much better than Holden Caprice and Calais.
Nugsdad

Have ridden in these often in Korea. You know S Class luxury at a C class price might attract more than just accountants.
So Hyundai, what does this business case look like for Australia? A hero car can have an effect on the whole range. Why else would Lexus spend money on LFA?
Actually the best way to drive down the pricing of German cars is competition. The LCT goes no where near explaining the difference between European / USA pricing and Australian pricing.
Come on Hyundai bring it on, join with Infiniti and lets get the Germans looking over their shoulders.

Phil

Why are you only blaming the Germans for the price difference whilst praising Hyundai?
All of Hyundai’s cars in USA are priced considerably lower than their Australian prices. The i45 in the USA (which they call Sonata) is priced about $10,000 lower than ours for instance.
What about Lexus? Same price rip offs as the Germans (except many of their models are just Toyotas in a fancy suit making them even more of a rip off!).

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1715760895 Charles Dean

Maid needs car sometimes

Andronicus

classic. the help has calluses again.

Tommy

bmw, mercedes, audi etc are pretty boring. I was at the motorshow and was extremely bored by their range of cars which all had the same design cues.
In

When I was in California, it seemed there was more Lexus on the road then BMW or Mercedes..

Phil

When I was in New Zealand, it seemed there was more Nissan on the road then Toyota or Mazda…
QWERT

When I was in Sweden, it seemed there was more Volvos on the road then Fords or Holdens..
Flash

When I was in Egypt it seemed there were more camels on the road than Ford or Toyotas.

Ima Hogg

Epic flash. Very funny.

Sam

Currently residing in Doha, I was in the BMW dealer putting together my deal to buy a 535 sedan. Turbo six, all the trimmings. 250,000 riyals. Thats 65,000 aud for those who are interested.

I havent lived in Australia for a while but I am pretty sure you cant get anywhere close to that figure. I know – no taxes, duties, etc, but still…

Its pretty embarrassing for the Oz auto industry.

Phil

$129,600 + on roads + options here.
Dave S

Buying a new car is not always about getting the lowest price. It is also getting the car you want and not just the price.

Selling a new car is not always about selling for the lowest price – sell at market price.

Steve

Apparently it drives very well too. Bring it on. Case in point the latest Kia Optima. Looks awesome, kitted out like 60k car and drives well. I hope the koreans better the dollar equation for all to benefit.
Good News Guy

Euro luxury cars are ridiculously over priced wherever they are sold. Rich people know value for money when they see it and that’s what many new Korean upper models deliver. These days it’s good to be seen to be frugal even if you are a billionaire.
Shak

Its a shame that Hyundai wont be able to configure these for RHD markets until the next generation is up and running, and even then they wont confirm whether we get either Genesis or the Equus.
Car Fanatic

They but Hyundais for the nannies. Rich people don’t let the Nanny take the kids out in the Bentley, MERC or Bimmer. No, Nannies are workers and workers will drive Hyundais.
Paul

Who cares about what rich Americans drive? With a 320kW 5.0-litre V8, I want it here in Australian. Now!