Hyundai's Flagship Sedan For 2004 - The XG350

December 30, 2003 -- Fountain Valley, CA -- Hyundai got a head start on the 2004 model year with the release of the luxurious 2004 Hyundai XG350 in July 2003. Hyundai's flagship sedan is revised and even more refined for 2004. Some of the changes are easy to see; the 2004 XG350 has been tastefully restyled with a new grille, new headlight design, a new front bumper and a new front air dam with projection fog lamps. The new front end with a horizontal design airdam gives the XG a wider, more stable look and the projection fog lights give the front end a more sophisticated look.

Along the side the waistline molding is wider and at the rear there is a new decklid, new rear bumper, new taillight design and even the CHMSL (Center High Mount Stop Lamp) is new, using a bright LED light in place of the previous bulb-type light. The license plate has been moved from the rear bumper up to an inset in the decklid, giving the XG a taller, more stately look.

Slipping inside the luxurious cabin, the driver and passengers will find standard leather seating and some minor refinements such as lighter color woodgrain trim with a new pattern. Other refinements for the interior include a revised hood release lever, a redesigned tilt steering lever and the child seat tether anchors in the parcel shelf are now covered when not in use. Gas-operated lifters for the rear decklid make it easier to open. The little changes and refinements help build an excited customer base and even the seemingly insignificant details add up to delight customers.

Other refinements include a redesigned cruise control pod with ribs between the button to improve the "feel" of the switch and a new trunk pull-down handle. For 2004 even small trim details have been upgraded. For example, the lower tray of the front center armrest, which was uncovered plastic last year, has been leather-wrapped for the 2004 model year. Upgrades like these show true attention-to-detail.

The Hyundai value story continues with new standard features for the 2004 XG350 including: rear reading lights mounted in the C-pillars, Electrochromic rearview mirror and the versatile HomeLink system.

Many of the refinements and upgrades to the 2004 model Hyundai XG350 are not so readily apparent. For one, the size of the front brakes has been increased. The diameter of the front brake rotors has been increased from 10.9-inches up to 12.1 inches. In addition, the spare tire has been upgraded to a full-size Michelin tire mounted on a matching alloy wheel.

When the luxurious Hyundai XG sedan was introduced three years ago, Hyundai asked U.S. car buyers a question. Would they spend nearly $25,000 for a Hyundai vehicle? It turns out the answer is a resounding yes. Sales of the XG, the largest, most luxurious and most expensive Hyundai ever sold in the U.S. have exceeded company plans and expectations.

The XG was first introduced in 2001 as the XG300. For the 2002 model year, the engine displacement was increased from 3.0-liters up to 3.5-liters, and as a result the XG300 became the XG350. Larger than Hyundai's midsize Sonata model, the XG350 comes with a full complement of standard luxury features. The Hyundai XG350, a four-door, five-passenger sedan, offers buyers luxury features at middle sedan prices. Two trim levels are offered: XG350 and XG350L

For the 2004 model year, the XG350 continues to offer buyers the best value in the segment with an outstanding list of standard features including five-speed automatic transmission with Shiftronic manual control, four-wheel disc brakes with ABS and traction control, dual front airbags and front seat side-impact airbags, leather seating surfaces, fully automatic temperature control, 16-inch alloy wheels fitted with Michelin tires, cruise control, keyless entry with alarm, projector beam headlamps, trip computer and much more.

"The XG350 continues to be a great value," said Robert Cosmai, acting president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "It offers the roominess and luxury of cars costing much more and delivers on Hyundai's promise of superior value."

Last year the XG350 dashboard and instrument panel was revised to feature a new, easy-to-read instrument cluster and trip computer display with improved graphics and a brighter display. The speedometer is located in the middle of the display, the tachometer is on the left side and the fuel level and engine coolant temperature gauges are in a large display on the right.

The XG350 is powered by a sophisticated, high-torque 3.5-liter V6 engine. It is a double overhead cam design and develops 194 horsepower at 5,500 RPM and 216 foot-pounds of torque at 3,500 RPM. The engine is mounted transversely and has a variable intake system and anti-vibration balance shaft. The vehicle's overall length is 191.9 inches, overall width 71.9 inches and overall height 55.9 inches. The wheelbase is 108.3 inches.

The XG350 features Hyundai's five-speed dual-gate Shiftronic automatic transmission with manual shift override. The Shiftronic transmission provides automatic or manual gear selection, allowing the driver to manually shift up or down the transmission range. The transmission is also fully adaptive, adjusting to the individual driving techniques of each driver.

The XG350 suspension features independent double wishbones in the front with an anti-roll bar. The rear features a multi-link suspension with dynamic toe control and anti-roll bar. Nitrogen gas-filled shocks are used at all four wheels.

The front shock absorbers have special low-velocity control valving to provide excellent high-speed ride control while still delivering a smooth ride.

Four-wheel disc brakes are standard on every XG350 model as is the four-wheel, four-sensor, four-channel anti-lock braking system (ABS). For 2004, the size of the front brake rotor has been increased from 10.9-inches up to 12.1-inches.

Every 2004 model XG350 is equipped with Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) that is designed to enhance braking control. The EBD is a sub-system of the standard ABS system that eliminates the standard front/rear proportioning valve and uses instead precision sensors and electronics already installed as part of the ABS system. The EBD is designed to increase the performance of the rear brakes by delivering ideal brake force distribution to the rear wheels as well as adjust brake proportioning based on vehicle load or weight. The EBD is controlled by the ABS Control Module which calculates the slip ratio of each wheel at all times and maximizes brake pressure to the rear wheels, but never lets it exceed the pressure to the front wheels.

Comfort features in addition to those already mentioned include AM/FM/CD/Cassette stereo system with six speakers, trip computer, power door locks, power windows, exterior mirrors with heated mirror elements and power driver and passenger seats.

The XG350 is available in two trim levels - XG350 and XG350L. The XG350L includes all the standard features of the XG350 and adds new design 12-spoke alloy wheels, Premium Infinity speakers and 210-watt external amplifier, a power tilt/sliding moonroof, leather-wrapped steering wheel rim with woodgrain inserts and memory driver's seat. In addition, both the front seats (driver and passenger) are heated. The exterior mirrors have a memory function and an automatic tilt-down feature when the gear selector is put into reverse.

"The XG350 is an extremely well-equipped vehicle that provides everything a driver would want at a price that represents an outstanding value," said Cosmai. "As we expand the Hyundai model line in the U.S., each new vehicle must advance the Hyundai brand and image. We believe the XG350 does exactly that, " he added.