Hyundai Equus

At first glance it looks like a Lexus LS 460. But the grille of this big luxury sedan is different - unlike anything on the road. It has a unique swanlike hood ornament. And instead of Lexus LS 460 on the back, it's simply badged "Equus VS 460." So what is it? It's a Hyundai.

Unveiled Thursday at the start of Monterey Car Week, the ultraluxe Equus is the South Korean carmaker's second offering in the luxury car market, coming in the wake of the popular Genesis sedan and Genesis Coupe. But where the new Genesis aimed at the lower end of the luxury car segment, the Equus is targeted at the other end of the spectrum.

Designed to go head-to-head with the Lexus LS and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, the Equus is an elegant, large sedan with clean exterior styling and a beautiful interior. While it seems to mimic the lines of the Lexus LS, seeing them side by side illustrates the differences, with the Hyundai featuring more curves and flares around the rear wheels.

Inside, the Equus' use of fine materials and luxury amenities easily puts it on par with its target competition. Rich leather and dark wood trim surround the passengers. The rear seat has plenty of legroom, reclining seats, an optional seat massage feature and a DVD entertainment system.

One of our favorite features is the 180-degree front view screen. Three cameras mounted on the front and sides of the vehicle provide a seamless view of the road, making entry into blind intersections a breeze. BMW has a similar system in its new 7-Series, but the Hyundai screen better integrates the images.

Power in our test mule was provided by the same 4.6-liter V8 found in the Genesis. While this engine will propel the final production version of the Equus, Hyundai is still debating whether it will bump up the horsepower to give the big machine more oomph. It seems Hyundai engineers are more concerned with getting the ride feel correct for the American audience than with how fast it moves off the line.

With the first U.S. sales still more than a year away, Hyundai representatives were not prepared to discuss price. Based on the company's current pricing structure, however, we wouldn't be surprised to see the Equus come in $20,000 to $25,000 less than a comparable Mercedes-Benz or Lexus.