Hyundai Centennial Named 2012 Car of the Year
Media Release
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
MIDDLE EAST OFFICE
Hyundai Centennial Named 2012 Car of the Year
- Hyundai’s flagship modelwins first-ever Car of the Year award from Sport Auto Magazine
- Award presented at the EXCS International Motor Show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
The Centennial, Hyundai’s flagship car, has been named 2012 Car ofthe Year (COTY) by leading Middle East car magazineSport Auto. The award was presented to Tom Lee, head of Hyundai’s Middle East regional headquarters, byGerard Saunal ofSport Auto at the prestigious Specialized Systems for Exhibitions and Conference (EXCS) International Motor Show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The Centennial, also known as Equus in some markets, demonstrates Hyundai’s commitment to producing top-of-the-range vehicles. The luxury sedan model also reinforces the company’s ‘Modern Premium’ philosophy, a focal point for Hyundai’s brand direction.
Gerard Saunal,editor-in-chief of Sport Auto, commented on the Centennial’s victory: "The Sport Auto team has had the opportunity to testdrive the Hyundai luxury car model the Centennial several times inSaudi Arabia and abroad. We were amazed with its stunning development over other models in its segment. Thus, we were sure, independently, of the superiority of this car and that it deserves the ‘2012 Car of the Year Award.’”
Sport Auto is one of the Middle East’s leading automotive magazines and has been published for 30 years. With dedicated reporters based in all key markets across the region and distribution spanning the whole of the Middle East, Sport Auto is managed by highly respected motoring journalist and editor-in-chief, Gerard Saunal.
Across the world, the Centennial is now recognized as a serious contender in the premium car sector, traditionally dominated by German and Japanese cars. The same is true in the Middle East, where the Centennial has seen sales surge by 298 percent from January to September this year compared to last year, illustrating growing consumer confidence in Hyundai’s flagship model across the Middle East.
Tom Lee, head of Hyundai’s Middle East regional headquarters, commented on the award: “It is a great honor to receive this award, the first time anywhere in the world that the Centennial has been named Car of the Year. It is not only a testament to how far we have come as an automotive company, but also recognition that we now have established modelsin the luxury car segment.”
The Centennial’s interior is cloaked in luxurious leather upholstery and features a natural wood trim and a leather-wrapped instrument panel, all showcasing the richness of this luxury sedan.
Centennial is a true testament to luxury, with the highest standards of user experience. Passengers enjoy a wealth of luxury from air cell massage seats, power adjustable leg supports for extra comfortand the center console that houses a cool box big enough to fit any refreshments. Electric side curtains and luxury seatback tables add to the sense of prestige and refinement.
With all the features expected in a luxury car, the Centennial comes with all the latest on-board technology, starting in the rear with an 8-inch LCD monitor entertainment screen and dedicated armrest controls that allow the passengers to manage the multimedia and comfort zone functions.
The exterior is no less impressivewith its charismatic and sophisticated look that makes a statement wherever the Centennial goes. The 4.6-litre Tau DOHC V8 unit produces 373 hp at 6,500 rpm, while the model is also available with a 3.8-litre MPI engine that produces 290hp at 6200rpm, giving it a top speed of 240kph.
Testament to Hyundai’s commitment and confidence in its premium model is its Premium Assurance Program. Customers buying a Centennial can enjoy theHyundai Premium Assurance Program: a five-year unlimited mileage warranty,free servicing for three years or 60,000 kms., buy-back valueguaranteeand roadside assistance. Also, the customers receive their very own service advisors under the terms of the program.
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Jodie Davies – Account Director
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Tel: +971 (0) 4 434 7365
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Jonathan Kanaa - Account Executive
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AboutHyundaiMotor Company
Established in 1967,HyundaiMotor Co.has grown into theHyundaiMotor Group, with more than two dozen auto-related subsidiaries and affiliates.HyundaiMotor -- which has sevenmanufacturing bases outside ofSouth Korea including theU.S.,China,India,Russia,Turkey,theCzechRepublic and Brazil-- sold 4.06 million vehicles globally in 2011.Hyundai Motor, which employs over 80,000 worldwide, offers a full line-up of products including small to large passenger vehicles, SUVs and commercial vehicles. Further information aboutHyundaiMotor and its products is available at
About Hyundai Middle East
Hyundai Motor’s Middle East headquarters are located in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and run by Managing Director for the Middle East, Tom Lee. Hyundai’s retail network in the GCC and Levant consists of: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, KSA: Dammam, Jeddah and Riyadh; UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.
Hyundai announced that it recorded its best ever sales across the whole Middle East region in 2011,selling over 283,953 vehicles, an increase of 40 percent. Across the GCC and Levant,Hyundai’s record-breaking 2011 sales were led by its luxury models - the Genesis and Centennial - which saw sales increase by 90 percent, as well as the Elantra and second-biggest seller and ever-popular Accent. The SUV line-up (Tucson, Santa Fe and Veracruz), also performed well, with sales up 4 percent.
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