NHTSA gives 2009 Hyundai Genesis five-star safety rating

August 27, 2008August 27, 2008 Omar Rana 2009 Hyundai Genesis, Genesis, Hyundai Genesis

Things can’t get better for the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. The Korean luxury-sedan was just awarded National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s five-star crash test rating. The rating is the highest government ranking a car can receive.

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis comes standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints. Hyundai pointed out that until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models.

The 2009 Genesis is on sale now with prices starting at $33,000 for the base entry-level model which is powered by a 3.8 liter V6 unit producing 290-hp and $38,000 for the 4.6 liter V8 that produces 375-hp. We’ve added a new gallery of the 4.6 Genesis after the jump.

Click through for a new 2009 Hyundai Genesis gallery and the press release.

2009 Hyundai Genesis:

Press Release:

2009 HYUNDAI GENESIS DELIVERS NHTSA FIVE-STAR SAFETY RATINGS

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 08/27/2008 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) awarded five-star crash test ratings, the highest government rankings under the agency”s New Car Assessment Program, to the all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis for both frontal and side-impact crash tests.

“Genesis was engineered with a lightweight but strong body shell, featuring ultra-high tensile steel, laser welding, and advanced adhesive bonding,” said John Krafcik, vice president of Strategic Planning and Product Development, Hyundai Motor America. “Add eight airbags and electronic active head restraints and you can see the focus we placed on designing Genesis for occupant safety. These five-star results are just one indication of the dedication Hyundai engineers place on safety.”

Maintaining Hyundai’s emphasis on delivering leading safety technology, Genesis boasts world-class active and passive safety features that both prevent accidents and maximize the well-being of its occupants in the event of a collision. The Genesis continues the Hyundai tradition of standardizing key life-saving safety technology, with features such as Electronic Stability Control (ESC), eight airbags and electronic active head restraints.

ESC compares the driver”s intended course with the vehicle”s actual response. It then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or reduces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer.

Genesis’ eight airbags include advanced dual front airbags, front and rear seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side curtain airbags for both front and rear outboard seat occupants.

Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, a standard feature on the 2009 Genesis, which are an improvement over mechanically-based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.

Genesis is brought to a halt by large four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes with Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD). The V6 models feature 12.6-inch front rotors with single-piston floating calipers, while the V8 models feature 13-inch front rotors with four-piston calipers. All models are equipped with 12.4-inch rear rotors.