The Top 7 Korean Cars– which one beat Equus?

A person wouldn't play basketball well just because he/she is tall, and just because a car has a lot of horsepower, it doesn't mean it's a good car. But, the first thing one examines among car specifications is the horsepower nonetheless. It is because it usually can be a mark to show whether the core of the car will run well.

On the 17th, Hyundai Auto introduced Genesis Prada, which they manufactured in collaboration with the high fashion brand Prada. Genesis Prada attracted consumers' attention by applying differentiated designs from the existing Genesis. Also, the newly installed engine received huge attention.

Tau 5.0GDi engine that is installed in Genesis Prada boasts a high 430 horsepower. In addition to this, Hyundai officials explained that it was to provide differentiated premium for design as well as performance.

But, both the Equus with a 430 horsepower and Genesis Prada kneeled down before Oullim Motors’s Spirra. Among Korean cars, it is the only midship hand-made sports car, boasting a 500 horsepower. Equipped with a twin turbo engine, the displacement is half of Equus. Spirra participated in the foreign motor show and tuning show, receiving good evaluation. (For more information on the Spirra, refer to this link here: The Rise of a New Fleet?! Sports Cars from Korea)

Below are the Top 7 Korean cars with the highest horsepower.

◆The 1st is Spirra- 500 horsepower

Spirra EX Tempesta of Korean's first hand-made sports car manufacturer Oullim Motors was investigated to have the highest horsepower among the Korean cars with 500 HP.

Spirra EX Tempesta is geared with 2.6 liter V6 twin turbo engine, boasting the maximum of 500 horsepower and 399 lb-ft torque. The maximum speed is 315 km/hr and from stopping state to 100km/h only takes 3.5 seconds. It is comparable to other foreign famous super car.

◆The 2nd is Equus, Genesis Prada- 430 horsepower

Hyundai 's luxurious sedan Equus and Genesis Prada are geared with Tau 5.0 GDi engine, giving excellent 430 horsepower.

Tau 5.0 GDi engine proved its excellence by being selected as the World's best engine of 2011 from Ward's auto. Its maximum output is 430 horsepower and torque is 376 lb-ft.

As for Equus, it has better horsepower, torque, and mileage than other imported same-level cars with similar price.

◆The 3rd is Mohave- 340 horsepower

The luxurious SUV Mohave gasoline 4.6 model from Kia (launched in 2008) beat other sedans and sports cars and got 3rd place with 340 horsepower. But there is the significant difference of 90 horsepower from the 2nd place Equus and Genesis Prada.

Mohave gasoline 4.6 model is geared with 4.6 liter V8 Tau engine. Its maximum output is 340 horsepower and torque is 323 lb-ft. Among Korean SUV, Mohave has horsepower over 300.

But there is downside in its outstanding performance. Last year, Mohave gasoline 4.6 model placed the lowest in the Carbon Dioxide emission rank that Ministry of Environment announced with 321g/km. So Kia Motors decided to install 8 speed auto transmission.

◆The 4th is Chairman W- 360 horsepower

Being one of the Korea’s largest sedans along with Equus, Ssangyong Motor's Chairman W kept its pride with 306 horsepower.

Chairman W's top model V8 5000 is geared with 5.0 liter V8 engine like its name, giving 306 maximum horsepower and 326 lb-ft. It is geared with RWD and a 7-speed automatic transmission. It is evaluated by the experts to have good aspects of large vehicle with big space, various convenient equipment, and safety measures.

But, along with Mohave, it generates the most Carbon Dioxide among Korean cars and has the worst mileage.

◆The 5th is Genesis Coupe- 303 horsepower

Hyundai 's sports car Genesis Coupe was ranked the 5th with 303 horsepower.

Just like a sports car, Genesis Coupe is evaluated to have high perfection with high output and braking power. The 380GT model is geared with a 3.8 liter Lambda RS engine and maxes out at 303 horsepower and 266 lb-ft.

On the other hand, there are rumors of Genesis Coupe sequel on various online communities. The dominant opinion is that it will tune and install either 3.8 GDi turbo engine or the high performance engine that is geared in Equus and Genesis. The sequel model of Genesis Coupe is expected to be introduced in the LA Auto Show that opens in USA in November this year.

◆The 6th is Opirus- 284 horsepower

Kia Motor's large sedan Opirus installed 3.8 liter V6 Lambda engine, giving 284 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. Although it is a front wheel drive vehicle and has less output than cars in its class, it received good evaluation from consumers with excellent driving feeling and convenient equipment.

On the other hand, K9 that is known to be the sequel to Opirus, is receiving much attention from the online community after its spy shots were revealed.

◆The 7th is Carnival- 275 horsepower

The favorite car of Korean celebrities, Kia Motor's Carnival limousine gasoline model was ranked 7th with a maximum output of 275 horsepower.

The absolute power of minivan, Carnival boasts excellent power performance that is over 200 horsepower, the only one among its same-level cars. It is geared with 3.5 liter V6 Lambda II engine, giving maximum output of 275 horsepower and 181 lb-ft torque, similar to mid-sized car.

김상영 기자 <탑라이더 young@top-rider.com>