The standard infotainment unit on the Genesis sedan is what Hyundai calls AVN 4.5. On the Genesis, the system is highlighted by an 8-inch touch screen display. Resolution of the display is a typical 800x480, which is adequate from the driver’s seat. Though it’s a resistive touch screen, it's still fairly responsive, and totally suitable for automotive use.
Originally, this story reflected a guess that the SoC was a Freescale i.MX 6Dual. We’ve since discovered it’s a custom order i.MX53 family SoC clocked at 1 GHz instead of the 800 MHz of the standard i.MX534/536. The i.MX53 family is an evolution of the i.MX51 used in Ford SYNC, albeit with energy efficiency improvements, support for DDR3, larger memory capacities, and other performance tweaks.
At the heart of the i.MX53 is a single ARM Cortex-A9 core with 256KB of L2 cache. A NEON coprocessor is installed, most likely aids voice recognition features of the Genesis sedan. Single-core SoCs may not seem as fast or sexy as the latest quad or even octa-core ones used in smartphones and tablets, but they do the job well for specialized single-use applications.
Graphics processing for the i.MX53 family is provided by an Imageon Z460 graphics core originally designed by AMD, but has since been purchased by Qualcomm and renamed Adreno. The graphics core is ancient by today’s standards, but still has unified shaders and support for OpenGL ES 2.0. It won’t tear up 3D benchmarks but is perfectly adequate for the simple user interface needs of an automotive infotainment system.
The most interesting bit of the Hyundai AVN 4.5 system is the use of a Linux-based operating system, which is actually Android. Hyundai heavily skins the OS for infotainment use, so it bears no resemblance to your typical Android smartphone or tablet. We were not provided with the specific version of Android, but predict that it's 2.3 Gingerbread since that falls in line with the vehicle’s development cycle.
Hyundai installs 16 GB of flash memory on the AVN 4.5, and provides users with 6,544 MB of free storage for music and images. The remaining space is partitioned off, with 164 MB for boot, 300 MB for the system, 5,120 MB for apps and backups, 500 MB for updates, 100 MB for debugging, and a whopping 2,150 MB for voice recognition.
Unfortunately, Hyundai did not have any vehicles with AVN 4.5 on hand for the launch event. We did briefly play with AVN 4.5 at CES 2014 and found it responsive. It also features Aha Radio and Pandora app support, too.


The problem with Hybrids on big vehicles is there's very little benefit. The next review will be of the Lexus LS600hL and the fuel economy is only about 2MPG better in the city but 1MPG worse on the highway, at the cost of 2 Equus'.
Judging by that, anything in that $50k range is a hobo's Bentley.
Interestingly enough, the GT-R, A8L, Equus and Bentley are the stories where there was someone that chimed in saying they owned one. But that's where there's all the advanced in-car tech. While I have come across lesser cars, there's not enough tech or new features from another model for a complete story. I do plan on having a quick story on the new WRX/STI, Fiesta ST, and eventually Mazda3. However, I believe the next round of updates to compact and subcompact cars should bring new tech that will be worth covering. We're working with vehicles on a 5-year development cycle so what was new 5-years ago is what shows up for production.
We will also start a project car series as well with my new 2014 Mazda5 Sport 6MT that I'm working to upgrade with whatever bits of tech I can get my hands on from the aftermarket.
That wood paneling is actually real matte wood. Its porous and treated.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yea, for some reason analog clock = classy. At least there's a digital read out now.
Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard.
Yea, for some reason analog clock = classy. At least there's a digital read out now.
I have to think it's something to do with common center console design. They just don't know what to do with the space. I saw the same thing in a higher-end town and country mini-van.
I like the Hyundai warranties. You can't beat them. I wish more auto companies were doing this. Heck, my $250 PSU has a longer warranty than most $50K cars.
I have to think it's something to do with common center console design. They just don't know what to do with the space. I saw the same thing in a higher-end town and country mini-van.
I like the Hyundai warranties. You can't beat them. I wish more auto companies were doing this. Heck, my $250 PSU has a longer warranty than most $50K cars.
Its because analogue clocks are associated with classiness / luxuriousness. Hence why the T&C has the clock but the Dodge Caravan with a similar dashboard does not. I just find it extremely obnoxious when they use a infotainment linked analogue clock (ie the time is set by the infotainment system) but eliminate a digital readout completely. Sure it looks nice, but I'd like my clock in digital so I can quickly read it while driving and not have to play the guessing games with quick glimpses.
The Hyundai's are fine cars, but so are Porsche, Bentley, Rolls, Lamborghini, Bugatti, etc and comparing them is nearly ridiculousness and each has its markets. I recall a review on my old 500SL and them complaining it was 15 MPG; like spending (then) nearly a $100K for a convertible (2nd car) sports car I or anyone gives a crap!
The Hyundai's are fine cars, but so are Porsche, Bentley, Rolls, Lamborghini, Bugatti, etc and comparing them is nearly ridiculousness and each has its markets. I recall a review on my old 500SL and them complaining it was 15 MPG; like spending (then) nearly a $100K for a convertible (2nd car) sports car I or anyone gives a crap!
It competes with the E350. And at the same price, the Hyundai has real wood, higher quality leather, more driver's assistance / safety features, and I'm sure the chassis is reinforced and just as safe as the E350. I've driven an E250 Bluetec with a bunch of options. Its a great car, but it wasn't $15k better (MSRP was about $64k iirc).
Then you're comparing some base model Bluetec MB with vinyl (MB TEX) seats to leather. The DISTRONIC PLUS® with Steering Assist is a car that you need to test drive on an optioned E350 - http://techcenter.mercedes-benz.com/_en/distronic_plus_steering_assist/detail.html