Here we have a majestic Hyundai Equus VL380 Limousine, spotted at a Hyundai dealership in eastern Beijing back in 2018. This grand Korean stretched limousine was in excellent condition and impeccably maintained.
The second-generation Hyundai Equus Limousine was a long-wheelbase variant of the second-generation Hyundai Equus sedan. The Limousine was manufactured from 2009 to 2016, with a facelift introduced in 2013. The car I saw is a pre-facelift example.
The second-generation Hyundai Equus Limousine featured air suspension, which is why it appears to sit slightly low. It was a large car, measuring 5460 mm in length, 1890 mm in width, and 1495 mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3345 mm. It was extended in the middle, behind the B-pillar. The wheelbase of the Limousine was 300 millimeters longer than that of the standard sedan. The limo was adorned with chrome accents, more chrome, premium black paint, darkened windows, and elegant 10-spoke alloy wheels.
The Limousine badge on the B-pillar.
Hyundai sold the Hyundai Equus Limousine in China as an import. Its Chinese name, 雅科仕 (Yǎkēshì), was a phonetic translation of “Equus.” The Equus Limousine was sold through the Beijing-Hyundai dealer network.
The engine of the Equus Limousine
The standard sedan’s designation was VS, while the designation for the Limousine was VL. In China, the Equus Limousine was available with two engine options: a 3.8-liter V6 (VL380) and a 5.0-liter V8 (VL500).
The V6 engine produced 335 hp and 395 Nm of torque. An 8-speed automatic gearbox paired with the engine delivered power to the rear wheels. The fuel tank held 64 liters, a necessary capacity given the high fuel consumption of 10.7 liters per 100 kilometers.
The interior of the Equus Limousine
The Equus Limousine was a luxurious vehicle, featuring leather upholstery and elegant wood trim on the doors and dashboard. It had a large-diameter steering wheel with a thin rim and wood accents. The car featured a 10-inch central screen positioned above a CD/DVD player. The expansive center tunnel housed a panel filled with buttons and switches.
The rear compartment was equally luxurious. It featured two captain seats separated by an armrest. A control panel with a multitude of small buttons allowed passengers to adjust the air conditioning and operate the rear-seat entertainment system. Each passenger had access to a screen mounted on the back of the front seat, enabling them to watch movies played on the DVD player located up front. The Limousine also came with rear-window and rear-windshield sunshades, as well as heated, ventilated, and massaging seats. Additional amenities included power-operated footrests, rear-seat leg supports, and a nine-speaker sound system.
The price of the Equus Limousine
In 2012, Hyundai priced the Equus VL380 Limousine at 1.018 million yuan, an exceptionally high amount for a Korean car, even if it was a limousine. The VL500 cost 1.28 million yuan. Consequently, these cars are quite rare. Notable owners included the South Korean embassy and the CEO of Hyundai in China.
The name “Equus” means “horse” in Latin, and its logo features a stylized Pegasus, the mythical winged horse. Notably, there are no Hyundai badges on the Equus Limousine.
The Hyundai Equus Limousine stands out as an impressive Korean stretched limousine in China. Hopefully, someone can still spot this sleek black example somewhere in town. In the background, there’s a Mazda dealership, featuring a gray FAW-Mazda 6 sedan parked alongside the China-exclusive FAW-Mazda CX-4 crossover SUV.