Welly 1:43 Genesis G90 and Kia Optima FL (2004)

Not to be outdone is a few more oddities from the Welly and Hyundai/Kia partnership, the first Genesis model and an update for the Optima (K5) model.

Genesis G90

In 2009 Hyundai release their first entry into the luxury market just 20 years after the Japanese automakers entered the same market with their own brands.  However, unlike them Hyundai started the new Genesis brand with two models and built into the Hyundai dealerships until Hyundai can guarantee the brand will be a success.  Now six years later the Genesis brand is now a stand-alone brand supplying two sedans with more models coming in the future and now the Genesis sedan is now the G80 and the larger Eqqus the G90.  The G90 was the top-end model to the Genesis line offering features normally found on Mercedes S-class and BMW 7-series models for a fraction of the price and for the second-generation it has styling that better lines up with the G80.  The grille is now larger and the headlights more upright, while the rear has taillights that flow along the rear fenders with a trunklid reminiscent of the BMW 7-series.  Inside there’s lots of details on the dashboard, but the rear seats are a special treat with seating for two that offers a center console for TV viewing, radio and climate controls, and even reclining rear seats.  The engine is a 5.0L DOHC V8 that produces 407 horsepower through a eight-speed automatic transmission to the rear wheels.

The dark blue sedan looks large and prestigious, though one must wonder how this will look against the upcoming smaller G80 that Welly will release later on.  The front has upswept headlights with LED accents, large grille with chrome bars (and a radar screen that looks out-of-place on the grille in black), and a lower bumper with small grille outlets.  The sides have a limo-like profile with chrome trim, large rear doors, and multi-spoke wheels, while the rear has side-swept taillights, tall trunklid, and dual exhaust tips.  The base shows more of the exhaust system and rear suspension in more detail than any other Hyundai model offered by Welly, while the doors open to a vastly detailed interior with a sunroof over the front passengers and detailed door panels.  The dashboard has a 4-spoke steering wheel with Genesis wings in the center, recessed screens for gauges and infortainment system, detailed controls just above the shifter on the center console, and note the wood trim touches that I added to this car (I think this was the first car that I tried out this feature.  Hint: use an orange Sharpie with a silver Sharpie background and it gives off a light-wood trim touch).  The coolest feature is the rear seats where the center console offers the controls for each passenger for radio, HVAC, and reclining seats.  A very nicely detailed luxury sedan for the first Genesis model for Welly.

2014 Kia Optima FL

A bit of confusion here:  Welly already has the Optima (or K5 in other markets) as the 2012 model profiled here last year, but this one is slightly different: this is the mid-cycle updated Optima that premiered in 2014 and codenamed FL.  The update features new headlight design inside of the lenses, 4-spot LED foglights, and new taillights with LED rings, while the interior has a new steering wheel and larger gauges.  Otherwise everything else is the same as the 2012 Optima, including the 2.4L DOHC I-4 that produces 178 horsepower through a six-speed automatic transmission.

This update confused me as I thought this was the updated 2017 version only to find out this is the mid-cycle version, something that Welly does not do often on a model.  The front-end has the same headlight and tiger-nose grille design now more aggressive with quad LED foglights below the silver upper trim and just above the lower chin spoiler.  The sides have the same profile with chrome trim (thinner than the 2012 model), new 5-spoke split wheels, and the panoramic sunroof that blends in with the dark gray paint, while the rear has new taillight design and one exhaust tip on the rear bumper.  The base shows off the usual exhaust system, while the interior offers a detailed dashboard with visible controls, new 3-spoke steering wheel, and center console with shifter.  The one noticeable area here is the lack of sharpness found in the 2012 model when it comes to details (the chrome accents are smaller or not there at all) and lacks bold colors (gray and black seem to be the norm on this FL Optima).