I wish hyundai the best.... although I agree they should have launched a new brand and maybe paired it with a luxury SUV.. some competition always helps to keep the other makes on their toes.
This does remind of back in 86 when honda's acura division came on the scene. People were skeptical of a non-economy minded japanese car. And then of couse in 90 lexus and infiniti totally upped the ante by, offering 32 valve v-8s (gasp!) powered cars and totally changing the notions of quality (lexus mosly, infiniti not-so-much)
Mazda in the 90's was considering launching a luxury brand, but then abandoned the idea and ended up selling the millenia under the mazda label.
... as far as comments about the Acura RL... My folks have one... it's a great car, certainly up to lexus standards, but it's V6 only has like 260 torque so its probably only comparable to v-6 powered GS in size and power. Honda really need to get a V8... the challenge for them will be trying to develop the tranny to go with it. Honda automatic trannies have a poor reliability history.... (Google recalls on TLs, MDX's, Oddyseys, Pilot's etc..)