The Hyundai Genesis was a huge step for the Korean automaker, but it seems like the investment is paying off. The sedan just beat out some stiff competition from the Ford Flex and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI for the 2009 North American Car Year.

The Hyundai Genesis also receives the honor of being the first Korean car to ever win the prodigious award. When Hyundai announced its first-ever V-8 engine, its first-ever rear-wheel-drive platform, and its first foray into the luxury car arena, many were skeptical. The award is just further proof that the car's no-holds-barred assault on luxury and near-luxury sedan market is shaping up to be a real threat.

The decision was made this morning at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The Genesis replaces last year’s winner, the 2008 Chevrolet Malibu.