So where does the Genesis sit in the coupe spectrum? Well, the honest answer is everywhere. We’ll elaborate on what we mean later, but suffice it to say that this is a vehicle that’ll appeal to a variety of buyers.
The 3.8-liter engine gets you moving quickly once the eight-speed trans finds the right gear. Soft suspension and numb, lightweight steering compromise sporting intentions. Decidedly more luxury sedan than sports sedan. There’s more “rear-wheel-drive” feeling here than is allowed to come through in most large luxury sedans though. You’ve got to push harder in the 3.8 than you would in the beastly 5.0-liter V-8 car to find it, but that rear end is willing to play if you’re willing to keep your foot down.
It’s been a darn good year for the auto enthusiast. We’ve seen the launch of an all-new BMW 3-Series, the hugely anticipated Scion FR-S, a worked-over Hyundai Genesis Coupe, and a bevy of other new performance cars. One of the biggest names, that we’re stuck waiting on until the end of the year, is the all-new Ford Focus ST.
When we tested the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe, we mentioned we were at the Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch, in Pahrump, Nevada, roughly an hour west of the Las Vegas Strip. With multiple track configurations, including kart-specific setups, Spring Mountain is a gearhead’s paradise. Track distances range from 3.4 miles for the full course layout, to a half-mile for the smallest karting layout.
In the newest issue of Winding Road, we drive the updated Hyundai Genesis Coupe, which promises to bring stiff competition to American muscle. Plus, we scrutinize a lot of other great cars this month.
Now, the Genny has had its first mid-cycle refresh. Well, Hyundai calls it a mid-cycle refresh. To us it smacks of being a very-nearly-second-generation Genesis, as it boasts significantly revised engines, sheetmetal, interior trimmings, and a host of other changes and improvements.
Joining the Hyundai Veloster Turbo onstage was the refreshed 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Our favorite Korean rear-driver got a host of upgrades, especially in the power department. We were on hand as it rolled onto stage.
Hyundai has upped the ante on its 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. With a prominent new fascia, the rear-drive Genny has gotten a host of upgrades to keep it competitive for the next several years.
Testing Notes: This Lexicon system spreads the sound out nicely in front of the driver and is enhanced by the quiet cabin of the Genesis sedan.
In fact, that icy air was endemic of the relative luxury of the Genesis cabin. Though not much changed for this 2012 model year refresh (new wood trims are about the only interior modifications), we were quickly reminded that the big Hyundai sedan was a comfortable place to spend time.
A few years back Hyundai unveiled a car called Genesis. The automotive world noticed, because it was arguably the car that took Hyundai to the next level as a primetime player in the automotive big leagues. Though it didn’t necessarily rewrite the rules of motoring nirvana, its four-door design, attractive accommodations, and robust V-8 engine were still plenty good enough to grab the attention of near-luxury sedan shoppers, even before the familiar, reasonable Hyundai sticker price was factored in.
In the Hyundai universe, R-Spec is a designation shared by the turbocharged four-cylinder and V-6-powered Genesis Coupe. These models denote cars from the Track trim that have had many of their luxuries stripped away in the interest of saving weight and money. For 2012, the R-Spec badge will adorn the larger Genesis Sedan.
This is a 306-horsepower, rear-wheel-drive, Korean muscle car. I know, it’s crazy. But it’s also very good. The Genesis Coupe packs a 3.8-liter V-6 that, besides the aforementioned 306 ponies, produces 266 pound-feet of torque, which for those keeping track at home puts it squarely in the range of the V-6 derivatives of the Ford Mustang (305 horsepower, 280 pound-feet of torque) and Chevrolet Camaro (312 horsepower, 278 pound-feet of torque).
Looking to recreate the formula that worked so well for Lexus, Hyundai has officially begun its assault on the executive-limo segment. Its entry is the Equus, a full-size sedan that shares more than a few styling details with the smaller Genesis sedan.
We were excited when Hyundai dropped the Genesis Coupe on the public. The brand has been shaking things up in the automotive world, and the thought of a Korean, rear-drive sports coupe sounded particularly sweet. After driving the Coupe, we quickly came to really appreciate it, and when Hyundai finally released the Hyundai Genesis Coupe R-Spec, we couldn’t wait to get behind the wheel, and we were sure there were oodles of tuners and budget racers that shared the sentiment.
In this list, we detail ten cars that really get you the most bang for your buck. Some of these aren’t the most wallet-friendly of cars, but when it comes down to what class they compete in, you’d be hard pressed to find something just as good for the same price.
When Hyundai launched the Genesis sedan a last year, we were very impressed. They managed to create a car unlike anything else they’ve ever done that was not only good to drive and extremely well-equipped, but priced substantially less than the competition. To continue on in this saga, Hyundai recently announced that they will be selling their larger flagship sedan, the Equus, in North America. This car is positioned to do to the Lexus LS what the Genesis has done to the Lexus GS and Infiniti M. (Note: Equus is what the car is called in other markets, and the official U.S. name hasn’t been decided upon at this time.)
By happenstance, we had the Chevrolet Corvette and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the office during the same week recently. I found driving these two sports coupes back-to-back a fascinating exercise with implications for GM 4.0 and GM CEO Fritz Henderson. Below is my (imagined) consultative letter to Fritz.