This week we give you a tour of the 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec. Turn your speakers up for the second half of the video when we open up the taps on the 348-horsepower, 295-pound-foot V-6.
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.
There’s something magical about five liters of displacement divided among eight cylinders. Right now, Ford, Jaguar/Land Rover, Hyundai, and Lexus are using them in various vehicles, and we haven’t found one that’s let us down yet. Whether naturally aspirated or supercharged, they all sing a great song and provide a healthy kick in the pants.
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.
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.