Cars We Can't Wait to Drive - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

The more the merrier, we always say, especially when it comes to power. The extra ponies are even more welcome when they come under the hood of a rear-wheel drive sports car like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Although we don't necessarily like the 2013 edition's styling changes, the modifications made to turbocharged 2.0-liter engine increase the power output by 64 horses without sacrificing fuel economy. Hyundai also gave its already powerful 3.8-liter V6 a boost by increasing its output by 42 ponies to 348 horsepower. Hyundai says the increased power will help the Genesis Coupe 3.8 reach 60 mph in the low five-second range and on to a top speed of 149 mph.

Read More: http://editorial.autos.msn.com/slideshow.aspx?cp-documentid=1236849#9

Review: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec Take Two

The Japanese are always worried about what the North Koreans have up their sleeve, but if the writing on the wall were legible, they would be more concerned about what’s going on in the south. If the 2009 Hyundai Genesis was a shot across the bow of Lexus and Infiniti, then the Genesis 5.0 R-spec may be a torpedo hit below the water, and speaking of which, even the Germans should take notice. Of course, we heard this before with the likes of the VW Phaeton, however that model tanked, so is the top-line Genesis biting off more than it can chew? Lets find out.


In my mind, the Phaeton was doomed to failure when VW decided to equip their new full-on luxury sedan with a full-sized price tag. Instead of following the same model, Hyundai stayed true to their value roots and created a luxury sedan with a Hyundai-sized price tag with the Genesis 3.8 and 4.6. What could be next from the boffins in Korea? The Genesis 5.0 R-Spec, a value-priced performance luxury sedan of course.

From the outside, the Genesis (in all trims) strikes most of the right cords with luxury shoppers that prefer flowing lines to sharp creases. While previous products from Korea have been more imitation than innovation, the Genesis both deviates from the theme yet clearly draws inspiration from Lexus, BMW and Mercedes. Unlike some Kias we could mention, the overall look is distinctive enough (in my mind) that nobody would confuse it for anything else on the road. Neither however, would the casual observer ever confuse it for a Hyundai if it didn’t have the stylized H logo on the trunk. Styling mission accomplished (but like many buyers, I might remove that H badge when I got it home).

Of course, we’re here to talk about the performance part of the equation. The 5.0 R-Spec is an all-new trim in the Genesis family. AMG and M have little to worry about however as the Genesis 5.0 as Hyundai has no intention at present to compete head on with the balls-out performance sedans from Germany. So what is an “R-Spec”? Think Audi S rather than RS. While there is little outside to differentiate the 5.0 from its lesser models, a closer look reveals unique wheels, lower profile rubber, and upgraded brakes. Also new for 2012 are some new headlamps with a distinctive LED accent strip, new bumpers with integrated exhaust (ala the LS460) and new power-folding mirrors. The real change however, is under the hood where an all-new 429HP 376 lb-ft 5.0L direct injection V8 is mated to an all-new 8-speed automatic transmission. While that sentence sounds right at home in a review about a new Mercedes E550 or BMW 550i, the novelty in the room is that we’re talking about a Hyundai.

Read More: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/12/review-2012-hyundai-genesis-5-0-r-spec-take-two/

Hyundai Shows Teasers of 2013 Genesis Coupe, Announces Korean-Market Model to Debut November 12th

It looks like we are close to seeing the refreshed 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the buff. Hyundai announced the updated Coupe would debut November 12th in Korea and released a few teaser images of the car on its Korean blog. Spy photos of the 2013 Coupe taken this past summer showed the car wearing Hyundai’s new familial front-end styling, which integrates various elements from the latest Elantra, Accent, and Veloster. None of that appears to have changed in these official photos, but the shots reveal a few more details that we hadn’t seen before.


The spy photos we ran a few months ago were dark, blurry, and grainy, which made it difficult to pick out the new Genesis Coupe’s stylistic nuances. Hyundai’s (much clearer) photos show off a lot of subtle creasing on the Genesis Coupe’s hood and fascia. The hood strakes, specifically, look a lot like those on the outgoing BMW 3-series and toughen up the Genesis’s front view noticeably. The wheels on this Korean-market “380 GT” model—which is roughly equivalent to the 3.8 R-Spec trim we get here—look like larger versions of the up-level rims available on the Veloster. Finally, the shape of the taillights is unchanged, but the detailing is new and matches the upscale headlight elements. We think the updates make for an even better-looking Genesis Coupe, but we hope that rear spoiler is optional.

The cosmetic tweaks likely won’t be the only updates the 2013 Hyundai Genesis receives; the interior will be mostly new (you can see for yourself here) and a few mechanical updates also are in the cards. We expect the coupe’s current 3.8-liter V-6 engine will be replaced by the 333-hp, direct-injected 3.8-liter that was recently added to the Genesis sedan’s engine lineup. It’s not yet clear whether the Genesis Coupe also will poach Hyundai’s new eight-speed automatic from the Genesis sedan, or keep its current six-speed unit. Interestingly, the November 12th debut listed on Hyundai’s Korean blog is nearly two months ahead of the 2013 Genesis Coupe’s anticipated North American unveil at January’s Detroit auto show.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/hyundai-shows-teasers-of-2013-genesis-coupe-announces-korean-market-model-to-debut-november-12th/

Supercharged Hyundai Genesis Coupe Heads to SEMA—Could It Make It to Production?

We probably shouldn’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Hyundai hasn’t even revealed the Veloster-like, face-lifted Genesis coupe yet, but the Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC, which the company will show off at the SEMA show this November, might be a rare situation when a SEMA show car actually hints at a potentially awesome production vehicle. Why do we think it’s at all possible? Spy photographers have caught test vehicles out in the open, with hoods up and blowers peeking out.

But about not jumping to conclusions: The same thing happened prior to a supercharged V-8 Genesis sedan showing up at SEMA a few years back, and we still haven’t seen that car on any dealership lots. Maybe someone at Hyundai’s tech center in Michigan just really likes superchargers.

The engine in this car is a 3.8-liter V-6, developed collaboratively between HATCI (the aforementioned tech center) and Magnuson Products. Thanks to Magnuson’s supercharger, a liquid-to-air intercooler, and between six and seven pounds of boost, the engineers have managed to crank more than 450 hp out of Hyundai’s six-cylinder, a number that sounds more SEMA than SAE, but still, at least 400 seems totally possible for an engine that started its day with 306 hp.

Adding some credibility to the engine’s production chances, we have this statement from Hyundai senior engineer David Dutko: “The HATCI and Magnuson supercharger demonstrates the high-performance potential of the Genesis Coupe’s V-6 engine—the car was engineered to handle this kind of power. Our HATCI engineers have been working for years with Magnuson to ensure high engine output is available on future Hyundai vehicles.”

In addition to the screaming V-6, this show car benefits from an “IsoTorque” limited-slip differential from Torvec, Inc. It’s been tested at Hyundai’s proving ground and is said to deliver a second-per-lap improvement over the current Genesis V-6 production car. Beyond the impressive hardware, Rhys Millen Racing provides visual enhancements for the car, while additional partners have contributed wheels, exhaust, and other accessories.

Really, we’d let all the other things go (well, the differential would probably be useful) if Hyundai just green-lights the blown V-6,  which would make a great alternative to the oft-rumored, even more oft-denied V-8 coupe.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/supercharged-hyundai-genesis-coupe-heads-to-sema

Test complete video: 2012 Hyundai Genesis delivers more for less

More for less. That’s how we described the Hyundai Genesis sedan in our latest road test. The $39,850 V6-powered sedan tops our ratings charts of upscale sedans, delivering the attributes of vehicles that cost $10,000 more.

The Genesis V6 has been a standout since we first tested it back in 2009. Back then we praised the engine for its combination of power and fuel economy, its cabin for the luxury appointments, and the responsive and secure handling. But we felt the nervous ride was a letdown.

So, what could the 2012 version do to top that? Hyundai added in an eight-speed automatic transmission that improved fuel economy a bit, while still delivering quick acceleration. The car is fast enough that there’s really no reason to spend the additional $12,000 to get the Genesis V8. The ride is improved but remains less refined than that of some competitors.

Hyundai has made a big impression on other manufacturers in the economy, small, and family sedan categories. (In fact, they’ve made them pretty nervous!) Watch the video to see why luxury automakers from Germany and Japan are worried about the competitor from Korea, and how the Genesis can provide consumers with more for less.

REVIEWS: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec

If you are simply trying to get the most for your $50,000, the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec makes a ton of sense -- more power than a BMW 550i or Infiniti M56 for the price of a 535i or M37. The ten-spoke wheels add a welcome touch of menace to the quiet exterior, and the hushed 5.0-liter V-8 sounds pretty good when you really wail on it. Even at full throttle, though, it can't drown out the sound of Hyundai knocking a glass ceiling. The automaker has hit many homeruns over the past two years -- including the Genesis -- but it still has something to learn when it comes to getting people to spend close to $50,000. The 5.0 R-Spec is nice, of course. It's fast, luxurious, and well put together. So is the $35,000 Genesis 3.8. The important difference is that the 3.8 competes in a price range where many buyers really want a practical, luxurious, nondescript looking sedan. For $45,000 to $50,000, I think people want to feel a bit special.

Premium competitors shouldn't breathe easy, though. More recent Hyundai offerings like the Sonata, Elantra, Accent, and Veloster embody a sense of swagger and identity that the brand had not yet earned when it was developing the Genesis. I highly doubt the next one will be so tentatively styled.

Read More: http://www.automobilemag.com/reviews/editors_notebook/1109_2012_hyundai_genesis_5_0_r_spec/index.html

Spied: 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Interior Gets its Elantra On

Hyundai’s rear-drive Genesis Coupe is on the cusp of a refresh for 2013, and our first spy shots of its interior show that the coupe’s insides stand to receive as much of an overhaul as its powertrain and sheetmetal. The 2013 Genesis coupe’s interior will adopt a dashboard style similar to the latest Elantra and the upcoming Veloster, with the center console flowing upward into a slight pinch before widening to blend into the upper dash panel. The look is swoopy and stylish in the Elantra, and its application in the Genesis coupe should be an improvement over the current car’s rather plain interior.

The accompanying spy photos of the camouflaged exterior show that the interior isn’t the only part of the car that will be Elantra/Accent/Veloster-fied. The hexagonal grille and intake treatment used by those cars appears to be present on this test mule. The interior and exterior changes will join a new 333-hp direct-injection, 3.8-liter V-6 engine borrowed from the 2012 Genesis sedan and a new automatic transmission—most likely the same eight-speed as is found in the four-door Genesis. The Genesis coupe is currently powered by a 210-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder with a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic or an available 306-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 with either a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission.

Read More: http://blog.caranddriver.com/spied-2012-hyundai-genesis-interior-gets-its-elantra-on/

AutoGuide.com - 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe to Get “More Dramatic” Design

When Hyundai first introduced the Genesis Coupe it was almost too good to believe. With the Japanese automakers having given up on the sports car segment, there was nothing beyond an oversized, retro-styled American muscle machine at one end of the spectrum, or a luxury coupe at the other. But the Genesis Coupe offered plenty of style, solid performance and a proper rear-drive layout for just over $20,000.

Since then, however, the G Coupe has become somewhat dated. Sure the bodywork still looks nice, but it’s lacking the wow factor it once had. That will change for the 2013 model year says Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik, speaking at a launch event for the Genesis sedan in Detroit. “The Genesis Coupe will get a more dramatic change” he told a group of assembled journalists. “It will get more of an exterior style change than the sedan.”

The look will be a part of Hyundai’s mission to stay on top of automotive design. While Hyundai’s new crop of cars are impressive, it’s the company’s new look that is helping the vehicles get noticed and Krafcik wants to continue to deliver progressive eye-pleasing designs that will be “aspirational… not a step back.”

When prodded, Krafcik would not comment on rumors about powertain updates for the coupe, with the sedan having just received a new 8-speed automatic transmission, a more powerful V6 engine (up 43-hp to 333) and a new R-Spec trim with a 429-hp 5.0-liter V8. The coupe is expected to borrow the sedan’s 333-hp six, while the 210-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter currently in place will be swapped for the version in the Sonata Turbo making 274-hp. All Krafcik would say is, “You’re going to love it.”

The 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe will also get the brand’s new Bluelink telematics system. Look for the official debut to occur at the Detroit Auto Show next January.

Read More: http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2011/07/2013-hyundai-genesis-coupe-to-get-more-dramatic-design.html

Should I buy the 2012 Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec or 4.6?

Question: I have been scratching my head whether to get the 5.0-liter V-8 Genesis R-Spec sedan or the 4.6-liter. I heard Hyundai changed the chassis tuning on both of these for the 2012 model. How do these 2012 models drive?

Answer: Cars.com Senior Editor David Thomas recently had the opportunity to drive the new Genesis R-Spec sedan back-to-back against the Genesis 3.8 V-6 model. The R-Spec made a huge impression with its silky power delivery, adept handling and quiet, luxurious ride that doesn’t suffer because of a firmer suspension and larger tires than other Genesis models.




A Genesis with the 4.6-liter V-8 wasn’t available for comparison, but the R-Spec’s 5.0-liter V-8 delivers more horsepower (429 versus 385) with only a slight loss in fuel economy. The R-Spec rates 16/25 mpg city/highway, and the Genesis 4.6 rates 17/26 mpg. Both engines require premium gas. And at $46,500, the R-Spec is only $2,000 more.

"For the modest difference in price between the 4.6 and the 5.0 R-Spec I would say it makes more sense to go with the larger engine. It does have a unique suspension setup that I found quite remarkable," Thomas said.

When it debuted, the Hyundai Genesis earned Cars.com’s top honor as Best of 2009.

Read More: http://ask.cars.com/2011/07/should-i-buy-the-2012-hyundai-genesis-50-r-spec-or-46.html

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan Facelift Gains 5.0 V8 R-Spec Variant with 429HP plus Updated GDI V6

As Hyundai continues its ascent to the top, the South Korean automaker-that-could is getting bolder every day. This time the company entered new grounds at the Chicago Auto Show with the unveiling facelifted Genesis sedan that gets a new sporty variant for the for the 2012 model year.

The new model sports the R-Spec moniker and comes with a new 5.0-liter direct injection V8 engine pushing out 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb. ft. of torque at 5,000 rpm, which makes it the company's most powerful series production model ever. The V8 is mated to Hyundai's all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. While the Koreans did not release acceleration figures, Hyundai did say the car's fuel economy is estimated at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.

The Genesis R-Spec also boasts a more aggressive chassis tuning with larger stabilizer bars, suspension tweaks, larger brakes and a different steering calibration, plus 19-inch wheels that can be fitted optionally with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires.

The sportiest member of the Genesis family receives some very subtle styling cues such as the unique headlights with dark chrome inserts, specific alloy wheel designs and the black R-Spec embroidered floor mats. The Genesis R-Spec will be offered only in three exterior colors: Black Noir, Titanium Gray, and Platinum Metallic, each with Black leather interior and an all-black leather steering wheel.

As for the rest of the Genesis range, the big news for the 2012 model year is the updated 3.8-liter V6 engine that receives direct injection (GDI) technology and several other upgrades boosting output by 15 percent, from 290 to 333 horsepower, and peak torque from 264 lb.-ft. to 291 lb.-ft. According to Hyundai, fuel economy increases over seven percent from 27 mpg to 29 mpg on the highway.

Both the 3.8-liter V6 and the 4.6-liter Tau V8 with 385HP will be offered with Hyundai's new eight-speed automatic transmission, which helps increase the V8's fuel economy over seven percent from 25 mpg to 26 mpg on the highway.

Other changes for the 2012 Genesis sedan include refinements to the 3.8 and 4.6 model suspension damping calibrations, and the fitment of larger brakes, plus some modest styling revisions to the headlamps that gain LED accents and daytime running lights, front grille, bumpers, tail lamps, and exhaust tips.

[From Hyundai Press Release] 2012 Genesis Highlights

• New 5.0-liter R-Spec Direct Injection V8 performance flagship model added
  • Most powerful Hyundai engine ever with 429 horsepower
  • Unique 19-inch alloy wheel design with premium machined finish
  • Dark chrome headlamp inserts
  • Unique R-Spec sport transmission, suspension and steering calibrations
• Direct injection technology added to Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine for 15 percent improved output (333 HP), improved fuel economy and emissions
• In-house-developed eight-speed automatic transmissions for all engines
• More aggressive grille and front fascia design
• New headlight design with LED accents and daytime running lights
• Sportier rocker panel design
• Folding mirrors with integrated puddle lamps
• New, brushed aluminum finish window surround
• Redesigned rear taillights
• Redesigned rear fascia with integrated dual asymmetrical exhaust tips
• New 17-inch alloy wheel design (3.8 model)
• New interior woodgrain colors for Black, Beige and Saddle leather interiors
• New Twilight Blue Pearl exterior color (replaces Sapphire Blue Pearl)

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Hyundai Preparing New Elantra Coupe, Azera and Genesis R-Spec with 429HP V8

After registering record sales in 2010, Hyundai seems committed to an all-out offensive with the company reportedly planning to launch a coupe version of the 2011 Elantra and the new Azera sedan in the U.S. within the next year or so. According to an Autoweek report, the news was broken at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in San Francisco, where the Korean automaker also showed its dealers a photo of the upcoming coupe.

“They showed us a photo of it and it's gorgeous,” said Doug Fox, a Hyundai dealer from Ann Arbor, Michigan. “We weren't expecting that.”

It is said that the two-door model will go on sale this spring, however Hyundai spokesman Jim Trainor neither confirmed nor denied the existence of the car, simply stating that the alleged launch date is inaccurate.

Hyundai previewed the redesigned Azera as well, which will get a new 3.3-liter direct-injected V6 gasoline engine, estimated to deliver about 260HP and better fuel economy compared to the current model.

“It'll give us that step-up car from the Sonata for when Sonata owners come back and want something a little bit larger”, Fox said.

Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai's U.S. sales boss, told reporters that the new Azera is due in January 2012, with projected U.S. sales of 18,000-20,000 units per year.

The last item on the manufacturer’s list was the announcement of a new trim level for the imminent 2012MY Genesis, dubbed R-Spec. Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik said that the new model, featuring a new 429HP 5.0-liter V8 engine and in-house-developed 8-speed automatic gearbox, would make its debut at this week’s Chicago Auto Show. Base price is expected to be between $45,000-$50,000.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Autoweek

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