Genesis marching ahead
According to Werner Frey, managing director of Hyundai Germany, this is “the first real sports car from Hyundai”. Almost forgotten is the fact that the Korean brand was already present on our highways with a coupé in 2002, although it was hardly a success: In 2009 only 209 vehicles were registered. But all is meant to be very different thanks to the new model. Hyundai plan to deliver 2,000 units to Europe, 800 of which will be reserved for German buyers. That would be similar to 2009 registrations of the Audi R8 or the 6-Series BMW models. And the prospects look good. In Asia and in America the sporty Genesis has been on sale for over a year and a half, as has a Genesis sedan, and has garnered several coveted prizes. Hyundai seeks to establish the Genesis badge in the upper market segment, but not as a stand-alone marque, as Toyota did with Lexus or Mazda with Infiniti. Frey points out that the policy will be more similar to that of Citroen with its DS versions of vehicles across a range of production series.
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- The top version is the V6 with 303 horsepower and 361 Newton metres of torque. It hits the hundred in 6.4 seconds and the maximum speed is limited to 240 kilometres an hour.
The new model doesn’t just look like a sports car
The name Genesis comes from ancient Greek and means ‘origin‘, ‘emergence’ or ‘beginning’. The new Genesis Coupé has little in common with its predecessor apart from vaguely similar lines and the Hyundai logo. The old coupé, in spite of its looks, turned out to be quite tame as far as power and running gear were concerned. Even with a six-cylinder engine it ran out of steam at about 220 kilometres an hours – 165 horsepower and a zero to a hundred time of 8.2 seconds hardly justified the car’s sporty appearance. But the Hyundai Genesis Coupé doesn’t just look like a sports car, it is one. The version with the naturally aspirated V6 motor pushes out 303 horsepower from 3.8 litres capacity, delivers up to 381 Newton metres of torque to the drive shaft and propels 1.7 tons of automobile to 100 kilometres an hours in 6.4 seconds – with automatic transmission in 6.3. Electronic controls click in to limit the maximum speed to 240 kmh. Even the version powered by a four cylinder turbo engine gives 214 horsepower and up to 302 Newton metres of torque, considerably better than the earlier model (143 horsepower). And so Hyundai’s data qualify it for the market segment it seeks to join, even if there are many more potent rivals. Some of these are also V6 powered. Nissan’s 370Z, for example – with twenty five additional horsepower and 200 kilos less weight it hits the hundred in just 5.3 seconds. The Alfa Romeo Brera gets 260 horses from its V6 and deals with the sprint in 7.0 seconds. Both models priced at about 38,000 Euros cost more than the Genesis with its price tag of 34,990 Euros. But the Nissan and the Alfa are established players in the league Hyundai wishes to join.
Positive attributes
The Hyundai coupé certainly has the right look. At 4.63 metres it is agood deal longer than its predecessor and with its 2.82 wheelbase it has only short overhangs front and rear. The long hood is the dominant characteristic when the car is viewed in profile, enhanced by a sloping roof line and two areas of ribbing. The robust appearance is also favoured by the 19 inch rims and wide mudguard wings. Only the six cylinder model comes with the eye-catching rear spoiler. The interior evokes high-class sporting flair. In front, at least, there is sufficient room for comfort. It is a pity that the steering wheel can only be adjusted for angle but not for distance – in particularly in a sports car it is best to be able to position the wheel closer to the body.
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- The interior evokes high-class sporting flair. In front, at least, there is sufficient room for comfort. It is a pity, though, that the steering wheel can only be adjusted for angle but not for distance.
The standard sports seats are a perfect fit: They are firmly upholstered but comfortable even for longer journeys and even in tight corners the lateral support is excellent. The speedometer and rev counter are well placed and the various controls are easily reached and intuitive in use. There’s not much stowage space but more or less enough. In spite of the added length, the rear seats are inviting only for children or as somewhere to put the shopping. However the rear seats can be folded down from inside the trunk to give more space. If there are 332 litres available normally this compares well with the Nissan 370Z (235 litres) and the Alfa Romeo Brera (300 litres).
Sporting performance with rear-wheel drive
As for what lies underneath the body panels, the Genesis Coupé has more than just a powerful engine. With the motor at the front driving the rear axle a weight distribution of 55:45 has been achieved. Independent wheel mounting all round, a suspension to correspond with the European preference for firmness, combine to result in an agile performance and well controlled motoring. The chassis is, according to Hyundai, made of ‘ultra-hard steel’. Together with the strut brace in the engine compartment this accounts for a very rigid carosserie and increased drive dynamics. Even in the tightest of corners, even when describing pirouettes on a frozen Swedish lake, there was no trace of body warping. The steering could be a little bit more direct as befitting a sports car and could give the driver more feedback, but it is precise and quick. The fun is a bit diluted by the ESP – it is set more for safety than for driving pleasure and tends to kick in too soon.
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- At 34,990 for the V6 and 29,990 Euros for the four-cylinder turbo the Genesis Coupé with its high level of finish and comfort is not exactly a bargain but is certainly offered at a fair and competitive price when compared with rival models.
Not cheap, but reasonable
The gear shifting poses no problems. The gear lever of the manual transmission is positioned high enough and permits fast shifting through the gate. The driver who opts for the six-speed automatic as an extra for his V6 Genesis has a steering-column paddle available for drive selection. The automatic torque conversion is supplied by a ZF unit which works well and is a good match with the motor. The progress from gear to gear is fast and smooth. The automatic transmission not only reduces the zero to a hundred time by 0.1 seconds it also boosts fuel economy, cutting the coupé’s thirst from 10.3 to 9.9 litres. At 34,990 for the V6 and 29,990 Euros for the four-cylinder turbo the Genesis Coupé with its high level of finish and comfort is not exactly a bargain but is certainly offered at a fair and competitive price. And few of the rivals offer a full five-year guarantee. And so things look quite good for Hyundai and its return with a true sports car.
