Genesis: G70 News
#201
Team Owner
By the way Sam, one thing I’ve learned is not to disagree with Horseshoez. He knows his stuff and has put me in my place a couple times
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
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00TL-P3.2 (09-06-2018)
#202
Ex-OEM King
From the "Having cake and eating it too" deparment:
- If I lived in Canada I could simultaneously report better than expected and worse than expected fuel economy for the exact same duration. It is a simple trick Canadians get to play; when they want to report poor fuel economy, they use the liters per 100km measurement, when they want to report great fuel economy they use the (Imperial) MPG measurement. Maybe our "buddy" Saintor is playing that game. :p.
By the way Sam, one thing I’ve learned is not to disagree with Horseshoez. He knows his stuff and has put me in my place a couple times
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
#204
Ex-OEM King
Just seems like this is just like that one TG episode where James figured out his car won because it had the longest windshield wiper and shift knob girth.
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TacoBello (09-06-2018)
#205
Ex-OEM King
The following users liked this post:
TacoBello (09-06-2018)
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TacoBello (09-06-2018)
#207
Team Owner
Wow, is this one epic thread derail
I hope we start discussing bowel movements in here next
Last edited by TacoBello; 09-06-2018 at 02:38 PM.
#208
Moderator
Thread Starter
Would help if the car would start hitting dealer lots, then we'll have something to talk about once a few members get around to driving one. Someone will need to set up a comparison drive with a TLX
#209
Team Owner
I don’t think we should continue embarrassing the TLX. It might hurt Saintor’s feelings.
#210
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
#211
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
By the way Sam, one thing I’ve learned is not to disagree with Horseshoez. He knows his stuff and has put me in my place a couple times
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
An engineer that worked for an automotive company, if I’m not mistaken? I’ve learned some good stuff from him.
I’d like to see him and Majofo go at it... though I get the feeling there would be a lot of agreement between the two of them
#212
Azine Jabroni
Just wait until someone talks about how the VW 2.0T is a better engine than his NA V6. Then he'll be back, make a nonsense argument, look ridiculous, and then go away again. It's the cycle of Saintor.
#213
Ex-OEM King
#214
You'll Never Walk Alone
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You are wrong! NA V6 is better because it's NA and it has 2 more cylinders. No replacement for displacement!
#215
Team Owner
I feel like I know a bit about cars, like many others on AZ. But I’ve come to realize (after it took some time) that I now know when I should just shut up and listen. Sucks having to choke back the ego at times, but, I can’t learn if I don’t. And lord knows I don’t have all the answers, or even the correct ones always.
#216
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
I feel like I know a bit about cars, like many others on AZ. But I’ve come to realize (after it took some time) that I now know when I should just shut up and listen. Sucks having to choke back the ego at times, but, I can’t learn if I don’t. And lord knows I don’t have all the answers, or even the correct ones always.
#218
Race Director
#219
Azine Jabroni
The car would flop if it weren't a better deal than a BMW. The badge is worth something.
#220
Team Owner
No shit it's a better deal than a 320.
99% of the cars on the road are better deal than 320, but that never stopped people from buying 320..
99% of the cars on the road are better deal than 320, but that never stopped people from buying 320..
#221
Azine Jabroni
Can't get over all the hot takezzz
#222
Will be interesting to see how sales fare in comparison to the Stinger (which has been doing around 1.5k/month).
For the next half year or so, should be a bit bumpy as the # of designated Genesis dealers roll out at different times.
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TacoBello (09-20-2018)
#224
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
#225
Race Director
#226
Senior Moderator
#227
Team Owner
#228
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
#229
Team Owner
Yah you have like a few months left to get it before 6mt disappears forever in 340.
Correction: Realistically, you will have some very difficult time to get a 6mt 340 (new) right now. 99.9% of the dealers will not a 6tm 340i in stock and i believe 2018 allocation for 340 product is over or pretty much over.
So yah.. they dont exist.
Correction: Realistically, you will have some very difficult time to get a 6mt 340 (new) right now. 99.9% of the dealers will not a 6tm 340i in stock and i believe 2018 allocation for 340 product is over or pretty much over.
So yah.. they dont exist.
#230
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
Yah you have like a few months left to get it before 6mt disappears forever in 340.
Correction: Realistically, you will have some very difficult time to get a 6mt 340 (new) right now. 99.9% of the dealers will not a 6tm 340i in stock and i believe 2018 allocation for 340 product is over or pretty much over.
So yah.. they dont exist.
Correction: Realistically, you will have some very difficult time to get a 6mt 340 (new) right now. 99.9% of the dealers will not a 6tm 340i in stock and i believe 2018 allocation for 340 product is over or pretty much over.
So yah.. they dont exist.
#231
Team Owner
I think you just lost your chance, it seems you have not been notified, 2019 M340i will be 8AT only.
#232
The 2.0T will eventually be replaced by a new 2.5T (for the G70, probably won't happen 'til its facelift) - 300HP (more if Genesis adds some electric boost) is enough for the majority of buyers/drivers
#234
Moderator
Thread Starter
https://www.autoblog.com/2019/01/10/...ew-comparison/
It's rare when we get the opportunity to evaluate multiple versions of the same make and model in proximity of each other — at least away from a manufacturer-sponsored event. So, when we got the chance to test the 2019 Genesis G70 in back-to-back weeks in different guises, Senior Editor Alex Kierstein and contributing editor James Riswick happily accepted the chance to compare, contrast and make the same sort of observations actual car buyers might make when trying to decide between one variation and another.
In basic terms, it pitted a V6 with an eight-speed automatic against a turbocharged inline-four sporting a six-speed manual. However, there's more than just powertrain to consider with the G70, as like other sport sedans, there are a variety of enhancements that change the way it handles, rides and sounds.
We started with a 3.3T Dynamic Edition painted a vibrant Havana Red with diamond-quilted black leather and red stitching. As the name implies, it has a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6, good for 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, and is only paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel drive is an option, but our car only utilized the wheels out back. A limited-slip differential is standard with the V6, however, along with variable ratio steering. The standard sport-tuned suspension also gets upgraded to electronically controlled adaptive dampers in the Sport trim level. The only difference between that trim and the Dynamic Edition (limited to 400 units) is further upgraded Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
The 2.0T loses the variable gear ratio on its electric power steering (still rack-mounted), and you can't get the fancy dampers, but is otherwise available with the same feature content as the 3.3T. Well, unless you opt for the six-speed manual transmission fitted to our test car and only available with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Whereas the eight-speed automatic can be paired to all-wheel drive and various trim levels (dubbed "packages" by Genesis in a matter of semantics), the manual is rear-drive only and available with a single package/trim level that basically adds a few choice extras to a standard car, such as 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, limited-slip, LED headlights, heated/ventilated seats and the superb Lexicon stereo.
It's also leatherette or nothing with the manual. No leather, no fancy diamond quilting. And as for forward collision mitigation or adaptive cruise control, Genesis apparently didn't think it was worth engineering the manual to work with automated braking tech.
Contributing Editor James Riswick: I'm a "Save the Manuals" kind of guy. I understand why they're disappearing, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So when a new car bucks the trend, I take note, especially when it's a performance-oriented car like the G70. And double especially since I longed for a manual transmission during my road trip in the Kia Stinger, a car that shares its rear-drive platform with the G70.
So, in a way, this is a case of beggars can't be choosers. I enjoyed driving the 2.0T with the manual — the clutch was easy to modulate, the throttle placement and calibration made the car easy to heal-toe downshift, and the shifter slides into each gear with a slight notchiness that's awfully familiar to BMW manuals. It lacks the rubbery-ness, however, and instead moves with the vaguely toy-like effort indicative of a Honda manual. I liked it fine, I know it didn't meet Alex's exacting standards, but I'd definitely check its box on the order sheet ... if it could be paired with the V6.
You see, the 2.0T is a perfectly capable engine with perfectly competitive output and acceleration. Unfortunately, the noises it makes are too far on the hot hatch spectrum, with a growly sort of character that evokes a Ford Focus ST more than an Audi A4 or BMW 330i. It seems out of place in the otherwise sophisticated G70, and especially when compared to the silky turbo V6, which is the other problem. It's really hard for any driving enthusiast to leave a bigger engine on the table, let alone one that brings an extra 113 horsepower. What's the point of offering the manual, presumably for car enthusiasts, but not with the engine most appealing to them?
There's also the matter of the V6's available adaptive suspension dampers, which produce a superior ride. Without them, the 2.0T is firmer and more in keeping with traditional sport sedans, even if ultimately better-sorted and less prone to impact harshness than the sport-tuned versions of many competitors (the Mercedes C-Class comes to mind). I'd be perfectly happy with the standard suspension had I not driven the adaptive variety, but I did, so I'd want that.
Especially since it also improves the already superlative handling, thanks to its ability to firm up those dampers to mitigate what little body roll there otherwise is. Really, the G70 is as great to drive as you've likely already read: the steering, balance, seat-of-the-pants feel ... everything feels right. It also has a polish that past BMW fighters like the Infiniti G and Cadillac ATS did not. That's the case with either version. I started to ponder if I preferred driving any of the G70 3.3T's competitors, and I'm not sure I do.
As for the rest of the package, I'm impressed that Genesis managed to shoehorn in the manual transmission and a proper hand brake without compromising the surprisingly functional center console. The driving position is also sensational, with ample seat travel and a steering wheel that telescopes further than the Mauna Kea observatory. It's another area where BMW owners past and present might feel right at home. (Gee, you'd think the car's chief engineer logged a few decades in Bavaria or something).
Then there's the matter of that black nappa leather in the 3.3T Sport. It's gorgeous, feels great, and the red diamond-quilted stitching isn't over-the-top. The 2.0T manual with plain-Jane beige leatherette had a tough act to follow, and that goes for more than just interior upholstery choice. Though I'd really want the white car's transmission, I wish it was in the red car.
Senior Editor Alex Kierstein: I'm largely in agreement with James here, but let me use this opportunity to stress that the V6 is a superb engine. Thrust is ample, linear, and you get a lot of it right off the bat. It doesn't have a strong turbocharged feel to it, but it also doesn't feel like a V6 masquerading as a V8 — it feels more like an exceptionally burly V6. The raw numbers — a 0-60 time of a few ticks under 5 seconds, 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque — don't really tell the full story of the aggression unleashed when you mat the throttle. The 3.3T hauls ass.
And the 2.0T doesn't. That's the first strike against it. Simply experiencing the 3.3T prejudices you against the smaller, slower engine. It's just human enthusiast nature. It took a lot of patience and seat time for the distinct character of the junior G70 to shine through. At this point, the G70 compares favorably to a lot of other 2.0-liter, turbocharged, sporty sedans, in particular, the Lexus IS 300, Cadillac ATS, and the BMW 330i. For one, it has an available manual — yes, that it has one at all elevates it somewhat. It's also, in the right color, stunning in person. The white 2.0T didn't stand out, but paint it a color like Adriatic Blue or the Havana Red that our 3.3T was painted in, and you'll have strangers walking up and asking what it is. It does look European, perhaps Italian, more than it looks Korean, which was presumably very intentional.
The G70 2.0T reminded me a lot of the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T. The Genesis is a bit short on power, but I truly believe it's comparable in terms of style and quality. The cheap bits of the Giulia pop out at you after some seat time, but the G70 only breaks the spell if you spot that the infotainment interface is shared with even lowly rental-spec Hyundai Elantras ... a reskinning of the interface would go a long way here.
It's close to blasphemy, but unlike James, I felt the manual was a bit of a distraction. I recognize the subjectivity of this, but it wasn't pleasing to use. The throws were ropey and long, and it felt much like the cable-linkage shifters in various front-drive cars of the mid-1990s — accurate, but vague, like a simulation of a shift rather than the snick snick mechanical-ness of rowing a box without a linkage in the way. The clutch, too, engaged up high with a goofy "cam" feel close to the engagement point, as if the spring tension on the pedal was suddenly released. The whole thing felt awkward to the point of distraction. If a manual is not pleasurable to use, what's the point?
Furthermore, as James mentioned, you can't have the manual with the 3.3T, and the eight-speed automatic is fantastic. World class. I'd love a slightly quicker response from the paddle shifters, but letting the transmission shift itself isn't a problem.
I'll also posit that the 2.0T itself isn't a very rewarding engine. That said, the car around it feels high-quality and a convincing near-luxury, sporty vehicle. Things get better in higher specs. As James said, the diamond-quilted leather exemplifies the overall interior experience. It looks nice, it feels nice, it helps sell the experience.
This is one of the first products with a Genesis badge attached that didn't feel like a Hyundai wearing a tuxedo. Genesis comes into its own with the G70, just like Kia is really finding its own identity with the G70's platform-mate, the Stinger. If you're in the market for something in this segment — even if you're really going to buy something else — stop into a Genesis dealer and sit inside one with the nappa leather. Even better, drive it. If you do both, you'll quickly get a sense of where Genesis is at. If we didn't, as a society, have such a singular focus on crossovers and SUVs, this car might be a breakout moment for the automaker. Oh well.
In basic terms, it pitted a V6 with an eight-speed automatic against a turbocharged inline-four sporting a six-speed manual. However, there's more than just powertrain to consider with the G70, as like other sport sedans, there are a variety of enhancements that change the way it handles, rides and sounds.
We started with a 3.3T Dynamic Edition painted a vibrant Havana Red with diamond-quilted black leather and red stitching. As the name implies, it has a turbocharged 3.3-liter V6, good for 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, and is only paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission.
All-wheel drive is an option, but our car only utilized the wheels out back. A limited-slip differential is standard with the V6, however, along with variable ratio steering. The standard sport-tuned suspension also gets upgraded to electronically controlled adaptive dampers in the Sport trim level. The only difference between that trim and the Dynamic Edition (limited to 400 units) is further upgraded Brembo brakes and Michelin Pilot Sport tires.
The 2.0T loses the variable gear ratio on its electric power steering (still rack-mounted), and you can't get the fancy dampers, but is otherwise available with the same feature content as the 3.3T. Well, unless you opt for the six-speed manual transmission fitted to our test car and only available with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that produces 252 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. Whereas the eight-speed automatic can be paired to all-wheel drive and various trim levels (dubbed "packages" by Genesis in a matter of semantics), the manual is rear-drive only and available with a single package/trim level that basically adds a few choice extras to a standard car, such as 19-inch wheels, Brembo brakes, limited-slip, LED headlights, heated/ventilated seats and the superb Lexicon stereo.
It's also leatherette or nothing with the manual. No leather, no fancy diamond quilting. And as for forward collision mitigation or adaptive cruise control, Genesis apparently didn't think it was worth engineering the manual to work with automated braking tech.
Contributing Editor James Riswick: I'm a "Save the Manuals" kind of guy. I understand why they're disappearing, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. So when a new car bucks the trend, I take note, especially when it's a performance-oriented car like the G70. And double especially since I longed for a manual transmission during my road trip in the Kia Stinger, a car that shares its rear-drive platform with the G70.
So, in a way, this is a case of beggars can't be choosers. I enjoyed driving the 2.0T with the manual — the clutch was easy to modulate, the throttle placement and calibration made the car easy to heal-toe downshift, and the shifter slides into each gear with a slight notchiness that's awfully familiar to BMW manuals. It lacks the rubbery-ness, however, and instead moves with the vaguely toy-like effort indicative of a Honda manual. I liked it fine, I know it didn't meet Alex's exacting standards, but I'd definitely check its box on the order sheet ... if it could be paired with the V6.
You see, the 2.0T is a perfectly capable engine with perfectly competitive output and acceleration. Unfortunately, the noises it makes are too far on the hot hatch spectrum, with a growly sort of character that evokes a Ford Focus ST more than an Audi A4 or BMW 330i. It seems out of place in the otherwise sophisticated G70, and especially when compared to the silky turbo V6, which is the other problem. It's really hard for any driving enthusiast to leave a bigger engine on the table, let alone one that brings an extra 113 horsepower. What's the point of offering the manual, presumably for car enthusiasts, but not with the engine most appealing to them?
There's also the matter of the V6's available adaptive suspension dampers, which produce a superior ride. Without them, the 2.0T is firmer and more in keeping with traditional sport sedans, even if ultimately better-sorted and less prone to impact harshness than the sport-tuned versions of many competitors (the Mercedes C-Class comes to mind). I'd be perfectly happy with the standard suspension had I not driven the adaptive variety, but I did, so I'd want that.
Especially since it also improves the already superlative handling, thanks to its ability to firm up those dampers to mitigate what little body roll there otherwise is. Really, the G70 is as great to drive as you've likely already read: the steering, balance, seat-of-the-pants feel ... everything feels right. It also has a polish that past BMW fighters like the Infiniti G and Cadillac ATS did not. That's the case with either version. I started to ponder if I preferred driving any of the G70 3.3T's competitors, and I'm not sure I do.
As for the rest of the package, I'm impressed that Genesis managed to shoehorn in the manual transmission and a proper hand brake without compromising the surprisingly functional center console. The driving position is also sensational, with ample seat travel and a steering wheel that telescopes further than the Mauna Kea observatory. It's another area where BMW owners past and present might feel right at home. (Gee, you'd think the car's chief engineer logged a few decades in Bavaria or something).
Then there's the matter of that black nappa leather in the 3.3T Sport. It's gorgeous, feels great, and the red diamond-quilted stitching isn't over-the-top. The 2.0T manual with plain-Jane beige leatherette had a tough act to follow, and that goes for more than just interior upholstery choice. Though I'd really want the white car's transmission, I wish it was in the red car.
Senior Editor Alex Kierstein: I'm largely in agreement with James here, but let me use this opportunity to stress that the V6 is a superb engine. Thrust is ample, linear, and you get a lot of it right off the bat. It doesn't have a strong turbocharged feel to it, but it also doesn't feel like a V6 masquerading as a V8 — it feels more like an exceptionally burly V6. The raw numbers — a 0-60 time of a few ticks under 5 seconds, 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque — don't really tell the full story of the aggression unleashed when you mat the throttle. The 3.3T hauls ass.
And the 2.0T doesn't. That's the first strike against it. Simply experiencing the 3.3T prejudices you against the smaller, slower engine. It's just human enthusiast nature. It took a lot of patience and seat time for the distinct character of the junior G70 to shine through. At this point, the G70 compares favorably to a lot of other 2.0-liter, turbocharged, sporty sedans, in particular, the Lexus IS 300, Cadillac ATS, and the BMW 330i. For one, it has an available manual — yes, that it has one at all elevates it somewhat. It's also, in the right color, stunning in person. The white 2.0T didn't stand out, but paint it a color like Adriatic Blue or the Havana Red that our 3.3T was painted in, and you'll have strangers walking up and asking what it is. It does look European, perhaps Italian, more than it looks Korean, which was presumably very intentional.
The G70 2.0T reminded me a lot of the Alfa Romeo Giulia 2.0T. The Genesis is a bit short on power, but I truly believe it's comparable in terms of style and quality. The cheap bits of the Giulia pop out at you after some seat time, but the G70 only breaks the spell if you spot that the infotainment interface is shared with even lowly rental-spec Hyundai Elantras ... a reskinning of the interface would go a long way here.
It's close to blasphemy, but unlike James, I felt the manual was a bit of a distraction. I recognize the subjectivity of this, but it wasn't pleasing to use. The throws were ropey and long, and it felt much like the cable-linkage shifters in various front-drive cars of the mid-1990s — accurate, but vague, like a simulation of a shift rather than the snick snick mechanical-ness of rowing a box without a linkage in the way. The clutch, too, engaged up high with a goofy "cam" feel close to the engagement point, as if the spring tension on the pedal was suddenly released. The whole thing felt awkward to the point of distraction. If a manual is not pleasurable to use, what's the point?
Furthermore, as James mentioned, you can't have the manual with the 3.3T, and the eight-speed automatic is fantastic. World class. I'd love a slightly quicker response from the paddle shifters, but letting the transmission shift itself isn't a problem.
I'll also posit that the 2.0T itself isn't a very rewarding engine. That said, the car around it feels high-quality and a convincing near-luxury, sporty vehicle. Things get better in higher specs. As James said, the diamond-quilted leather exemplifies the overall interior experience. It looks nice, it feels nice, it helps sell the experience.
This is one of the first products with a Genesis badge attached that didn't feel like a Hyundai wearing a tuxedo. Genesis comes into its own with the G70, just like Kia is really finding its own identity with the G70's platform-mate, the Stinger. If you're in the market for something in this segment — even if you're really going to buy something else — stop into a Genesis dealer and sit inside one with the nappa leather. Even better, drive it. If you do both, you'll quickly get a sense of where Genesis is at. If we didn't, as a society, have such a singular focus on crossovers and SUVs, this car might be a breakout moment for the automaker. Oh well.
#235
Moderator
Thread Starter
https://www.roadandtrack.com/car-sho...ormance-model/
Hyundai's Genesis has established itself as a serious luxury sports-sedan maker with the G70, a car that in many ways surpasses the BMW 3-Series. As it sits, it's a hell of a driver's car, but Genesis wants to take it to the next level.
At the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we spoke with Hyundai's head product planner, Mike O'Brien, who dropped a strong hint that a high-performance G70 is in the works.
"A big effort with the G70 was thermal management, to make sure that this car will hold up," O'Brien told us. "We're building for the future. I'll just say that."
The topic of thermal management came up when discussing the Veloster N, which was designed to withstand long lapping sessions on track. Thermal management, O'Brien says, has become an important engineering focus at Hyundai and Genesis, thanks largely to Albert Biermann, the former head of the N division who was recently promoted to R&D chief for all of Hyundai.
That note about extra cooling capacity in the G70 seems to indicate that Genesis wants to offer something sportier than the standard car, perhaps with racetrack performance in mind. An M3-fighter? That seems ambitious, but then again, so was targeting the 3-Series in the first place. And given how sweetly the current G70 drives, maybe Genesis could just pull it off.
Would such a model be badged as a G70 N? O'Brien told me it's too early to say. Genesis is still figuring out how it wants to brand any eventual performance cars.
Hyundai is placing increasing importance on getting into racing in North America, as evidenced by the new Veloster N TCR race car. It'll make its competition debut later this month at Daytona in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. O'Brien says Hyundai is looking at more motorsports opportunities in the US, and he personally wants to see Genesis involved in racing.
"We're looking at different things, as you can imagine. Whether it's GT3 or GT4 or prototypes, we're looking at all those things," he said. "It's way too early to speculate on where we're going to go, and of course, we have to think about where we want Genesis to go, where we want Hyundai to go. No decisions have been made at this point, but certainly, we need to think about it. We have two separate brands we need to build awareness and excitement around."
It's clear that Genesis is here to play, and hopefully that means we'll be seeing its products on track—either at HPDE events or in sanctioned professional racing.
At the 2019 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, we spoke with Hyundai's head product planner, Mike O'Brien, who dropped a strong hint that a high-performance G70 is in the works.
"A big effort with the G70 was thermal management, to make sure that this car will hold up," O'Brien told us. "We're building for the future. I'll just say that."
The topic of thermal management came up when discussing the Veloster N, which was designed to withstand long lapping sessions on track. Thermal management, O'Brien says, has become an important engineering focus at Hyundai and Genesis, thanks largely to Albert Biermann, the former head of the N division who was recently promoted to R&D chief for all of Hyundai.
That note about extra cooling capacity in the G70 seems to indicate that Genesis wants to offer something sportier than the standard car, perhaps with racetrack performance in mind. An M3-fighter? That seems ambitious, but then again, so was targeting the 3-Series in the first place. And given how sweetly the current G70 drives, maybe Genesis could just pull it off.
Would such a model be badged as a G70 N? O'Brien told me it's too early to say. Genesis is still figuring out how it wants to brand any eventual performance cars.
Hyundai is placing increasing importance on getting into racing in North America, as evidenced by the new Veloster N TCR race car. It'll make its competition debut later this month at Daytona in the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge series. O'Brien says Hyundai is looking at more motorsports opportunities in the US, and he personally wants to see Genesis involved in racing.
"We're looking at different things, as you can imagine. Whether it's GT3 or GT4 or prototypes, we're looking at all those things," he said. "It's way too early to speculate on where we're going to go, and of course, we have to think about where we want Genesis to go, where we want Hyundai to go. No decisions have been made at this point, but certainly, we need to think about it. We have two separate brands we need to build awareness and excitement around."
It's clear that Genesis is here to play, and hopefully that means we'll be seeing its products on track—either at HPDE events or in sanctioned professional racing.
#236
Ex-OEM King
^ This I'm excited for. There are so many competitors who've shown up to the entry level luxury market with something to prove and a lot of them are succeeding. A genuine M3 competitor from Genesis would get a serious look from a lot of people.
Also, on the topic of the 6MT for this car, it seems like it's a total afterthought. Kudos to them for offering it but, so far, no one has actually liked that car over the auto version. These days, unless a car was designed from the ground up to have a manual (ie GTI, BRZ, FRS, Focus twins, Miata, etc), the auto version is just a better car even though you don't get to row your own gears.
Also, on the topic of the 6MT for this car, it seems like it's a total afterthought. Kudos to them for offering it but, so far, no one has actually liked that car over the auto version. These days, unless a car was designed from the ground up to have a manual (ie GTI, BRZ, FRS, Focus twins, Miata, etc), the auto version is just a better car even though you don't get to row your own gears.
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00TL-P3.2 (01-16-2019)
#237
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
^ This I'm excited for. There are so many competitors who've shown up to the entry level luxury market with something to prove and a lot of them are succeeding. A genuine M3 competitor from Genesis would get a serious look from a lot of people.
Also, on the topic of the 6MT for this car, it seems like it's a total afterthought. Kudos to them for offering it but, so far, no one has actually liked that car over the auto version. These days, unless a car was designed from the ground up to have a manual (ie GTI, BRZ, FRS, Focus twins, Miata, etc), the auto version is just a better car even though you don't get to row your own gears.
Also, on the topic of the 6MT for this car, it seems like it's a total afterthought. Kudos to them for offering it but, so far, no one has actually liked that car over the auto version. These days, unless a car was designed from the ground up to have a manual (ie GTI, BRZ, FRS, Focus twins, Miata, etc), the auto version is just a better car even though you don't get to row your own gears.
#238
Ex-OEM King
I am not buying your assessment; I'm thinking if you could equip two otherwise identical G70s, one with an automatic and one with a manual, the odds on favorite for those who like to stir their own would be the 6MT version. In the case of the G70, comparing the twin turbo V6 to a relatively small 2.0T is not really making a fair comparison.
Golf R is a big example, I drove both the manual and the DSG and the automatic totally transforms the car from a really fast hatchback into a total animal in every condition. On the flip side, I don't think a S2000 with an auto would be any fun at all.
Again, IMO so pick your own poison.
#239
Latent car nut
iTrader: (2)
Wow, I've driven GTIs and Golf-Rs with both transmissions and the 6MT really shines; the DSG sucks when it gets confused and picks the wrong gear or takes too long to figure out which gear it wants to be in.
#240
Ex-OEM King
6MT is just too slow.