Hyundai: Genesis News
06-21-2011, 10:51 AM
#2683
Senior Moderator
Very much looking forward to seeing this refresh for 13. Although I love the styling of the current car I think the grille could be improved and and the interior while nice, could use some updating as well. Sounds like both will be addressed.
350HP suddenly makes this a very compelling alternative to a Mustang GT. Especially considering how much cheaper it is, at least up here. 40K OTD with Nav and every bell and whistle would be hard to pass up vs a used GT.
13's should launch in the fall of 2012?
350HP suddenly makes this a very compelling alternative to a Mustang GT. Especially considering how much cheaper it is, at least up here. 40K OTD with Nav and every bell and whistle would be hard to pass up vs a used GT.
13's should launch in the fall of 2012?
06-21-2011, 06:04 PM
#2684
Very much looking forward to seeing this refresh for 13. Although I love the styling of the current car I think the grille could be improved and and the interior while nice, could use some updating as well. Sounds like both will be addressed.
350HP suddenly makes this a very compelling alternative to a Mustang GT. Especially considering how much cheaper it is, at least up here. 40K OTD with Nav and every bell and whistle would be hard to pass up vs a used GT.
13's should launch in the fall of 2012?
350HP suddenly makes this a very compelling alternative to a Mustang GT. Especially considering how much cheaper it is, at least up here. 40K OTD with Nav and every bell and whistle would be hard to pass up vs a used GT.
13's should launch in the fall of 2012?
06-24-2011, 11:53 AM
#2685
Three Wheelin'
The Hyundai Genesis sedan never adhered to the German model of tight-handling saloonry. Instead, its territory is the budget-conscious middle between beige Japanese technobarges and the rear-drive sedan Buick wishes it had the balls to build. Now Hyundai's created a sharper version with a more powerful engine. But is it a true performance sedan?
Disclaimer: Hyundai wanted us to drive the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec so badly they flew me to Las Vegas, put me up in a swank-but-casinoless hotel (thankfully), and brought in Don Felder, former guitarist of the Eagles, to ensure his solo from "One Of These Nights" remained fully burned into my memory core.
I'm traveling across Nevada's Valley of Fire State Park in the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec, whose 429 horses bubble up from a new five-liter version of Hyundai's Tau V8. It's a well-considered engine, stroked from the company's 4.6-liter Tau, then re-intaked and direct-injected. The five-liter, which Hyundai will offer as an option on the top-line Equus sedan, also has electronic throttle control, consigning the old bowden cable to the Museum of Perfectly Good 19th Century Bicycle Technologies.
Outside it's 111°F, according to the nav screen, up from 109°F a minute ago. The AC's blaring out "Song of the 737s in F# Minor" against the intensifying desert heat. About 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas, Route 147 shows off its recent pave, courtesy of Uncle Sam. "Lake Mead Boulevard," as 147's known, is as smooth as a Luther Vandross album cut, and begs for someone to defile it with rubber frags.
So, down goes the pedal on the large Korean sedan with the new engine.
The good news, at least for buyers who enjoy smooth power delivery, is, well, it's smooth. The bad news? Despite the R branding, the new engine isn't the assertive type. It's not the high-revving screamer you hoped would one day show up in the Genesis Coupe for hunting Mustang GTs. It's a luxury engine, more befitting the Equus.
But it's no slouch; Hyundai says the 4,100-pound R-Spec can get from 0-60 in 5.1 seconds. When the pedal's planted, speed accrues like compound interest on the as-tested price of $46,535.
The engine can indeed do work. More than 300 lb-ft of its 376 lb-ft peak torque is available at 1,500 rpm. Power output is an impressive 85 hp/liter — impressive for a luxury car. But a true performance variant should reach a little further toward the 100 hp/liter mark.
The R-Spec isn't entirely about the engine, though. Chassis tuning plays a significant role. Fortunately, my driving partner on this desert burn is Wendell Collins, lead chassis engineer, who explains the goal was to make incremental tweaks that would retain the sedan's character, not to make it the fastest Genesis through a gymkhana course. Performance-wise, the point is to keep it flatter in corners and to turn in more accurately.
Those tweaks include a 19 mm hollow rear stabilizer bar and stiffer springs at the front and rear, and higher damping rates applied to the Genesis sedan's usual Sachs ASD gas shocks.
Route 147, which mainly comprises long sweepers, isn't giving us a read on the chassis's fortitude for tighter cornering. Still, in high-speed turns it conveys the pillowy feel of the base V8 sedan, and yet stays flat. Roll remains modest when it's forced into an impromptu slalom. The electro-hydraulic steering carries largely over from the base V8 model, but it's been calibrated to service the larger 19" wheels. While slightly weightier and more precise, the sensations are more remote than I'd prefer for attacking a canyon road.
The new eight-speed transmission, which [UPDATE: Hyundai designed and manufactured in-house], stays low in the mix, doing its business without causing trouble. This is a tranny built for economy (note its skip-shift feature) and luxury, however; its Speedshift capability works well for holding gears, though a more rigorous test on switchback might yield other results. Nonetheless, the eight-ratio box is built for smooth, and smoothness is where it most excels. Starting to see a pattern here?
Granted, the Tau V8 and mild suspension tweaks doesn't make the Genesis an M5 beater. But it does provide a good advance platform on which to test out the higher-spec Tau's veracity ahead of use in other products, like the Equus. Naturally, we'd prefer they hold off on the performance badging until they built a proper performance car.
Not that you'd know it's a higher-spec model from the interior. Hyundai's diverged from those import factory tuners, whose badges deck out every seat back and dashboard surface like graffiti tags. Look down, however, and you might spot the R-Spec badge on the floormats.
Ultimately for drivers, the Genesis R-Spec is the automotive equivalent to upgrading your razor from three blades to five. It does the job just a little bit better, it's faster and smoother, you're out just a bit more money and maybe you smile a little wider when you pick it up in the morning. "Yeah, five blades," you think. "Nice."
06-24-2011, 12:02 PM
#2686
Three Wheelin'
Hyundai isn't interested in knocking shields with the likes of the BMW M guard, the Audi S line or even the Mercedes-Benz AMG legion with its 2012 Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. Instead, the newest addition to the Genesis line is out to offer buyers an extra helping of power and slightly sharper dynamics without all the motorsports pretense of its haughty German rivals. With 23 straight months of sales increases and 29,122 units sold last year, there doesn't seem to be much of an argument for varying the luxury sedan's recipe.
Even so, Hyundai has been quick to update its mid-luxury creation. Despite having arrived in 2008 as a 2009 model, the Genesis received a mild refresh in 2010, and 2012 brings a range of improvements across the line. Those include more power and fuel efficiency for the entry-level 3.8-liter V6 engine, aesthetic tweaks and the arrival of this range-topping Genesis 5.0 R-Spec. We were able to spend some time behind the wheel of the new five-liter four-door just outside of Las Vegas, but is the new bruiser worth its $47,350 price tag?
Outside, the entire 2012 Genesis line wears a few subtle aesthetic updates. The redesigned front fascia is trimmed in reworked chrome accents at the corners and a new grille is flanked on either side by headlights with LED daytime running lights. Down the vehicle's side, revised rocker panels and new matte chrome window trim are joined by redesigned 17-inch wheels. Toward the rear, new tail lamps and a slightly revamped rear fascia with integrated exhaust outlets tie up the changes. Meanwhile, 5.0 R-Spec trim adds in larger 19-inch wheels, dark-trimmed headlights and special badging.
Indoors, Hyundai is offering buyers a new rash of interior colors and trims, but the cabin has otherwise been left untouched. Rear passengers can now enjoy heated seats while the driver is met with a new lane departure warning system and glare-resistant TFT LCD screen mounted in the center of the gauge cluster. Check out the display in the Short Cut below.
When it comes to the 5.0-liter R-Spec, we would have liked a little more differentiation applied to the sedan's cabin. In fact, a set of embroidered floor mats are the only indicator that you're commanding anything other than a 3.8-liter model. Whereas competitors are happy to slather their go-fast monograms over unique steering wheels, high-bolstered seats and premium shift knobs, Hyundai has opted to make use of the same kit as the base vehicle.
While the Korean manufacturer implemented conservative updates to the sedan's cabin and exterior, the automaker's engineers were given free rein when it came time to pop the hood. The car's base 3.8-liter V6 now packs a galloping 43 more horsepower than the outgoing six-cylinder thanks to the addition of a direct-injection system. In fact, the company says that the engine is all-new from the cylinder heads up thanks to the addition of dual continuously variable valve timing, a variable intake system and what Hyundai calls a maintenance-free timing chain. All told, the 3.8-liter GDI V6 is good for 333 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 291 pound-feet of torque at 5,100 rpm, up from 290 horsepower and 264 lb-ft of torque in the last-generation. Even with all that additional grunt on hand, fuel economy has increased to 19 mpg city and 29 mpg highway – a jump of one mpg city and two mpg highway over the 2011 Genesis 3.8.
Interestingly enough, the old 4.6-liter V8 is still on the option sheet for 2012, though the engine remains unchanged for the new model year.
Meanwhile, the biggest news in the engine bay comes from the arrival of a new 5.0-liter direct-injection V8 based on the same architecture as the old 4.6-liter lump. Hyundai has brought all of the lessons learned from engineering the company's turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine to bear on the larger-displacement eight-cylinder to both increase power and deliver decent fuel economy. The cylinder sleeves now wear the same counter-spiny liner as the forced-induction four-cylinder for more efficient cooling, and the company's engineers implemented chromium-coated piston rings to decrease internal friction losses. A lightweight clamshell exhaust manifold, tuned intake system and dual continuously variable valve timing all help bump the final power numbers up to 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 lb-ft of torque at 5,000 rpm. Despite the increase in grunt, fuel economy sits at 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway.
For reference, the old 4.6-liter V8 churns out 385 horsepower and 333 lb-feet of torque while netting just one mpg better than the new 5.0-liter in both city and highway driving.
Hyundai chose to pair each of its engines with the company's new in-house eight-speed automatic transmission. The gearbox rocks over 130 patents and features a wide gear span with skip-shift capability and direct-control solenoid valves for smoother shifts. By designing and building the transmission itself, Hyundai was able to implement a few weight-saving measures as well, including the use of an aluminum carrier and a plastic oil pan with an integrated filter.
Suspension-wise, the base 3.8-liter Genesis and the mid-range 4.6-liter Genesis still ride on the same mechanicals as last year, though the 5.0-liter R-Spec has received a number of updates designed to give the vehicle more sporting characteristics. A lightweight, hollow 19 mm rear stabilizer bar works in conjunction with higher front and rear spring rates for what Hyundai hopes is a more planted feel once the tarmac goes twisty. In addition, Sachs ASD shocks serve up 25-30 percent higher damping rates to help keep everything under control, and optional Bridgestone Potenza S-04 summer tires serve up extra grip in warmer months.
The combined effect isn't so much the difference between an M5 and a 550i as it is the shift from 535i to 550i. During our brief stint behind the wheel, we were only made aware of the stiffer suspension when the road turned rough, though the stickier Bridgestone rubber made a noticeable difference in the amount of available grip in mid-to-high speed cornering. The Genesis 5.0-liter R-Spec feels more confident than its 4.6-liter and 3.8-liter counterparts, but only in situations that most Hyundai buyers will never find themselves in. Otherwise, the suspension merely comes across as needlessly harsh.
What's more, the R-Spec uses the same steering rack and brakes as its more plebian siblings, so don't expect any miracles at the turn-in or stopping. And what of the new horsepower? Hyundai claims the R-Spec can click off a 60 mph run from a dead stop in 5.1 seconds, which should tell you all you need to know about how the vehicle accelerates. The strange thing is that the big sedan doesn't feel that fast. You know you're gaining speed because the speedometer scoots skyward with only the slightest provocation, but there's no throaty exhaust note to announce your intention. With 429 horsepower on tap, we want the sound of a chorus of aching angels to mourn our wayward ways every time our right foot finds the carpet.
After a couple of hours with the big-horsepower Genesis, we were left a little mixed on the sedan. Yes, it's powerful, and yes, it delivers decent fuel economy, but the vehicle lacked any sense of occasion. We were never under the impression that we were driving anything other than a slightly more potent version of the base sedan, and that's a problem. While the 2012 Hyundai Genesis equipped with the direct-injection V6 engine is an absolute steal at $34,200 plus an $850 freight charge, the automaker politely asks for $46,500 plus the same freight fee for the privilege of calling the 5.0 R-Spec your own.
That's still a far cry cheaper than competitors like the Infiniti M56 at $59,995 (including destination), the BMW 550i at $61,075 or even the Lexus GS460 at $56,245. In fact, there are few vehicles out there that can compete with the R-Spec on price and content. Just don't expect world-class performance or panache.
In the automotive alphabet, the letter "R" has always stood for performance. By branding the company's new top-of-the-line Genesis with the sports-oriented letter, Hyundai may have set buyers up for disappointment. While the R-Spec is an impressive vehicle in its own right, the four-door is far from a legitimate sports sedan. As a faster alternative to the 4.6-liter V8 vehicle, the 5.0 R-Spec shines as brightly as the company's engineers and designers could have hoped.
Unfortunately, with 43 more horsepower than the outgoing V6 and improved fuel economy, the base 3.8-liter Genesis is more appealing than ever. With a snappier final drive ratio than its V8 brethren, the V6 even feels pretty quick off the line, making the extra coin for the 5.0 R-Spec even more difficult to justify. If you're signing on the dotted line for a Genesis, stick with the base model and use some of the cash you saved to pick up a set of the Bridgestone rubber available on the big R for a little more grip. You'll be happier in the long run.
06-24-2011, 12:08 PM
#2687
Team Owner
$46k for 5.0 R-spec?? That is cheap! considering a fully loaded G37S is $44k.....
06-24-2011, 01:37 PM
#2688
You'll Never Walk Alone
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Really decent deal if someone wants a relatively large luxury car with a V8 and 400+hp. The V6 model is a even better deal...on the other hand, there's the Chrysler 300 that looks more unique and it drives better too. It also just starts at $28k....
06-24-2011, 03:00 PM
#2689
06-24-2011, 03:39 PM
#2690
I shoot people
06-24-2011, 05:13 PM
#2691
Team Owner
06-26-2011, 12:06 AM
#2693
אני עומד עם ישראל
I like the wheels too. Look perfectly suited to the car IMO.
06-26-2011, 04:04 AM
#2695
Moderator
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call me when the sedan actually looks good...
06-26-2011, 05:09 AM
#2696
I shoot people
They're not bad looking wheels, just not really "R-Spec" worthy IMO
I mean, comparing to the stock wheels that come with AMGs and ///M series, they just don't look very sporty to me
I mean, comparing to the stock wheels that come with AMGs and ///M series, they just don't look very sporty to me
06-26-2011, 09:04 AM
#2697
Three Wheelin'
IMO its a step in the right direction.. but the reviews hit the nail on the head when they stated they should have left the r-spec badge off.
Seats defiantly need improvement and side bolstering. Brakes? Um why not offer a BBK kit... Suspension, while improved could have benefited from electromagnetic shocks.
Don't get me wrong I think it's a good package.. but there are still some things if I was buying an M, S, or R badge car that this vehicle is missing... and with Hyundai fashion you don't have the option to even add it... I went to Hyundai's website and you can build it already.
Seats defiantly need improvement and side bolstering. Brakes? Um why not offer a BBK kit... Suspension, while improved could have benefited from electromagnetic shocks.
Don't get me wrong I think it's a good package.. but there are still some things if I was buying an M, S, or R badge car that this vehicle is missing... and with Hyundai fashion you don't have the option to even add it... I went to Hyundai's website and you can build it already.
06-26-2011, 10:06 AM
#2698
אני עומד עם ישראל
Seats defiantly need improvement and side bolstering. Brakes? Um why not offer a BBK kit... Suspension, while improved could have benefited from electromagnetic shocks.
Don't get me wrong I think it's a good package.. but there are still some things if I was buying an M, S, or R badge car that this vehicle is missing... and with Hyundai fashion you don't have the option to even add it... I went to Hyundai's website and you can build it already.
Yeah I built one last night and I had a choice of three colors and that was it.
06-27-2011, 07:34 PM
#2700
Hyundai would have been better served to have called the 5.0 - the Genesis Sport or something along those lines.
06-30-2011, 07:43 AM
#2702
Senior Moderator
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Seats defiantly need improvement and side bolstering. Brakes? Um why not offer a BBK kit... Suspension, while improved could have benefited from electromagnetic shocks.
Don't get me wrong I think it's a good package.. but there are still some things if I was buying an M, S, or R badge car that this vehicle is missing... and with Hyundai fashion you don't have the option to even add it... I went to Hyundai's website and you can build it already.
Don't get me wrong I think it's a good package.. but there are still some things if I was buying an M, S, or R badge car that this vehicle is missing... and with Hyundai fashion you don't have the option to even add it... I went to Hyundai's website and you can build it already.
06-30-2011, 08:57 AM
#2703
Senior Moderator
Personally I just dont think they care to dip into the AMG/M/RS market.
I like the fact they are making a car thats just a touch more sportier than the base model. Not everyone wants harsh ride or firm seats. Im sure this model will appeal to many.
I do think slapping an Rspec badge on this may have been a stretch.
I like the fact they are making a car thats just a touch more sportier than the base model. Not everyone wants harsh ride or firm seats. Im sure this model will appeal to many.
I do think slapping an Rspec badge on this may have been a stretch.
06-30-2011, 09:36 AM
#2705
I'm Craig
iTrader: (2)
I think Hyundai doing the R-Spec is about the equivalent of Acura doing the TL Type-S. Sure they added more power and performance upgrades, but it was no where near M or AMG territory, despite the very aggressive styling.
The little $5 Type-S badge on the back of the car did wonders for selling the car. Had Acura just called it the TL 3.5, it wouldn't have had the same effect. So now Hyundai's R-Spec...its all marketing marketing marketing.
The little $5 Type-S badge on the back of the car did wonders for selling the car. Had Acura just called it the TL 3.5, it wouldn't have had the same effect. So now Hyundai's R-Spec...its all marketing marketing marketing.
06-30-2011, 11:04 AM
#2706
06-30-2011, 11:57 AM
#2707
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
I think it looks just fine as is and alright with its RWD platform. 
06-30-2011, 12:07 PM
#2708
My first Avatar....
Plus RWD = win! 
06-30-2011, 01:06 PM
#2709
Personally I just dont think they care to dip into the AMG/M/RS market.
I like the fact they are making a car thats just a touch more sportier than the base model. Not everyone wants harsh ride or firm seats. Im sure this model will appeal to many.
I do think slapping an Rspec badge on this may have been a stretch.
I like the fact they are making a car thats just a touch more sportier than the base model. Not everyone wants harsh ride or firm seats. Im sure this model will appeal to many.
I do think slapping an Rspec badge on this may have been a stretch.
But a real performance line is such a niche market and before Hyundai even thinks about that, they need to fill-out their lineup 1st (a compact RWD/AWD sedan and CUV are in the works).
Not sure if Toyota makes any $$ on the F peformance line it has for Lexus.
Won't get it until 2013, but the Genesis will have new sheetmetal as well.
08-16-2011, 07:14 PM
#2710
Safety Car
Supposedly 2.0T from Sonata will be dropped into Genesis coupe at 274hp, 268tq and upgraded 3.8 gets 333hp and 291tq
i can't tell, but they said it looks to have a bigger grille, which is a good news if true
08-30-2011, 08:13 AM
#2711
Senior Moderator
http://wot.motortrend.com/uncovered-...pe-112509.html
Have to agree with MT. Why make this look like an Elantra or Veloster. Not liking this at all but I'll have to see more pics before being sure.
It hasn’t even been two weeks since we spied the nip-tucked 2013 Genesis Coupe, and while it remained shy and kept its more important parts covered-up for our spy photographer, a Gen Coupe forum member got up-close and personal with what could be the future model.
Spotted in the buff in what seems to be a Korean parking garage, the facelifted coupe looks to be all smiles, and we can’t understand why. It seems to have lost a bit of its identity, and taken on characteristics similar to Hyundai’s down-market models.
While the Genesis coupe is supposed to be part of Hyundai’s upscale and more unique models, it seems as though it was styled to look more like the Elantra and Accent compacts. The grille is considerably wider than the current Genesis coupe, and like we predicted in our spy shots, the LED light pipes from the refreshed 2012 Genesis sedan underline the headlights. It also seems to have taken on a more bubbly shape in the front, and its taller hood sports air vents, which we hope will allow for a beefier engine, such as the direct-injected 5.0-liter V-8 out of the Genesis R-Spec sedan, to breathe.
But that might idea may just be wishful thinking. The turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is expected to carryover, possibly with direct-injection, with the 3.8-liter V-6 getting the same GDI treatment as on the new Genesis sedan, raising output from 306 hp to 333 hp.
The biggest change to the rear appears to be the taillights, in which the LEDs form a different shape compared to the current model’s lights. Most other details appear to be carryover from the current model.
Whether or not this is the 2013 Genesis Coupe, it is expected to officially bare all when it makes its debut at the 2012 Detroit show in January.
Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/uncovered-...#ixzz1WW9D1pzK
Spotted in the buff in what seems to be a Korean parking garage, the facelifted coupe looks to be all smiles, and we can’t understand why. It seems to have lost a bit of its identity, and taken on characteristics similar to Hyundai’s down-market models.
While the Genesis coupe is supposed to be part of Hyundai’s upscale and more unique models, it seems as though it was styled to look more like the Elantra and Accent compacts. The grille is considerably wider than the current Genesis coupe, and like we predicted in our spy shots, the LED light pipes from the refreshed 2012 Genesis sedan underline the headlights. It also seems to have taken on a more bubbly shape in the front, and its taller hood sports air vents, which we hope will allow for a beefier engine, such as the direct-injected 5.0-liter V-8 out of the Genesis R-Spec sedan, to breathe.
But that might idea may just be wishful thinking. The turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4 is expected to carryover, possibly with direct-injection, with the 3.8-liter V-6 getting the same GDI treatment as on the new Genesis sedan, raising output from 306 hp to 333 hp.
The biggest change to the rear appears to be the taillights, in which the LEDs form a different shape compared to the current model’s lights. Most other details appear to be carryover from the current model.
Whether or not this is the 2013 Genesis Coupe, it is expected to officially bare all when it makes its debut at the 2012 Detroit show in January.
Read more: http://wot.motortrend.com/uncovered-...#ixzz1WW9D1pzK
Have to agree with MT. Why make this look like an Elantra or Veloster. Not liking this at all but I'll have to see more pics before being sure.
08-30-2011, 10:06 AM
#2712
Senior Moderator
Will need more pics before passing judgement...
08-30-2011, 10:15 AM
#2713
Oderint dum metuant.
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Not sure what the deal is with cars having giant black grilles these days. As with with the SRT8 Charger, just paint the main crossbar and it'll look fine. Well, and maybe the lower section, too.
08-30-2011, 11:58 AM
#2714
Race Director
08-30-2011, 12:17 PM
#2715
Safety Car
i like this change.. much better looking than current one..
but i will have to see it more pics to see if it flows well with the rest of the car..
fog light housing look little too big.. almost as big as headlights...
but i will have to see it more pics to see if it flows well with the rest of the car..
fog light housing look little too big.. almost as big as headlights...
08-30-2011, 01:56 PM
#2716
08-30-2011, 02:12 PM
#2719
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
Looking good. Hyundai certainly knows what they are doing these days!
08-30-2011, 02:13 PM
#2720
I drive a Subata.
iTrader: (1)
