Acura RLX - 74

The 74-point score may seem respectable at a glance, but being a luxury car, the RLX is held to a high standard. To be fair, the new RLX flagship has some good points, but it falls well short of its luxury competitors, mostly in ride and handling. While it is powerful, spacious, and comfortable, it also has ungainly handling, lifeless steering, extremely expensive options packages, and a choppy, unsettled ride. Not a bad car, per se, but the RLX is a disappointing one considering the heady competition. If it was priced in Toyota Avalon territory, the RLX might be worth considering. But with a sticker price over $55,000, it is simply out of its league, and makes a good case for a $30,000 Honda Accord V6.

Alternatives: Hyundai's upscale Genesis sedan is impressive for the price, delivering virtually everything a $50,000 sedan does, but for $10,000 less. For an even better deal, the smart money is on a well-dressed mainstream car. For example, the high-scoring Chevrolet Impala delivers all the luxuries and a much-better ride, for at least $15,000 less.

Hyundai is again partnering with the engine wizards of Bisimoto Engineering to create a 1,000 horsepower Genesis Coupe for the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas. Bisimoto Engineering is known for extracting awesome, reliable power out of production-grade, everyday powerplants, and the Bisimoto 2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is no exception, with 1,000 horsepower generated from a turbocharged Hyundai-factory-based 3.8-liter V6 engine. The Bisimoto powertrain uses newly-designed internal parts, using the naturally-aspirated Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec engine as its core building block. The Bisimoto concept is designed for the reliability of a street car but with the outrageous power of a no-holds-barred racer.

“The key to producing reliable, high-horsepower engines goes well beyond the design, engineering and fabrication of performance parts. The core powerplant must be strong enough to withstand advanced modifications. The Genesis Coupe 3.8-liter Lambda engine is a thoroughly robust powerplant, and Bisimoto Engineering is excited to develop it to its full potential for the rigors of competitive motorsport,” said Bisi Ezerioha, owner of Bisimoto Engineering.

Complementing the extensive work underhood, Bisimoto created a custom Electric Blue paint, Denmatic design graphics package, ARK hood and Carbon Fiber decklid. From the rear view, a Burns stainless exhaust and Bisimoto rear badge round out the visual impact.

3.8-LITER LAMBDA ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
*Stock Hyundai Lambda 3.8-liter V6 engine
*Bisimoto-developed internal components:
*Steel connecting rods
*Intake gasket
*Injectors
*Level 2.4 camshafts
*Twin Bisimoto/Turbonetics BTX6462 turbochargers
*Godzilla blow-off valve
*Dual RG45 wastegate
*Arias forged pistons
*Golden Eagle sleeves
*WPC metal surface treatment
*Supertech valvetrain
*Vibrant VanJen clamps and stainless hardware
*Magnafuel 750 fuel pump
*ARP head, main, and wheel studs
*Portflow custom headwork
*AEM Infinity EMS
*Custom smart ignition coils
*NGK Iridium spark plugs
*Puröl Elite synthetic oil
*Spearco intercooler
*Griffin radiator
*Kinsler fuel filters
*Bisimoto-spec Action Ironman clutch

CHASSIS MODIFICATIONS
*Bisimoto roll cage
*Progress coilover suspension and anti-roll bars
*Drive Shaft Shop 5.9 Axles and driveshaft
*Incurve 20x9.5 and 20x11 aluminum wheels
*Toyo Tires R888 R-Compound tires

INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
*Buddy Club racing seats and harness
*Bisimoto reservoir socks
*Racepack IQ3 dash
*Bisimoto oil cap
*Odyssey dry cell battery
*Rywire mil-spec harness
*G&J braided lines

Hyundai and tuner John Pangilinan have again linked up, this time to develop a striking JP Edition Genesis Coupe in a custom-developed Atlantis Blue exterior color. Pangilinan is known in the tuner community for selecting retina-bending color themes for his Hyundai SEMA concepts, and this latest Genesis Coupe is sure to bolster his reputation even further. The eye-grabbing coupe concept will debut at the 2013 SEMA show in Las Vegas, November 5-8.

“John Pangilinan is really a creative genius in color development, especially in his ability to blend color with specific vehicle concepts like the JP Edition Genesis Coupe,” said Scott Margason, director, product planning, Hyundai Motor America. “We’re excited to see the final concept turning heads in our booth at the SEMA show.”

POWERTRAIN AND CHASSIS
Within the engine bay, Pangilinan made the modifications many entry-level tuners choose for the most cost-effective power gains, such as an AEM cold air intake, ARK Performance exhaust, turbo downpipe, and friction-reducing Lucas Oil.

To achieve that perfect ride height and body-to-wheel balance, he installed KW Variant 3 coil-overs, Whiteline sway bars, and an ARK Performance strut bar. Perfectly filling the wheel wells are 19-inch MORR VS52 concave mono-forged wheels in mystic black, with Toyo Proxes T1R 275/30 ZR19 front and 315/25 ZR19 rear tires. Muteki SR35 lug nuts hold it all together. Bringing the JP Edition to a confident halt is a Brembo Gran Turismo brake kit with oversized 15-inch calipers.

EXTERIOR DESIGN
Emphasizing the rear-drive Genesis Coupe proportions are staggered, ultra-wide custom metal fender flares from TS Designs, designed by Jon Sibal. Covering the freshly-shaped metal is brilliant BASF Atlantic Blue Metallic paint applied by Auto Explosion, with custom graphics created by S&A Design. For aero management, an APR carbon-fiber splitter and Seibon carbon-fiber side and rear lip kits have been fitted. Custom headlights with V-LEDS are from The Retrofit Source and Retrofit House.

INTERIOR DESIGN AND ENTERTAINMENT
Inside the JP Edition cabin, Pangilinan chose RECARO Cross Sportster seats with a custom Katzkin suede and smooth leather treatment. Holding the driver and passenger in place are Takata Drift III harnesses fixed to a custom harness bar complete with a mounted GoPro Hero 3 video camera.