Car and Driver’s got a short piece on the heels of the recently released full specs.  The best part -

“Turbo-four models will be labeled with the 2.0T moniker, and will be available in base, Premium, Track, and R-Spec trims. All will feature the same low-pressure turbocharged and intercooled mill, which Hyundai says will generate 220 horsepower on premium fuel (210 on regular) and 223 lb-ft of torque, all while returning a respectable 30 mpg on the highway. If those numbers don’t sound quite like what you’re after, there’s hope; according to Derek Joyce, Genesis coupe product manager, Hyundai “could have opted solely for big performance numbers, but our focus for the 2.0T was a more balanced package.” Translation: once tuners get their hands on the four-banger Genesis, all they need to do is turn up the boost and “unbalance” things to their heart’s content.”

…but it’s sculpted, see:

In all seriousness – this is the first clear shot I’ve seen of the car’s rear haunches.  They might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but one thing you can’t call them is generic.  Good for Hyundai for taking a risk.

Here’s what we’re getting, folks.  Enjoy.  O, and take note of the fact that the 2.0t is 3,303lbs.  A porker, sure, but a relatively svelte porker, all things considered.

I also want to make note of this, “Later in the model year, a tuner-focused performance model, R-Spec, will arrive at Hyundai dealerships. Genesis Coupe R-Spec is meant to be the ultimate upgradeable, affordable, turbocharged rear-wheel drive performance platform.”

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., Oct 30, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Hyundai released additional engineering and feature information for the all-new 2010 Genesis Coupe today. The Genesis Coupe, and its rear-wheel drive platform-mate the Genesis sedan will make their Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show debuts next week.

“One of the program targets for the Genesis engineering team was world-class weight efficiency,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “When you look at the size and content of both Genesis models, you’ll find we lead all our competitors in weight efficiency. We also target leadership in power-to-weight ratio. We think that’s just smart strategy in today’s world. It pays huge dividends in both performance and fuel economy, and that’s especially important in the segments in which these cars compete.”

    Vehicle           Engine           Curb Weight (pounds)  Length (inches)

    Genesis sedan       3.8-liter V6          3748                195.9
    Genesis sedan       4.6-liter V8          4012                195.9
    Genesis Coupe    2.0-liter turbo          3303                182.3
    Genesis Coupe       3.8-liter V6          3402                182.3

Both Genesis Coupe and sedan are rich in ultra-high-strength steel, leading to world-class body rigidity. The Genesis sedan is 10-12 percent stiffer in torsion than Lexus and Mercedes-Benz competitors, yet it is lighter than these benchmark sedans, and offers more interior room. At just 3,303 pounds, the Genesis Coupe 2.0T is hundreds of pounds lighter than all of its IRS-equipped rear-wheel-drive competitors, with body-bending rigidity 24 percent higher than BMW E46 M3.

    Vehicle            Length     Curb Weight    Horsepower  Power-to-weight
                                     (lbs.)                  ratio
    Genesis Coupe 3.8   182.3         3402       310 (est.)        11.0
    BMW 335i            181.1         3571       300               11.9
    Infiniti G37        183.1         3616       330               11.0
    Camaro LS           190.4         3780       300 (est.)        12.6
    Challenger          197.7         3819       250               15.3

This focus on weight efficiency pays dividends across the board. The Genesis sedan owes its ability to deliver both strong performance (0-60 mph in just 5.7 seconds) and excellent fuel economy (25 mpg EPA highway rating) in great part due to its impressive weight efficiency. Similarly, the Genesis Coupe 2.0T sets a new benchmark for front-engine, rear-wheel-drive gasoline fuel efficiency with a remarkable 30 mpg estimated EPA highway rating, because of its weight-efficient platform and its efficient 2.0-liter, low-pressure, turbocharged four-cylinder engine.

“While some turbochargers sacrifice smooth drivability with high operating boost pressures in the 20 psi range, Genesis Coupe uses a refined, low-boost calibration for smoothness and efficiency,” said Derek Joyce, Genesis Coupe product manager. “We could have opted solely for big performance numbers, but our focus for the 2.0T was a more balanced package.”

Genesis Coupe product highlights

With the start of U.S. market production now just a few months away, Hyundai Motor America is releasing model configuration and color choices for the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

“Genesis sedan has set a new benchmark for the $35,000-$40,000 premium sedan, and we think Genesis Coupe will do the same in the sport coupe segment,” Krafcik said. “From our 30-mpg 2.0T with its low-pressure intercooled 4-cylinder turbo, to the 3.8 Track model with an estimated 310-hp and Brembo braking system, Genesis Coupe offers a wide range of powertrain and performance choices for driving enthusiasts of all stripes.”

    There are seven basic Genesis Coupe configurations:

    --  2.0T
    --  2.0T Premium
    --  2.0T Track (6-speed manual transmission only)
    --  2.0T R-Spec (late availability, 6-speed manual transmission only)
    --  3.8
    --  3.8 Grand Touring
    --  3.8 Track

GENESIS COUPE 2.0T: A MORE EFFICIENT TAKE ON THE REAR-WHEEL DRIVE SPORT COUPE

    Standard equipment includes:

    --  2.0-liter, low-pressure, turbocharged, intercooled 4-cylinder engine
        with dual continuously variable valve timing delivering an estimated
        210-hp (regular), estimated 220 hp (premium), an estimated 223 ft-lbs
        of torque (at just 2,000 rpm), an estimated 30 mpg EPA highway rating
        and an estimated top speed of 137 mph
    --  M6VR1 6-speed manual transmission (Optional: A5SR1 5-speed electronic
        automatic transmission with lockup torque converter and steering
        wheel-mounted paddle-shift Shiftronic controls)
    --  18-inch Euroflange alloy wheels with staggered Bridgestone Potenza
        RE92A tires (P225/45VR18 front, P245/45VR18 rear)
    --  Electronic Stability Control with ABS, Electronic Brake-Force
        Distribution and Brake Assist
    --  12.6-inch ventilated front rotors with 60mm single piston floating
        caliper
    --  12.4-inch solid rear rotors with 43mm single piston floating caliper
    --  Sport-tuned MacPherson strut dual-link front suspension and five-link
        rear independent suspension, 24mm front stabilizer bar, 19mm rear
        stabilizer bar
    --  Strut brace
    --  Quick-ratio hydraulic steering (2.7 turns lock-to-lock)
    --  Tire Pressure Monitoring System
    --  Front, side, side air curtain air bags
    --  Active front head restraints
    --  Driver's lumbar support
    --  Black-out front lower fascia
    --  Trip computer
    --  Air conditioning
    --  Satin silver and chrome interior accents
    --  Keyless entry system
    --  Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
    --  Power windows (one-touch up and down), door locks and mirrors
    --  AM/FM/XM/CD audio system with six speakers
    --  USB/iPod/Aux jack connectivity
    --  Steering wheel audio controls
    --  Cruise control
    --  Projector beam headlamps with auto light control
    --  Integrated Bluetooth including steering wheel controls
    --  Temporary spare with steel wheel (T135/90D17)

    The 2.0T Premium model adds or substitutes:

    --  Power driver seat
    --  360-watt AM/FM/XM/CD-changer Infinity premium audio system with 10
        speakers including DVC subwoofer, eight-channel external amplifier,
        and diversity antenna
    --  Smart Key with push-button start
    --  Electrochromic mirror with HomeLink and compass
    --  Sunroof
    --  Navigation system (mid-year availability)

The factory-tuned 2.0T Track model builds from the 2.0T Premium, adding/substituting:

    --  19-inch Euroflange gunmetal finish alloy wheels with staggered
        high-performance summer-compound Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires
        (P225/40YR19 front, P245/40YR19 rear)
    --  Unique Brembo braking system with 13.4-inch ventilated front rotors,
        42mm four-piston fixed front calipers (red), 13.0-inch ventilated rear
        rotors, 32mm+28mm four-piston fixed rear calipers (red)
    --  Unique track-tuned suspension, higher-rate coil springs,
        higher-control shock absorbers, 25mm front stabilizer bar, 22mm rear
        stabilizer bar, strut brace
    --  Torsen-type limited-slip differential
    --  Black leather bolster seats with high-friction red cloth insert
    --  Aluminum pedals
    --  Aero windshield wipers
    --  Rear spoiler
    --  Xenon HID headlamps
    --  Fog lamps
    --  Lightweight temporary spare with aluminum wheel (T135/80D18)
    --  Navigation system (mid-year availability)
    --  Note:  Automatic transmission not available with 2.0T Track

Later in the model year, a tuner-focused performance model, R-Spec, will arrive at Hyundai dealerships. Genesis Coupe R-Spec is meant to be the ultimate upgradeable, affordable, turbocharged rear-wheel drive performance platform. R-Spec equipment includes:

    --  2.0-liter low-pressure turbocharged intercooled four-cylinder engine
        with dual continuously variable valve timing delivering an estimated
        210-hp (regular), estimated 220-hp (premium), an estimated 30 mpg EPA
        highway rating and an estimated top speed of 137 mph
    --  6-speed manual transmission
    --  Electronic Stability Control with ABS, Electronic Brake-Force
        Distribution and Brake Assist
    --  19-inch Euroflange gunmetal finish alloy wheels with staggered
        high-performance summer-compound Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires
        (P225/40YR19 front, P245/40YR19 rear)
    --  Brembo braking system with 13.4-inch ventilated front rotors, 42mm
        four-piston fixed front calipers (red), 13.0-inch ventilated rear
        rotors, 32mm+28mm four-piston fixed rear calipers (red)
    --  Track model suspension tuning (higher-rate coil springs,
        higher-control shock absorbers, 25mm front stabilizer bar, 22mm rear
        stabilizer bar, strut brace)
    --  Torsen-type limited-slip differential
    --  Quick-ratio hydraulic steering (2.7 turns lock-to-lock)
    --  Tire Pressure Monitoring System
    --  Front, side, side air curtain air bags
    --  Active front head restraints
    --  Driver's lumbar support
    --  Air conditioning
    --  Keyless entry system
    --  Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
    --  Power windows (one-touch up and down), door locks and mirrors
    --  AM/FM/XM/CD audio system with six speakers
    --  USB/iPod/Aux jack connectivity
    --  Projector beam headlamps
    --  Lightweight temporary spare with aluminum wheel (T135/80D18)
    --  Note:  Automatic transmission not available with R-Spec

GENESIS 3.8: 310 HORSEPOWER AND STANDARD LEATHER INTERIOR — A NEW BENCHMARK FOR PERFORMANCE AND REFINEMENT IN ITS CLASS

    Standard equipment includes 2.0T equipment, and adds or substitutes:

    --  3.8L DOHC V6 engine with dual continuously variable valve timing
        delivering an estimated 306-hp (regular), 310-hp (premium), and a top
        speed of 149 mph
    --  M6VR2 6-speed manual transmission (Optional: ZF 6HP19 6-speed
        electronic automatic with lockup torque converter and steering
        wheel-mounted paddle-shift Shiftronic controls)
    --  Black leather seats
    --  Fully automatic temperature control
    --  Premium door sill plates
    --  Chrome front fascia accents

    In addition to 3.8 equipment, the 3.8 Grand Touring adds or substitutes:

    --  Unique brown leather seat interior environment
    --  Power driver seat
    --  Heated driver and passenger seat
    --  360-watt AM/FM/XM/CD-changer Infinity premium audio system with 10
        speakers including DVC subwoofer, eight-channel external amplifier,
        and diversity antenna
    --  Smart Key with push-button start
    --  Xenon HID headlamps
    --  Electrochromic mirror with HomeLink and compass
    --  Heated mirrors with outside turn signal indicators
    --  Backup warning system
    --  Sunroof
    --  Navigation system (mid-year availability)

The factory-tuned 3.8 Track model deletes backup warning system and chrome front fascia accents from the Grand Touring model, and adds or substitutes:

    --  Black leather seats
    --  19-inch Euroflange gunmetal finish alloy wheels with staggered
        high-performance summer-compound Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tires
        (P225/40YR19 front, P245/40YR19 rear)
    --  Unique Brembo braking system with 13.4-inch ventilated front rotors,
        42mm four-piston fixed front calipers (red), 13.0-inch ventilated rear
        rotors, 32mm+28mm four-piston fixed rear calipers (red)
    --  Unique track-tuned suspension, higher-rate coil springs,
        higher-control shock absorbers, 25mm front stabilizer bar, 22mm rear
        stabilizer bar, strut brace
    --  Torsen-type limited-slip differential
    --  Aluminum pedals
    --  Aero windshield wipers
    --  Rear spoiler
    --  Black-out front lower fascia
    --  Xenon HID headlamps
    --  Fog lamps
    --  Lightweight temporary spare with aluminum wheel (T135/80D18)

    Genesis Coupe will be available in nine exterior colors:

    --  Karussell White
    --  Bathurst Black
    --  Silverstone
    --  Nordschleife Gray
    --  Acqua Minerale Blue
    --  Tsukuba Red
    --  Mirabeau Blue
    --  Lime Rock Green
    --  Interlagos Yellow

    Genesis Coupe features four different interior themes:

    --  Black environment, premium black cloth seats (2.0T, 2.0T Premium,
        R-Spec)
    --  Black environment, black leather-bolstered seats with high-friction
        red cloth insert (2.0T Track)
    --  Black environment, black leather seats (3.8, 3.8 Track)
    --  Black environment, saddle brown leather seats (3.8 Grand Touring)

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of South Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through 800 dealerships nationwide.

Journalists are invited to visit our news media web site:http://www.hyundainews.com

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

Election day is November 4th.  And we @ EWK are your DEFINITIVE source for coverage of…SEMA?  Yeah.  As the U.S. votes for Obama on Tuesday, SEMA will be kicking off.

And to get things started, Hyundai gave out three Coupes for the aftermarket to tackle (they also gave out 3 Genesis Sedans, but 4-doors bore me).  HKS got one, RMR got one and Street Concepts got one.

HKS:

“Genesis Coupe has the basic DNA that HKS looks for – an excellent chassis, rear-wheel drive, aggressive styling and a new generation turbo-charged engine. These attributes provide the opportunity for HKS to maximize the Genesis Coupe driving performance capabilities for the serious driving enthusiast,” said Rick Lafferty, president, HKS USA, Inc. “HKS is allocating R&D, engineering and prototyping resources to lay the groundwork for HKS-brand Genesis Coupe performance parts. We are looking forward to working with Hyundai to realize the full performance potential of the Genesis Coupe.”

The HKS plan for the Genesis Coupe includes a HKS GT Turbo upgrade to maximize horsepower and torque, HKS engine internals, HKS limited-edition turbo exhaust system, HKS Super Mega Flow Intake System, HKS Engine Management and HKS Hipermax III fully-adjustable suspension. 

“We’ve designed Genesis Coupe from the start to be tuner-friendly,” said John Krafcik, vice president, Product Development and Strategic Planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Partnering with an industry leader like HKS is a terrific way for us to stretch the performance envelope of Genesis Coupe.”

The HKS Genesis Coupe will also showcase functional ground effects designed by Ken Style, HKS Time-Attack cars’ aerodynamic partner. The interior will emphasize driver comfort and control with HKS electronics including CAMP2 that monitors up to 24 data signals from the Genesis OBD2 and programmable calculations for fuel costs, average fuel consumption and fuel efficiency in real time. 

Street Concepts:

the Street Concepts Coupe is packing the 3.8-liter V6 fitted with a custom cold-air intake and a Magnaflow exhaust. According to Street Concepts’ owner, Shawn Williams, their aim is to “maximize the driving capabilities of the Genesis Coupe while striving for a level of practicality…”

To that end, the only performance mods – outside of aiding the V6’s breathing – include a modified suspension, Brembo brakes and 19-inch Volk wheels shod in performance rubber. The exterior benefits from a black camo and “stealth fighter-inspired paint design,” along with tinted head and taillights, APR rear wing and custom grille. Inside, carbon fiber trim joins a pair of Cobra seats with black suede accents and an Infinity audio system.

Rhys Millen, RMR:

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 30, 2008 – Hyundai Motor America announced today that it has teamed up with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to create the “Art of Speed” Genesis Coupe show car. The Hyundai RMR “Art of Speed” Genesis Coupe 2.0t will be on display at the Hyundai booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Nov. 4 – Nov. 7, 2008. The RMR Genesis Coupe will be the first of many Genesis Coupes to be modified by some of the best tuner shops in the world. This RMR – developed Genesis Coupe will be a fully functional race car capable of putting the driver in the winner’s circle. 

“The unique part of this project is that it will be moving art, which is why we named it the ‘Art of Speed,’” says Rhys Millen, professional race driver and founder of RMR. “The focus will be on the engine and a radical body design to complement the factory body lines. We are going to transform the Genesis Coupe into an apex-carving machine with jaw-dropping looks. We think it has the possibility of being one of the coolest cars at the show.”

The RMR Genesis Coupe will be powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with RMR turbo kit for maximum horsepower and torque. It will be equipped with a heavy-duty HKS sequential transmission and a K&W coil over suspension to put that additional power to the ground. These are just some of the planned mechanical modifications to turn the Genesis Coupe into a race car capable of running in the Pikes Pike Hill Climb, Formula D or Redline Time Attack series. 

“We’ve been excited about working with Rhys Millen since the minute he walked through our doors at Hyundai Motor America,” says John Krafcik, vice president, product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America. “Genesis Coupe is a rear-wheel drive performance machine we designed to capture the hearts of hardcore automotive enthusiasts, so we can’t wait to see Rhys’ RMR Genesis Coupe on the race track.”

The RMR Genesis Coupe will be outfitted in a silver and black paint scheme and dominated by a RMR wide body kit, functional hood scoop and a carbon fiber wing. Enkei racing wheels and Bridgestone Protenza RE-01 tires surrounding Brembo brake calipers complete the package. 

Inside will be a racing cockpit with Sparco steering wheel and seats, eight-point roll cage and a RMR carbon fiber dash.

Again, because I’m a substance > style guy, both the RMR and HKS Coupes interest me more, on the face of it.  But we’ll be covering all three during their SEMA unveil.  Let the tuning games, begin! 

Which is your favorite?

From Autocar, 

What is it?

This is the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe – a model designed to fill the sports car-shaped void in Hyundai’s non-European line-up.

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe shares its platform as well as its name with the recently launched Genesis saloon, but follows a classic sports car format with short overhangs and a low, wide stance. It looks as much muscle car as sleek coupe.

Two petrol engines are available: a 210bhp 2.0-litre unit and a 303bhp 3.8-litre V6. The 3.8-litre V6 with the optional six-speed ZF auto ‘box is tested here. The Coupe gets a six-speed manual gearbox as standard.

What’s it like?

The low seating position and roomy interior is reminiscent of the Genesis saloon, but the driving experience is a long way from that sedate executive cruiser.

Push the start button to awaken the V6, touch the throttle and the immediate response makes it obvious that the Genesis has plenty of power to entertain, but its abilities as a Grand Tourer outweight the underlying potential as a sports car.

It may be heavy, but the Hyundai Genesis Coupe will complete the 0-60mph sprint in 6.5secs. A 54:46 front-rear weight distribution and 303bhp going through the rear tyres means there’s plenty of poise and pace to keep most GT owners happy in those moments when they leave the motorway and seek some thrills on the back roads.

In reality, it’s as a stylish cruiser that the Genesis Coupe really shines. Its long, wide wheelbase endows it with good stability at any speeds, and the long-ratio gearing means you can cover long distances at high speeds without ever going near the redline.

Even the engine suits cruising, offering a decent enough soundtrack without ever becoming intrusive in the cabin.

Downsides are that the ride never really settles as you would want in a Grand Tourer, and there are too many cheap plastics in the interior for a car intended to embody a truly desirable, high-class Hyundai.

Should I buy one?

You can’t. The Genesis Coupe will only go on sale in Korea, China and America. If you do fancy an import, the Genesis has one truly tempting aspect – its price.

Using current conversion rates, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe will start from a hilariously cheap £13,000 when it goes on sale in Korea.

Jusik Choi

For reference, 13k GBP = 20.6k USD.  At that price, I’ll take cheap plastic.

Dyno chart for the Hyundai V6 is here. Too bad it’s an auto. Although, 255hp isn’t anything to sneeze at.

Compare to the G37’s, 275hp.

I’ll wait on the commentary until we get a better comparison. Still interesting, nonetheless.

www.gencoupe.com’s got a pretty good ’spotted’ thread going.  Check it out, here.

Autoblog’s got the scoop, 

The Genesis Coupe is being launched in South Korea this week, and we’ve already heard from CAR regarding their testing of the 310-hp 3.8L V6 model. Hyundai released its own performance numbers for the hotly anticipated RWD coupe, and it also included information for the turbocharged 2.0L base model. While CAR achieved a fairly respectable 0-60 time of 5.9 seconds for the V6 model, Hyundai is claiming a sprint to 62 takes 6.3 seconds.

In the Korean home market, the force-fed 2.0L base model will achieve 223 hp and 220 lb-ft with premium fuel, and 210 hp with regular. U.S. customers will reportedly only receive the 210-hp version, and you’ll hit that magic number at 6,000 RPM while the turbocharged nature of the 2.0L helps you hit peak torque at a low 2,000 RPM. Hyundai claims the base Coupe’s 0-62 time is a rather leisurely 8.3 seconds, but we’re guessing that plenty of enthusiasts will get their hands underhood in an effort to greatly boost those numbers.

Korean market pricing starts at 23,200,000 Korean won for the base model and 33,920,000 won for the top of the line V6 model. That’s $18,728 and $27,382 in U.S. currency, but Hyundai won’t announce official U.S. pricing until closer to the Genesis Coupe’s spring 2009 debut.

UPDATE: A source inside Hyundai has told Autoblog to expect a 0-60 time of around 7.5 seconds for the 2.0-liter turbocharged Genesis Coupe. The combination of less weight (under 3,500 pounds) and a retuned engine (Hyundai is still months away from launching the Coupe in the U.S.) will bring performance up to par, compared to its Korean counterpart.

Because I’m more of a substance over style kind of guy, I have a few questions.

-How large is the turbo?

-Is there a pre-turbo cat?

-What’s the diameter of the downpipe?

I hope there’s a pre-turbo cat and a small, constrictive downpipe so we can throw a few dollars at the aftermarket to fix it.  Do that, reflash the ECU…hello 300+hp!

From eGMCARTECH.com on Oct 14th, 2008:

While we’ll get the Hyundai Genesis Coupe as a 2010 model year, the Koreans got theirs yesterday as a 2009 model year. According to the first few test drivers, the 210-hp 2.0L 4-cylinder model returned an estimated 26 mpg while the 306-hp 3.8L V6 returned 21.6 mpg.

 

RoadandTrack’s got a new article posted about the Genesis Coupe.

There’s one bit worth noting:

John Krafcik, Hyundai’s VP of Product Development and Strategic Planning in the U.S. has said, “We’ve designed the Genesis Coupe from the start to be tuner friendly.”

The aftermarket’s going to hold you to that one, John.