JUST ANOTHER MANIC HYUNDAI

By Harvey Schwartz Hyundai has been on a roll in the automotive marketplace. While most manufacturers have seen a drop or slight increase in sales, Hyundai has seen double-digit sales increases on its market share. With the introduction of the Genesis luxury sport sedan two years ago, it showed Hyundai meant business going head-to-head with Lexus, Infiniti and Acura in the luxury segment. Now Hyundai has introduced an all-new sports coupe that shows great potential for design, engineering and build quality. It is going squarely up against the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro V6 equipped models. I tested the top-of-the-line ‘Track Edition’ and was very impressed with the car overall. With a price of $30,750.00, nicely equipped, the all-new Genesis Coupe Track Edition came with even more goodies than a comparatively priced V6 Mustang or Camaro.

The coupe design is fresh and unique, while keeping the requisite long, low and sleek profile, along with a wide stance. The steeply raked A-pillars give way to the car’s arching roofline and tapering greenhouse that highlight the exterior profile and emphasize the car’s broad shoulders and wide stance. The powerful curves, undulating beltline, surface detail and lightning bolt body lines are truly unique and make the Genesis Coupe really stand out in the pony car corral. The power-remote/heated side mirrors are aerodynamically designed and the car’s lower rocker panels are drawn close to the ground making the bodysides extra thick and the daylight opening thin, allowing the 19X8 alloy wheels to be stuffed into the bulging fenders. To complete the aggressive sports car look, the depth between the fenders and the greenhouse has been maximized. The front fascia features large openings for better engine breathing; uniquely formed headlamp clusters feature HID lights and below are uniquely designed foglamps. The rear fascia is highlighted with wraparound lamp clusters, trapezoidal dual exhaust tips that are integrated into the rear lower fascia with surrounding blackout that repeats the design theme of the front fascia graphic. An integrated spoiler mounted on the rear trunk keeps the rear wheels glued to the ground during high-speed travel.

Inside, the heated sport bucket seats are deeply cut to keep you firmly in place during spirited driving with the driver’s side powered six ways with lumbar support. The sporty, three-spoke, tilting, leather wrapped steering wheel feels perfect in your hands and features buttons for the audio system, cruise-control and Bluetooth telephone communication. The analog gauges are straight-ahead and easy to read with a big 160 mph speedometer, an 8000 rpm tachometer, and smaller gauges inside to let you know your fuel level and engine coolant temperature. The cluster features Hyundai’s signature blue gauge illumination. LED readouts in the middle warn you of system or safety failures. The short stick shifter is right where you want it to be for fun, easy and firm usage. The center stack features large buttons arranged in groups, and just above the center stack is Hyundai’s innovative graphic that shows you instantly how much torque is being generated and your current mpg usage. The interior also features start/stop push button ignition, proximity key so you don’t have to take your key out of your pocket or purse, dual power up/down express windows, power door locks, self-dimming rearview mirrors, power tilt/sliding one-touch sunroof, heated side mirrors with illuminated turn signals, touchscreen navigation system with XM NavTraffic, 8-gig hard drive, lighted dual vanity mirrors, dual map lamps, dual cupholders, a center storage bin with padded armrest, automatic climate control and aluminum/rubber padded foot pedals, thick cut-pile carpeting and optional signature floor mats. Beautiful sounds come through the standard Infinity 380-watt, Premium Audio System that features AM-FM-XM/MP3/CD player, 10-speakers, iPod/USB and an auxiliary port to let you choose what you want to play and hear. It’s all standard except the floor mats and iPod cable. That’s enough interior pleasures to keep any driving enthusiast and music lover happy!

Drivers are treated to even more excitement and innovation with what lies under the skin of the all-new 2010 Genesis Coupe Track Edition. The fun starts when you push the start button on the dashboard. The 3.8 liter DOHC V6 engine comes alive with a precision sound. It delivers 306 horsepower at 6,300 rpm and 266 pound-feet of torque at 4,700 rpm on regular unleaded gasoline. This engine will launch the Genesis Coupe from 0-60 mph in just 5.4 seconds. Top speed for the Track-Tuned Genesis Coupe is 149 mph. To maximize the powerband, the 3.8 liter engine utilizes Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing and a new Variable Intake System that helps cylinders breathe efficiently at both low and high rpm. The better-breathing results in outstanding off-the-line acceleration and passing performance plus remarkable fuel efficiency of 17mpg/city, 26mpg/highway. The V6 engine uses an alloy block and cylinder heads for lighter weight and thermal efficiency and features timing chains with no scheduled maintenance. When you mash your foot down on the throttle you’ll hear a loud growling sound coming from the free-flowing, dual, cat-back exhaust system. The Genesis Coupe Track Edition comes standard with a Torsen limited-slip differential to put the power down to the ground more effectively.

The Genesis Coupe’s body shell is rich in ultra-high-tensile steel and is lighter than the new Camaro V6 and Mustang V6. It’s chassis is also 24 percent stiffer in bending rigidity that the BMW M3. Rear-wheel-drive provides a neutral feel with its 55/45 front/rear weight distribution. The Track-Tuned fully-independent suspension features a MacPherson dual-link front setup and a five-link rear suspension setup. The front suspension is mounted to the body via a solid subframe which is lighter and stronger than a multi-piece component. The Track-Tuned suspension features stiffer front spring rates, stiffer rear spring rates and unique front/rear shock valving. To help reduce body roll, the Track-Tuned model features a 25mm stabilizer in front and a 19 mm stabilizer bar in the rear. You’ll definitely feel the nimble handling characteristics when you are cornering the car and I found it to be ultimately toss-able when attaching steeper curves as the rear loosens up and slides out a bit even with the stability control and traction control on. I just let off the throttle when exiting the curve and the rear quickly got in line with no problems. I had a grand old time in the Santa Monica Mountains challenging all of the steep and hairpin curves. Piloting the Track-Tuned Genesis Coupe admirably through its paces is the excellent hydraulic rack & pinion steering system with its quick ratio gearing that delivers both linearity and agility besides it short throws. It features a great feel for the road surface and reacts super-fast to my inputs. Standard on the Track Edition and making your steering input even more responsive it the strut tower brace. It just ads to the thrill and excitement when driving the car up to its potential.

Adding to the fun of driving the Track-Tuned Genesis Coupe is the standard short-throw, close-ratio 6-speed manual transmission. You can option for the 6-speed SHIFTRONIC that features sequential shifting by moving the gear selector into a separate gate. Pushing the selector forward or pulling it rearward will shift the transmission up or down sequentially, adding to your control or you can use the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters. A clear LCD readout on the instrument cluster shows the gear that’s in use. Quickly slowing the car down from speed are very large brakes with Brembo four-piston calipers at each corner. Up front are 13.4-inch vented discs and 13-inch vented discs in the rear. Standard ABS, EBD and BA insure quick, controlled stopping power on slick road surfaces. These brakes are amazing in their linear feel at your foot and how well they grab the big vented rotors in an emergency stop or when attaching a very steep curve at high speeds. Another fact is that they are not available on the new V6 powered Camaro or Mustang, another plus for the Genesis Coupe Track Edition. The Track-Tuned Genesis Coupe rides on 19X8 light alloy wheels wrapped with Bridgestone Potenza 225/40YR19 front and 245/45YR19 super-high-performance tires in the rear. The all-new 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Track Edition hits on all cylinders with authority of great looks, great power and performance, great interior sportiness and creature comfort with excellent safety systems. The fully loaded Track Edition was priced at just $30,750.00 with everything that I would want included. © Words and pictures by Harvey Schwartz For more information about Hyundai products, go to hyundaiusa.com

SPECIFICATIONS Name: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe Track Edition Price: $30,750.00 as tested EPA fuel mileage: 17mpg/city, 26mpg/highway Engine: 3.8 liter DOHC, all-aluminum CVVT V6 Horsepower: 306 at 6,300 rpm Torque: 266 pound-feet at 4,700 rpm Drive configuration: Front engine/rear-wheel-drive Transmission: 6-speed manual, optional 6-speed SHIFTRONIC Sequential with paddle shifters Front suspension: Independent-Track Tuned MacPherson dual link with springs, gas-charged mono-tube shocks, 25mm stabilizer bar, solid subframe, strut tower brace Rear suspension: Independent-Track Tuned five-link design with gas-charged monotube shocks, coil springs, 19mm stabilizer bar Wheels/tires: 19X8 light weight alloy wheels, Bridgestone 245/45YR19 Potenza tires Brakes: Front-13.4 in. vented discs with 4-piston Brembo calipers Rear: 13 in. vented discs with 4-piston Brembo calipers ABS, EBD, BA Dimensions Total length: 182.3 in. Total width: 73.4 in. Total height: 54.5in. Curb weight: 3,380 lbs