More power for Hyundai’s Genesis Coupe

A POWER hike of up to 48kW headlines the changes to Hyundai’s rear-drive Genesis Coupe, which has just undergone a mid-life facelift that brings its styling more into line with the South Korean brand’s ‘fluidic sculpture’ design philosophy.

Hyundai Motor Company Australia senior manager for PR and events Ben Hershman told GoAuto the imported still has no confirmed arrival date for the Australia-bound next generation Genesis Coupe.

Given the current model’s late 2008 introduction and this being its mid-life facelift, Australians could be waiting until at least 2014 for the car’s successor to materialise.

Behind the Veloster-like new front-end with its snarling bonnet vents, 2.0-litre turbocharged four and 3.8-litre V6 variants both have received a power boost as a result of a switch to direct fuel injection.

Drive to the rear wheels is now via Hyundai’s own eight-speed automatic transmission, which debuted in the revised Genesis sedan earlier this year.

In addition to direct injection, a twin-scroll turbocharger and larger intercooler – aided by larger front intakes – has enabled Hyundai to crank power and torque outputs of the four-cylinder unit to 202kW and 373Nm, up 31 per cent 26 per cent respectively.

The naturally-aspirated V6 also makes respectable gains, with power and torque respectively increased 15.8 per cent and 10.8 per cent to 257kW and 400Nm, while the addition of a sound generator serves to “enhance the driving experience”.

No performance or fuel consumption figures have yet been announced, but the switch to direct injection plus an extra two gear ratios are sure to yield significant improvements in each area.

The interior has also been refreshed, with a better-integrated multi-function display, a trio of gauges on the dashboard’s centre stack to provide the driver with “instant feedback for a more dynamic driving experience” and metal highlights for a classier look.

The restyled headlights contain LED positioning lamps, while the upgraded and redesigned tail-lights are also illuminated by LEDs.

At the recent SEMA car customisation show in Las Vegas, tuner Rhys Millen Racing shoehorned Hyundai’s new 5.0-litre Tau V8 engine into the engine bay of a Genesis Coupe, providing it with 336kW while retaining a “production-ready look”.

Mr Hershman said he was not aware of any plans for the V8 – which is used in the brand’s Genesis executive sedan and Equus luxury limousine – to be fitted to production versions of the Genesis Coupe.

However, theV8 is a chance for an upcoming sports car from Hyundai’s sister brand Kia, which introduced its GT concept at the Frankfurt show in September.

A Kia insider told GoAuto at the concept’s unveiling that the show car’s 3.3-litre turbo V6 could be replaced by the Tau V8 when the car reaches production – at least for the US market.