Hyundai Genesis: Tuners Welcome, Track Details Emerge

One car all of us here at TMR are holding our breath for is the upcoming rear-wheel-drive Genesis Coupe from Hyundai.  Not exactly one of the usual suspects for such a thing, but with Hyundai on the upswing in recent years, we're confident this is going to be a landmark car not just for Hyundai, but for the industry as well.

To ensure the Genesis Coupe gets off to the best start possible, Hyundai recently invited 20 aftermarket tuning companies to take a magnifying glass to both the naturally aspirated 3.6 litre V6 and the turbocharged 2.0 litre 4 cylinder models.  If there was ever an example of the interest in this car, it's the calibre of powerhouse tuning companies represented on the day, with HKS, Garrett-Honeywell, and Gale Banks Engineering among their number.

Josh Espino, an engineer at Gale Banks, expressed enthusiasm for the turbocharged model, saying "I'm more excited about the 2.0 litre turbo than I am about the V6."  With its connection to the engine found in the Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart and the exhilirating Evolution X, there's little surprise about that.

Garrett's Brian Regnier made the point however that the turbo in the 4 cylinder model is positioned above the engine mount, which limits options when it  comes to turbo upgrades.  Regnier was optimistic though, saying "There's always a way around that."

While the turbocharged engine seems to be the talk of the tuning town, The V6 isn't without its allies.  Gale Banks representatives present on the day mentioned intentions to develop a supercharger for the V6 model.

With the aftermarket geared up and ready to go, Hyundai certainly isn't resting on its laurels yet.  Before the car's even gone into production, word has come that a track version of the Genesis Coupe will not be far behind.  Featuring sportier, retuned suspension, a front strut brace, and four-pot Brembo brakes.  While the standard model's 18-inch wheels will wear 225/45 tyres to the front and a 245/45 pair to the rear, the track version will be shod in more purposeful Potenza RE050A tyres on its 19'inch rims.

There's a lot left to know about this car—namely the driving experience and the build quality—but on paper, this correspondent believes it's about the best thing to happen to the market in a long time.

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