2013 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai Motor America  redesigned  their 2013 Genesis Coupe in a North American. In keeping with impressive performance upgrades, Genesis Coupe now sports more aggressive coupe styling, complemented by improved interior materials and design. Both 4-cylinder and V6 engines benefit from significant technology enhancements, with the 3.8-liter V6 engine receiving sophisticated direct-injection technology and the 2.0-liter turbocharged engine upgrading to a more precise twin-scroll turbocharger and larger intercooler. Automatic transmissions for these two models now have 8-speeds, with paddle-shift SHIFTRONIC® manual-shifting capability. Hyundai’s proprietary telematics platform, Blue Link®, is now available, providing Genesis Coupe owners with a variety of infotainment services to meet their individual connectivity needs.

The refreshed Genesis Coupe strikes a more menacing demeanor, with an aggressively redesigned front fascia, grille, headlights, LED daytime running lights, fog lights and hood with heat extractor cues. The side view reveals new, aggressive 18- and 19-inch alloy wheel designs with deeper dimensional sculpting. Finally, the rear taillights provide a visual spark via premium LED illumination and new contours. The traditional rear-drive sport coupe proportions remain, with a long wheelbase and short front and rear overhangs producing a classic wedge-like profile. Genesis Coupe’s bodyside character line is an innovative “Z”-shaped design that integrates seamlessly with a unique, drop-beltline rear window graphic.

Genesis Coupe’s arching roofline and tapering greenhouse highlight the exterior profile and emphasize the car’s broad shoulders and wide stance. To complete the aggressive sports car look, the depth between the fenders and the greenhouse has been maximized. 

Enlarged openings in the front fascia allow for better engine breathing along with a more aggressive look. Dual asymmetrical exhaust tips integrated with the blackout rear diffuser treatment complete the performance message from the rear.

Both Genesis Coupe engines receive significant technology upgrades, backing up its new design statement with impressive performance gains. The 3.8-liter Lambda DOHC V6 engine adds sophisticated direct-injection technology, adding 42 horsepower (a generous 14 percent increase) and 29 lb.-ft of torque (an eleven percent increase).

The 3.8-liter engine uses Dual Continuously Variable Valve Timing (Dual CVVT) and a Variable Intake System (VIS) that helps cylinders breathe most efficiently at both low and high RPM. The combination of high-pressure, precisely-metered direct injection with efficient cylinder breathing results in outstanding throttle response and off-the-line acceleration coupled with remarkable fuel efficiency. The V6 engine uses an alloy block and cylinder heads for lighter weight and thermal efficiency and features durable, quiet timing chains with no scheduled maintenance.

All these technologies serve to give Genesis Coupe 3.8 an impressive power-to-weight ratio of only 10.0:1. According to Hyundai this is significantly lower than the more expensive Infiniti G37 and BMW 335i.

The turbocharged, intercooled 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder substitutes a new twin-scroll design for its turbocharger in addition to a larger intercooler with enhanced thermal efficiency. The twin-scroll design is more efficient at recovering exhaust energy and produces cooler cylinder temperatures than the former single-scroll design. In addition, the twin-scroll is more precise, with improved combustion efficiency, reduced turbo lag, leaner air/fuel ratios and more evenly distributed pressure in the exhaust ports, resulting in simultaneous power, efficiency and emissions improvements. Also, a 53 percent larger intercooler further reduces intake temperatures, providing denser, cooler air from which to develop even more power.

This turbocharged engine also benefits from Dual CVVT on both intake and exhaust camshafts. The 2.0-liter turbo now generates 274 horsepower (a massive 30 percent increase) and 275 lb.-ft. of torque (an impressive 23 percent increase) on premium fuel. And, unlike many competitive turbo engines, this turbo’s anti-knock sensors automatically adjust ignition timing and engine mapping to run perfectly on regular fuel, yielding 260 horsepower at 6,000 RPM and 260 lb.-ft. of torque at 2,000 RPM.  The turbo engine also features a cast-aluminum cylinder block and cylinder head. All these improvements give the Genesis Coupe 2.0T a power-to-weight ratio of 12.3, Hyundai states it is superior to the upcoming Scion FR-S sports coupe and the Honda Civic Si.

Genesis Coupe employs a MacPherson strut dual-link front suspension and a five-link rear suspension setup. The front suspension is mounted to the body via a solid subframe that is lighter and stronger than a comparable multi-piece component would be. To help reduce body roll and tune the Genesis Coupe’s at-the-limit handling for maximum predictability, 23-mm diameter front and 19-mm diameter rear stabilizer bars are fitted.

While all Genesis Coupe models offer a true rear-drive sport driving experience, the high-performance Genesis Coupe R-Spec and Track models raise the bar even higher with differentiated, track-tuned suspension calibrations. The R-Spec/Track suspension features both firmer front spring rates (seven percent) and rear spring rates (eleven percent), with matched damper rates. The Genesis Coupe R-Spec/Track models also deliver a significant increase in roll control over other versions of the Genesis Coupe via thicker stabilizer bars (24mm front/20mm rear). For 2013, all Genesis Coupes receive improved low-velocity-control dampers for refined ride comfort coupled with improved body control.

In addition, all R-Spec and Track models now receive front strut camber adjustment bolts that can be easily installed in the front strut assembly at their owner’s discretion. These camber adjustment bolts allow approximately -1.5 degrees of negative front camber adjustment for sharper, more responsive apex turn-in and significant understeer reduction in competitive events.

Hydraulic, RPM-sensing rack-and-pinion steering has been recalibrated with an even quicker, 13.8:1 ratio, delivering both linear feel and agile response to driver inputs. This new steering ratio is a full seven-percent quicker than the previous model, yielding intuitive steering response and precision. To further optimize driver ergonomics, telescopic adjustment also has been added to tilt adjustment for 2013.

Both engines are mated to standard six-speed manual transmissions which have been extensively refined to provide more driver-friendly shift gating and balanced weighting precision. The clutch take-up, feel, and engagement characteristics also have been refined for optimum shifting ease and feel. Both engines now offer an in-house-developed eight-speed automatic with paddle-shift SHIFTRONIC® manual-shifting capability. Each transmission has been specifically tuned to match its engine’s unique power and torque curve characteristics.

In addition to the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, each automatic offers shift capability via the shift lever according to individual driver preference. A clear LCD readout on the instrument panel shows the selected gear at all times.

Brembo® four-piston calipers clamp down on fade-resistant 13.4-inch ventilated front brake rotors and 13-inch ventilated rear rotors on both R-Spec and Track models. All other models get substantial 12.6-inch front ventilated rotors and 12.4-inch rotors in the rear with floating single-piston calipers.

UPSCALE INTERIOR REFINEMENT

The 2013 Genesis Coupe interior has been enhanced with distinctive, upscale features and design cues. The instrument panel crash pad features a stitched-seam appearance for a distinctly upscale look, and the parking brake lever is leather-wrapped on leather-equipped models. The instrument cluster now features an electroluminescent gauge cluster for premium ambience and superior readability. A new driver-side rear seat walk-in assist function has been added for more convenient rear seat access from the driver’s side. Convenient seatbelt assist guides make it easier for front passengers to buckle up.

In addition, driver seat power lumbar support is now available and front seatback pockets are standard on all Genesis Coupes. A center stack multi-gauge cluster with instantaneous mpg, torque level (3.8 models) or turbocharger boost pressure (2.0T models), and oil temperature is standard on all trims. A center fascia tray with cover has been added for enhanced storage, and interior surfaces now have a softer touch with lower sheen for a more up-market feel.  Sport front seats with deep side bolsters offer superb lateral support for enthusiastic driving in all trim configurations.

Among other premium features are an available Infinity® premium audio system and two-stage front seat heaters. Genesis Coupe also offers the convenience of a Proximity Key and push-button start.

Genesis Coupe offers Xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, for brighter illumination intensity, more daylight-like lighting character and reduced power consumption. In addition, the visual cut lines of these HID headlights are razor sharp, providing maximum nighttime visibility to the driver without the risk of blinding oncoming traffic.

Music lovers will welcome the Genesis Coupe’s standard auxiliary input jacks (3.5 mm mini-jack and USB input) to accommodate and charge personal audio devices such as an iPod®. When an iPod or flash drive is connected through the USB port in the center storage compartment, not only does it play music through the vehicle’s audio system, but it also charges the iPod and allows the driver to access tracks with the steering wheel audio controls. This system also allows both driver and passengers to easily view song/artist/title information and control the music from the audio head unit rather than the iPod unit. This safety-oriented function allows the driver to keep his or her focus on the road at all times.

Hyundai Blue Link telematics is available on 2013 Genesis Coupe with a 90-day complimentary trial period. The Blue Link platform is available on 3.8 Grand Touring/Track and 2.0T Premium trim levels. Blue Link can be accessed from the buttons on the rearview mirror inside the Genesis Coupe, the web and via smart phone. Blue Link is offered in three telematics service packages: Assurance, Essentials and Guidance.

“Blue Link combines safety, service and infotainment into a complete package that works to both help simplify Hyundai owners’ lives and reduce distracted driving,” said Barry Ratzlaff, director of customer satisfaction and service business development, Hyundai Motor America. “We’ve carefully studied how drivers rely on smart phones and navigation systems as an innovative link to the outside world. Blue Link brings that seamless connectivity directly into the car with technology like voice text messaging, Point-of-Interest (POI) web search download, turn-by-turn navigation, and monthly vehicle reporting. Our agent-assisted advanced voice recognition system offers a 21st century solution to performing POI searches in the vehicle.  This unique and innovative approach enables Hyundai to deliver fast, accurate searches and downloads of POIs to vehicles without the unnecessary costs of traditional operator-only type systems of our competitors.”

Hyundai’s focus on offering segment-leading standard safety technologies across its lineup, the 2013 Genesis Coupe includes a wide range of both active and passive safety features. Standard safety technology includes driver and front passenger advanced frontal airbags, along with front seat-mounted side airbags, side air curtains and active front head restraints.

Genesis Coupe has strong unibody construction, along with front and rear crumple zones, bodyside reinforcements and five-mph energy-absorbing bumpers. The hood also includes buckling creases and safety stops.

The front seatbelts have pretensioners and force limiters, and the rear seats feature LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children), which make affixing child safety seats easier.

All Genesis Coupe models feature standard four-channel ABS with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) to optimize brake performance under various dynamic loading conditions. The system also includes Brake Assist, which provides maximum ABS-level braking force when a panic stop is detected.

Electronic Stability Control (ESC), one of the industry’s most effective life-saving technologies, is standard in all Genesis Coupe models. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) studies suggest vehicles equipped with ESC experience 56 percent fewer fatalities in single-vehicle crashes than those without it.

 In a nod to enthusiasts, 2013 Genesis Coupe now offers a specially-tuned three-stage driver-selectable ESC mode. This new three-stage ESC function offers more options for various driver preferences and road conditions:

1.    Full-on ESC function (default mode on start-up)

2.    Intermediate ESC function with driver powertrain override control and retained ESC/TCS braking function

3.    Full-off ESC function for uninhibited driver vehicle control in all conditions

The driver-selectable full-off ESC mode has been calibrated to provide drivers with a larger performance envelope should they choose to participate in competitive events such as autocrosses or track days. The Genesis Coupe anti-lock braking system function (ABS) remains fully functional in all ESC modes to help drivers maintain steering control under adverse braking conditions.

Hyundai is on a true winning streak!

Bruce Hubbard

Auto Advisor Group