Genesis Coupe Toying With Europe

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Genesis Coupe Toying With Europe
Genesis Coupe Toying With Europe

Video: Genesis Coupe Toying With Europe

Video: Genesis Coupe Toying With Europe
Video: What Is Time Well Spent? | Genesis Free Diver | Genesis Europe 2024, March
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Under certain circumstances, Europe too, according to the manufacturer's vague future option. Hyundai is just introducing the new Genesis Coupe to its audience in the USA.

By Stefan Grundhoff

The times when Hyundai was satisfied with small rolls are long gone. The Koreans are really stepping on the gas in the USA. After the Genesis luxury sedan, the coupé of the same name is now coming onto the market. The chances are good that the sporty two-door model will also come to Europe in 2010.

Names like Getz, Sonata, Terracan and Accent are contemporary witnesses of yesterday. Hyundai, Korea's number one automaker, has big plans for the next few years. While the global markets are depressed as a result of the economic crisis, Hyundai is completely redesigning its model range. While in Europe it is new small and compact cars such as the i10, i20 and i30 that have given new momentum, the drums in the USA are much louder. With the new Genesis luxury sedan, Hyundai is almost rebellious against the well-known competition from Audi, Mercedes, BMW and Lexus. Now the so far not very charismatic Koreans are putting a spearhead on with the completely newly developed Genesis Coupé.

New platform

"The Genesis Coupé stands on a completely newly developed platform," explains program manager Young Shin Cho, "as it should be for a real sports coupé, the car has powerful engines and rear-wheel drive." The showpiece is the 3.8-liter V6, already known from the sedan as an entry-level engine, which provides 222 kW / 303 hp and a maximum torque of 368 Nm. Its top speed is sealed off at 240 km / h. The rear-wheel drive car can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in less than six seconds. The pleasing design with short overhangs and the wide cheeks above the rear wheel arch is underlined by a sonorous rumble with which the Hyundai enchants the ears of the occupants from 3,000 rpm. In the first row you sit on snuggly sports seats, supported and comfortable. The high-quality plastic surfaces and clear control elements in the interior are pleasing. In contrast to the Genesis sedan, however, there is no luxury charm.

The almost 1.6-ton Genesis Coupé hangs well on the gas and can also convince with the optional 19-inch wheels in a sporty ride. The 4.63 meter long newcomer is not as sporty and pointed as a Nissan 370 Z or as balanced as an Infiniti G 37, but it forms a very successful mixture of comfort and dynamism. The steering could be a bit more direct, especially for a coupé in this league. But the overall picture of performance, price and design fits. In view of what is on offer, the Genesis Coupé could look even a little thicker and be more based on the Genesis sedan, which is well worth seeing.

In the 1970s and 1980s, volume coupés such as the Opel Manta, Porsche 924 or Ford Capri were popular objects of desire for the masses. From 2010, the Genesis Coupé could also follow in their footsteps in Europe. The two-liter four-cylinder would be just right for many markets. It develops 154 kW / 210 PS and 305 Nm of torque and is hardly inferior to the significantly more powerful six-cylinder, apart from a top speed of 224 km / h. Its average consumption should be around nine liters of petrol per 100 kilometers. The larger six-cylinder should consume around 1.5 liters more. In addition to the impressive six-speed manual transmission, the Hyundai Genesis Coupé will also be available with a five-speed automatic transmission in both engine variants.

In the USA, the Hyundai Genesis Coupé 2.0 T starts from as little as 22,000 US dollars. And also in the euro zone, the properly equipped two-door should start under 30,000 euros. The fully equipped top model with partially electric leather seats, xenon lights and 19-inch models costs around 31,000 US dollars in the USA. “A final decision about a market launch in Europe has not yet been made,” says Young Shon Cho, “the markets are loudly demanding him. But first we would have to make adjustments such as pedestrian protection or the euro. " Werner Frey, Managing Director of Hyundai Motor Germany: “We definitely want to offer the Genesis Coupé to our customers in Germany as an image carrier. In any case, it would fit very well into our model range."

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