By Mark Elias
Thursday, May 28th, 2009 @ 10:14 am

Peachtree Street runs rings around Hotlanta, but is not an easy place for the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe to stretch its legs. Dealing with pedestrians, gawkers and people who just plain don’t know how to drive has gotten on our last raw nerve. But this fraternal twin, as Hyundai ’s ad agency would like you to believe, is an opportunist, taking advantage of every gap in traffic as a means of getting onto I-75. A few minutes later, we leave the big Peach behind to really get a chance to see what this coupe has got.

Spiritual successor
The new Hyundai Genesis Coupe is the chance for the Korean manufacturer to really get out and show its muscle in the performance field. We had a brief opportunity to drive the coupe through the red clay of Georgia’s capital city and its surrounds, and came away with a better feel for what Hyundai is calling the spiritual successor to the Nissan 240 SX. (No comment from Nissan yet.)

The look is all new. Don’t think of the Genesis Coupe as the replacement for the aging Tiburon, either. Entirely new and much fresher than the sometimes bulbous shapes coming out of the Korean design studios, it features a very sophisticated silhouette with interesting facets at all corners. Starting with an arrowhead-like shape from the front and leading over the side edges into a set of “Z-creases,” the Genesis coupe takes a quantum leap into the arena that is currently occupied by the Infiniti G37 , Mazda RX8 and even the BMW 335i. It is available in Base, Premium and Track packages, with an R-Spec (de-contented) version available later in the year.

The headlights have the appearance of a demonic anime character, but after that, the cartoon characteristics seem to disappear. Overall, we think it’s a satisfying design. We especially like details such as the drop-beltline side glass. If we were to find fault, it would be in the grille area itself: We think it could stand a touch more bling, either around the edge of the sheetmetal opening, or on the two cross pieces that the Hyundai logo floats above.

It’s what’s inside that counts
The interior is constructed of extremely high-grade materials that some likened to being equivalent to the big brother Genesis sedan. We won’t go that far, but will say we were pleased with what we saw. From the steering wheel with redundant controls to the twin gauge binnacle, to the center console with audio, climate, and shifter controls, everything was well thought out and scored extremely high in the fit and finish department. Don’t go looking for in-dash navigation quite just yet, however: Hyundai officials say it will be here in the fall.

The seats offer excellent support for extended stints behind the wheel, and were attractive in the all leather or leather with performance fabric inserts that we sampled. The rear seat offers sufficient legroom for runs to a local restaurant or movie theater, or any trip of five minutes or less. Beyond that your head will tire of tilting one way or another thanks to the limited head room.

Powered by the Theta 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine architecture that was a collaboration between Hyundai, Chrysler and Mitsubishi , the coupe joins the sedan’s 3.8-liter V6 to give the company a one-two punch in the sports car arena. Triva fact: the 2.0-liter has the same DNA as the Mitsu 4B11 engine that powers the Lancer Evo X. (Repeat: It is not the same engine, it just shares a similar architecture.) Both the I4 and V6 incorporate a variable valve timing setup to maximize the powerband. For the record, the 3.8 shows up to the party with 306 horsepower and 266 lb-ft. of torque while the 2.0T has 210 horsepower and 223 lb-ft. of twist. Hyundai officials are so that stoked they have signed Rhys Millen Motorsports to campaign the Coupe in Formula D drifting, time attack and even an attempt at Pikes Peak hill climb.

We had a chance to try both engine packages, with Hyundai-built six-speed manual transmissions. Smooth in operation, and with proper gearing, we feel they could both benefit with the addition of a short throw shifter. We were hoping for better pull from the turbo’d four-cylinder. It would be a great thing if Hyundai offered an up-tuned version, complete with the “Holy Grail of Warranties,” their 10-year, 100,000 mile offering to cover such a package. We know the engine can take it. We also know “if you build it, they (the buyers) will come.”

With authority
Silky smooth from the get-go, the V6 has the power to keep pulling in fifth or sixith gear and keep going. It also has a great exhaust note that in the words of Nuke LaLoosh in the movie Bull Durham, manages to announce its presence with authority.

The 2.0T weighs in at 3,294-pounds, with EPA estimates of 21 mpg city and 30 mpg highway, while the 3.8 shows up to the ring boasting of 3,389 pounds and mileage of 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.

The Shiftronic automatic trannies were in short supply so we’ll have to wait our turn until they show up in the press fleet. The 2.0T’s slushbox will have five cogs; the 3.8-equipped car will have six. The Track package that we drove in both four- and six-cylinder models, were equally capable of cruising all day on their 19-inch alloys with summer compounds in the 80-mph range. Firm but not overly so, they exhibited nice road handling manners without jarring the dental fillings on those who were so equipped. Over the base suspension, which also includes a strut brace, the Track model featured Sport-tuned MacPherson struts, with gas charged shocks all around and a 25mm front stabilizer bar. The rear featured a five-link setup with a 22mm stab-bar replacing the normal 18mm version.

The steering was biased towards understeer, where we like it, and the suspension seemed to thrive challenging roads. The result was a car that liked to be pushed through the turns while showing good manners in the process. Credit should also go to the four-pot Brembos at all four corners for bringing the car back to earth again. Through it all, we were very impressed with how quiet the Genesis Coupe was under power. It was a though we were still in the Genesis sedan.

Leftlane’s bottom line
Riding through the Georgia countryside, made us realize the state is not all peaches and pecans. There are some serious ranches and rolling hills throughout the Atlanta suburbs and for just a brief moment we had a chance to sample a car, which although not perfect, still manages to put a smile on our faces – and at a great price point to boot. But then, with Hyundai, you already expected that. Didn’t you?

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T base price, $22,000.
2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 base price, $25,000.

Words and photos by Mark Elias

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