Positioned as an affordable sports car, the rear-wheel-drive Genesis coupe is in a price class with the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro and Nissan 370Z. Like Hyundai’s upscale Genesis sedan, however, Hyundai hopes the four-seat coupe will go toe-to-toe with the Infiniti G37 coupe, one of the benchmarks used during the car’s development.
The coupe comes in two basic models, each named for its 2.0- and 3.8-liter engines, in three trim levels apiece. The base turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder is the 2.0T, and there are pricier 2.0T Premium and 2.0T R-Spec versions. Models with the 3.8-liter V-6 are the 3.8 R-Spec, the 3.8 Grand Touring and 3.8 Track.
The tuner-focused R-Spec models have the operative Track components and lower prices but fewer features.
New for 2012 There are no significant changes for the 2012 model year.
Exterior The coupe has sleek lines, and the projector-beam headlights flank a small upper grille that’s marked with the Hyundai badge, unlike the Genesis sedan. Exterior features include:
Interior The Genesis coupe has “2+2” seating, which means two front seats and two small rear seats that are best left for children or parcels. Though it’s not as luxurious as the Genesis sedan, the Genesis coupe has comparable blue-backlit gauges, pleasant materials and upscale touches, like a leather-wrapped shift knob and a steering wheel with audio and cruise-control buttons. Interior features include:
Standard remote keyless entry
Standard Bluetooth, iPod connectivity
Available leather upholstery
Available automatic climate control
Available touch-screen navigation system
Under the Hood The Genesis coupe’s base engine is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder that generates 210 horsepower. A 306-hp, 3.8-liter V-6 is available. Hyundai claims a zero-to-60-mph time of less than 6 seconds. Mechanical features include:
Standard six-speed manual transmission
Available five- or six-speed automatic with steering-wheel shift paddles
Four-wheel independent suspension
Available track-tuned suspension
Safety Four-wheel-disc antilock brakes are standard, and the Track replaces the lesser trim levels’ single-piston brake calipers with four-piston Brembo-brand calipers and larger rotors. Rear parking sensors are optional. Standard safety features include:
