First released in October 2008 for the Korean market, the Genesis coupe is Hyundia’s first ever real-wheel drive sports coupe. The car later made its breakthrough in the US market in 2009 as the 2010 model.
The Genesis Coupe shares its basic platform with the Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan. There are two engine choices available for this affordable sports car; the first is a standard engine with a 2.0liter Theta turbocharged 4-cylinder that can produce a maximum of 210 hp (157 kW; 213 PS) and 320 Nm of torque. The second is the optional 3.8-liter Lambda V6 engine that delivers up to 306 hp (228 kW; 310 PS) and 361 Nm of torque.
The 4-cylinder turbocharged engine has the same bottom end as the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. The engine sports oil injectors under the pistons, which acts as a cooler. The turbo can push up to 6PSI. The standard Genesis coupe comes with a 6-speed manual transmission, but you can always opt for the 5- or ZF 6-speed automatic transmission.
Performance-wise, the Genesis does not disappoint. Its powerful engine enables it to move from standstill to 60 mph in a mere 3.8 seconds. The track model, installed with a 2.0T engine and sporting manual transmission, also proved satisfactory, performing a 6.9 sprint. For a $20,000 sports car, this is not bad. The estimated fuel economy of the manual-shift 2.0T is 21 mpg city/30 mpg, while the manual-shift 3.8 gives 17 mpg city/26 mpg highway.
Speaking of comfort, driving the Genesis couple is quite comfortable. Hyundai has designed a cockpit that allows the driver to have maximum visibility of the road ahead, even if the seating position may seem a bit low-slung. Unfortunately though, drivers with shorter legs may find driving a bit uncomfortable. The seats are surprisingly comfortable, even for long drives. The back seat is a bit small, however, and only accommodates children and cargo.