Hyundai Concept Genesis: Rear-Wheel Drive Korean V8 Motoring
Channel Staff - 28/Mar/2007 | 
Hyundai Concept Genesis
Powered by a new V8 engine, Hyundai is
now a member of the rear-wheel drive club
Hyundai The New BMW?A rear-wheel drive Korean car? With a V8 engine?? Surely there's a misprint somewhere... Nope, it all checks out. And
the car built for the American market is aiming high. Rather that
benchmark itself against Nissan, or Honda, or even Lexus, Hyundai says
that "...ultra high-tensile steel in critical areas
in the body shell provides Concept Genesis with a 12-14 per cent higher
dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body-in-white weight than the
BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class." Lighter, stiffer, and
presumably better handling than the European class-leaders? Let's wait
and see on that claim. The Concept Genesis marks a big change for South Korean car maker
Hyundai, and by building a V8-powered rear-wheel drive sedan with big
aspirations the company has made its intentions clear. And who knows - it could be a world-beater. Stranger
things have happened... - Feann Torr, Editor |
With 20-inch wheels, the Genesis show car is
likely to garner lots of attention in New York
|
New York, USA —
Australian customers have been begging Mitsubishi for a rear-wheel
drive large sedan to rival the Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon for
years, but the recovering Japanese automaker has been beaten to the
punch by Korean car maker Hyundai, who has plans to build a rear-wheel
drive sedan for the North American market, a car that would no
doubt be welcomed in Australia. The Concept Genesis is
Hyundai's first-ever V8-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports sedan, and
will be launched at the 2007 New York International Auto Show on April
the 4th. While the design is far from radical like
some concept cars - save for the LED headlights - this makes sense
as the car is heading to production in the short-term future. According
to Hyundai, it hopes to have a 'premium' rear-wheel drive sports sedan
in left-hand-drive (US, European) markets by 2008. "Concept
Genesis extends our model range into new territories from a
performance, design and packaging perspective. When it arrives in
2008 it will catapult Hyundai into competition against some potent
rivals, and Genesis is up for the challenge," said Steve Wilhite,
who is the COO of Hyundai Motor America. Hyundai's
new rear drive concept car is based on a prototype of Hyundai's all-new
rear-wheel-drive platform says the company, which signals the brand's
desire to broaden its appeal to driving enthusiasts. The Korean car
maker has been hard at work on a new V8 engine, codenamed Tau, which
features a variable induction system and variable valve timing. Vital statistics - though preliminary for the concept - are as follows:  Power: 223kW+ (300hp+)
Torque: 407Nm+ (300 lb. ft.+)
Displacement: 4627cc
Block: High pressure die casting aluminium block
Cylinder head: Aluminium
Valvetrain: Dual Over Head Camshafts (DOHC)
0-60 mph: (96km/h): under 6.0 seconds
Top speed: 130mph (209km/h) restricted
Based
on the performance statistics given, a zero to 96km/h sprint of under
6.0 seconds would suggest that the car is much lighter than its rivals,
most of which in the large sports sedan segment need around 500Nm to
perform at such levels. Another interesting point is the 209km/h speed
restriction - is this a sign of things to come? The 4.6-litre
V8 engine will be mated with a German-built ZF 6-speed automatic
transmission and a limited-slip differential will also be part of the
package. Hyundai says the Tau V8 is a flexible powerplant, and has left
door open to future modifications, suggesting possible changes
like forced induction, larger displacement, and and other technology enhancements (read: hybrid). Standard
features expected to make the transition from concept to production
include things like advanced adaptive cruise control, heated/cooled
seats, satellite navigation with a reversing camera, an electronic
parking brake, a premium surround audio system and no less than eight airbags. With
all these features and specifications, Hyundai's new rear-drive V8
sedan should represent significant value and could prove to
be massively popular in the US, especially if it's asking price
remains below the US$30,000 price point. The
driver can select various
suspension settings that Hyundai says will tailor the ride and handling
characteristics according to need or desire, but hasn't explained the
particulars of this adjustable suspension system, which consists
offive-link independent suspension at the front, and also five-link
independent rear suspension. Comfort will be further improved
by the cars size: it measures more than 5.0 metres long and 1.86
metres wide, which makes it slightly longer than the Holden
Commodore. Hyundai
has been very forthcoming with information on the new model, revealing
that safety systems will be mainly comprised of ESP with traction
control, eight airbags and active head restraints. Other features for
the new premium sports sedan include 320mm front and 315mm rear disc
brakes connected to ABS, Brake Assist and Electronic Brake Distribution
(EBD). "Concept Genesis is a manifestation of Hyundai's determination to
deliver world-class models across all segments. With Genesis, we’ve got a unique product
position -- an all-new, highly capable rear-wheel-drive platform, a
high-performance power train and premium, progressive design – all at a
price starting well under $US30,000," said John Krafcik, who
is the vice president of product development and strategic planning for Hyundai's American branch. Related articles:
- Hyundai i30 (Road Test)
- Hyundai Santa Fe (Road Test)
- Hyundai Getz (Road Test)
- Hyundai Tucson
- Hyundai Vera Cruz
- Hyundai Elantra |
