Editorial: Why the Genesis Coupe Will be Successful
Hyundai has really show us they can produce a car that works on paper. Reading off the car’s features in the brochure is like reading a checklist for perfect sports coupe. Rear wheel drive. Check. Turbo four-banger for tune-ability. Check. Monster V6 for factory power. Check. Limited slip diff. Check. Sharp looks. Check. The list goes on and on. But just what niche does the Genesis Coupe fill? And what are it’s closest competitors? Click the jump to read more!
So far in all the reviews we’ve seen of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe compared to another vehicle, it has always been against the Infiniti G37. Lets take a step back and look at it for a moment: The Infiniti G37 is marketed as a luxury car. It might not be high luxury like Mercedes, but it is. As a result, it suffers from the added weight of extra sound deadening and conveniences. Lets compare the features:
Infiniti G37
- VQ37 engine based on the VQ series was on Ward’s 10 Best Engines every year.
- Transmissions include the electronically controlled 7 speed auto or the 6 speed manual with automatic downshift revmatching.
- Viscous Limited Slip differential for smooth power transfers. Makes it more controllable when you’re rounding that corner to get to your executive meeting. Useless for drifting.
- Speed-sensing flat-blade wipers increase intermittent wipes as vehicle speed increases
- Dual Zone Automatic Temperature Control system with microfiltration
- Tips the scales at 3760 pounds. All those creature comforts have to add up!
- Starts at $35900 MSRP
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
- 4B11 as used in the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X or the 3.8L Lambda as used in the Hyundai Entourage minivan. The 4B11 has no balance shafts. You don’t need them. Not when you’re driving an Evo.
- 5 speed auto, 6 speed auto, or the 6 speed manual. Your right foot does the rev matching.
- Torsen-type LSD. Plant the gas at the wrong time and you’ll also plant the car into the nearby telephone pole. Bonus points for making a clean drift across the intersection.
- Has a stalk on the steering wheel where you can adjust the speed of the wiper blades
- Also has air vents, and air conditioning. You have to turn it on yourself though.
- Weighs in at 3402 pounds for the 3.8L V6 model, 3303 pounds for the 2.0T model.
- Starts at $22000 MSRP for the 2.0T, $25000 for the 3.8L V6
May I suggest the lower end model, the Nissan Z (or the 370Z, whichever you prefer). Here’s some specs on the Z which appear to be much closely matched to the Genesis Coupe:
Nissan Z:
- VQ37 engine based on the VQ series was on Ward’s 10 Best Engines every year.
- 7 Speed Electronically Controlled automatic transmission or 6-speed with optional downshift rev matching
- Optional Viscous Limited Slip.
- Manual controlled windshield wipers
- Automatic Temperature Control – I’ll assume this is climate control
- Weighs 3232 pounds
- Starts at an MSRP of $29930
Even so, the base model 370Z is still over $4000 more expensive than a comparable V6 Genesis Coupe, and over $7000 more than the base Genesis Couupe, and it still doesn’t have as many track and performance oriented features. Then again none of the traditional FR styles fit the niche that the Genesis Coupe has created. The other other cars that are currently in production and fit in the “sporty, front engine, rear drive, coupe” category include the Mazda MX-5 Miata, Honda S2000, the Ford Mustang, the Chevy Corvette, and the Chevy Camaro.
Of those cars, the MX-5 Miata and the Honda S2000 are convertible Japanese roadsters, without the hard hitting horsepower that the Genesis Coupe can deliver with the optional V6, or even with the 2.0T with some additional tuning. Additionally, there are always personal image issues with driving those care. Lets face it men, we cannot drive those cars at all without at least feeling a little pain in our dignity. They carry too feminine of an image for us to be driving them around. Their high-strung 4 cylinder N/A engines strain too hard to provide the performance we’ve been craving for.
Next comes the domestic heavy hitters. Horsepower isn’t a problem here; we’ve been good at making power for a long time, and even better at improving the power with some aftermarket work. We need to throw out the Corvette right away though; even the base model coupe costs nearly $50000. What about the Ford Mustang? Its a great price, it starts at $20000. However, look at the specs and you will be quickly disappointed. The poor gutless V6 only makes around 200HP, and the hyped 300HP V8 is equally underwhelming, especially for a car that looks as good as the 2010 Ford Mustang. Even more surprising is the rear suspension. With a design like that, it is almost shameful to call it a sports car, and as Jeremy Clarkson quoted, live rear axles were given up “when the Romans arrived”. That leaves us with the 2010 Camaro coupe. Starting at $24000 MSRP for the 300hp V6, it seems like a great deal, until you realize that the car isn’t due for actual sale until Summer 2009 with an expected “market adjustment” of between $5000 to $10000.
After sitting a few moments, you quickly realize the genius of Hyundai. They effectively saw a gap in the market that was left wide open in the United States for too long. A gap that was partially filled, then brutally punched back out with the short return of the Pontiac GTO. This hole in the market has had many cars attempt to fill it in the past, starting with the AE86 Toyota Corolla in the 80′s to the Nissan 240SX in the 90′s, both wonderful cars that were cut short with high performance versions that were not available in the United States. Now, with the introduction of the Genesis Coupe, Hyundai will attempt to fill that void once again. Only, this time, they will be successful. Why? Because they effectively cornered the market, and made themselves the only real competing car market for this niche. The niche that the American car enthusiast has been lusting for. Even more so, with our economy walking over troubled waters, Hyundai has done nearly the impossible with their Hyundai Assurance, giving consumers the buying confidence they need to make their purchases. As a result, Hyundai has the distinction of being the only automaker that has actually made a profit in 2009, as compared to 2008.
Thank you Hyundai for answering our pleas, and best of luck in the upcoming year! I’ll be following the Genesis Coupe closely!
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