Filed under: Motorsports, New York Auto Show, Convertibles, Coupes, Hyundai
Hyundai planning lightweight Genesis coupe, targa model to follow
by Damon Lavrinc on Mar 18th 2008 at 11:16PM 
Click above for a high-res gallery of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
On the eve of the official unveiling of the Genesis coupe, we were able to score a few details from company execs about the future of Hyundai's first foray into turbocharged, rear-wheel-drive goodness. While Hyundai will only be showing off two versions of the Genesis coupe in New York, more variants are planned for the future, including a targa model sporting a retractable glass roof (ala Porsche 911 Targa), a convertible, and, more compelling, a lightweight version only offered with the 2.0-liter, turbocharged four-cylinder.
Hyundai admits that only so much can be done to shed pounds from the coupe, which is already a rather portly beast to begin with, but by nixing some of the sound deadening material and possibly ditching the rear seats, Hyundai hopes that the sporting nature of the Genesis coupe will be fully realized. Naturally, this proposed lightweight model would have even more appeal to enthusiasts and could foretell a future motorsports campaign from an automaker that has thus far stayed off the performance junkie's radar.
We'll have a full report after Hyundai's press conference tomorrow, so check back in around 3:50 pm for the full scoop on the Genesis coupe.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
tech9 11:29PM (3/18/2008)
wow, hyundai going for a "performance" model genesis. im actually excited to see the outcome.
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KA 12:19AM (3/19/2008)
Heh, yeah. They should call it the Genesis Superleggera.
naggs 2:03AM (3/19/2008)
i bet this is a direct response to all the chatter about this car
every other comment is should be fantastic, unless it weighs too much. finally car companies are starting to realize that performance enthusiasts look at weight just as much as HP.
this car is making me a fan of hyundai and its not even out yet. fantastic job guys, keep up the good work.
zigzagz94 11:31PM (3/18/2008)
Sign me up for the lightweight turbo 4 banger, hopefully it will come with a body kit to fix the fugly front end though.
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Torrent 11:39PM (3/18/2008)
A body kit might actually fix the front end. I never thought of that.
Reader 12:43AM (3/19/2008)
That was the exact though I had when I saw this car. Hopefully a body kit could make it a winner.
Yar 11:37PM (3/18/2008)
Hyundai? I'm actually impressed with Hyundai? My God...
Please excuse me, my pork roast is making a break for the window...
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joe 11:41PM (3/18/2008)
If you guys get a chance to climb in, can you check to see how the backseat is on the car? just curious how well it could fit passengers back there. and no, this isn't meant to be a lame joke, i'm seriously interested.
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HotRodzNKustoms 11:49PM (3/18/2008)
A turbo 4 is natural for Hyundai to turn to since, this is what I hear from my sources, that their 4 is actually the preferred powerplant of Tiburon after market tuners due to how stout it is.
But I am more interested in the convertible. I remember the CSS (Tiburon convertible) was a favorite concept of mine.
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Insiderunknown 12:00AM (3/19/2008)
Since Hyundai's family of 4 cyls comes from the GEMA family of engines I think its safe to think this engine can easily make 230-250hp. If the lightweight version can come in around 3300lbs and offer at least 250hp it will be a great bargain and great fun!
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hashiryu 12:15AM (3/19/2008)
SO how much does this actually weigh?
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PJ 12:55AM (3/19/2008)
I wish I had a sense of just how big this thing is. I haven't yet seen it in person. If it's Tiburon-sized and reasonably close to 3,000 lbs, Hyundai is going to have an aftermarket darling on its hands.
Anyone seen it in the metal?
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Kristovar 1:02AM (3/19/2008)
If they actually come out with a RWD Turbo 4 in this with a 5 or 6 speed manual, I will trade my SRT-4 in for one. There is no question about it.
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Ken 1:19AM (3/19/2008)
They will. RWD for sure. I4 turbo for sure. Manual 95% sure.
seniorgusto 1:04AM (3/19/2008)
The more pictures I see of this car, the more I tend to dislike it. Hate the front. The little curvy back window looks worse every time I see it. I put my dislike for the front right up there with the 2 silver strips on the Altima Coupe that makes it look like it has a mustache...
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Ken 1:18AM (3/19/2008)
Wow, a GT3-like Hyundai (in terms of a 'super' version of the standard car).
I think as energy becomes more expensive, we will start to pay for less weight, not more power and bigger...which is the way things should really be. Take any decent car today...and reduce its weight by 10% (300-400 pounds), it would be faster, handle better, and more fun.
Seriously, they could do some seriously cool stuff with this car.
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jp 1:26AM (3/19/2008)
HORRIBLE move by hyundai. they introduce a sports sedan, "genesis" with a V6 and an optional V8 to compete with the higher end luxury brands because they want to get rid of their reputation of the manufacturer that produced the "pony". fine, good move. but now they introduce the tiburon II and brand it as the genesis coupe with a 4-banger.
the marketing exec needs to be fired for this move. if someone decides to buy the genesis sedan then sees someone driving a RICED-out genesis coupe, you better believe the guy is gonna buy out his lease or sell his V8 genesis.
both cars are fine, jut rename the genesis coupe and take a lesson on branding.
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tech9 2:56PM (3/19/2008)
you bring about a valid point. hyundai may be too ambitious and overextending its name to luxury and sports.
however, if hyundai pulls it off, it will just make things better for them. its sure risky, but the best of luck to them.
Mark 2:30AM (3/19/2008)
This is not a Tiburon II. This new coupe will slot ABOVE the next generation Tiburon.
Next...
jp 3:28AM (3/19/2008)
i was being sarcastic when i said tiburon II, i know its not a tiburon. i just really think if hyundai wants to go up against the luxury sedans of bmw, benz, infiniti, etc. then they need to rename this coupe anything else without the "genesis" name.
but don't get me wrong, i think both cars look great, but from a business perspective, they'll be cannibalizing their new line by renaming this one genesis COUPE