Mid-engine Hyundai Genesis Coupe by Rhys Millen in the works for SEMA
by Sam Abuelsamid on Sep 17th 2009 at 12:59PM 
A year ago at the annual SEMA show in Las Vegas, Rhys Millen Racing made a splash with it's Hyundai Genesis coupe concept, and this year the team's back with an even more extreme example. Last year's car retained the front engine, rear drive layout of the production car and its turbocharged 2.0-liter four cylinder. This time around, Millen's crew is going with the 4.6-liter Tau V8 from the coupe's big brother sedan.
Rather than trying to pack the oversize powerplant into the coupe's smaller engine compartment, the RMR staff have discarded the pretty much useless rear seat and most of the floorpan. The engine and five-speed sequential gearbox will now occupy the space behind the two remaining front buckets. Most of the suspension is being retained and the trunk-lid and rear glass will be combined into a hatch for engine access. For the most part, the Tau V8 will remain close to stock with the limited mods raising output to around 450 horsepower. No word yet on whether this will be strictly a one-off or whether it will be offered to paying customers... feel free to join the line at the rear.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Andre 1:03PM (9/17/2009)
I would sure like to be there during this engine build process, interesting to say the least..
Reply
MeiSooHaityu 1:12PM (9/17/2009)
I guess the big question is....why??
I suppose "just because they can" is the only valid answer.
Reply
inv4zn 1:18PM (9/17/2009)
Did you not read the article?
"Rather than trying to pack the oversize powerplant into the coupe's smaller engine compartment..."
and if you're asking why they want to put in the V8, then that's also in the article...
"...450 horsepower"
Patrick 1:20PM (9/17/2009)
Exactly my first reaction. First thing that popped into my head was, why?
I mean yeah that's a pretty sick build for sure, but the Genesis coupe doesn't even have mid engine proportions. That's going to be one strangely large front bonnet now.
I'd rather have seen the 2.0T engine mounted where the backseats would be in an Accent hatchback, Renault Clio style. Now THAT I could understand. And I don't know why that makes more sense to me, but it does. I'm sure the V8 could fit in the front engine bay of the Genesis Coupe, and it would make one hell of a drifter. I could see this car being Millen's new hill climber, but then again why not use the 2.0T engine which is lighter and can be built up to ridiculously amounts of power. Idk. I'm an enthusiast of a very broad range of things automotive, and I love me some nice engine swaps, and even mid engine conversions, but this one just leaves me scratching my head. Didn't Steve Millen do a mid engined Ponitac Solstice for SEMA though?
zamafir 1:53PM (9/17/2009)
@inv4zn - he doesn't need to. he's likely read more than the article and more than just autoblog today. Look back at the golf W12 and other concepts in this ilk. Best of luck to Millen, but the why still stands.
kal326 2:17PM (9/17/2009)
I'm with Patrick on this one, the 2.0T in their from the factory has some ties back to the Evo motor. I'm sure with a little work you could get the 2.0T up to 450hp, certainly less work than a complete MR convert with a Tau V8.
BoxerFanatic 1:24PM (9/17/2009)
Now THIS is an interesting Genesis Coupe.
Mid-engined and V8... this should be fun to watch. :D
Reply
Sal Collaziano 1:35PM (9/17/2009)
I suppose this is kinda similar to the V8 Honda Civic RWD conversion somebody did awhile back. It's interesting. I wonder how fast it'll be.. I doubt this is something we'll see more than once, however..
There are plenty of ways to modify what's already there engine-wise...
Sal Collaziano
http://www.genesisowners.com
Reply
TurboFear 2:42PM (9/17/2009)
My guess is that it's a one of practice run for RMR's entry to the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb next year.
Rhys himself said he will be back next year to go for the legendary 10 minute mark in the Open class, and he said he would be in a Hyundai. The rumor has been that he is building a mid-engine turbo V8 Genesis with AWD. It looks as if this could be study in how to fit the engine, etc. before they build the racecar...
Hopefully thats what this is, I can't wait for next year's PPIHC with RMR moving to the Open class as well as Marcus Gronholm returning with a much better understanding of what it takes to climb the Peak. Not to mention Monster's newest entry, whatever that may be!
Reply
Jeff 2:46PM (9/17/2009)
I think this is a cool project and I love when people put wrong engines in places they shouldn't be.
That said, I honestly question whether this is a good idea and how how Hyundai feels about it. Presumably Hyundai sponsored entry into this series to help sell their cars. But Millen keeps moving it further away from the production car. First he used a Nissan VQ engine, now a mid-mounted V8? I'm starting to wonder what is it about the dynamics of the production car that it can't compete?
At some point this thing will be like a NASCAR "Taurus" - not fooling anyone.
Reply
BigWill 3:14PM (9/17/2009)
He's shoehorning a Hyundai Tau V8 into the middle of a Hyundai Genesis coupe. How could that possibly not be a good idea? I'm sure Hyundai would much rather have the Tau there than the Nissan VQ he was using before.
The only thing that would make this better is if Hyundai had given them one of their supercharged 4.6 Taus that makes ~460hp stock.
Level 4:01PM (9/17/2009)
They should of packed that engine in the front and give people an idea of what it would take to swap out the Genesis engine in for a V8 instead....That would of been a greater R&D project which would have benefited other Genesis coupe owners, if they were going to take on the task themselves...
Reply
Solstice 10:27PM (9/17/2009)
My thoughts exactly. Ever since I heard about the Genny Coupe i've had daydreams of a Tau conversion. And all i've ever wanted to know about it is... how much? :)
Steve Bennet 4:54PM (9/17/2009)
RMR should of stuck with what worked... the solstice.
Reply
ConceptVBS 9:10PM (9/17/2009)
Stick with a dead company. Good idea. Why didnt I think of that?
jsjs 4:46PM (9/18/2009)
Rhys, himself, has indicated that the Genesis is better suited for what he does.
Plus, his record-setting Pikes Peak run seems to reflect that.
Anyway, the scuttlebutt is that the next gen Genesis coupe will go upmarket and include a Tau V8 variant.
vipercookie 6:49PM (9/17/2009)
If the V8 wont fit, just mod the V6 or the 2.0T, which would be the obvious solution. Instead lets just turn it into a mid-engine car, and put a hot ass V8 right on your back. I don't get it.
Reply
ForgedInternals 7:02PM (9/17/2009)
What line? This car will be horrendous to drive set up like this. If they had fit the V8 in the regular engine bay or if they were offering a performance variant of the Genesis then they're would be a demand.
Reply
Matt (that likes ford) 7:27PM (9/17/2009)
I'm pretty sure this is one of the coolest things I've seen all day......
This and a new Mustang GT getting completely sideways in the rain off a traffic light.
EPIC
Reply
Joel 8:23PM (9/17/2009)
I vote he put the 2.0T mounted transversely in the front. Dual Engine AWD POWA!
Reply