Autoblog

Hyundai, now a world-class engine manufacturer, may lend engine technology to Mercedes-Benz for a future four-cylinder powerplant. It was just a few short years ago that DaimlerChrysler, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai banded together in the Global Engine Manufacturing Alliance (GEMA) to build the so-called World Engine (pictured at right). The GEMA engine, with displacements ranging from 1.8-liters up to 2.4-liters, is found under the hood of more than a handful of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Mitsubishi, and Hyundai products.

While word isn't official, Dr. Hyun-Soon Lee, President of the R&D and Corporate Product Planning and Strategy Divisions of Hyundai-Kia Motors, told Automobile Magazine that he had been approached by Dr. Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG, at the Beijing Auto Show about partnering on a four-cylinder powerplant. Dr. Lee didn't disclose the rest of the conversation, but he did add, "I am not sure we want to share our technology." With the hot Genesis Coupe and luxurious Genesis Sedan ready to roll, and distinguished Mercedes-Benz knocking on the front door, it appears Hyundai's hard work is paying off.

[Source: Automobile Magazine]

After being endlessly mired in the '80s, the Autoblog Podcast has now climbed its way up to #90. Alex took a sick day, so John and Damon hold the fort. We've been in New York, and that's the main focus of the podcast, although we have had more than just John's Alero in the Autoblog Garage. Ford's sale of Jaguar and Land Rover comes up, as does some of the news that's ensued between the end of the New York show and now.

We've got a new podcast-specific email: podcast at autoblog dawt com, so please send in your questions about the show, about us, or about anything car-related you want to know, and we'll make up the best answers we can. Thanks for listening!

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A few weeks back we posted a video of a South Korean automotive journalist performing one of the first road tests of the new Hyundai Genesis sedan, albeit the South Korean market model. Without getting into too much detail, he didn't like it and complained of body roll, mushy brakes, tires not up to the task, etc. It was as if someone gave this guy a Buick when he was expecting a BMW.

Hyundai Motor America was caught off guard by this video and contacted us with their concern. According to them, the U.S.-spec version of the Genesis sedan and the South Korean version are markedly different, with the Yank-ified version tuned much more for a sporty driving experience. The South Korean market, we're told, favors a different kind of large luxury sedan, one that's softer, more luxurious, and to be blunt, more Buick-like.

So we asked Hyundai, "What's so different about the U.S.-spec version?" While they couldn't divulge all the details, we were told that the U.S. version with have a 31% higher spring rate in the front and 13% higher in the rear. In fact, they say the entire suspension will feature many different components geared more towards dynamic driving, including different springs, shocks and tires. Will it live up to Hyundai's promise of a premium sports sedan? We'll let you know after we drive the U.S.-spec Genesis, a car which this South Korean journalist might enjoy a hell of a lot more than the one he drove.

Hyundai expects the 2009 Genesis Sedan to fly off the showroom floor. However, few were probably amused when a pair of the brand-new Korean sedans took a leap from a transporter. We don't know many details other than the incident occurred somewhere in South Korea. Of course, we don't consider this incident extremely newsworthy, but as a blog we do find these automotive-related human errors with expensive aftermaths rather fascinating. Keep 'em coming.

[Source: CarScoop]

The buzz surrounding the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe doesn't seem to be waning. We gave you video B-roll, a paper cut-out, and New York Auto Show coverage. Now, we are bringing you unofficial "photochopped" coverage as enthusiasts take the press images and have some fun customizing them.

Take a look at the four nicely done images in the gallery (flat black with light window tint really looks stealth!), and see if you can come up with your own version to add to the mix (we'll upload the stand-outs to our gallery). Realizing the 2.0-liter turbocharged four is begging for mods, what else are you planning to do to your Genesis? Engine tuning, suspension, electronics? We're betting the aftermarket is gearing up already for this all-new rear-wheel-drive coupe. Thanks for the tip, Dave!

[Source: 4G63HP]

Click above for full high-res gallery of the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

According to Inside Line, movie-goers should expect to see more tire-burning action from Hyundai's new Genesis Coupe than what's already been shown. It seems that the Korean car company has already sent Universal a bright red Genesis Coupe SE powered by the turbocharged four-cylinder engine. This news lends some credence to our opinion that the turbo mill will likely be the tuner's choice, though the big six cylinder is likely to be plenty for most drivers who don't want to modify their car. While we're not waiting on the edge of our seats for the fourth installment of the Fast and the Furious franchise, we think that it'll be pretty cool to see the Genesis Coupe alongside such performance-car stalwarts as the new Nissan GT-R and Subaru STI.



[Source: Inside Line]

It was just yesterday that we brought you a couple of rubber-burning Hyundai Genesis Coupes (video here) at the New York Auto Show. There is a ton of anticipation for this rear-wheel drive sports coupe touting a 310-hp 3.8-liter V6, or a 223-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter I-4. With an expected base price of just over $20,000, and more models to follow (including a Gensis targa and lightweight version), many of you want a Genesis now. Well, your prayers may have been answered (sans a few key mechanical components, of course).

We found this nifty cut-out Genesis Coupe pattern for the enthusiast who wants to put a Genesis Coupe on their nightstand tonight (it may help with your insomnia). If want to put a Genesis Coupe in your driveway, you will have to either wait a year or more for the 2010 model to arrive, or try the cut-out with a really big sheet of paper.

[Source: Gencoupe.com]

Click above to watch the video

UPDATE: Hyundai Motor America responds to the cranky South Korean reviewer. Click here.

The Hyundai Genesis has had a lot of positive speculative press, and there are a lot of journalists anxious to get behind the wheel of the rear-wheel-drive sedan from South Korea. A quick check of the Genesis stat sheet shows that Hyundai is delivering an awful lot of luxury and performance for what promises to be a very low price, but at least one South Korean journalist isn't all that impressed. After the jump is a seven-minute review of the Genesis sedan that absolutely trashes the South Korean Domestic Market sedan in its native tongue.

The reviewer liked the acceleration from the 3.3L V6 and we agree that it sounds great, but from there things get ugly. The Genesis sedan had too much body roll, its driving characteristics were far from dynamic, the brakes were mushy and the tires struggled to grip the road even when they weren't being pushed that hard. The on-camera reviewer summed up the Genesis by saying that luxury equipment does not a luxury vehicle make. We're hoping the Genesis is far better than this reviewer's description, but we won't know until we get behind the wheel to judge for ourselves. Thanks for the tip, Bobae!


[Source: Auto.joins.com via YouTube]

Click above to view Hyundai's two Superbowl ads.

While we're hardly advertising analysts, of all the TV spots that we endured while watching the Superbowl, Hyundai's Genesis commercials seemed to be the most clear and cohesive (unlike some other automakers). Apparently, we weren't alone.

Nielsen's Online MegaPanel Survey crunched some of the data it captured from viewers during the game and found that Hyundai's spots were some of the best received. Overall, 43-percent of the people polled said that the ads improved their view of Hyundai's image, while 57-percent thought that the ads were informative – essentially telling them something new – and 45-percent thought the spots where "believable."

Hopefully some of that goodwill transfers over to dealerships when Hyundai launches the Genesis sedan later this year. It's certainly more of a game-changer than Audi's "old luxury" campaign and it may finally pull Hyundai's image out of the bargain-basement brand identity that it's so fervently trying to escape.

We've embedded Hyundai's Superbowl spots after the jump, along with their press release.

[Source: Hyundai]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Hyundai Genesis sedan.

It's official. After gauging public reaction, Hyundai has decided not to slap on the automaker's swoopy "H" logo onto the Genesis sedan's front grille.

Two versions of the sedan were on display in Detroit, one with the aforementioned badge prominently placed in the center of the fascia and the other, which has been around since the introduction of the Genesis Concept, sporting the krill-grille sans logo. We're evenly divided about which looks better, but the general consensus is that the debadged front end had more of an upscale air.

Speaking with Automotive News, Hyundai's vice president of product development, John Krafic, said that Hyundai is expecting about 20-percent of buyers to opt for the 4.6-liter V8. Interestingly, Krafic said that cylinder deactivation and direct injection could be added on future models and that a supercharger could find its way under the hood to boost performance. No word on when either of these features would be added to the Genesis after it goes on sale this summer.

[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]