Watch out, Hellcat: Hyundai could be planning a V8-powered Genesis Coupe

By Andrew Hard Published August 23, 2017

Watch out, Hellcat. Here comes Hyundai.

It wasn’t too long ago that Hyundai was lumped in with other economical Korean carmakers like Kia and the now-defunct Daewoo, but the maker of the Genesis have been working diligently to change that.

Hyundai Motor America opened in 1990, but after gaining a reputation for poor craftsmanship and cost cutting, Hyundai invested heavily in quality control. In 1998, the Korean carmaker released the 10-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty for all their U.S. vehicles. Hyundai even bought a 51 percent majority stake in Kia Motors that year, however due to declining interest, that number has slid to 32.8 percent.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Sales began to pick up in the early 2000s, backed by numerous J.D. Power awards and a wider model range.

Hyundai hired Thomas Bürkle as the head of the company’s design center in 2006, and things really started to change. Burkle had worked as a designer for BMW in the past, and he helped develop the Korean manufacturer’s current design philosophy: the nature-inspired ‘Fluidic Sculpture’.

Hyundai HND-9 Concept — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Hyundai Genesis was named the North American Car of the Year in 2009, and it’s easy to see why. The Genesis is a full-size, V8-powered luxury sedan with available all wheel drive and genuine wood trim inside. Hyundai has even developed a new, luxury-style wing badge for the latest model, perhaps hoping the lack of ‘H’ badge would entice would-be Bentley buyers.

Now, GoAuto reports that Hyundai is continuing to improve its model range with the next-gen Genesis Coupe, but don’t expect it to be just a shrunk version of the sedan.

The sporty two-door will reportedly based on the Hyundai Luxury Sports Coupe HND-9 Concept that debuted at the 2013 Seoul motor show. It could (and should) house the 5.0-liter V8 from the sedan that develops 420 horsepower. Other engine choices will include a 3.8–liter V6 making 311 hp and possibly a 2.0–liter, 274-hp turbo four. An eight-speed automatic is also planned.

You can almost hear it screaming, “I’M NOT A KIA!” at the top of it’s eight-cylinder lungs.

(Photos via GoAuto)

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…

Cars

Volkswagen is pursuing the elusive entry-level EV with its ID. EVERY1 concept car

Volkswagen ID. EVERY1 concept car

Volkswagen is hoping to bring electric vehicles to the masses with its super affordable new EV concept. The ID. EVERY1 car will launch in Europe for just €20,000 (around $21,500) and could become the go-to entry-level vehicle for customers interested in EVs.

The small four-door hatchback was revealed as a concept car, with the production model set for a launch in 2027. The EVERY1 will join another affordable model, the ID 2all, which will be launched next year for €25,000 ($27,000), and Volkswagen promises there will be up to nine new models revealed by 2027.

Cars

I sat in the Xiaomi SU7, here are 5 features that every car needs

Xiaomi SU7 Max SUV first look

I’ve spent almost two decades reviewing most facets of consumer technology, but I’ve never been a huge car guy. For many years, it represented a way to get from A to B, but electric cars have changed this.

The best electric cars solve many of my biggest complaints with a car, and some of the best cars are being made by brands I would never have expected. I’ve sat in Sony’s upcoming car, the AFEELA, and I love the immersive entertainment experience, but one of my primary concerns is the lack of a killer use case for many of these features.

Audio / Video

Soon you’ll be able to enjoy Dolby Atmos Music in Cadillac EVs

A red Cadillac EV on a dark background with the Dolby and Cadillac emblems underneath.

Dolby Atmos is a pretty remarkable experience when heard within a properly tuned car cabin setup, as implemented by Rivian R1S and the Cadillac Optiq, in particular. Now, Dolby and Cadillac have announced that Atmos will be support across the entire line of Cadillac EVs -- which includes the Escalade IQL, Escalade IQ, Lyriq-V, Optiq (as we heard at CES), and Vistiq. Support will also extend into select 2025 models with an over-the-air update, although which are not a part of this announcement.

As we now seem to be spending more and more time in our cars (according to the Federal Highway Administration, Americans drive a staggering 3 trillion miles a year), having the best possible sound in our cars is even more desirable than in the past. As John Couling, Senior Vice President of Entertainment at Dolby Laboratories says, "Whether you are listening to music to pass the time on a long commute or sharing a special moment on a family road trip, music has the power to transform mundane moments into something remarkable." Chief Engineer at Cadillac, John Cockburn adds, "Together, [Cadillac and Dolby] are taking audio to new heights by ensuring the music experience stays true to the artist's original vision, delivering a sound experience that makes consumers feel like they are in the music studio with them."