AUTOMOTIVE - DRIVEN: Genesis 3.8 R-Spec Delivers

Maybe it?s a bit rough around the edges, but Hyundai?s Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec is a completely enjoyable and fun-to-drive sports coupe at a price nearly anybody can afford.

It goes fast, it handles and it looks cool. And with a bottom line under $27,000, Hyundai once again shows how much car you can buy on a budget.

A small badge on the rear is the only identification of the R-Spec tuning. (Photo: Hyundai) While most automakers save such labels as R-Spec for their top offerings, Hyundai chose it to define its entry-level performance car, delineating it from the mid-level Grand Touring model with all its high-tech refinement and the top-dog Track model, which incorporates all the good stuff from both models.

The R-Spec, then, becomes the no-nonsense hot rod stripped of non-essentials, lightened for performance and focused on driving fun. The result is edgy enough for track-day prowess and refined enough for daily driving, although with some extra harshness.

Power is provided by Hyundai?s 3.8-liter V6 with variable valve timing that generates 306 horsepower and 266 pound-feet of torque driven through the rear wheels with a Torsen-type limited-slip differential. Power delivery is strong with a wide torque curve that feels ready to rip at any speed.

Fuel-conscious drivers can opt for a 2-liter turbocharged R-Spec with 210 horsepower. And I understand that a 5-liter V8 is being pondered for the near future. The 2-liter R-Spec starts at $22,250, which is a striking bargain.

Wide 19-inch alloys and performance tires add to the distinctive styling of the Genesis Coupe. (Photo: Hyundai) R-Spec is enhanced with a firm track-tuned suspension for better cornering and powerful Brembo disc brakes on all four corners, with four-piston calibers up front. Nineteen-inch alloy wheels are fitted with serious performance rubber.

The coupe dives into corners with impressive stability and sticks to the curves like a proper sports car, balanced and controlled. It?s nicely responsive to throttle steer, which would make it a blast to drive on a competitive road course. On two-lane back roads, it charges along through curves and elevation changes like a champ.

The tradeoff is a fairly buffeting ride that can turn harsh on rough road surfaces. I found it mostly acceptable and even agreeably sporty, but some drivers and, especially, their passengers might find it a bit much. Sometimes, I did, too.

In the test car, the V6 was routed through a close-ratio six-speed manual, with no automatic option offered on the R-Spec. The shifting and the clutch action were somewhat dicey, though, with a notchy feel to the shifter and weirdly mushy takeup in the clutch. It worked well enough but not really up to snuff with the competition.

Source: http://automotive.speedtv.com/article/driven-genesis-38-r-spec-delivers/

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