Our spy photographers snapped a few photos of a second-generation 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe test mule wearing first-generation Genesis Coupe bodywork while undergoing some cold weather testing in Sweden, and early indications are that it could be an absolute beast. According to our sources, that bulged hood is hiding Hyundai’s->ke201 5.0-liter Tau V-8. The same engine produces 450 horsepower in the current Genesis sedan, but we can safely predict a bump in power for the new car.->ke142
The extra power and additional weight have necessitated some changes to chassis dimensions. Compared to the old car, the wheelbase has been lengthened and the wheels pushed further toward the corners, to both improve stability and provide more interior space.
Hyundai’s HTRAC all-wheel-drive system could be another option, one that would set it apart from it rivals. With the addition of a V-8 to the lineup, Hyundai has its sights set on the Ford Mustang GT and Chevrolet Camaro V-8. The existing 3.8-liter, 348-horsepower V-6 engine will stay in the lineup as an entry-level option, and the 2.0-liter turbo will probably be dropped. Transmission options will still include Hyundai’s eight-speed automatic and a six-speed manual.
Personally, I never thought the Genesis Coupe’s styling did any favors for an otherwise excellent car, so I’m looking forward to a revamp. The recently redesigned Genesis sedan is a fine-looking automobile, so hopefully a few of its genes will make it to the two-door.
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Click past the jump to read more about the 2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.
Why it matters
Hyundai desperately wants to be taken seriously in the mid-range and premium segments, and building high-quality, exciting rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive cars with V-8s is a pretty good way to do it. But going up against the Mustang and Camaro, both names with decades worth of loyal buyers, is a treacherous path, and Hyundai is still very much in the process of building brand loyalty.
Hyundai’s perception aside, a V-8-powered Genesis Coupe has a pretty good chance of both disrupting the segment and being an absolute weapon of a car. Think of it as a value-brand Jaguar F-Type.
2016 Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Spy Shots
