Automobile Blog April Archive

Hyundai 2010 Genesis - Cheapest Sports Coupe ?

By Michael Shoemaker at 04/16/08 10:39

Last March 19, the Korean car giant Hyundai announced its commitment to build the world's cheapest sports coupe. The 2010 Genesis Coupe is a purpose-built rear-wheel drive sports coupe featuring two performance-focused engines - a 212-horsepower 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a range-topping all-aluminum 306-horsepower, DOHC 3.8-liter V6 engine. It is also said that the car will join Hyundai's line up by the spring of 2009.

The Genesis Coupe is said to be Hyundai's most dynamic performance car ever built. The Genesis Coupe was first shown as a concept car at the 2007 Los Angeles Auto Show, and now that it entered production, the design remained intact. The price was not unveiled but let us stick to what the company promised of it being the cheapest in the world. Cross fingers for that!

GENESIS COUPE SPECIFICATIONS (from jalopnik.com)

• Configuration: Front engine, rear-wheel drive
• Wheelbase: 2820 mm / 111.0 inches
• Overall length: 4630 mm / 182.3 inches
• Overall width: 1865 mm / 73.4 inches
• Overall height: 1380 mm / 54.3 inches
• Wheels: 18-inch or 19-inch five-spoke
• Engine types: 3.8-liter V6 or 2.0-liter 4-cylinder turbo
• Est. horsepower V6: 306 @ 6,000 rpm (regular fuel)
• Est. horsepower V6: 310 @ 6,000 rpm (premium fuel)
• Est. torque V6: 263 lb. ft. @ 4,700 rpm (regular and premium fuel)
• Est. horsepower 2.0t: 212 @ 6,000 rpm (regular fuel)
• Est. horsepower 2.0t: 223 @ 6,000 rpm (premium fuel)
• Est. torque 2.0t: 217 lb. ft. @ 2,500 rpm (regular and premium fuel)
• Block & head materials: aluminum for both engines
• Valvetrain: DOHC for both engines
• Valve timing: continuously variable valve timing for both engines (Dual for 2.0t)
• Estimated 0-60 mph V6: under 6 seconds
• Transmission types: 6-speed manual, 5-speed automatic (4-cylinder) or 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic (V6)
• Front brakes: 12.6-inch (standard) 13.4-inch (Brembo package)
• Rear brakes: 12.4-inch (standard) 13.0-inch (Brembo package)
• Front calipers: single piston floating (standard), monobloc four-piston (Brembo package)
• Rear calipers: single piston floating (standard) monobloc four-piston (Brembo package)
• Limited slip differential (Optional)
• Est. top speed: 149 mph (V6), 137 mph (2.0t)
• Base curb weight: 3549 lbs. (V6); 3439 lbs. (4-cylinder)

Toyota And Subaru Tie-Up

It is confirmed, the two giant car manufacturers are tying up to build a very affordable small sports coupe.

According to Toyota's confirmation late last week, the car they will be building will go on sale on the US market by 2011 while the release for the rest of the globe is still not defined.

The car will be built on Subaru's parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, in Japan and will be featuring the company's flat-four petrol engine. A top-end variant - thought to be in the vein of the Celica GT4 - is expected to feature Subaru's all-wheel-drive system.

The talks between the two company divided the task each of them will be participating in. Subaru will be designing the platform of the car while Toyota will be the one designing the exteriors, with each model clearly differentiated and separately marketed.

The confirmation was done on Toyota's announcement that they will increase their stake on the Fuji Heavy Industries to 16.5% wherein it has paid an estimated $300million to up its holding from the 8.7 per cent it bought in 2005.

This teaming up brought another collaboration between the two company. Toyota is to build a compact for Subaru, more likely a successor of the Justy model. Daihatsu, who is majoraty-owned by Toyota, is also set to make a series of small cars for Subaru, including a version of its Coo, commonly known as Materia, and tiny city cars with engines under 660cc.

This joining of force will surely be a hit especially now that Toyota holds the world title for being the largest car maker in the world, over taking GM's reigning for 76 years.