2009 Hyundai Genesis Review

Page 3 of 8

Under the Hood

The two engines available in the Genesis make no apologies to their Japanese and European luxury car contemporaries. The V-6 boasts 290 horsepower and 264 lb.-ft. of torque from its 3.8-liters of displacement. That’s more than respectable; it makes it one of the most powerful engines in its class. It’s connected to a six-speed automatic built by Aisin that features manual shift control through a special gate, and drives the rear wheels.

The V-8 is Hyundai’s first, and it’s one hell of a first effort. Output from its 4.6 liters is 375 horsepower and 333 lb.-ft. of torque. That’s more power than a Lexus GS 460, a BMW 550i or an Infiniti M45, although it lags in torque behind all three. It too is connected to a six-speed automatic with a manual mode, this one produced by German manufacturer ZF. Both the V-8 and V-6 models feature the same sophisticated multi-link front and rear suspensions designed to offer an ideal balance between ride and handling.

However, there are more differences between the two models than just engine choice. The steering on the V-8 uses an electro-hydraulic power assist, which is intended to offer the feeling of a standard steering system, but without the fuel-consuming parasitic drag of a belt-driven hydraulic pump like on the V-6 model. The brakes are also different. The V-6 models get 12.6-inch discs gripped by two-piston floating calipers in front and 12.4-inch discs in the rear. V-8 models up the ante with 13.0-inch discs gripped by four-piston fixed calipers, which are stiffer than the kind used on the V-6 models and thus help generate better stopping force.

In the past, Hyundai’s vehicles have been on the heavy side, and this is something the company wanted to rectify with the Genesis. To that end, the company has used high-strength steel in 74 percent of the car’s body, and used structural adhesives extensively in its construction. The upshot is a sedan that weighs 3,748 lbs. in V-6 form and 4,012 lbs. with the V-8, which is very competitive for this class.