IT may not be the super funky coupe version that has wowed audiences at the 2014 SEMA show in the US (see our separate stories on the BTR, TOCA and ARK Performance incarnations), but the 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan is here.
Hyundai has launched its most significant, sophisticated and technologically advanced car yet – the Genesis sedan. It delivers ground-breaking levels of refinement and has been specified and locally tuned to suit the Australian market.
Completely redesigned from the ground up from it’s American market ancestry, the new ‘DH’ model Genesis has already collected a long list of international design, quality and technology awards, including the prestigious Red Dot Product Design and iF (International Forum Design GmbH) awards.
Following technical development at Hyundai’s R&D Centre in Namyang, Korea, high-speed and durability testing of the DH Genesis was carried out at the famed Nordschleife part of the Nurburgring, in Germany, and at Yeongam Circuit, Korea.
Extreme hot-weather testing was conducted in Death Valley, Colorado (USA), while extreme cold-weather testing was carried out on Sweden’s famed Argeplog Lake. Final durability testing was also carried out in Eastern and Central Australia.
As well as 5 star ANCAP rating, Genesis was awarded the highest ANCAP score ever achieved in local crash testing, and there is plenty to like about the new model.
Styling
Genesis debuts Hyundai’s Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 design language, the significant evolution of the design philosophy that shaped the current generation of Hyundai models. Fluidic Sculpture 2.0 is restrained, strictly modern, sophisticated and decidedly athletic.
Design elements contributing to the car’s striking presence include its new 3D one-piece hexagonal grille, dramatic HID headlights, LED indicators and daytime running lights, a sweeping character line along its flanks, aerodynamically tuned boot lid, and ‘jeweled’ LED tail-lights.
Interior
Genesis’ interior is genuinely luxurious, highly functional and boasts generous cabin space, with double-stitched, perforated leather-appointed front seats offer 12-way adjustment for the driver.
In the Genesis Sensory Pack (add on) additional seating comfort is offered via an extendable seat-cushion under-thigh support, bolster adjustment and four-way lumbar-support adjustability. The top-level Genesis Ultimate Pack offers ventilated front seats and heated rear seats.
Satellite Navigation
The Genesis centre console is highlighted by its impressive 9.2-inch wide-view capacitive touchscreen satellite navigation system. High-definition screen resolution is an impressive HD 720p.
The system makes getting to your destination easier by incorporating HERE maps, SUNA live traffic updates, and a comprehensive Point of Interest (POI) database. The 9.2-inch touchscreen also acts as a display for the Genesis’ around view monitor, providing a 360-degree bird’s-eye-view.
Convenience and technology features
Proximity sensors recognise the Genesis sedan’s Smart Key, automatically extending the side mirrors on approach. At night, the parking lights and door handles are illuminated and side mirrors extended, which then project the word ‘Genesis’ in puddle lamps on either side of the car.
Inside, the Genesis also uses world-first CO2 sensor technology. Hyundai engineers discovered that occupants become drowsy when CO2 levels in the vehicle reach more than 2000 parts per million. The new ventilation system prevents this from happening by adjusting and balancing the intake of fresh and recirculated air to keep CO2 levels below that level.
Ride and handling
Alloy wheels at 18-inches on Genesis and Genesis Sensory Pack models are shod with 245/45 R18 Hankook tyres. Nineteen-inch alloys on the Ultimate Pack are shod with 245/40 R19 (front) and 275/35 R19 (rear) Dunlop SP Sport Maxx GT tyres. Tyre-pressure monitoring is standard across the Genesis range.
Newly incorporated rack-mounted Motor Driven Electric Power Steering (R-MDPS) and Variable Gear Ratio (VGR) systems combine to enhance high-speed stability and more direct steering response at low and medium speeds. The steering system uses the highest level 32-bit processor for improved tuning parameters.
Diamond-shaped strut tower bars and end pipes reinforce engine bay strength, further contributing to steering stability and handling agility.
Powertrain
Australian Genesis sedans are rear-wheel-drive and powered by Hyundai’s critically acclaimed – and award-winning – 232kW/397Nm Lambda II 3.8-litre GDi V6 engine. It is matched to Hyundai’s in-house eight-speed automatic transmission.
The Lambda II engine produces its 232kW maximum power at 6,000rpm and 397Nm maximum torque at 5,000rpm – with 90% of peak torque available between 2,000rpm and 6,000rpm.
0-100km/h acceleration is an impressive 6.5sec, with a standing 400m acceleration time of 14.8sec. Combined fuel economy is 11.2L/100km.
Exclusive to the Genesis sedan is the Hyundai-developed eight-speed automatic transmission, which offers enhanced shift logic and speed, better acceleration, sports-mode mapping, smooth gear shifts, and high levels of efficiency.
The eight-speed transmission also includes SHIFTRONIC® manual shift capabilities which, when combined with the ergonomically positioned paddleshifters, provide spirited driving with manual shifting.
The new Genesis sedan is priced from $60,000 – with the Sensory Pack on the market for $71,000 and the Ultimate Pack available from $82,000.
