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Automotive Traveler Magazine: Vol 3 Iss 2 Page 42

by Hyundai--although the 2011 Chrysler 300C comes very, very close. (In a recent comparison test, Motor Trend placed the 300C first). As much as I love the 2011 Chrysler 300C and the way it has been improved over its predecessor, if it was my $45,000, I would opt for the Genesis.

Domestic front-wheel-drive competitors priced under $45,000, such as the Buick Lacrosse and the Ford Taurus, simply don't match up. Neither offers the combination of V8 power and the driving dynamics provided by rear-wheel drive. Comparably equipped V8 front- and rear-wheel-drive imports (Audi and BMW/Mercedes-Benz, respectively) start well over the $45,000 threshold.

Speaking of V8s, the one found under the hood of the Genesis, is exceptional, a paragon of power combined with refinement. (A 3.6-liter V6, the standard engine on the Genesis, is likely to be the choice of an increasing number of buyers in an era of $4.00/gallon gasoline.)

The V8 residing under the hood of the Genesis, dubbed the Tau, displaces 4.6 liters. Its output has been upgraded since its introduction for the 2009 model year. From mid-2010 on, the Tau V8 now produces 385 horsepower (up 10 horsepower) at 6,500 r.p.m., with torque rated at 333 lb.-ft. at 3,500 r.p.m. using premium fuel. The V8 can also run on regular unleaded, reducing output by eight horsepower. In V8 form, this will hustle the 4,120-pound Genesis sedan from a standing-start 60 miles per hour in less than six seconds.

All Genesis models are backed up by six-speed automatic transmissions. In the case of the V6 model, the supplier is Aisin. The V8-equipped version is mated to a ZF-supplied six-speed automatic, the same unit found in the BMW 5-Series--an example of how Hyundai selected proven components from cars clearly in a price class above the Genesis.

When the 2012 model Genesis reaches showrooms, not only will the engine get a displacement bump to an expected five liters and 390 horsepower, it will also get a new eight-speed automatic transmission. (Remember when automatic transmissions were equipped with only three speeds?)

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