Blog

I approached the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe with great interest. Yeah, sure, it’s got all the things to make a car enthusiast swoon: great styling, rear wheel drive, and lots of power. But what made the car of particular interest to me was the fact that I had a small hand in the development of the car. I wanted to see how the finished product had turned out.
Yup, not that long ago I used to work for Hyundai as a product planning manager, and I watched the car’s development as it progressed from simple sketches to computer generated 3D images to full-size clay models. I even got to drive early prototypes of the car over two years ago on Hyundai’s test track in Namyang, Korea.

As you might expect, everyone came to the table with different ideas for what this car should be. A sophisticated grand touring coupe? An extroverted drift racer? How about a cut-price Bentley Continental GT? Numerous meetings were held where designers, product planners, engineers, and executives debated the various concept ideas. In the end, a relatively conventional route was chosen: use the well-regarded Infiniti G Coupe as inspiration, but make it more exciting and less expensive.
Some of us were a bit dismayed at the time. After all, there was opportunity to break new ground here with a concept that no one else had yet done. Yet in the end, I think the final product represented the right direction. The Genesis Coupe may not boast new thinking, but it’s a delightfully blended cocktail of “just right” sports coupe attributes. It’s a concept that’s easy for consumers to understand, and the execution makes it truly alluring.
The car geeks among you probably already know the car’s basic specs, so I won’t bore you with those. Suffice it to say that it is rear wheel drive, is available with either a powerful-yet-fuel-efficient 4-cylinder turbo or an even more powerful V6. It’s got a well-appointed and comfortable interior that’s faultlessly put together (especially for the price), and it looks great inside and out. From a desirability perspective, it’s exactly the sort of car Hyundai needs: it’s a rakish and aspirational car that adds a strong emotional component to a brand known so far for very rational (and sometimes soulless) vehicles.
Hyundai was obviously very confident about the car’s abilities; the company rented out Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch in Nevada, an amazing private racetrack with countless challenging corners. The car acquitted itself here admirably. Lap after lap, with either the 4-cylinder turbo or the V6, the car proved to be exhilarating, with fine rear drive balance, great grip, and an overall eagerness that left me wanting more and more track time. Just as notable were the Brembo brakes, which come as part of the Track Package (well worth the extra coin). These powerful brakes stopped the car on a dime, time and time again with nary a hint of fade.
When I drove an early prototype during my time working for Hyundai, I was blown away at how well the car felt even in prototype form. This prototype looked and felt like a finished car, and I fondly remember executing a tail-out powerslide at the Korean test track that felt so easy and controllable. I knew the final product would be good. And after driving the finished product, it most certainly is. In fact, it’s better than good.
Hopefully, the Genesis Coupe is a harbinger of things to come from Hyundai. We all know about their 100,000 mile warranty and the company’s vastly improved quality. We know their vehicles are solid and dependable. But if the Genesis Coupe is any indication, future Hyundais could be more than just good in a rational sense; they could be objects of desire.