Topic: Day-by-Day Review: 2012 Hyundai Genesis R spec; Day 1

[Autos_Editor]

James' mission this week to see if the Hyundai Genesis 5.0 R-Spec is as strong a performer as it is a value for the luxury dollar.
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[safristi]

..Very bare bonesy interior,they have been feeding @ the BMW table..pass the SPICE.........girls................

[Factger]

I think this is a great car at a good value and really shows just how much of a value this cars is in base V6 trim.(under 40,000)

However I feel Hyundai should have invested some time in an AWD version of V6 trim to compete with the other mftg. All I see around here are G37/35X's M37x's and AWD 535's. This is the market they should tap into too and would really increase their sales of a great car in canada and the east coast of the USA. They may have this in the works but they should of had the option long ago.

[Jaeger]

I agree that AWD is an important competitive element and I expect we'll see that in the next generation, and likely on a new platform.  It isn't something that can simply be added to a chassis that wasn't designed for it. Remember, this is still the first generation Genesis that we're looking at.

Jaeger

[nlm]

^ agreed; it's a good cost cutting move to wait until the next redesign, if they bring AWD to the table.

[Jaeger]

That is my job for the week — to dig down into my depth of test drive experience and decide if this Genesis R-Spec feels and performs as well — or perhaps better — than the household nameplates competing for luxury dollars.

I'm looking forward to James' thoughts as always, however I do question the premise of the review as stated above.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect the $53k Hyundai to perform as well or better than  the $75k top of the line Infiniti M56 or the who-knows-how-costly (can't get the BMW site to load) BMW 550.  The more informative question (IMO) is does it come closer to delivering the experience of the established luxury competitors than it does in price.  If it does, it accomplishes exactly what the manufacturer was aiming for.

Jaeger

[wing]

Ha I can't get the BMW configuration to load either.  I'm sure Force can chime in on Hyundai's goal but this is a loaded luxury car quite capable of taking on the big dogs IMO


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[CanuckS2K]

I'm looking forward to this day by day review as well.  It certainly seems like this is a LOT of car for the money.  I'm guessing that it won't match the M and 5 series for driving dynamics, but will be extremely capable otherwise.  I think my only gripe with this car would be that it looks soooooo similar to an S series MB.  Not that it's a bad thing as I think it's a very good looking car.......but I think Hyundai could of been a little more original.

[Patrick_D1]

Ha I can't get the BMW configuration to load either.  I'm sure Force can chime in on Hyundai's goal but this is a loaded luxury car quite capable of taking on the big dogs IMO


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The Genesis, when it was launched in 2009, was intended to show people Hyundai is capable of competing toe-to-toe with the best in the world. With the addition of the new direct-injected engines (333 horsepower V6, 429 horsepower V8) and 8-speed automatic for 2012, the Genesis provides the power and refinement of luxury sedans like the BMW 5-series and Infiniti M, but for Cadillac CTS / Lexus ES money. I think James will find that the Tau V8 in that car is worthy of the 3 consecutive Ward's 10 Best Engines awards it won.

[dutch]

I think it looks great - even better in lighter colours - they have a silver one sitting outside one of the Hyundai stores in town that looks sweet.

[jaari]

I would love one of these with a nice thrush exhaust  but they gotta loose the R Spec designation, just leaves it to wide open to being called a Arse pic 

[Benhaze]

That is my job for the week — to dig down into my depth of test drive experience and decide if this Genesis R-Spec feels and performs as well — or perhaps better — than the household nameplates competing for luxury dollars.

I'm looking forward to James' thoughts as always, however I do question the premise of the review as stated above.  I don't think it's reasonable to expect the $53k Hyundai to perform as well or better than  the $75k top of the line Infiniti M56 or the who-knows-how-costly (can't get the BMW site to load) BMW 550.  The more informative question (IMO) is does it come closer to delivering the experience of the established luxury competitors than it does in price.  If it does, it accomplishes exactly what the manufacturer was aiming for.

Jaeger

   I know James meant well but the real potential value is when you evaluate the car on its own.

I too wish for a AWD system; Hyundai also needs to address the interior design and so blend instrument cluster that both do not go with the admittance price.  I drove a V6 a couple of years ago and although I had no expectations I liked the driving experience very much.

[Jaeger]

I'm looking forward to this day by day review as well.  It certainly seems like this is a LOT of car for the money.  I'm guessing that it won't match the M and 5 series for driving dynamics, but will be extremely capable otherwise.  I think my only gripe with this car would be that it looks soooooo similar to an S series MB.  Not that it's a bad thing as I think it's a very good looking car.......but I think Hyundai could of been a little more original.

I think that's a fair comment and style.  We've certainly seen more adventurous styling in pretty much every Hyundai product released since the Genessi Sedan.  My guess is that for their first foray into the luxury / near luxury segment, they wanted to take a safe and conservative approach.  Hey, it worked for Lexus with the first LS. 

Agreed on the bang for the buck factor as well.  Could make for a very sweet purchase coming off a 3 year lease.  Not that I'm looking ahead, or anything. 

Jaeger

[nsmyhte]

I'm looking forward to this day by day review as well.  It certainly seems like this is a LOT of car for the money.  I'm guessing that it won't match the M and 5 series for driving dynamics, but will be extremely capable otherwise.  I think my only gripe with this car would be that it looks soooooo similar to an S series MB.  Not that it's a bad thing as I think it's a very good looking car.......but I think Hyundai could of been a little more original.

Original? Hyundai?  I don't think so.  Their whole design philosophy is ripping off other companies designs.  Thsi is actually one of Hyundai's better designs (since it looks like a Merc or Bimmer).  Just look at what happens when Hyundai tries to be original: Elantra, Sonata!  They look like some kind of mutant fish.

[CanuckS2K]

I'm looking forward to this day by day review as well.  It certainly seems like this is a LOT of car for the money.  I'm guessing that it won't match the M and 5 series for driving dynamics, but will be extremely capable otherwise.  I think my only gripe with this car would be that it looks soooooo similar to an S series MB.  Not that it's a bad thing as I think it's a very good looking car.......but I think Hyundai could of been a little more original.

Original? Hyundai?  I don't think so.  Their whole design philosophy is ripping off other companies designs.  Thsi is actually one of Hyundai's better designs (since it looks like a Merc or Bimmer).  Just look at what happens when Hyundai tries to be original: Elantra, Sonata!  They look like some kind of mutant fish.

Completely disagree.  Sans the Genesis, I don't think the designs of the rest of their vehicles is ripping off any other company as you suggest.  In fact, I would say that the rest of their lineup is indeed very original.  Whether you like the design of the Sonata, Elantra, etc or not is one thing, but you can't say they aren't original just because you don't like it.

[SaskSpecV]

Original? Hyundai?  I don't think so.  Their whole design philosophy is ripping off other companies designs.  Thsi is actually one of Hyundai's better designs (since it looks like a Merc or Bimmer).  Just look at what happens when Hyundai tries to be original: Elantra, Sonata!   They look like some kind of mutant fish.

Your statements completely contradict each other.  If their "whole design philosophy is to rip off other designs", how could they produce the "mutant-fish" Elantra and Sonata?  Obviously they don't just "rip off other designs" - at least not anymore.  I'm not a huge fan of ANY Hyundai designs (not that I hate any of them, either), but you've got to give them credit for at least expanding their design envelope.

[dirtyjeffer]

therein lies the rub...if you do little in terms of pushing the design envelope, you get ripped for being too bland (Honda and Toyota for example)...when you do put something else out there, you get ripped for "copying other brands" or "mutant fish" comments...no wonder car companies have a hard time designing their vehicles...damned if you do, damned if you don't.

[Jaeger]

therein lies the rub...if you do little in terms of pushing the design envelope, you get ripped for being too bland (Honda and Toyota for example)...when you do put something else out there, you get ripped for "copying other brands" or "mutant fish" comments...no wonder car companies have a hard time designing their vehicles...damned if you do, damned if you don't.

Bottom line is that car companies care most about sales.  Since there seem to be a lot more people lining up to buy these "mutant fish" than there were for the much more conservative-styled previous models, Hyundai can probably stand being "ripped" by the odd design critic just fine.

Jaeger

[nsmyhte]

Original? Hyundai?  I don't think so.  Their whole design philosophy is ripping off other companies designs.  Thsi is actually one of Hyundai's better designs (since it looks like a Merc or Bimmer).  Just look at what happens when Hyundai tries to be original: Elantra, Sonata!   They look like some kind of mutant fish.

Your statements completely contradict each other.  If their "whole design philosophy is to rip off other designs", how could they produce the "mutant-fish" Elantra and Sonata?  Obviously they don't just "rip off other designs" - at least not anymore.  I'm not a huge fan of ANY Hyundai designs (not that I hate any of them, either), but you've got to give them credit for at least expanding their design envelope.

Up until the current Sonata, Hyundai designs were complete rip offs of other designs.  Then, Hyundai tried to design something on their own (or at least copy others less) and those cars don't look very good imo.

I can give them credit for finally creating their own design language but that language isn't spoken in my household.

[mmret]

Everyone is still chasing the Germans in terms of refinement, feel, design and sense of identity. What for example does it mean to be Hyundai or a Genesis relative to BMW or Mercedes Benz?

You can't expect the badge snob factor to show up this quickly.