Automotive Dealer - New 2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan 5.0 R-Spec ; The performance luxury car segment is rather difficult to break into. For decades, the Germans have dominated this dual-purpose segment with cars such as the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6. As time went on, Japan went after the Germans with the Infiniti M and Lexus GS. These were followed by America’s sporting luxury offerings, the Cadillac CTS and Chrysler 300. The majority of these cars have resulted in a success story and have thus created a crowed and extremely competitive segment. With such strong cars, it came as a shock to the automotive industry when the company known for small but efficient vehicles from Korea, Hyundai, unveiled its attempt in 2009. Since then, the Genesis sedan has worked hard to become a serious competitor and for 2012, Hyundai has upped the ante even more with the Genesis 5.0 R-Spec.
Designed to be able to do many things and do them well, sales of the Genesis Sedan in all its forms have been increasing since its 2009 debut. Hyundai has seen a 33 percent increase in sales year-over-year and in June 2011, the Genesis set an all-time record for its market share. For the 2012 model year, the Korean automaker plans on increasing those sales with their most powerful Genesis rendition yet. To showcase just what the 5.0 R-Spec is capable of, Charleston, South Carolina was chosen as the proving grounds to unleash a plethora of new technologies and features. One particular Genesis, a fully loaded, Black Noir Pearl 5.0 R-Spec, was our weapon of choice to do battle with the city streets and winding passes that make up the coast of South Carolina.
An exceedingly refreshing aspect of the Genesis Sedan model line is the price. So far, there are a total of five trim levels so optioning out a Genesis isn’t a headache. Once you upgrade to one of the eight cylinder models, every option available on the three 3.8 V6 Genesis models becomes standard. The most expensive Genesis, our 5.0 R-Spec sample, can be purchased for $46,500 and that includes every thing offered across the Genesis Sedan model line. That price is fantastic until you look at the base MSRP for a nicely equipped 3.8 model. $34,200 is an absolute crime compared to other competition and undercuts a Mercedes E350 by more than $15,000.
Hyundai is clearly a company that listens to what people are saying. Proof can be found in the 2012 Genesis’s outward aesthetics as the 2009 launch car received a few grips for being a bit too bland looking. The revised front bumper gives the once soft front an injection of aggression and seems to have widened the car’s stance. Lower side skirts also blend well into the reworked rear bumper with new, wide integrated exhaust tips. Keeping up with the trends, Hyundai has also added LED headlamp accents i.e. Audi. Unlike Audi, the Genesis carries its LED treatment in a much less gaudy fashion. And if equipped as the new R-Spec model, new 19 inch multi-spoke wheels fill out the fender wells just right. It may still be more conservative than the art-deco Infiniti M, but the Genesis Sedan, especially in R-Spec mode, now looks the part.
Upgrades to the 2012 Genesis go beyond a handsome set of new clothes. Open the hood of all Genesis trim levels and something new can be found. Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) can now be found on all engines and helps the base 3.8 liter DOHC V6 make an impressive 333 horsepower. The 3.8 may take the majority of Genesis Sedan sales, but to be truly competitive in the performance luxury segment, a little more ‘oomph’ is required. Hyundai has come to this conclusion as they have built their most powerful production engine yet. Built entirely in-house by Hyundai, the new 5.0 liter (5,038 cc) DOHC, naturally aspirated V8 makes a thoroughly impressive 429 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque. Using direct injection and variable valve timing, the new 5.0 makes its power the old-fashion way: breathing nothing but air. It is refreshing to see a naturally aspirated engine being used in a segment mostly dominated by turbochargers and superchargers. Not only does this result in a reduction in weight and breakable components, but the 5.0 in the R-Spec produces the throttle response that can only be found in a naturally aspirated engine.
Driving the R-Spec, it is clear that Hyundai put a lot of engineering into its new powerplant. With a single push of the engine start button, the new V8 growls into life. This is where the R-Spec manages to do something that not too many performance luxury offerings can do: not make itself overly known. The turbocharged unit found in high-output BMWs simply makes too much noise and even the V8 found in the Jaguar XF and XJ makes more racing sounds than wanted out of a luxury car. And unlike the engines found in Lexus models, the R-Spec never sounds boring. The noise produced by the 5.0 is the perfect level for a performance luxury brand; it isn’t too loud or too quiet and blends perfectly with the R-Spec’s personality.
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