YEH
Registered Member
What's it like?
The 5.0-litre V8 itself is a serious bruiser – a direct-injection engine churning out 423bhp, or more muscle than any direct rival. With its 376lb ft of torque coming on quickly, it’s satisfyingly responsive – especially once the self-programming gearbox begins to match shifts to your driving style.
The V8 serves as the heart of an all-new variant of the Genesis, the 5.0 R-Spec, which complements the existing V6 and V8 versions of the saloon. For those who expect a Korean challenge to the likes of BMW’s M division or Mercedes’ AMG, the R-Spec falls short. The car’s handling isn’t sufficiently precise or controlled for full-on sports saloon billing, but it adds welcome composure to the ordinary Genesis’s dynamic act without sacrificing comfort.
Inside, Hyundai has upgraded the look of the saloon’s trim, the overall feel coming a bit closer to what you’ll get from the best of the Europeans in this segment. There’s also a fair bit of new technology – including Lane Departure Warning, heated rear seats and a TFT LCD display mounted between the speedo and revcounter – although the Koreans aren’t challenging Mercedes or BMW for techno-supremacy.
With this new and impressive engine, the Genesis has become an even more competent executive car. Assuming that the next one can only get better – and that it could be on offer in the UK within just a few years, for a price that’s likely to undercut the competition by more than £10,000 – the Genesis could turn out to be a very smart and appealing buy indeed.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/Hyundai-Genesis-5.0-R-Spec/258332/
Not bad at all considering European reviewers tend to be tougher on American and Asian imports.