Hyundai Azera 0-60 Performance Discussion

[RichieRichLancair]

Motor Trend tested the Azera 3.8 Limited and got 7.1 seconds 0 to 60, 15.2 seconds @ 93 mph . I think that is optimistic. I have 2007 Azera Limited and for it to do 7.1 seconds from 0 to 60 it would need to be going downhill with a Ferrari pushing it.

Don't get me wrong I love the car. For what it is, it's quick. About as quick as a Mitsubish Eclipse. On a good day if I get a jump on a BMW 3 series, I can almost hold him off. But 6.1 seconds would be impossible for it.

The Azera weighs 3742 lbs and has 263 hp. Mine is swift but not fast. 0 to 60 in 6.1 seconds would be fast, very fast.

I'm glad to hear your Genesis is fast and it sounds like you like it. You are converting me to the V6. I've heard there are so many issues with the V8, valve train, timing belts and fuel injection. I think I might get the V6, give Hyundai a year or two to sort out the V8 issues then get one.

 

[jwaters943]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Really? Maybe something is wrong with your Azera? The low six second range is pretty common now for most sedans of similar size/weight as the Azera (e.g. Accord, Camry, Altima, etc.)

The only MotorTrend test I found said 6.8 seconds:
http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedan/112_0603_fullsize_sedan_comparison/specs_pricing.html

Here's another review of the Azera Limited in which they state 6.2 seconds 0-60:
http://consumerguideauto.howstuffworks.com/2008-hyundai-azera-1.htm

Also, this months C&D has a G8 V6 mini-review. They cited 7.0 seconds 0-60. Compared to the Genesis, the G8 has a 5-speed auto, weighs 190 lbs. more, and has 34 fewer horsepower.

FWIW, I'm not trying to be argumentative, I'm just throwing some numbers out there for comparison.

 

[Duaine]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

RichieRichLancair,

I to would have to think something isn't right with your Azera. My son is into racing big time and he was pretty well impressed with our Azera's pickup speed. After it was broke in good we took it out to a nice flat highway close by that has the quarter mile marks on the highway that use to be used by aircraft to time vehicles to determine if they were speeding or not (maybe they still do it that way I don't know).
Now I admit this is totally un-scientific but we made several runs while he was sitting in the passenger seat with a plain old stopwatch. We consistently got right at the 7.0 sec. 0-60 time. Then when it came to the quarter mile time he waited down at the last marking on the highway. As I flashed my lights to tell him to start the stopwatch I floored it. We got 95 twice and 93 once. Of course if he eyed me crossing the mark a bit wrong or me not fashing the lights and applying full throttle at the exact instant could easily throw us off a bit either way.
Also get this, I consistently got slower times when I tried to shift the car manually. Either I am doing something wrong or just letting the car do the shifting at optimum shift points may help. Still, I thought the manual shifting was for better acceleration?
You guys don't tell the cops on us lol! By the way I live in Iowa and our closest Hyundai dealer just got 2 black Genesis Sedan's in this morning. I think one has the plus package but no tech pkg. in either one. They are both black. One has the black interior and one has the light beige interior. They still had all the shipping paper, plastic, and plastic wheel covers covering the rims for shipment. I did note however that before the dealer has even touched them the interiors were spotless because they did let me sit in both. I get my service work down there and I always go out and check the cars out on the lots and the ones even out back straight off the trucks to kill time while I wait. I have seen every model of Hyundai here and there come in with what I would call a dirty interior. I realise the people building them get dirty but I feel like during the final inspection phase they should be spotless inside. Now that's not to say that maybe some of the transport drivers trash them out during shipment I don't know. But I guess that is part of the dealers job when they get them in. Still I like seeing a new car coming in looking like a new car right off the bat. As I said I was pleased at the condition of the first two Geneis's they got in.
I plan on driving one tomorrow to see how I compare the ride and noise level to my current Azera.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

You know actually I've never tested mine out like you did. I just did a seat of the pants kinda thing. I do have to admit that when I floor it, my Azera is always faster than I remembered.

I do think the Azera is a swift car. My guess is mine is like mid 7 seconds 0-60. Think I might try timing it after I empty this tank of gas and refill with premium. I'll let you know what I find out. If this car is doing 7 seconds or less I'll pass out.

Just a note on the test results above. It shows the Passat which weighs 180 lbs less and has 17 more hp doing 6.2 seconds 0-60. That is what consumer reports has for the Azera.

Wikipedia states 8.5 seconds 0-60 for the Azera.

I wonder if it might be a timing issue. Maybe difference between peoples reaction times with a stop watch.

Thanks, I'll let you know what I find out.

 

[jwaters943]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Wikipedia is not always a trustworthy source. Besides, they cited a time of 6.0 seconds 0-60 for the Azera. The 8.5 second time they quoted is for the old XG300.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyundai_Azera

Either way, we're getting a bit off topic here fellas.

 

[gentau]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Trying to compare performance numbers of two different cars is meaningless unless the tests are conducted under exactly the same conditions. Driver skill, track surface, air temps, air density, and even tire pressure can cause significant variations in test results.

A difference of 4-5 tenths of a second doesn't sound like much when talking about 0-60 mph times; but when factored into a longer run it becomes much more significant. A half second difference from 0-60 mph can easily translate into a full second difference in a 1/4 mile pass. Generally speaking, that full second equates to about 10 car lengths.

I understand that many on this forum will never take their car to a sanctioned drag strip. However, for those that are interested in this sort of racing, a full second can seem like a lifetime when you are looking for the finish line. I personally know some people on another car forum that have spent in excess of $10K on modifications to reduce their 1/4 mile times by one second. Some have spent that much without achieving the goal.

One last thought about magazine testing...the cars tested are usually new, low mileage cars when provided to the magazines. Not all engines are created equal from the factory. Some engines perform great when new. Others don't reach their full potential until they have enough miles to seat all the moving parts. My GTO is a case in point. When I first bought it, I was somewhat disappointed; because it would not meet the factory advertised 0-60 times. Somewhere around 3-4 thousand miles it suddenly just seemed to come to life; and it could easily surpass the advertised figures.

I doubt that we will know any really definitive performance numbers until the Genesis (both engines) have been on the streets for awhile. My guess is that the Tau V8 will not disappoint those who are looking for significantly better performance numbers.

 

[jwaters943]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Good post Gentau! You bring up some good points.

Something tells me that once more of the major automotive publications are able to spend some "quality" time with the Genesis and do instrumented testing in the U.S. without Hyundai looming over their shoulder we'll be seeing better times. Like it or not, most professional car testers beat on cars in order to shave just a .1-.4 seconds off the 0-60 & 1/4 mile times. Of course, most Genesis owners may never be able to attain similar times to that of C&D, etc., but it is a good comparision figure since many people cite numbers from this, and other, auto magazines.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Dajavu all over again.

During the musclecar heyday there were times quoted all over the place. As an example the 70 Hemi Cuda was in multiple magazines with 1/4 mile times as low as 10 seconds.

When Dodge ran their famous Hemi Charger vs Hemi Cuda ad. The ad had the Cuda at 12.56 which almost caused a mutiny. Ronnie Sox (Dodge's factory driver and test driver in the ad) was egg'd at different tracks for participating. He always claimed that the numbers were real but the die hards refused to believe.

At the time Chyrsler was being sued because stock hemi's weren't running these incrediable times in the magazines. Dodge tried to straighten it out in a great ad and got clobbered.

I guess people are still passionate about the numbers.

Sierra, Sierra, Delta, Delta.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Just a quick thought... the car that is considered the fastest or at least one of the fastest production cars ever made, ran 6.1 seconds 0 to 60.

http://tarpon.tamug.edu/~twarden/Supercars_net%20-%201970%20Chevrolet%20Chevelle%20454%20SS.htm

70 Chevelle 454 LS6.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

Well it ain't pretty.

I've got some numbers on my Azera. Much worse than I thought.

2007 Hyundai Azera Limited Ultimate 13K miles. 1/2 tank of premium gas (70 lbs), 68 degrees, dry pavement.

From a standing start 0 mph - 60 mph 10.5 seconds average Traction Control on
From a rolling start 5 mph - 60 mph 9.8 seconds average Traction Control on

Driving style press gas to floor when timer hit zero. Did not power brake.

I noticed that it took about a second to get into the cars power band so I jumped start by a second.

From a standing start 0 mph - 60 mph 9.9 seconds average TC on
From a rolling start 5 mph - 60 mph 8.4 seconds average TC on

Driving style press gas to floor when timer hit one. Did not power brake.

Taped timer on steering column near speedometer. Used timer that counted down from 5 seconds to zero then started counting up. Had minute, seconds and tenth of a second display.

My best friend is a Hyundai sales manager and has a demo 2008 Azera Limited with the Ultimate Navigation package 141 miles. I don't know how much gas he had. 68 degrees, dry pavement. He was shocked with my results and we tried his Azera.

His results from a standing start 0 mph - 60 mph 11.7 seconds average TC on

My results from a standing start 0 mph - 60 mph 10.8 seconds average TC on
From a rolling start 5 mph - 60 mph 9.3 seconds average TC on

Phil thinks that both cars are down on power. We are going to take both cars to a chassis dyno his dealership uses tomorrow or Monday

I'll update when (if) this happens.

Note: I felt the traction control kick in from a standing start in both cars. I didn't feel it from a rolling start.

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[jwaters943]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

That's so weird.

What's your elevation?
Was there any wind?

My Honda Pilot is faster than that (at least using a stopwatch). Other than that, power braking should be able shave roughly .5 off your times. Pretty much all professional auto reviewers power brake to get better times and this helps explain why your rolling starts are faster than your 0-60 times, instead of slower like they should be.

 

[RichieRichLancair]

Re: I don't think the v8 is fast enough...

The elev is a little over 800' asl.
No wind to speak of.

I was totally bummed out yesterday about this.
Today, not so much. Just wondering what happened.

I think that powerbraking might have knocked as much as 2 seconds off. It really needs to be further up the torque curve. I was trying to be consistent and I'm just not crazy about abusing my "baby". This was definitely the hardest day she has had.

After thinking this through a little more, I think the timer is not so good an idea. I'm sure there is a couple of tenths variance there. Next time I am going to use a stopwatch.

I'm going to see if Phil will let me powerbrake his Azera.

Obviously more to this 0 to 60 driving than I thought. I would appreciate any ideas.