Inside Line tests the RMR Genesis Coupe

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Interesting comments about the suspension.

We've driven plenty of tuner cars that have punished us unmercifully as we've driven down the road, the so-called suspension "tuning" feeling as if it had been accomplished by Neanderthals with stone tools.

So we were pleasantly surprised when we pulled out of the shop of Rhys Millen Racing in Huntington Beach, California, and found ourselves driving all of 10 feet before running straight over a set of railroad tracks. What happened next might seem not only unlikely but even impossible given the history of aftermarket tuning. The suspension — the moving parts under the car designed to soak up bumps — did exactly that.

And then for the next six days this high-performance Genesis Coupe built by RMR continued to soak them up. In fact, by the time our test of this car ended, this single trait continued to be so novel that we started running over bumps just to see what would happen. Tiny little square-edge stutter bumps on the freeway? Nothing to worry about. Big rollers at triple-digit speeds? Who cares? And the ultimate test: midcorner bumps when you're already near the grip limit? Not a problem.

This is how an aftermarket suspension should feel. And it's only one part of Millen's package for the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/d...Id=152506?tid=edmunds.il.home.photopanel..1.*

 

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Re: Inside Line tests the RMR Genesis Coupe

Rhys Millen talks about the RMR Coupe as he takes on Pikes Peak.

Rod Millen set an outright record at Pikes Peak International Hill Climb that stood for a thousand years (almost not an exaggeration), and his son Rhys has upheld the family tradition with back to back wins of his own. Last year, his time of 12 minutes, 31.06 seconds in a modified Solstice GXP was quick enough to set the record in the Time Attack 2WD division.

When we first find Rhys, he is in a good mood. The day's practice of the top third of the road went well. "We went from the top of the "W"s to the finish in 3:26. That's 27 seconds faster than the Solstice on that same section."

So how'd he do it?

The basics are better--"Better tires, full aero package, and more power" says Rhys. The Genesis coupe is generating 580 hp and 560 lb-ft at sea level, which is roughly 100 horsepower and 100 lb-ft of torque than the Solstice. "The torque lets me come off corners a lot harder. Plus I can short-shift if I need to. For the five second-gear hairpins, this makes a difference."

Conditions matter--"Half of the 27 seconds is the surface. This year, the road has more grip."

Confidence--"The Solstice has a short wheelbase and was super twitchy on dirt even in a straight line.

[In the Genesis] I'm able to use lines I've only seen used by Dad and Ari [Vatanen]. I've never had the confidence before. The car is just so much more predictable."

Rhys' goal is to run this year's course in less than 12 minutes. His practice runs, which divided the course up into thirds, suggest 11:59 is already in reach. On Sunday, we'll see if he can string all three sections together for a new record.

http://blogs.edmunds.com/straightline/2009/07/catching-up-with-rhys-millen-at-pikes-peak.html#more