SEMA Preview: Rhys Millen and Hyundai team up on Genesis coupe

[Sal Collaziano]

Filed under: Aftermarket, SEMA, Tuners, Coupes, Hyundai

Click above for a high-res image of the RMR Hyundai Genesis coupe.

Hyundai is planning a big showing at this year's SEMA show, dispatching with orange Elantras and be-winged Accents in favor of highlighting the automaker's first foray into rear-wheel-drive performance. Six concepts are planned - three Genesis sedans and three Genesis coupes - with both vehicles getting the attention of the country's top aftermarket specialists.

Hyundai will be releasing teasers of the three Genesis coupe projects in the coming weeks, but the first is proof that the aftermarket is taking Hyundai's new turbocharged 2.0-liter coupe seriously. Rhys Millen Racing has rendered up its own interpretation of what the Genesis coupe is capable of, with an eye on the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, Formula D drift series and Redline time attack.

The RMR coupe will benefit from a prototype wide body kit and turbo setup, built in house by Rhys and his team, sending power to the rear wheels through an HKS heavy-duty sequential gearbox. Suspension duties are handled by a set of K&W coilovers, along with Enkei racing wheels and Bridgestone RE-01 tires. Brembo brakes are mounted fore and aft, and inside a Sparco steering wheel and seats join an carbon fiber dash and an eight-point roll cage.

According to Hyundai's PR man, Miles Johnson, Millen is making regular calls to Hyundai engineers to extract every last bit of performance from the coupe, and expect more details on final output and the other two coupes throughout the summer.Continue reading SEMA Preview: Rhys Millen and Hyundai team up on Genesis coupe

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[1985Hyundai]

Wow... very interesting..

 

[Sal Collaziano]

The Hyundai Genesis is a game changer. Never before has a Hyundai automobile drawn this much attention...

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Hyundai Teams Up With Rhys Millen Racing to Introduce Genesis Coupe at SEMA Show

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 30 CA-Hyundai-Milln-SEMA

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America announced today that it has teamed up with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) to create the "Art of Speed" Genesis Coupe show car. The Hyundai RMR "Art of Speed" Genesis Coupe 2.0t will be on display at the Hyundai booth at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in the Las Vegas Convention Center from Nov. 4 - Nov. 7, 2008. The RMR Genesis Coupe will be the first of many Genesis Coupes to be modified by some of the best tuner shops in the world. This RMR - developed Genesis Coupe will be a fully functional race car capable of putting the driver in the winner's circle."

"The unique part of this project is that it will be moving art, which is why we named it the 'Art of Speed,'" says Rhys Millen, professional race driver and founder of RMR. "The focus will be on the engine and a radical body design to complement the factory body lines. We are going to transform the Genesis Coupe into an apex-carving machine with jaw-dropping looks. We think it has the possibility of being one of the coolest cars at the show."

The RMR Genesis Coupe will be powered by a 2.0-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine with RMR turbo kit for maximum horsepower and torque. It will be equipped with a heavy-duty HKS sequential transmission and a K&W coil over suspension to put that additional power to the ground. The are just some of the planned mechanical modifications to turn the Genesis Coupe into a race car capable of running in the Pikes Pike Hill Climb, Formula D or Redline Time Attack series.

"We've been excited about working with Rhys Millen since the minute he walked through our doors at Hyundai Motor America," says John Krafcik, vice president, product development and strategic planning, Hyundai Motor America. "Genesis Coupe is a rear-wheel drive performance machine we designed to capture the hearts of hardcore automotive enthusiasts, so we can't wait to see Rhys' RMR Genesis Coupe on the race track."

The RMR Genesis Coupe will be outfitted in a silver and black paint scheme and dominated by a RMR wide body kit, functional hood scoop and a carbon fiber wing. Enkei racing wheels and Bridgestone Protenza RE-01 tires surrounding Brembo brake calipers complete the package.

Inside will be a racing cockpit with Sparco steering wheel and seats, eight-point roll cage and a RMR carbon fiber dash.

RHYS MILLEN -- DRIVER, OWR RMR
With more than 16 years of racing experience, Rhys Millen has established himself as one of the premier rally/drifting drivers in North America. Born in New Zealand in 1972, Rhys is the son of famed rally and off-road racer Rod Millen. Rhys joined Rod in the U.S. as a teenager and soon afterwards established himself as racer by taking first at the Pikes Peak Hill Climb in the Open Division and winning Rookie of the Year. He won the Formula Drift championship in 2005 and was runner-up in 2006.

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS -- 2008
-- Pikes Peak time attack 2 wheel drive champion and new world record

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS -- 2007
-- Pikes Pike Time Attack Champion
-- First Place Long Beach Team Drift
-- Second Place Formula D New Jersey
-- Third Place Formula D West Virginia

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS -- 2006
-- Formula Drift Champion Runner-Up
-- Formula D Tires.com triple crown champion

RHYS MILLEN CAREER HIGHLIGHTS -- 2005
-- Formula Drift Champion
-- First Place Formula D New Jersey
-- Second Place Formula D Irwindale

HYUNDAI GENESIS COUPE HIGHLIGHTS
-- Hyundai's first rear-wheel drive sports car
-- 306 horsepower (est.) from enhanced 3.8-liter V6 from Genesis sedan
-- Std. 212 horsepower (est.) turbocharged, intercooled inline four cylinder
-- Genesis Coupe arrives in the spring of 2009 as a 2010 model

RHYS MILLEN RACING
R. Millen Motor Sports Sales (RMR) was founded 12 years ago by Rhys Millen to fulfill a huge demand for quality aftermarket products created by the Millen Racing heritage. Similar to motor sport clothing merchandise to a race fan, RMR offers proven race products to street customers primarily based on its motor sports associations. Since its creation, RMR has built itself up become one of the industries most respected tuners for Toyota, Lexus and Mitsubishi. In addition to RMR's excellent relationship with auto manufacturers, the company has custom built many private vehicles for celebrities such as basketball star Dennis Rodman, actor Jason Priestley and rock star Alex Van Halen. RMR has also built cars and worked closely with the producers of the blockbuster hit franchise "The Fast and the Furious."

RMR currently offers over 100 products that are designed and produced in our facility or private labeled exclusively for RMR. These parts are carefully designed to provide the customer with quick and easy installation instructions with the highest quality. In many cases, our parts have met or exceeded factory specifications allowing dealers to warranty their installation keeping the cars under the factory warranty.

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA
Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of South Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through almost 800 dealerships nationwide.