No Surprise: 2008 Hyundai Tiburon the Last

With the all-new Hyundai Genesis coupe coming down the pipeline in 2009 as a 2010 model, the current Hyundai coupe, the Tiburon, will cease to exist. This isn’t really a shock, since there’s not enough room in the line-up for two coupes. The 2008 model year will be the Tiburon’s last, and it will stop production as the Genesis goes on sale in the spring of 2009, according to the Automotive News.

However, company executives aren’t calling the Genesis coupe a replacement for the Tiburon. There is a chance that a smaller front-wheel-drive two-door coupe could be sold right next to the larger, rear-wheel drive Genesis coupe.

We can’t say we’ll miss the Tiburon — its time has come. During the first quarter of 2008 its sales were down 28.7%.

What do you think? Should Hyundai produce a small coupe like the Veloster concept we saw in Los Angeles last year? That’s the one the company is hinting at. Or do you think it should stick to the Genesis coupe as its sole sporty car?

Hyundai Genesis Coupe Takes on Infiniti G37

Hyundai is charging relentlessly into new territories with its products. Witness the Veracruz, a three-row SUV that Hyundai regularly compares to the Lexus RX 350 (which, if a recent Motor Trend comparison is any indication, might not be such a wild notion). Earlier this year, the automaker said it set sedans like the BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class as the benchmark for its new Genesis sedan, and now press materials for the 306-hp, V-6 Genesis coupe — rumored to be priced starting under $26,000 — tout the $35,000-plus Infiniti G37 as a possible competitor.

The comparison Hyundai made concerned performance capabilities, so we’ll have to wait until we drive one before we can deliver a final verdict. That doesn’t mean we can’t have a little fun, though; at last week’s New York auto show, I checked out the two cars back to back.

Video: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

After reading all you could find on the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe, were you left wondering what it was really like? In this video, Cars.com’s Kelsey Mays takes a look inside and out of  Hyundai’s new rear-wheel drive performance machine and finds everything to be pretty remarkable.

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More on the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Up Close: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Hyundai says the two Genesis coupes on display at the auto show were early, preproduction models shipped here from Korea, so things like badge placement — neither one said “Genesis” on it, for instance — would change considerably by the time the cars hit dealerships. Other things, like padding in the trunk, would upgrade some of the barer bones seen on the cars here.

All the same, I’m not sure why this car carries the Genesis name:

2008 New York Auto Show: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe

• Competes with: Mitsubishi Eclipse, Ford Mustang
• Looks like: The Genesis coupe concept with the headlights from an Infiniti G37
• Drivetrain: V-6 or turbocharged four-cylinder with five- or six-speed automatic or six-speed manual; rear-wheel drive
• Hits dealerships: Spring 2009

Hot on the heels of the Hot Wheels-inspired Genesis coupe concept that was introduced at last year’s Los Angeles auto show, Hyundai will drop the real thing this week in New York. From the side, the Genesis coupe shares some lines with Hyundai’s current — and likely outgoing — Tiburon, but it’s an entirely different car.

Like the Genesis sedan, the coupe is rear-wheel drive. Rather than using the V-8 from the Genesis sedan, the coupe will have an available 300-plus hp V-6. A turbocharged 200-plus-hp four-cylinder is the base engine.

As far as competitors go, Hyundai names various FWD coupes as targets — like the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Honda Civic Si — all the way up to the Infiniti G37. No doubt some shoppers will also consider muscle cars like the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger. Hyundai has also said the Genesis coupe will cost less than other 300-hp cars. The cheapest of those is the Ford Mustang GT, which starts at $26,080.

We’ll learn more about the Genesis coupe on Wednesday when it makes its official debut at the New York auto show. For now, check out the photo gallery below and let us know if you think Hyundai can compete on the sports car front.

Hyundai Genesis Goes Naked on the Grille

The wait is over: The new Hyundai Genesis will debut in the U.S. without the Flying H company logo on the grille.

You may remember that back at the Detroit auto show Hyundai asked journalists and consumers visiting the show to offer up their two cents on which grille they should use. Our choice? We argued that Hyundai has no reason to be ashamed of its logo, not with all the vast improvements it's made to its cars over the past decade, but that the logo-free grille was an instant classic that would serve the Genesis well.

Then Hyundai muddied the waters even more by running Super Bowl ads with a third version, from the Korean model.

Well, Hyundai seems to have embraced our point of view, though it tells us it was a point of view shared with a good many people. The automaker announced this afternoon here at the Chicago Auto Show that the logo-less grille will adorn the Genesis, a model we think has a lot of potential for Hyundai.

Hyundai's Super Bowl Ads Show Revised Genesis

Hyundai has unleashed both of its planned Super Bowl spots. Narrated by Jeff Bridges, the subdued videos try to hammer home the message that Hyundai is indeed bringing big-car luxury at small-luxury prices.

At that it does a good job. But for us, we’re dismayed that the car in the commercials is sporting the Korean market’s grille and not the grille we fancied in Detroit, nor the alternate grille with the big H on it. Ho hum. Let us know what you think. The first ad is to the left, the second ad is below.

Hyundai, VW Look To Move Upmarket With New Models

Would you pay $40,000 for a sedan from Volkswagen — or from Hyundai? Both automakers are betting that at least some consumers will part with Lexus- or BMW-type money for their latest creations. Aside from each having four doors, the cars are seemingly disparate: The Volkswagen Passat CC is a four-seater with coupe-like styling, while the Hyundai Genesis is a bigger, full-blown luxury sedan. For their respective brands, though, each car represents a gamble by going upmarket.

At Volkswagen’s straight-laced confines in Detroit’s Cobo Center, head spokesman Steve Keyes seemed upbeat about the Passat CC’s chances. It won’t be another Phaeton, he assured us, referring to a $65,000-plus juggernaut Volkswagen unleashed earlier this decade that was a resounding sales failure.

“This maybe should have been the car we had before the Phaeton,” Keyes said, adding that the Passat CC will start “in the mid- to high 20s.” The two examples at Volkswagen’s display were loaded to the gills with massive sunroofs and button-strewn dashboards, while press materials detailed high-tech features like lane-departure prevention systems, dynamically adjustable suspensions and even a self-parking feature. Keyes said the cost of a fully loaded Passat CC hasn’t yet been determined, but it will likely be much more than the regular Passat, which tops out around $40,000.

Volkswagen does sell one model in this price range — the Touareg — but it’s an SUV, not a premium sedan. This is definitely new territory for VW, Keyes said.

2008 Detroit Auto Show Ultimate Production Winner: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

It wasn’t an awe-inspiring year for new production cars, trucks and SUVs; the biggest news was the introduction of redesigned pickups from Ford and Dodge. However, our editors found Hyundai’s attempt to go upscale the best of the bunch.

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis really is near-luxury in quality, with some parts on par with the big boys, like Lexus. A rear-wheel-drive setup and choice of three engines — including a powerful V-8 — really pushed it over the top. Now, if only Hyundai would pick a grille for it…

Runners Up: Ford F-150, Saturn Vue 2 Mode Hybrid

2008 Detroit Auto Show Video: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

One of the most impressive production cars at the Detroit auto show was Hyundai’s new Genesis sedan. Cars.com’s Mike Hanley takes you on a tour of the rear-wheel-drive sedan, showing off the numerous features the company hopes will make the Genesis a competitor with Lexus and other luxury automakers. Check out the video and let us know what you think.

Suburban Dad: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

Hyundai's new sedan, the Genesis, is a beauty. I've long been a fan of the automaker's cars because their value and design are good, even if it took some time to build up their reputation for quality. Hyundai has that rep now, and the interior and exterior of the Genesis radiate luxury, albeit with a price tag I might actually be able to afford. For families, it'd be a great getting-around-town car for a family of four, who could all ride in comfort and style. Plus, with Hyundai's reputation for value, the Genesis could turn out to be an affordable luxury family car.

Up Close: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

As it did with its Veracruz crossover SUV, Hyundai is aiming high with its new Genesis rear-wheel-drive luxury sedan, which the company compares with luxury cars from BMW and Mercedes-Benz. While the Genesis' cabin isn't as nice as the ones offered by those old-world marques, it's certainly a step up from Hyundai's other offerings. With an expected average price in the low-$30,000 range, the Genesis represents a lot of car for the money.

Decision 2008: Genesis Grille Design Up for Debate

Hyundai brought two grille designs for its new flagship Genesis sedan to the Detroit auto show, and it hasn’t yet decided which it will use when the car goes on sale this summer. On the left is a traditionally styled grille with Hyundai's “H” badge, and on the right is the other design, with wing-like slats only.

We're wondering which one KickingTires readers prefer. Who knows — maybe Hyundai will check out this post to gauge reaction before making its final decision?

2008 Detroit Auto Show: 2009 Hyundai Genesis

• Competes with: Pontiac G8, Chrysler 300C, Lexus GS
• Looks like: Most Japanese luxury sedans, but no logo on the grille so you won’t know you’re driving a Hyundai
• Drivetrain: 3.3-liter V-6 268 hp, 3.8-liter V-6 290 hp, 4.6-liter V-8 368 hp engine, 6-speed automatic transmission
• Hits dealerships: Summer 2008

After seeing a nearly finished concept in New York last year, the final production version of the Hyundai Genesis sedan shouldn't be a big surprise. However, Hyundai has plenty of surprises for us when it comes to details about the company's attempt to move upmarket.

The starting price for a V-6 Genesis will be less than $30,000 but, of course, Hyundai is mum on pricing for the top-of-the-line V-8 model, which will pump out a whopping 368 horsepower and 324 pounds-feet of torque — on regular gas, no less. That puts a whomping on most of the competition in this class in terms of power.

The V-6s don't sound like slouches either, with two to choose from producing either 268 or 290 hp. All three engines come with six-speed automatic transmissions.

Hyundai is comparing the Genesis with every luxury make on the market — including Acura, Lexus, BMW and Mercedes — but seeing these early interior photos, we think the Genesis will really compete with the Pontiac G8s and Chrysler 300Cs of the world in terms of interior feel.

Still, there is a lot jam-packed into the Genesis. On the safety side, there are eight airbags, including front- and rear-seat-mounted side airbags, which is not the norm. The Genesis’ electronic active head restraint system is also a Hyundai first. Antilock brakes and stability control come standard.

There are also a number of amenities Hyundai has listed for the Genesis, but it’s not yet saying whether they're standard or optional. We'll post more info when we get a full options list. For now, check out the photos below and feel free to weigh in on whether Hyundai is smart to target luxury nameplates when it's competing on a different level.

Hyundai Preps Move to Luxury Cars

Last week, Hyundai debuted its new Genesis sedan for journalists in Korea. While a version for U.S. consumers is still technically unofficial — expect to hear more on that later this month in advance of the Detroit auto show — company execs had no problem talking details about what American shoppers can expect.

The Genesis will start under $30,000 equipped with a standard V-6 engine. A V-8 engine will be offered as well, a first for Hyundai in the U.S. Even with a V-8, no Genesis trim level will top $40,000.

Hyundai makes no bones about the fact that this rear-wheel-drive sedan is aimed directly at Toyota’s Lexus division. While many buyers still think of Hyundai as the company that sold the Excel, Hyundai has had a streak of impressive, value-oriented releases of late, especially in the SUV and crossover market with the Santa Fe and Veracruz.

But will luxury shoppers seriously consider a Genesis over a Lexus ES?

Hyundai Takes on Luxury Market With Genesis Sedan (USA Today)