The Hyundai Genesis is a four-door, five-passenger, rear- or all-wheel-drive executive luxury sedan manufactured since 2008 at Hyundai's facilities in Ulsan, South Korea. The automaker introduced the Concept Genesis at the 2007 New York International Auto Show. The car had its market debut a year later in 2008 as a premium sports sedan.
First Generation (BH 2008-2013)
The first generation of the Hyundai Genesis kicked off production in 2008 and ran until 2013.
Features
The Genesis came equipped with these standard features upon introduction into the US: automatic headlights, heated front leather seats, door locks, power windows, remote keyless entry, XM satellite radio, a seven-speaker audio setup, cruise control, and dual-zone automatic air conditioning.
Engine Specifications
Hyundai offered three engine choices for the Genesis depending on the market. They were one V8 and two V6 engines. The V8 had a 53% front and a 47% rear weight distribution, while the V6 had a 52% front and a 48% rear weight distribution.
The Genesis has the following engine models available:
Lambda V6 3.3 L MPi (petrol) — 193 kW, 316 N⋅m
Lambda V6 3.3 L GDi (petrol) — 221 kW, 348 N⋅m
Lambda V6 3.8 L GDi (petrol) — 213 kW, 358 N⋅m
Tau V8 4.6 L MPi (petrol) — 246-249 kW, 395 N⋅m
Tau V8 4.6 MPi (petrol) — 283-287 kW, 439-451 N⋅m
Tau V8 5.0 GDi (petrol) — 310-320 kW, 510 N⋅m
The 2009-2011 North American version of the V8-powered Genesis had a standard 6-speed ZF 6HP26 automatic transmission, while the V6 models came with 6-speed Aisin B-600 automatic. From 2012 to 2014, all models came with 8-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC manual mode.
2010-2012 Updates
The 2010 model saw a midyear change that slightly switched up the 4.6 L engine from 280kW in the 2008-09 models to 287kW. There were no changes to the torque.
5.0 R-spec (2011-2014)
Hyundai introduced this model in Seoul. The R-spec included a new Tau 5.0 GDI engine and Genesis 4.6 equipment, and sport-calibrated suspension. It also had unique headlamps, unique R-spec floor mats, and R-spec rear-deck lid badging.
2012-2014 Updates
The engine choices for the 2012 upgrade were the 3.8 Lambda GDi, the 5.0 Tau GDi for the R-spec model, and the 4.6 Tau MPi (287 kW). Transmissions changed too, with an 8-speed automatic with SHIFTRONIC replacing the 6-speed. This update discontinued the 5.0L model. The 5.0 L direct-injected Tau V8 engine became exclusive for the R-spec model, while the 3.8 L V6 became available in three equipment configurations. The following features also came with this updating:
Optional 8-inch touchscreen display
Driver Information System
Ultimate Navigation package which included Hyundai's Blue Link telematics
2014 update
These were the last group of changes before the arrival of the next generation. The update included some revised controls, a Santiago Silver body-colour instead of the Platinum metallic exterior, more efficient connectivity options through the Hyundai Blue Link interface, and 18-inch wheels as the standard of the base model.
Safety
The safety suite included the following: front and rear side airbags, ABS, traction control, dual front airbags, EBD, and side curtain airbags.
The US Insurance Institute awarded the Hyundai Genesis the "2009–2010 Top Safety Pick" award for highway safety.
Second Generation (DH 2015-2016)
Hyundai unveiled the HCD-14 Genesis concept at the 2013 North American International Auto Show. The production version first came out in Seoul, South Korea, followed by its two international debuts at the 2014 North American International Show and the 2014 Toronto Auto Show. Peter Schreyer, Casey Hyun, and Jun Ho Kim designed the new-age Genesis. Production of the front-engine rear-/four-wheel-drive Genesis took place in Hyundai's assembly plants in Ulsan, South Korea, and Kaliningrad, Russia. Early models came with four engine choices and the two drive options. All the models are available in 8-speed automatic transmission.
The engine specifications of the Hyundai Genesis are listed below:
Lambda V6 3.0 GDi (petrol) —189 kW, 304 N⋅m
Lambda V6 3.3 GDi/G330 (petrol) — 207 kW, 347 Nm
Lambda V6 3.8 GDi/G380 (petrol) – 232 kW, 397 Nm
Tau V8 5.0 GDi (petrol)— 313 kW, 320 N⋅m
Safety
The NHTSA gave the second-generation Hyundai Genesis an overall safety rating of 5 stars.
Marketing
In 2008, Hyundai America and Carbonfund.org launched the new-generation sedan with the Genesis Forest Project at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The project aimed to compensate for the first year of emissions of all Hyundai Genesis sedans sold in the US.
The Hyundai Genesis was the largest and most powerful car marketed in North America before the launch of the Equus. In China, Hyundai introduced it at the 2008 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition as the Hyundai Rohens and started selling that same year. Australia was among the countries to first receive the latest version of the Genesis. The 3.3L and 3.8L variants sold well in Latin American nations like Costa Rica, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. However, it arrived late in Europe due to Hyundai's reservations that it would have the same lacklustre reception that the Lexus had.
Awards
The Hyundai Genesis has been a recipient of many awards, and some of them include:
Top-Rated Upscale Sedan (2009) by Consumer Reports
No. 1 midsize premium car by JD Power
North American Car of the year (2009)
Car of the Year by Autotropolis.com
Top Safety Award by the US Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Best Buy (2009) by Customer Digest
America's Top 40 New Cars (2009) by Motor Trend
Genesis G80
Genesis spun off as a separate brand in 2017, with the car getting rebranded as the G80. With the establishment of Genesis Motor, Hyundai's luxury automobile division, the Genesis became a standalone marque, and Genesis G80 officially succeeded the second-generation Genesis.