The Hyundai brand covers a broad spectrum of vehicles, from entry-level subcompacts to premium luxury sedans. Besides squeezing behind the wheel of the all-new 2012 Accent subcompact, we also recently enjoyed the cooled seating of the 2012 Genesis R-Spec sporty luxury sedan.
The Genesis R-Spec is the Korean automaker’s entry in the field of high performance luxury brands, dominated by the Germans and including upstarts like Cadillac’s V lineup and Lexus and its “F” cars. The Genesis R-Spec came prepared with a brand-new gasoline direct injection (GDI) 5.0 liter V-8 mated to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission with the entire setup generating 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. Any serious enthusiast can tell you, though, that handling is just as important as a great powertrain, so Hyundai equipped the R-Spec with a larger rear stabilizer bar; higher spring rates on the front and rear springs; and more powerful shocks.
Hyundai made sure its base models received some love, equipping the 3.8 and 4.6 trims with direct injected V-6 engines and an eight-speed transmission as well. Fuel economy of Genesis also went up a few clicks with the increased horsepower. Hyundai refreshed the entire lineup with revised headlamps, front fascia, and integrated exhaust pipes while offering more interior color choices. As with all Hyundai vehicles, the Genesis lineup is well-equipped with plenty of safety features and luxury items as standard.
Check out the full review at 2012 Hyundai Genesis Road Test
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