The 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan is due a facelift, a bigger and more powerful V-8, and an eight-speed automatic transmission. For technology and performance, those changes should elevate this already-laudable luxury four-door into the upper echelon of the premium-sedan segment. It�s already a fierce competitor on price. Whether freshened styling, availability of more than 400 horsepower, and a state-of-the-art transmission are enough to pull buyers out of a Mercedes E-Class instead of merely over from a Buick Lucerne is another matter. Meanwhile, the 2012 Hyundai Genesis Coupe (essentially a shortened, sportier version of the better-selling sedan) is also in line for some styling and powertrain updates.
Both the 4-cylinder and V6 engines are slated to get upgrades, although exactly how extensive they will be is not yet clear. It�s not hard to speculate that the 2.0T model could gain the Sonata Turbo�s new engine, prompting a significant increase in power from 210-hp to 274-hp. That would come very close to the 3.8-liter V6's 306-hp number, suggesting it would also have to receive a major update, be it through naturally aspirated means, forced induction, or a switch to a V8. Past reports have already indicated the company�s new 5.0-liter V8 will replace the current 3.8L V6, producing a rather significant 429-hp.
Hyundai�s most powerful engine ever
The heart of the new Genesis 5.0 R-Spec model is a 5.0-liter �Tau� V-8 engine with direct injection technology producing 429 horsepower at 6,400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm. Even with its extra displacement and performance, the 5.0-liter mill nearly matches the current 4.6 V-8 in fuel economy, returning an estimated 16 mpg city and 25 mpg highway versus the 4.6�s 17 mpg city and 26 mpg highway.
Sending drive to the rear wheels is Hyundai�s new in-house developed eight-speed automatic transmission. The two additional ratios help to enhance acceleration, shifting smoothness, and transmission efficiency by 6.0 percent over the former six-speed. The advanced transmission also gets paddle-shifters for pseudo manual control and is standard across the 2012 Hyundai Genesis range.
