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Genesis coupe getting 3.3T and all-wheel drive

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe looks to be getting a serious jolt of performance when the next-gen model hits the market. An example was recently spotted testing that wore the label "3.3T 8AT AWD," according to The Korean Car Blog citing Korean website Team Testdrive. That designation certainly didn't take much work to interpret. The turbocharged 3.3-liter engine under the hood was likely the twin-turbo V6 that Hyundai has been developing for the next-gen Genesis sedan for 2017 or 2018. With engineering still underway, the final specs for the turbocharged mill obviously haven't been published yet. However, Hyundai America's CEO previously suggested output in the neighborhood of the 420 horsepower from the company's current 5.0-liter V8. In addition, the V6 should weigh less and provide better fuel economy. According to The Korean Car Blog, the twin-turbo V6 would likely be for an N Performance variant of the Genesis Coupe. Given the rest of the test car's label, it would presumably pair the engine with an eight-speed automatic and all-wheel drive. With 348 hp from the 3.8-liter V6 in the current model, the new mill could be quite a potent upgrade. The next-gen Genesis Coupe is rumored to take styling inspiration from the Hyundai HND-9 Sports Coupe Concept (pictured above). While remaining a two-door, it can reportedly fit four adults more comfortably inside. Spy shots earlier this year showed one testing with the current model's body but modifications to the hood and fender arches. The engine was thought to be a V8 at the time, but perhaps this twin-turbo V6 was actually in there.

New Genesis G80 costs $2,650 more than its predecessor

If you're in the market for a Hyundai Genesis, you'd best act fast. The Korean company's new luxury sub-brand, Genesis, just announced pricing for the rebadged G80, kicking the starting figure up across the board while adding a suite of desirable safety and tech features. The base model, with a 3.8-liter V6 and rear-wheel drive, starts at $41,400. All-wheel drive adds $2,500 to that figure, while both V6 models add $2,650 to the price of a Hyundai-badged Genesis sedan. Hyundai justifies the increase with a slew of now-standard equipment from the current car's discontinued Tech Package, including automatic emergency braking, blind-spot monitoring with cross-traffic alert, lane keeping assist, lane departure warning, high-beam assist, and adaptive cruise control. Considering the Tech Package tallied $3,500, this is a net win. You can improve your six-cylinder G80 with a pair of packages. A $4,750 Premium Package adds fog lights, a panoramic sunroof, a 14-speaker Lexicon stereo, a seven-inch color instrument display, vented front seats, and a power sunscreen for the rear window. Genesis essentially carried over the current $3,500 Ultimate Package, which now costs $4,200. It includes matte wood, full-color HUD, 9.2-inch touchscreen infotainment, a 17-speaker Lexicon stereo, and a power trunk lid, along with an upgraded power driver's seat, which used to be part of the Tech Pack. If you're hankering for the V8 model – no longer listed on the Hyundai USA consumer page – you're looking at a $650 bump, from $53,850 to $54,550. There are no option packs for the V8, so all you need to do is pick a color and drive away. Not surprisingly, the G80 undercuts its rivals by a few dollars. BMW will happily sell you a base 5 Series for $51,195. Mercedes offers an E-Class, the E300, at $53,075. Audi and Lexus are slightly more down to earth – an Audi A6 is $47,125 while a base GS is $46,595. So, going with the V6 G80 against its all-four-cylinder-turbo competition will save you, on average, around $8,100. That makes the $8,950 in option packs look awfully attractive. The difference between the G80 V8 and its rivals is smaller, but still significantly stacked in Genesis' favor, mainly because only BMW still offers a V8 in this segment – it's $67,295 ($12,745 more than a base G80 V8). Pricing on the US market 2017 E-Class is only available for the 2.0-liter, turbocharged E300, while neither Lexus nor Audi sell a V8 outside their respective high-performance brands.

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