Kia is considering getting into the entry-level rear-drive sports car game with a new model that would likely be based on the architecture of the Genesis Coupe from sister company Hyundai. In an interview with the U.K.’s AutoCar, Kia design boss Peter Schreyer said while the model isn’t in the company’s product plan for the next two years it is something that he’d like to see. Schreyer warned, however, that as Kia is still an emerging company it would have to make a water-tight business car for the vehicle and not just build it for fun.

“We are not like Audi or Porsche,” he said. “We are not in a position to just create something and then announce to the market that it’s the perfect kind of sports car.”

With the cars design likely inspired by the Kee Concept (above), Schreyer said that, “it would be important for the Kee to be rear-wheel drive. And there is, of course, already a rear-driven platform within the Hyundai-Kia group that we could look to use, if our timing was good.” That platform is, of course, the Genesis Coupe’s.

Schreyer did say that such a vehicle would compete against cars like the Mazda MX-5 Miata and Toyota’s new rear drive model. Recent rumors have suggested that both Volkswagen and Nissan are investigating this marketplace as well.

“The car would not need to be very fast or very powerful,” he said, “but it should be compact, affordable and fun – a true sports car.”

If the project does go ahead, look for a rear-drive Kia sports car to debut before the current Genesis Coupe gets a remodel some time around 2013.

GALLERY: Kia Kee Concept

[Source: AutoCar]

Hyundai is introducing the R-Spec version of its Genesis Coupe 2.0T at the SEMA Show, Nov. 3-6 in Las Vegas.

The tuner-friendly version of the Genesis Coupe 2.0T will be the first production R-Spec model to arrive in the U.S.

Priced at $23,750, the R-Spec features the same core performance equipment as the 2.0T Track model but with non-essential equipment removed to reduce cost and weight. The result is what Hyundai calls a “perfect black canvas for tuners”.

The R-Spec has the same tuned suspension, 19-inch gunmetal finish alloy wheels, performance Summer tires, Brembo brakes, Torsen limited-slip differential, all core equipment on the Track model. The R-Spec also receives a set of front strut camber adjustment bolts and R-Spec badging.

Gone are non-essentials such as Bluetooth connectivity, automatic headlights, cruise control, trip computer, chrome interior accents and steering wheel audio controls. The result is a $3,000 savings from the 2.0T Track model. The R-Spec will only be available with manual transmission.

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe 2.0T R-Spec will be available in three colors, Karussell White, Bathurst Black and Tsukuba Red.

Official release after the jump:

Hyundai continues defy doubters, setting a new world record at the world-famous Pikes Peak Hill Climb in a race-prepped Genesis Coupe. Driver Rhys Millen piloted his Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe drift car to a time of 12:09.397 in the rear-wheel drive Time Attack Class, beating his nearest competitor by 1 minute, 23 seconds and besting even his own previous time by 22 seconds.

“Driving the Genesis Coupe for the first time at Pikes Peak in front of thousands of fans is an amazing experience,” said Millen. “Nothing compares to the pressure and thrill of Pikes Peak while competing against yourself for the record.”

Millen also said the Genesis Coupe performed superbly, even though by the summit the tires were worn down to their steel belts.

The Pikes Peak Hill Climb, which takes place annually on Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starts at an elevation of 9,300 feet and finishes at an elevation of 14,110 feet – where the air is so think drivers’ reaction times begin to slow and their race car engines lose 30 percent of their power. Drivers drift around 156 corners, nearly missing guard rails and trees, while avoiding cliffs with 2,000-foot drop-offs.

2009 marks the 87th annual Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, the second-oldest motorsports event in America, second only to the Indianapolis 500.

GALLERY: Rhys Millen Racing Red Bull Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Official release after the jump:

Recently we ran a story reporting that the Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Genesis Coupe that competed in the first round of the Formula D series was actually powered by (ghasp!) a Nissan motor. That won’t be the case from now-on, however, as Rhys Millen himself has just confirmed that for the second race of the season, the Hyundai drift car will in fact be powered by Hyundai, with a turbocharged version of the company’s 3.8-liter Lamdba V6.

Currently the car is making 480hp at just 4500 rpm and 570 ft-ls of torque at 3800 rpm.

The reason for the initial run with the Nissan engine was due to a timeline that proved to be too tight. Rather than forfeit the race, Millen chose to run the car with whatever motor was available.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you see things) Millen and his Nissan-powered Hyundai did not perform well, and didn’t even make it past the first round.

We’ll be watching to see if he has better luck as round two of the Formula D series visits Road Atlanta this weekend.

[Source: Autoblog]

When Hyundai announced at the Chicago Auto Show that Rhys Millen Racing would run a new Genesis Coupe in the Formula D series, we didn’t know (nor did they it seems) that the car would be powered by Nissan.

Despite an official press release that stated the car would be powered by a 550hp stroked and turbocharged 4.1-liter version of the V6 found in the factory Genesis Coupe, the car ran the first event of the season at Long Beach, CA with a Nissan VQ35 3.5-liter V6 under the hood. (Formula D rules aren’t too picky about what engine powers a car).

Apparently the decision was a last minute one as the planned engine was not yet ready – something Hyundai USA PR boss Jim Trainor takes partial responsibility for as the company took Millen away from his regular duties to help with the launch of the factory Genesis Coupe.

Interestingly, however, Trainor had no idea of the situation as Rhys Millen Racing made the decision independently, opting to run the car in a less-than-ideal state rather than not run it at all.

As a result the car did get some exposure, although not in the actual competition as Millen and the Nissan-powered Genesis Coupe didn’t even make it through the first round.

The team is working to complete the Hyundai engine and should be ready to compete at either New Jersey on June 6th or Las Vegas on July 10th.

For move info on the Formula D series see here:

http://formulad.com/

[Source: Autoblog]

With all the excitement surrounding the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, you’ve probably forgotten all about the Tiburon.

The what?

Do they still make those?

Our point exactly… and technically speaking, no, they don’t make Tiburon’s any more… although you can still buy a “new” one.

OK, so the car does still exist, but it won’t for long. Hyundai is planning the next iteration of the sporty front-wheel drive vehicle but conceptually it’s going to be completely different and it probably won’t even use the Tiburon name.

Hyundai U.S.A.’s CEO John Krafcik told AutoWeek that the next car, expected in 2011, will be “positioned below the current Tiburon.”

It will still use the front drive Accent/Elantra platform and will be powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine – so it better be small and light weight if it’s going to be at all sporty.

“It is not going to be all about performance,” Krafcik continued.

Instead, the car will be more economical and more environmentally friendly. It will, however, be recognizable as a sibling to the Genesis Coupe, with styling also based on the Veloster Concept car.

GALLERY: Hyundai Veloster Concept

[Source: AutoWeek]

Generally speaking, car manufacturers hold press launches of new vehicles for the press, but not this time. As Hyundai continues to reinvent itself as a company, it is also reinventing how the whole system works and so they’ve invited, well, everyone, to come along - virtually anyway (those without WiFi, an ethernet cable or anything remotely resembling a 56k modem need not apply).

What Hyundai is doing is planning a live webcast of it the press launch of its new Genesis Coupe. Those interested can drop by http://genesispresspass.com/live/ at 11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time on March 25th (this Wednesday) and participate. That’s right, not only will the unwashed masses get to share this glorious moment with the unwashed press, they’ll be able to take part by submitting questions that may (or may not) be answered by Hyundai executives, through a question and answer session.

The webcast will also include a briefing on Hyundai and the new Genesis Coupe with highlights on all the technical details – basically all the boring stuff before they strap the journalists in and let them bang gears on a race track.

http://genesispresspass.com/live/

Hyundai is spending some big bucks to kick off 2009 by advertising during the 43rd Superbowl. The commercial will feature a vehicle that Hyundai hopes will transform how people think about the Korean car manufacturer.

Motor Trend magazine was invited along to see the filming of the commercial and they have been kind enough to share their footage with us. Titled “Epic Lap” the video features pro racer Rhys Millen hammering on the Hyundai Genesis Coupe at Road Atlanta. Apparently the shoot required 50 laps of the famous race track at blistering speeds.

Millen, a former rally car racer and current competitor in the Formula D drift series certainly shows off his drifting technique in the rear-drive Genesis Coupe.

If you watch closely you can see that Hyundai employed some high-powered chase cars to keep up with the 310hp V6 Genesis Coupe, including a Porsche Cayenne and a Mitsubishi EVO.

[Source: Motor Trend]