Whether paper performance translated into real world performance could only be answered by time behind the wheel, and Hyundai wasn't shy about providing every opportunity to search for answers.
Upon settling into the leather-clad cabin and pushing the "start" button, it became apparent that the Genesis was not an impostor in this competitive segment. Wending our way through the hills of California confirmed that the Genesis delivers a smooth, highly composed ride accompanied by impressively low levels of road and wind noise.
A sense of quality and refinement permeated the vehicle as we made our way to a racetrack to fully unleash Hyundai's segment-shattering sedan. At the track, three separate events allowed journalists to push both V6 and V8 powered examples to the max.
The fist exercise embarked upon was a slalom run through the pylons followed by some serious track time during which the vehicle was sampled with and without the benefit of granny aids. Deactivating the ESC facilitated real seat-of-the-pants driving fun. Even with the electronic oversight active, the Genesis allows liberal use of one's own driving skill before intervening to reset the course.
Due in part to its ideal 52/48-weight distribution, the V6 Genesis ate up the slalom and a variety of early and late apex turns with remarkable control and composure. This car exhibits such balance and predictability in the turns that it's almost difficult get completely out of shape, especially when the ESC is participating.
The V8 engine puts slightly more weight over the front wheels, resulting in a 54/46-weight distribution however the slight increase in mass presents little disadvantage in the corners, which come up much faster thanks to the big jump in horses and torque dispatched by the 4.6-litre powerplant.
This engine is a sweet operator. It's polished and punchy, delivering smooth energy under normal driving conditions and a sharp burst of acceleration when called upon. Independent ratings slap a 0-96-km/h (0-60-mph) time of 5.7 seconds on the V8-powered Genesis.
Hyundai is so confident in the acceleration ability of the V8 Genesis that they set up a ¼-mile drag strip at the track and put the Genesis up against a new BMW 750i costing $58,595 more. The results: The Genesis found the end of the ¼ mile first approximately 70% of the time.
Upon settling into the leather-clad cabin and pushing the "start" button, it became apparent that the Genesis was not an impostor in this competitive segment. Wending our way through the hills of California confirmed that the Genesis delivers a smooth, highly composed ride accompanied by impressively low levels of road and wind noise.
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A sense of quality and refinement permeated the vehicle as we made our way to a racetrack to fully unleash Hyundai's segment-shattering sedan. At the track, three separate events allowed journalists to push both V6 and V8 powered examples to the max.
The fist exercise embarked upon was a slalom run through the pylons followed by some serious track time during which the vehicle was sampled with and without the benefit of granny aids. Deactivating the ESC facilitated real seat-of-the-pants driving fun. Even with the electronic oversight active, the Genesis allows liberal use of one's own driving skill before intervening to reset the course.
Due in part to its ideal 52/48-weight distribution, the V6 Genesis ate up the slalom and a variety of early and late apex turns with remarkable control and composure. This car exhibits such balance and predictability in the turns that it's almost difficult get completely out of shape, especially when the ESC is participating.
The V8 engine puts slightly more weight over the front wheels, resulting in a 54/46-weight distribution however the slight increase in mass presents little disadvantage in the corners, which come up much faster thanks to the big jump in horses and torque dispatched by the 4.6-litre powerplant.
This engine is a sweet operator. It's polished and punchy, delivering smooth energy under normal driving conditions and a sharp burst of acceleration when called upon. Independent ratings slap a 0-96-km/h (0-60-mph) time of 5.7 seconds on the V8-powered Genesis.
Hyundai is so confident in the acceleration ability of the V8 Genesis that they set up a ¼-mile drag strip at the track and put the Genesis up against a new BMW 750i costing $58,595 more. The results: The Genesis found the end of the ¼ mile first approximately 70% of the time.
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