Hyundai Genesis Coupe Gets Popular Mechanics Award

The new Hyundai Genesis Coupe won the Popular Mechanics “Fun to drive” award. It seems that the editors were impressed with Hyundai’s new rear wheel drive sports car. This is not a first, as the Koreans won a Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Award when the 2006 Sonata received the honor for its excellence in safety.

The Genesis Coupe offers a 2.0-liter intercooled four-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 210 horsepower, and a 3.8-liter V6 Track model with 306 horsepower and massive Brembo brakes. Ben Stewart, Popular Mechanics automotive editor, said that when tested side-by-side against an Infiniti G37, “the Hyundai Genesis Coupe nearly matched the Infiniti in every performance measure, and did so for $15,000 less.”

“Hyundai has transformed its image – and its cars – in an amazingly short time,” said Ben Stewart. “The Genesis Coupe is more than just a sleek, fun-to-drive sports coupe. It’s proof that Hyundai has developed world-class design, engineering and car-building expertise.”

“It’s an honor for Hyundai to once again receive this prestigious award, and we are even more thrilled that the Genesis Coupe took the crown in the ‘fun-to-drive’ category,” said Derek Joyce, Genesis Coupe product manager, Hyundai Motor America. “With an aggressive, wedge-like design, rear-wheel-drive architecture and 5-link independent rear suspension, the Genesis Coupe was truly built with the driving enthusiast in mind.”

In order to determine the winners, editors of Popular Mechanics drove more than 100 new cars each year.