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Damn those Eurocrats and their pesky red tape.
This is the new Hyundai Genesis Coupe, set to be unveiled at the New York Auto Show this week in a blaze of distinctly un-Hyundai-ish excitement.
But we might not see it in the UK. Boo. Insiders say that European crash legislation may make it impossible to sell the Genesis Coupe over here - the car is set to debut in Korea and the US - despite the guys at Hyundai UK being seriously keen to make it happen.
We hope it does. With clean Lexus-esque lines and those neat side creases, the Genesis Coupe has remained faithful to the concept we saw in November. Despite it not having that slatted carbon fibre bonnet - that we didn't expect to stick around anyway - it's a good-looking thing.
The thought of a 310bhp V6 driving the rear wheels makes us even happier. That'll be the top-of-the-range engine until the 435bhp 4.6-litre V8 from the Genesis saloon arrives later in the year, but it'll do for a start.
Expect a 5.5-second 0-60 time, a top speed of around 150mph and plenty of driving fun thanks to a rear-axle limited slip diff and a neat six-speed manual.
It shouldn't cost too much, either. Hyundai says the Genesis Coupe will be the most affordable 300bhp-plus car on the market, so expect prices way beneath the class-benchmark Audi TT - especially when the more modest four-pot turbo engine joins the line-up.
See why we want it in the UK? Hyundai has hinted that we could see a handful of Genesis Coupes arriving under Single Vehicle Approval, but we want more.
Write to your local MP or organise a leaflet campaign or something. We can make this happen. After a nice cup of tea, obviously.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Want to comment on this?
JimRich commented on this article
at 08:10 am on 17 March 2009
I am currently working in South Korea and thought you might like to know the basic version of the Genesis Coupe, at today's exchange rate, costs just 11,500 GBP. Let's hope if it arrives in the UK it is just as reasonably priced.
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JOHNJOE commented on this article
at 05:34 pm on 07 August 2009
i hope it does not. its ugly these cars like hyundai and lexus etc cant design a nice car european manufacurers can however with alfas 159, bmw z4, and audi tt.
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ginamc commented on this article
at 01:02 am on 24 November 2009
Brit living in the USA...I just bought this car having decide my 95 Accura Integra, I had for 7 years, had to go....not being able to find something like a Mazda Miata, but a bit bigger and in my price range..I stumbled, word of mouth, upon the HGC. Have to say I bloody love it. Wot fun! No way is there any other (affordable) car like this on the market - right now- in the USA and for the USA the mileage is not bad. Engine sounds great too.
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mikej02 commented on this article
at 09:06 am on 03 February 2010
I hope it doesnt make it to Europe, I'm Canadian and I have to say, you guys get all the sweet cars, we get lame american cars, you get the better versions of the same cars... so its about time we have something good that you dont lol. of course im just envious since you have had a good ford fiesta, focus, or even VW scirroco that we just don't have available here :(... lets hope this is a new trend and you guys can experience the dissappointment we have in North America for so long.
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ThatGuy commented on this article
at 04:08 am on 26 February 2010
When Genesis Coupe gets to Brit, you guys should do another episode of Korean car review :]
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