New car news

18 March 2008 - 11:00

So close, so far

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.