SEMA Preview: Mid-Engine Hyundai Genesis Coupe by Rhys Millen

[Admin]

Hyundai won't be hiding itself in some far-off corner of the Las Vegas Convention Center at early November's SEMA Show. We've already shown you the nitrous-fed Genesis Coupe Hennessey is working on down in Texas. But the centerpiece of their display is going to be this mid-engine, V8-powered version of the Genesis coupe now going together in the Huntington Beach, California, shop of Rhys Millen Racing (RMR).
Think of it as the supercar Hyundai could build if it were in the supercar business.


Starting with a stock Genesis Coupe, the crew at RMR have gutted the back of the car, chopped up the floor pan, and are currently fitting a 4.6-liter V8 swiped out of a Genesis luxury sedan about where the stock coupe's rear seat would be.
Follow the jump for more details and photos.



The engine itself will be more-or-less stock except for the fitment of eight individual throttle bodies and a set of JE pistons that should bump the compression ratio from the stock 10.4:1 to about 10.9:1 or 11.0:1. The cams, heads, crank and other internals are untouched. Stock the engine is rated at 375-horsepower so we're guessing at least 450 horses in this slightly tweaked form.

Backing up the V8 will be a Mendeola S5 sequential gearbox with five forward gears. It's the same transaxle used in the Ultima GT-R and relatively civilized for street use. It's geared for a 182 mph top speed in this application.

As much as possible, RMR is retaining the stock Genesis Coupe suspension. That means MacPherson struts up front and a five-link independent system in the rear (the transaxle sneaks in between the stock suspension back there). Braking is still open to modification, but the crew is looking at StopTech products to bring things to a halt. And while the wheel choice hasn't yet been made, the tires will be Toyo T1Rs with 245/35R20s at the bow and 285/30R20s astern.

Some tweaks to the body will be necessary to accommodate the powertrains. But the tastiest may be the conversion of the car to a rear hatch so that it can be opened for engine access. Or the engine can just be admired through the rear glass, ala the Ferrari F430. The interior is sure to be slightly rubbed, but how is still open to speculation. And you can keep your speculation to yourself.
Now that we know it's coming, and that it's going on display at SEMA in early November, we'll keep you posted on its progress over the next two months. And then we'll test it at our test track, right, Rhys? -- John Pearley Huffman, Correspondent

[RedRide]

wow. just wow.