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Rip-roaring Hyundai is doing things right in all of the automotive categories it competes in - and that applies to the substantial 2012 revisions for its low-key, but hardly low-rent, Genesis "luxury sedan."

Notice we're not saying "luxury sport sedan." That's because as impressive an effort as the 2012 Genesis is in many measures - including the value proposition - it doesn't have the locked-down suspension or hard-wired steering feedback that would make BMW worry. But that seems to be okay with
Hyundai for now. It's happy with the 2012 Genesis' positioning as a luxuriously sophisticated and comfortable sedan with a lot of power and equipment for the money starting at $34,200.

Although there's plenty of action throughout the 2012 Genesis lineup, including a new 5.0 R-spec model with a chesty 429-hp, 5.0-liter V8, we think the upgrades to the base Genesis 3.8 make it the pick of the litter in the three-model Genesis lineup.

The most vivid improvement for the 2012 Genesis 3.8 is the addition of direct-injection fueling for its 3.8-liter V6, a buffing-up that boosts horsepower from last year's 290 to 333 horses. That's a pretty serious power pump-up - and you feel it.


After a couple of acceleration runs on Michigan backroads, we decided we'd better do a roadside pull-off to be certain it was the Genesis 3.8 and not the V8 powered Genesis 4.6.

Truth is, with the revised V6's 15-percent power hike, moving up to the Genesis 4.6 and its 385-hp V8 would be mostly for those who just can't bring themselves to buy a luxury sedan with fewer than eight cylinders. The upgraded V6 really is so good that the only way you'd know you were two cylinders short is to punch it in the midrange, when the V8 does shove the Genesis with more gusto.

The newfound engine might is abetted by an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission that shifts with commendable smoothness but annoyingly lacks the crispness of the very best of today's new-age, multi-speed automatics. The Hyundai-engineered eight-speed's demeanor certainly is in line with the expectations of many premium car buyers, but snapping off more-precise shifts would be better.

Two more ratios in the transmission translate to better fuel economy. For the V6 Genesis 3.8, gears six, seven and eight are overdrive ratios, so highway fuel economy gets the biggest boost, from last year's 27 miles per gallon to 29 mpg this year - despite the 43 horses the V6 gains. City fuel economy is increased by 1 mpg to 19.


Hyundai revised the Genesis suspension tuning to improve precision and cut down on body roll. Maybe they did, but the car still rides too softly on two-lane roads, although the downy ride does mean you aren't troubled by potholes and chattery pavement.

Unless you're a Genesis Facebook fan, you're not likely to notice the 2012 exterior revisions, which include a revised grille and front end and the nice-looking brushed-aluminum window trim, not to mention the new headlights that incorporate LED daytime running lights and accents. Inside the 2012 Genesis, there is a better design for the center-console area and some detail changes to trim that do impart a more lustrous look and feel.

The 2012 Genesis has leather, heated front seats, iPod and USB jacks and Bluetooth phone connectivity. There are optional packages, Premium ($4,800) and Technology ($4,000), but to get the Tech Package you have to buy the Premium package, too. We'd take the 333-p 2012 Genesis 3.8 just as it is and feel indescribably superior to people spending similar money for some very ordinary cars.

Overall, the LED lights are widely used most new cars such as LED Dome Lights, LED Daytime Running Lights, and will come out with even more innovation in the future.

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Source: http://www.articlealley.com/hyundai-2012-genesis-gets-eightspeed-transmission-2401036.html

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