The Hyundai Genesis Coupe – the New Grand Touring

Hyundai Genesis GT

Hyundai Genesis GT

The Genesis coupe hit the enthusiast world with no real warning. Not only did people not think that Hyundai could make a sporty car, but to produce one with as much potential as the new coupe seemed to be a shock. Then it hit the streets, and even more so, the community was blown away. This coupe was well priced, had a decent interior, had good power pushing the rear wheels, and actually handled well in the corners. It seems then that Hyundai hit it’s mark.

In Texas, we don’t so much seem to fancy hard track cars. Our big highway system and rough country roads beg for real grand touring cars. You want a car with good power to bolt down I-35, you want good traction and balance for the windy roads of the hill country, and you want a comfortable interior for those long trips from DFW to Austin – or wherever you might be headed. In this case, you’ll want to pick up a new Mustang or Camaro, right? Not so fast. The Genesis Coupe now comes in GT trim, so we decided to test that out on a grand tour blast from Dallas to Austin.

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The Grand Tourer

the Grand Tourer - Aston Martin DB9

the Grand Tourer - Aston Martin DB9

The concept of a grand touring car escapes most Americans these days, for what reason I’m not entirely sure. We have a mass of open roads and long highways that stretch from sea to shining sea, but we also have an abundance of cheap air fair to hop you from state to state. In Europe, they have airlines as well, though, they still have the tradition of grand touring cars. To go ahead and clarify for anyone who I might have already lost, a grand tourer is a special kind of car car derived from the Italian phrase grand turismo. These cars are designed to make long distance trips at high speeds and high comfort. A grand touring car is not necessarily a race car, though most manufacturers race them, it is made to eat the miles in great comfort without sacrificing power. A traditional grand tourer is front engine, rear wheel drive, either a two seater or a two-plus-two configuration, and has a luxurious interior. Continue reading