2015 Hyundai Genesis Preview: 2014 Detroit Auto Show

As the likes of Cadillac, Lexus and Infiniti work to step up their game with new sport sedans, Hyundai had to do the same, while also introducing a key performance enhancer that has long kept the Genesis off at least some enthusiasts’ consideration lists. That would be all-wheel drive, which makes its Hyundai debut in the second-gen Genesis, and the car also updates its amenities with a full range of cutting-edge technologies.

Needless to say, the sales reception for the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, especially now that its content is on par with that of the segment’s top players, will go a long way in determining whether Hyundai will be taken seriously as a premium brand by U.S. customers. Mike O’Brien, vice president of corporate and product planning for Hyundai Motor America, however, isn’t concerned.

Said O’Brien: “Hyundai is proud to bring our next-generation Genesis sedan to eager U.S. consumers in just a few short months. Market expectations for the new Genesis are understandably high, and we’re confident the Genesis’ combination of superb dynamics, bold design, class-leading safety and driver-focused technologies will exceed those expectations by a large margin.”

2015 Hyundai Genesis: What’s New

• New standard audio and navigation systems, backed by an eight-inch color touchscreen, Bluetooth technology, voice recognition, simplified phone pairing and app support
• Available high-def navigation with 9.2-inch display, paired with a premium Lexicon sound system boasting 17 speakers and 900 watts of power
• Second-generation Blue Link telematics, leveraging Google for destination searches and providing services like remote start and automatic collision notification
• Access to Apple’s virtual valet, Siri, in Eyes Free mode
• Digital breakthroughs like the Genesis Intelligent Assistant and an app for Google Glass
• Upgraded safety technologies, including head-up display, blind-spot and lane-keeping systems, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, automatic headlights, and the world’s first in-vehicle CO2 sensor
• New performance-oriented chassis and suspension, complemented by four-mode damping control and extensive Nürburgring testing

New 2015 Hyundai Genesis: What’s Under the Hood

Motivation for the 2015 Hyundai Genesis comes from the same pair of powerplants used this year, but each one has been retuned for more low-end torque, albeit at the expense of a few high-end horsepower. The standard 3.8-liter V6, for example, gains a bump of 2 lb.-ft. of torque, available 100 rpm lower in the power band, but is down 22 horses; the tale of the tape here: 311 hp and 293 lb.-ft. of torque. Turning to the 2015 Hyundai Genesis’ premium V8, it’s still the most powerful engine in the brand’s lineup, but its 420 hp are 9 fewer than in last year’s unit; on the flip side of this, V8 torque spikes by an extra 7 lb.-ft. to reach 383.

Both engines feature direct injection and variable valve timing to ensure those power numbers are balanced by modern-day fuel-economy performance—although Hyundai hasn’t yet released EPA projections—and both also come mated solely to a new eight-speed automatic transmission with the automaker’s SHIFTRONIC manual-shifting capability.

Then, as a another advantage, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis also will feature HTRAC multi-mode all-wheel drive, enhanced by what the brand says is “a wider range of torque-distribution variability than many competitive systems.” In other words, the Genesis can intelligently manage torque for optimum performance in differing driving conditions, such as if the driver is accelerating in a straight line or carving the corners.

New 2015 Hyundai Genesis: Styling and Design

The design strategy behind the exterior of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis is called Fluidic Sculpture 2.0, and it will set the tone for future brand offerings including the next-gen Hyundai Sonata sedan. Notable cues include subtle yet fluid lines created to deliver a modern, premium appearance, with the Genesis’ sophisticated and sculpted new grille being among the highlights. Designers also have readjusted the sedan’s proportions for a more athletic stance that relies on a longer wheelbase and shorter overhangs, with jeweled, full-LED taillamps as the finishing touch.

Inside, occupants can enjoy a more spacious cabin than that offered by rivals like the Cadillac CTS or BMW 5-Series, as well as premium materials such as leather, aluminum and matte-finished wood. Engineers also have redesigned the car’s driver’s seat for improved functionality and comfort, enhanced by a new air-pressure-activated bolster adjustment, and denser seat pads are used for both the pilot and front-seat passenger.

There’s also an emphasis on “ultra-precise fit and finish” in the cockpit, as well as advanced ergonomics, and engineers spent much time in redesigned the 2015 Hyundai Genesis’ switchgear for increased ease-of-use.

What Autobytel Thinks:

On paper, the 2015 Hyundai Genesis looks like an ideal evolution of the original, and that entry was the well-deserved North American Car of the Year in 2009. But with heavy competition both outside of the brand and within—where the Hyundai Azera and Equus closely bracket the new car in terms of premium amenities—the 2015 Hyundai Genesis could be fighting for traction despite its new all-wheel-drive system.