Hyundai will reveal a 480-hp concept version of its Genesis Coupe at the upcoming SEMA Show.
Auto shows often provide designers and engineers an opportunity to play the game of “what if?” and nowhere more so than at the SEMA Show, the annual gathering of aftermarket suppliers that also brings out some of the wilder concepts and show car ideas from automakers like Hyundai.
And, when the show opens up in Las Vegas just in time for Halloween, the Korean carmaker will have a trick up its sleeve that will provide fans of its Genesis Coupe a real treat: the Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC.
The result of a two-year development effort, it’s a 480-horsepower version of the sporty Genesis Coupe, with a supercharger strapped onto its 3.8-liter V-6 to bump up its stock 306 hp by nearly 60%.
The project was hatched by HATCI, the Hyundai America Technical Center Inc., which teamed up with Magnuson Products, Rhys Millen Racing, Harman International and Torvec Inc. to develop and build the prototype.
“The HATCI and Magnuson supercharger demonstrates the high-performance potential of Genesis Coupe’s V-6 engine – the car was engineered to handle this kind of extra power,” said HATCI senior engineer David Dutko. “Our HATCI engineers have been working for years with Magnuson to ensure high engine output is available on future Hyundai vehicles.”
The Magnuson supercharger, which delivers a modest six to seven pounds of boost, is just one of the technical tricks the development team come up with. To ensure that power reaches the pavement they adopted a new IsoTorque differential from Torvec – which reportedly boosted lap times on the Hyundai test track by about a second.
There’s also a liquid-to-air intercooler to handle the extra engine heat. And the powerplant gets a modified flywheel, clutch and fuel injectors. Both a free-flowing air intake and exhaust system contributed to the big bump in power.
Other mechanical changes include Bilstein monotube shocks with adjustable ride height settings that were tuned on the Nurburgring, as well as Brembo six-piston brakes with cross-drilled rotors front and back.
The Rhys Millen team, meanwhile, handled development of exterior enhancements that include a front bumper, grille, hood, side skirts, diffuser and rear deck with spoiler. The Hyundai Genesis Hurricane SC also features 19-inch performance wheels and tires. And it gets LED head and taillights.
Inside, the Hurricane gets custom leather-and-suede sport seats with blue inserts, while new onboard technology includes an advanced Harmann International Lexicon audio system.
Could there be a real future for the Genesis Hurricane SC? Probably not quite as seen at the SEMA show, but Terry Peddicord, the sales director for Magnuson Products, hints it “is not just another pretty face for the show circuit, but rather it is a hard working lab-rat that will push the bounds of this car and the whole vehicle segment.”