When you think of Hyundai, the first thing that usually comes to mind is an affordable car with subpar design that is very unlikely to turn heads when you pull up in front of an “enthusiast” gathering. Actually, hardly anyone out there would consider a Hyundai owner a car enthusiast. Well, Hyundai is out to change all that and following its take on the luxury-segment with the Hyundai Genesis sedan, the Korean automaker is now offering a new rear-wheel-drive coupe that is sure to keep the enthusiast in you satisfied while attracting some attention to the sound coming from under your hood.

Meet the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 – Hyundai’s first attempt to compete in the high-performance rear-wheel-drive sports coupe segment. According to Derek Joyce, Hyundai’s main expert on the stateside for the Genesis Coupe, when the Korean automaker set out to plan the rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, it had three primary engineering benchmarks, including the Infiniti G37, Mazda RX-8 and the BMW 335i. While the 2010 Genesis Coupe is available with a 210-hp 4-cylinder turbocharged engine, those benchmarks apply mainly to the 3.8 model which is powered by the 3.8L V6 from the Genesis sedan making 306-hp. And since we wanted to see if Hyundai met those benchmarks, we chose to take the 3.8 model (3.8 Grand Touring to be exact) out for a 2-hour drive around Mount Kisco, NY.

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First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8:

Exterior:

Stand outside the 2010 Genesis Coupe and you’ll notice right away that Hyundai made it a point to distinguish the model apart from others in the Hyundai lineup. It features a sports car wedge design with a “Z”-shaped body character line and short overhangs and low cowl-to-axle distance. Nonetheless, many out there are sure to agree that the G37, RX-8 and the 335i are much more aggressive and sportier in appearance. Which is when you really start to wonder about the market the Genesis Coupe is competing in. At this point, after some debate with fellow auto journalists, we came to a conclusion that when you compare the Genesis Coupe to cars like the Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan 350Z, Honda Accord Coupe or the Nissan Altima Coupe, Hyundai’s rear-wheel-drive sports car starts to shine a little more. Throw on the available Track package and the red Brembo brake calipers, chrome-front accents, 19-inch gunmetal-finish alloy wheels and HID headlamps are sure to turn some heads.

Interior:

Take a seat inside and you’ll realize that Hyundai has done its best to step-up its interior design and quality. Most of the center-console and dash has a very solid build while the ergonomic placement of buttons on the center-dash and steering-wheel keep the inside of the Genesis Coupe very driver-oriented. Standard interior features on the Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 model include black leather seats, automatic temperature control, ‘Genesis’ door sill plates, driver”s Lumbar support, metalgrain and chrome interior accents, a keyless entry system, leather-wrapped steering wheel/shift knob, power auto one-touch windows, AM/FM/XM/CD Player and USB/iPod/Aux jack connectivity, steering wheel audio controls and Bluetooth connectivity. If you opt for the 3.8 Grand Touring model, Hyundai will throw in a Ÿ360-watt Infinity premium audio system, proximity key with push button start, heated brown leather seats, a sunroof and a backup warning system. A touch-screen navigation will also be made available later this summer.

Performance:

So it looks pretty good and the interior is filled with features that you most likely wouldn’t expect in a Hyundai. But has Hyundai met its performance benchmarks and can it do what the Korean automaker wants it to do – which is steal customers from Infiniti, BMW and Mazda? Well, not exactly. By no means are we saying that the 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8 offers disappointing performance figures or a dynamic sporty drive. While the rear-wheel-drive system and the 5-link independent system rear-suspension system are sure to put a smile in your face, the Genesis Coupe 3.8 is no match for the rear-wheel-drive, high-performance, power hungry G37, 335i or the Mazda RX8. However, as we said before, when you look at the 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8 next to the Accord Coupe, Altima Coupe, Eclipse or the 350Z, you can be pretty sure that Hyundai is very likely to steal some customers from those three “affordable” sport coupes.

The 306-hp engine will push you from 0 to 60 mph in whopping 5.7 seconds and will let you keep going until 149 mph – performance figures that let the Genesis Coupe 3.8 shine amongst the Honda, Mitsubishi and Nissans. Hyundai has paid great attention to details that enthusiasts will appreciate, including a dual-link MacPherson strut front suspension and a Torsen limited-slip differential for enhanced acceleration and cornering dynamics. Opt for the 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8T (Track) model and you’ll enjoy a track-tuned suspension and a Brembo monobloc fixed caliper braking system.

All 2010 Genesis Coupe models come standard with a close-ratio 6-speed manual but the 3.8 also offers a premium 6-speed ZF automatic with steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters for a manual sport mode. We had the chance to drive both transmissions in 3.8 model and we have to say that while we prefer manual transmissions as enthusiasts, the 6-speed ZF automatic with SHIFTRONIC put a bigger smile on our face with very quick shifts at our flicks on the ‘-’, ‘+’ paddles.

Overall:

So Hyundai has grabbed your attention and is actually making you think about parking they’re first rear-wheel-drive sports coupe in your driveway – but how much does it cost? The 2010 Genesis Coupe 3.8 starts at $25,000 and will get you from 0 to 60 mph 5.7 seconds while you enjoy some of the standard features listed above. Opt for the $27,500 Genesis Coupe 3.8 Grand Touring and you’ll get heated brown leather seats, a sunroof, a rear-view mirror with a compass, keyless push-button start, a Infinity 380 watt sound system, backup warning system and HID headlamps. Try those kind of options at that price tag with a BMW 335i, Infiniti G37 or even the BMW 135i. While you’re at it, try finding all that packaged into an Accord Coupe, Altima Coupe, Eclipse or the 350Z at that price tag.

A fully loaded 2010 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 Track model with the Brembo braking system, rear-spoiler and a track-tuned suspension will run you $30,260 with a 6-speed manual. Expect to pay in the $31,500 range for the 6-Speed ZF automatic with paddle shifters.

First Drive: 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8:

- By: Omar Rana

Earlier this week, Ford let us pickup an all-new 5-door 2010 Ford Fiesta for a one-night-stand. Excited, we drove up together to NYC and drove the Fiesta back to our home-base and prepared to film a video review the next day. While we had to get the Fiesta back to Ford by 10 a.m. the next morning, we spent as much as time as we could with Ford’s first global vehicle.

Unfortunately, the rain killed our original plans to film a thorough video review of the Fiesta. Nonetheless, the Squeeze Green Fiesta (that’s what our keychain said) was just screaming to be driven when we pulled into the parking lot on gloomy Tuesday morning. So without further ado, here is our test-drive, first-drive, review or whatever you want to call it, of the 2010 Ford Fiesta.

The new 2010 Ford Fiesta is lighter, faster and more efficient than its predecessor and looks much better than the previous models. We almost want to say that the new Fiesta is the Mondeo for those looking at an entry-level Ford. At this point you can say that Fiesta has scared the heck out of its rivals and is the best car in it class… yada yada yada… but look a little closer and you’ll see there is more to the Fiesta than just a good-looking subcompact car.

Make the leap to read more and view the high-res image gallery and to see our video review.

First Drive: 2010 Ford Fiesta:

Exterior:

“We have a kinetic family look now – each individual, yet instantly identifiable as part of the new generation of Ford vehicles,” says Ford of Europe’s Executive Director of Design, Martin Smith. Based on the Ford Verve concept, the new 2010 Fiesta drops its boring looks for a more aggressive, young and fun Ford kinetic design theme. Whether you purchase the Fiesta in a 5-door or 3-door configuration, the Fiesta is sure to attract quite a bit of attention. From the front to rear, the new Fiesta demands presence with a sloping A-pillar that sets it apart from rivals such as the Honda Fit, Toyota Yaris and the Nissan Versa. What many have come to known as Ford’s dullest car, the 2010 Fiesta has completely broken the mold with its bold exterior design.

Interior:

Open the door, and right away you’ll notice that Ford put a lot of hard work into making sure the Fiesta has a solid, quality build. Ford says the center-console was inspired by cell-phones and once you get in one you’ll see exactly what we mean. However, instead of the cell-phone inspired interior design, it’s the list of features and options the Fiesta comes with that steal all of your attention. Yes, it’s got Bluetooth connectivity, an iPod/MP3 USB connector, satellite radio and basically every feature that seem to have become the “things to offer” in every other car.

But for a subcompact car, the Fiesta takes it even further with little features that you probably wouldn’t expect to find at first. There is the FordKeyFree System that allows you to get in and out of the Fiesta with a mere touch of a button on the door handle and allows you to start the car without inserting the key in the ignition with the FordPower Starter button. Switching lanes is easier with a new indicator that you can push halfway down which allows the turn-indicators to flash three times – a feature mostly found on German luxury cars. It’s got rain-sensing wipers, park assist, power-fold side-view mirrors with integrated indicators and heated seats. The Voice Control feature works seamlessly and picks up about everything you want to do in your Fiesta without using your hands (we tried things such as defrost on, radio and phone commands). Not to mention the Voice Control has a fairly attractive British female voice that made us feel like James Bond for a split second. Another Fiesta feature that wowed us was the four-level height adjustment for the fog-lamps. The point is, the Fiesta may feel like a small car, but with really big car luxury equipment.

Performance:

Our Fiesta was powered by a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine making close to 120-hp. That will get you from 0 to 60 mph in a boring (about) 10 seconds with a top speed of 120 mph. So it’s not that fast – however, it does feel like a bigger and more sophisticated car when compared to rivals such as the Honda Fit. At high-speeds, the Fiesta feels sharp and nimble and fairly quick. Fuel-economy figures for the stateside have yet to be released but the Euro 1.6L 4-cylinder petrol version returns a combined fuel-economy of 47.9 mpg which converts to 40 mpg in U.S. terms.

Overall:

What didn’t we like about the Fiesta? Rear-seat legroom. One bystander kept asking us why Ford even bothered with a five-door variant and all we could do was show him how uncomfortable 3 adults would be sitting in the back of the Fiesta. Nonetheless, the 2010 Fiesta is the perfect car for young trendsetters, commuters and city folks.

The 2010 Ford Fiesta will arrive in U.S. Ford dealerships in the summer of 2010. Pricing has yet to be announced but expect it to be competitive with the other vehicles in its class.

First Drive: 2010 Ford Fiesta:

Video: First Drive: 2010 Ford Fiesta:

- By: Omar Rana

The big news out of the Dodgers stadium yesterday didn’t have anything to do with the win over the Giants, instead it was our Electric Vehicle future as envisioned by the power that be at Nissan. I’ll spare you the many baseball analogies circling the bases of my mind and just get to it. 

The black and white Nissan Cube EV Test Car was one of only two in existence. Mark Perry, Director of Product Planning, made a point to mention the only other one is in Japan. Basically, if you bang up the EV during test driving, he’ll probably make you swim to Japan and bring back the other one. But I did test out the EV (more on that later), and I did not bang it up, which is lucky since I don’t think I’d make the swim out to Japan.

The 2010 Nissan Cube EV (yet unnamed, but Mark did mention he’d be willing to let us drop our ideas a suggestion box on our way out), will be a 5-door, 5-passenger hatch that will get 100 miles to the charge. On a household 110V, it’ll be 14-hours from empty to full (about 10 hours for 80% fill), and 8 hours on a 220V. There will also be a rapid recharger that can do 80% in 26 minutes, but those will be on some sort of freakishly awesome industrial strength units that won’t be available for household use. If you think that’s badass, just wait till you see Mark’s vision of a smart grid enabled future with online vehicle charging control, and cross-powering sharing between your car and the utilities.

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First Drive: Nissan Cube EV Prototype:

Nissan is working with the multitude of utilities and numerous business models they have to get some sales plans for the home charging box for your Nissan EV. The infrastructure, Perry says, is key to the viability of the Nissan EV’s future in the retail market.

The price range targeted is somewhere in the “$25,000 to $33,000″ range, and that’s before the $7,500 tax credit. Its key targets include the Honda Insight, Toyota Prius (particularly the future plug-in version) and of course the Chevrolet Volt. Key to the strategy of the Nissan EV will be a zero-payback period. This means unlike say a hybrid Escalade, there is essentially no price premium over gasoline electric cars to amortize and fuel savings start on day one.

The Nissan EV’s design is optimized around the current powertrain and packaging, which by the way, is pretty much in its final form in the Electro-Cube I tested (I just made that up, if you didn’t notice). This means that unlike the Tesla Model S, you probably won’t see any bigger range battery packs on the options list, but according to Perry, this does ensure that the EV’s cost, range, power and space efficiency are as splendid as Nissan engineers could make it. Also, Perry mentioned that a 100-mile range does cover the needs of 98% of the driving public. For those that tow fastboats or like taking long road trips, they could easily rent a car for the once a month or so that they need to take a trip to Grandma’s house up north with all the money the save in operating costs.

Since the Electro-Cube had what will essentially be the same powertrain as the future EV, Nissan let me take a spin around the Dodgers stadium in order to get feel for what we’re going get. Power was smooth and linear and thanks to electric motor torque, felt quite fast. For any sort of local driving, you will hardly feel like you’re driving this thing for fuel savings. This bodes well for mainstream adaptation. Expect to see the Nissan EV available for fleet/commercial sales sometime in 2010 with limited retail sales as soon as the end of 2010. Assuming infrastructure issues are addressed, you (yes you) could even pick one up for the 2012 model year. By then we’ll know if the non-Cube’d EV is truly a home run (I tried so hard to resist, really…).

First Drive: Nissan Cube EV Prototype:

- By: Kap Shah

By: Richard Meaden

Pity the poor Porsche 911. Wounded by challenges from brands as diverse as Aston Martin and Nissan it now faces the sternest test of all: that from its own flesh and blood. Richard Meaden drives the revamped Cayman S.

Conspiracy theories, don’t you just love ‘em? You know, like the one about Porsche deliberately hobbling the Cayman by not fitting it with a limited-slip differential, just to protect the 911 from getting a kicking.

Trouble is, it would have been much easier to laugh at the preposterousness of such paranoia, were it not for the fact that in a dark moment even the most diehard 911 fundamentalist would confess to thinking there was more than a grain of truth to the speculation.

Well now Porsche put an end to the conjecture by offering a new revised, revamped and reinvigorated Cayman and Cayman S with an optional limited-slip differential. Unfortunately, Porsche also chose to launch the car in southern Spain, on a route heavily frequented by articulated lorries and largely covered in this layer of crud.

Foul Play? I’ll leave you to decide…

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First Drive: 2009 Porsche Cayman S: