As we told you, Hyundai has a new twin-turbo V6 engine under development and will add to its Hyundai Genesis sedan turbo in 2017. We just nabbed our first concrete, physical evidence during hot-weather tests in the California desert.
[ads id=”0″ style=”float:left;padding:9px;”]The camouflaged Hyundai Genesis sedan Turbo is fitted with a new front-fascia design, which makes room for a newly-applied intercooler–visible through the lower air-intake below the prototype’s revised grille. The new engine will launch in conjunction with a thorough facelift, likely due in 2017 for the 2018 model year.
This prototype represents real-world confirmation of a story that we were published here this past April. In the story, Hyundai CEO Dave Zuchowski detailed the Korean automaker’s move to smaller turbocharged engines to save weight, improve fuel-economy, and lower emissions to meet tougher regulatory standards.
Some outlets wonder if Hyundai will turbocharge its existing 3.8-liter V6, while other outlets point to a new 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged unit reportedly in the works, but Hyundai showed a 3.3 Twin Turbo engine at the Detroit Auto Show in January. Regardless, Zuchowski had promised that the new, turbocharged V6 would generate enough power to match the 420-hp of Hyundai’s 5.0-liter Tau V8–likely signalling the Tau V8’s demise at the time of the Genesis sedan’s mid-cycle facelift.
The prototype photographed here was running with a camouflaged interior, but we managed to get a peek at the dash with the camo pulled back. From what we can see, no significant changes have been applied just yet. However, this is clearly an early prototype that is focused primarily on developing the new powertrain. Fine-tuning the creature comforts will come later, as updates are expected to be added to prototypes closer to the production date.
Photo Source: SB-Medien
Hyundai on the right track to MPG supremacy in the lux space. I would definitely prefer if they did keep the Tau V8, and add tech to improve its fuel efficiency. Let’s go Hyundai!
Hyundai will keep making a V8 but will likely be a smaller displacement FI V8 – which will probably be the engine for the N-variant for the Genesis down the line.
I agree with others here. The Tau engine was massively expensive for Hyundai to develop–as are all totally-new engines–so I don’t imagine that Hyundai will be done with it after having made it for a few years. I suspect it will also be downsized and have forced induction added to it. They showed a 550hp, supercharged version of the 5-liter a few years ago, but I could see them releasing a twin-turbo 4.4 (or whatever is most convenient for Chinese tax laws) with nearly 600hp to compete with the German supersedans as the N Performance brand picks up momentum.
At the same time, I’d love to see a naturally-aspirated, 4.5-liter that revs to over 8000 and makes 500hp, but I’m don’t know of the physical limits of the Tau, and that scenario seems unlikely for fuel consumption and emissions reasons, anyway.