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The hyundai Genesis Coupe, out now, and the Hyundai Genesis Coupe that will drop in the spring of 2009, is proof in pudding of Korean automaker rise to creating real, serious performance machines. The Genesis sedan and coupe are the culmination of a trend at Hyundai toward quality and driver engagement, without giving up the high value that has catapulted the brand from bottom-of-the-barrel economy to high on many prospective car buyers' lists.

To be taken seriously among the performance tuning community, Hyundai has touted the performance potential of the rear wheel drive Genesis Sedan and Genesis Coupe by commissioning several of the world's top tuning houses to upgrade the already more-than-adequate Genesis performance and styling to a new level.

The natural venue to showcase what can be done with this exciting brand new platform is the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show that hits Las Vegas each fall. Genesis Sedan tuners DUB, RIDES Magazine and RKSPORT showcased the luxury sport sedan's urban image, with tuning packages comparing it to say, the tuned Chrysler 300C or Mercedes-Benz S-Class.

The Genesis Coupe is a very different animal, though they are based on the same platform. HKS, Street Concepts and Rhys Millen Racing were chosen as most appropriate to bring out the best custom car potential in Hyundai's exciting new pony car competitor. Particularly noteworthy is the Rhys Millen Racing Genesis Coupe, which has been outfitted with a full autocross-ready track package, demonstrating just how much performance the new 2.0 Turbo from Hyundai is good for.

After the Tiburon has hung on always just outside of the sport compact tuning limelight, will Hyundai finally hit mainstream in the performance tuning world with the Genesis Sedan and Coupe? Both very different cars have the goods to deliver, and it is now up to the market as to just how far Hyundai has come.

Official Hyundai of America Press Release with specific model details follows...