Hyundai Adds GV80 Coupe to Lineup

If, like us, you often recoil in horror when automakers add the word ‘coupe’ to a four-door SUV or crossover, it’s best to look away right now. Genesis has fallen to the trend, adding a swoopy-roofed GV80 Coupe to its range as part of a refreshed GV80 lineup.

Yeah, we know – word meanings change over time. If you’re up for an etymology lesson, it is suggested the origins of the word ‘coupe’ stem from the French carrosse coupé, which literally means ‘cut carriage’. Apparently, back in the 18th century, some makers of horse-drawn carriages started sawing bits out of traditional styles to create ones for just two passengers, generally by binning the rear-facing seats. All the same, that application of the word is just generally understood to be the first application of the word to transportation; it is truly based on the past participle of the French verb couper which means "to cut", so a tenuous argument could be made that the word is technically correct when applied to these SUV coupes since the machines do actually have a cut roofline and less cargo space.

Anyway. We’ll let you fight that out in the comments. The new GV80 Coupe has a lot more sport than utility thanks to a lower and more sloping roofline. To help compensate, Genesis says they have added a foldable luggage shelf. We’ll measure it ourselves when offered the opportunity. Up front, eagle eyes will spot an expanded air intake and four new air vents, changes which improve engine cooling while also helping differentiate the Coupe from the regular GV80. Certain color combos and wheel options will also be exclusive to this model.

Under the hood, look for the familiar duo of 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder and 3.5L twin-turbo V6 engines. They make 300 and 375 horsepower, respectively. Torque has an even more pronounced difference 311 for the four-pot and 391 for the sixer. But a new – and intriguing – choice will appear in the Coupe, showing up as the high-output 3.5L available in the boss-level G90 sedan. That power team adds an electric supercharger, cranking output to 409 horses and roughly a similar amount of torque. You know the one we like, then.

While these announcements were made in the brand’s home market of Korea, there’s every reason to think these general specs will surface stateside as well. We’ll keep our ears to the ground.

[Images: Genesis]

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