Hyundai Accidentally Reveals 2 V6 Engines for Genesis Sedan?
Until now, Hyundai had told us about two engines in the upcoming Genesis sedan: a 375 horsepower 4.6-liter V8 and a 3.8-liter V6 with 290 horses. But data mining on the EPA website tells us that the 2009 Hyundai Genesis will also feature the same 3.3-liter V6 that's in the Sonata. The 3.3-liter V6 is/was schedded for the Genesis overseas; until now there was no news that Hyundai was planning to offer it to us North Americans. In the 2009 Sonata, this engine makes 249hp– which sounds like a more than suitable number for an entry-level Genesis powerplant, considering that cars like the BMW 3-Series start with 230 ponies. Uh-oh. Hyundai's depending on the value equation for the Genesis to sell. When the new model clocks-in with 249 horses in base trim, and Infiniti's G35 offers 300+, they risk losing the stat-sheet buyers. Now I can hear the clicking already "But the Genesis doesn't compete with the G35." Yes, but– all cars that overlap in price can and do compete with one another. One last note on the smaller V6. The EPA ratings for the 3.3 are 19/27; the bigger 3.8-liter V6 is rated at 18/27.
Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.
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It could also be that they have limited production capacity for the 3.8 and if sales take off they can offer the lower trims with the 3.3.
But that doesn't make any sense. It's almost like the Pontiac G8 in a way. The V8 offer's pretty much the same mileage (or better) than the smaller V6. So why bother?
"So why bother?" To hit multiple price points. In days of old there were often four to six engine/carb configurations available in run of the mill Galaxy 500s and Impalas. Profits on the low spec ones were much less than on the high spec ones, but you offer the widest range possible in order to attract the most customers. At least that is how things used to be done. Now in the US many cars have only one or two engine options.
I think that even though there is not much difference on paper, in the real work there may be a bigger difference. Play with those 290 horses and mileage will drop like a rock. Look at the G35. Anybody who plays with the loud pedal get atrocious mileage. And if you have the power, its hard not to play with it...