Peugeot EX1 sets electric car record on the Nürburgring

EX1 concept racer took just over 9 minutes to lap the 20.8 km track of the Nürburgring-Nordschleife

The Peugeot EX1 Concept has set a new record for an electric car on the Nürburgring-Nordschleife.

Driver Stéphane Caillet took just 9:01.338 seconds to lap the electric racer around the 20.8 km (12 mile) Nordschleife track. The car clocked an average speed of 138,324 km/h (85.9 mph) on the run.

The feat beats the previous record for an electric vehicle on the Nordschleife track by over 50 seconds.

For comparison, the record for fastest four-door production saloon around the Nurburgring, a 2011 Subaru Impreza WRX driven by Tommi Mäkinen, set a time of 7 minutes and 55 seconds.

Peugeot is promising photos and a video will be available soon, so stay tuned.

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BYD Announces EV Fleet Results at Anniversary of Green-Taxi Project

Today marks the one year anniversary of the world’s largest all-electric vehicle Taxi fleet, manufactured by BYD. In conjunction with this anniversary, BYD announced results of several of its electric vehicle pilots – the F3DM, e6 and eBUS-12 which are in fleet testing across the world. Fifty of BYD’s e6, five-seat crossover vehicles, each with a range of over 160 miles (up to 300 Km) and a top speed of 88 mph (140km/h), have been in service at Shenzhen-based Pengcheng Electric Taxi Company since April 29, 2010.

The Shenzhen e6 Taxi fleet has now accumulated ~1,730,000 all-electric miles (or 2.77 million kilometers). The distance traveled for single fleet vehicles has reached ~63,000 miles each (>100,000 km). “This fleet of 50 e6 taxis has survived the very harsh operating conditions of hot Shenzhen summers and a very cold winter this year, and drivers and passengers alike have been extremely satisfied with their ride experience,” according to Stella Li, Senior Vice President. 250 more eTaxis are being delivered to the International University in Shenzhen before August this year. According to collected data, the per-car-fuel-savings is over $1167 per-Taxi-per-month (driving an average of 400Km per day). BYD’s all-electric Taxis are expected to help Shenzhen avoid about 133 lbs (or 60.4Kg) of carbon-dioxide pollution per day per Taxi. This is an equivalent of 2,425,060 lbs (or 1.1M kg) of carbon-dioxide pollution saved by this fleet in the first year.

The most important finding in the e6 fleet testing was that there has been no noticeable energy drop – both driving range and battery performance has been stable in rapid-charging conditions over the 1.73M miles tested – a breakthrough in EV rapid-charging. BYD has been challenged by the media about its claims of long-range electric vehicles and superior battery longevity in rapid-charging regimes since launching its first dual-mode, electric and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles in December 2008. With the results of the e6 fleet, which was continuously rapid charged in 20- 30 minutes, BYD now has a proven track record for its Iron-Phosphate battery technology. The data is there to show vehicle charging efficiencies, consumption efficiencies, and EV ranges over time-- all with rapid-charging regimes.

BYD also reported on its F3DM fleet which BYD launched in its first US tests at the Housing Authority of Los Angeles (HACLA). The F3DM can travel over 40 miles all-electric but can be engaged to act as a Hybrid-Electric (HEV) to extend its range up to 300 miles. The HACLA fleet has now accumulated ~10,430 miles all-electric and 14,430 total miles (4,000 fuel-driven miles when extended range was necessary). The fleet is achieving an equivalent of 88 mpg and BYD estimates the per-car-savings---even netting out EV charging and electricity costs-- is ~70%. BYD’s dual-mode cars are expected to save HACLA about 37 lbs of carbon-dioxide per-day-per-auto when driven to the EV range.

In China, BYD launched an all-electric bus fleet with the eBUS-12 (click for video link) in Shenzhen and Changsha, China in January 2011. These fleets have already accumulated 28,802 all-electric miles (46,380 Km) while undergoing a 3-hour-charge of the 324 Kwh FE battery. An example of the per-eBUS-savings for Shenzhen’s Bus Line 202 (driving only 200Km per day) is about $2833 monthly per eBUS. 300 more buses will be delivered to Shenzhen in August of this year. BYD’s all-electric eBUSes save about 708 lbs (or 322Kg) in carbon-dioxide emissions per eBUS per day.

In total, BYD EVs have accumulated over 1.769 million all-electric miles and have seen no diminished range or capacity due to rapid-charging. BYD vehicles are estimated to have already saved $360,000 in fuel costs and over 2.776 million lbs of carbon-dioxide. BYD launched consumer sales of the F3DM in September 2010 and anticipates very good demand for the BYD e6 and all electric vehicles in China, fueled in part by government incentives for the purchase of electric vehicles. “Consumers that purchase pure electric vehicles will also enjoy the special privilege of "license-plate-lottery-free, no traffic restrictions and tax-free exemptions (paid by the government)."

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JD Power Sees 4X Growth in Green Car Market by 2016

The J.D. Power and Associates 2011 US Green Automotive Study indicates major growth in consumer interest in green cars—including hybrids, clean diesel, plug-in hybrids and pure electric cars. The market research firm expects as much as 10 percent of sales to come from vehicles with these fuel-efficient technologies by 2016. That would represent a four-fold increase in the sales numbers for green cars compared to 2010.

J.D. Power’s primary research included a study of more than 4,000 consumers who indicate they will be in the market for a new vehicle within the next one to five years. The study was fielded in February 2011, prior to the steepest rise in gas prices this year—which has increased interest in fuel-efficient alternatives.

Interest in the alternatives is unequivocal. More than half of the respondents said they would either definitely or probably consider a hybrid gas-electric car. Approximately one in three said the same for a diesel engine or plug-in hybrid car. There was similar high interest in battery electric vehicles, with more than one in four participants saying they would either definitely or probably consider an EV.

Carmakers appear ready to supply the growing demand. By the end of 2016, J.D. Power and Associates expects there will be 159 hybrid and electric vehicle models available for purchase in the US market—a significant increase from 31 hybrid and electric models in 2009.

The J.D. Power press release states, “Overall, the study reveals interest in alternative powertrain vehicles among a majority of consumers, with perceptions of green vehicles being largely positive.”

The study also states that improvements in the technology, improved infrastructure (for electric cars) and reduced costs—all anticipated in the near future—will help to overcome any obstacles and myths about these technologies.

“It is the financial issues that most often resonate with consumers, whether it is the higher price of the vehicle itself, the cost to fuel or charge the vehicle, or the fear of higher maintenance costs,” said Mike VanNieuwkuyk, executive director of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. Yet, public education campaigns and other efforts to familiarize consumers could help inform them that the upfront costs of the most fuel-efficient green vehicles are recouped in fuel-saving during the first few years of ownership.

Other respondents expressed concern about increased maintenance costs and compromised vehicle performance of electric-drive and diesel vehicles—apparently not realizing that many of these cars have faster acceleration than conventional models, while offering reduced maintenance costs on many components.

The study revealed growing recognition about how these vehicles can reduce the sting at the gas pumps. For example, 75 percent of consumers who indicate they would consider a hybrid electric vehicle cite lower fuel costs as a main benefit. In contrast, 50 percent cite “better for the environment” as the reason to buy a hybrid.

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Exxon make $5M/hr profit yet still qualify for US Gov subsidies [video]

Rachel Maddow Wants You To Know Just How Profitable Oil Is

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Mitsubishi keen on F1-style electric car series

Japanese carmaker Mitsubishi has revealed its interest in F1 governing body the FIA’s plans to create a global racing series for electric cars.

Recent reports said FIA president Jean Todt, who thinks the new category can be set up for 2013 and be run on formula one circuits, has been asked to create the series by the European Commission.

There is some resistance within F1 to the sport’s own greener initiatives including smaller engines and hybrid technology, but Japan Today quoted president Osamu Masuko as saying Mitsubishi Motors is “very interested” in the electric series.

“Our employees are saying that we should definitely do it,” he added.

“The development costs for electric vehicles seem much lower than for gasoline cars and it would also contribute to the technological development of cars that are already on the market,” said Masuko.

Mitsubishi’s motor sport heritage has been predominantly in rallying, but it withdrew from its main focus – the off-road Dakar rally – two years ago.

Said Masuko: “I’m said to be unenthusiastic about motor sports but with electric vehicles, I want to promote them.”

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Age of cheap fuel is over: IEA

One major indicator of inflation is the price of petrol and the latest information from the International Energy Agency (IEA) shows it will only get more expensive.

Oil is deeply embedded in the economy, with the cost reflected not only at the petrol bowser but in food and clothing products.

The IEA is an independent, multi-government agency formed out of the wake of the 1973 oil crisis. It forecasts oil production, monitors the international oil market and other energy sectors.

Only five years ago it confidently stated that oil production was set to rise to 120 million barrels a day by 2030.

But IEA chief economist Fatih Birol says the world's crude oil production peaked in 2006.

He says oil prices are likely to rise 30 per cent over the next three years.

"The existing fields are declining so sharply that in order to stay where we are in terms of production levels in the next 25 years, we have to find and develop four new Saudi Arabias," he said.

"It is a huge, huge challenge that we continue to underline."

Dr Birol says although peak crude oil production is already behind us, liquid natural gases may provide a viable alternative.

But he says one of the conclusions the IEA has come to is that the age of cheap oil is over. At the height of the global financial crisis in 2008, oil spiked to $148 a barrel.

Dr Birol says the impact of both a financial crisis in Europe and global instability in oil-rich regions means crude oil will only get more expensive.

"The amount of increase in the oil input bill in Europe is equal to the government budget deficit of Greece plus Portugal put together," he said.

"It is only the increase value of $90. If it increases further ... we believe [it] will increase at least 20, 30 per cent higher in the next few years to come and this would mean additional pressure on the financing of many governments who are the oil importers."

Dr Birol says the oil reserves might be there but the access is not.

He also says it could be in the best interest of producers if crude oil is not always flooding the market.

"The producers, intentionally or unintentionally, may not bring the oil under the reserves to the markets," he said.

"For some producers, it is better that oil doesn't come to market so they would like to see perhaps higher prices as a result of tightness in the markets."

The IEA says governments around the world need to rethink their reliance on oil.

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Luxgen's Neora EV sedan concept unveiled @ Shanghai Auto Show

Taiwan’s first and only domestic car brand, Luxgen, used the Auto Shanghai show to premiere its electric-powered Neora four-door premium sedan concept, featuring sprightly acceleration and a 400km battery range.

Luxgen says the Neora weighs 1600kg (slightly more than a Nissan Leaf), and that its 48kWh lithium-ion battery pack – twice the size of the Leaf’s – enables a claimed maximum range of 400km from a full charge, comfortably beating the Leaf’s 160km.

The Taiwanese brand says the Neora’s batteries can be charged to 80 per cent capacity in one hour. The Leaf’s smaller battery takes 26 minutes on fast-charge or eight hours from a household outlet.

The Neora’s 180kW electric induction motor sends 100kW more power to the front wheels than a Leaf does. As a result, Luxgen says its electric sedan concept can achieve the sprint from rest to 100km/h in a Golf GTI-shaming 6.5 seconds, topping out at 250km/h – matching the electronically-limited top speed of many high-performance European cars.

The Neora’s design, with its front-end reminiscent of what a car customiser might do to a Honda Insight, and its side profile dropping hints of Hyundai i45, is said to incorporate design cues that signal the future styling direction of Luxgen products.

What appears to be a big front grille is just for show as Luxgen claims the Neora’s “minimum intake area decreases the drag coefficient and achieves both aesthetics and efficiency”.

Look beyond the fancy lighting effects of the Neora’s exterior and you see a thinly-disguised concept car that looks close to production. The same goes for the interior – for all its translucent surfaces and blue lighting, it looks realistic, especially when one considers that the interior of Luxgen’s existing product line-up are adorned with multiple screens and high-tech gadgets.

Like the new Mercedes SLK, the Neora’s panoramic glass sunroof uses polymer dispersed liquid crystals to electronically vary the amount of light entering the cabin and a fully-digital LED instrument panel is complemented by a head-up display and nine-inch colour screen for the infotainment system.

In keeping with the eco-friendly powertrain, the Neora’s interior features recycled wood and the leather upholstery is finished in “earth tone colours”. Other interior materials originate from unprocessed raw materials in their natural colour.

Luxgen says: “A natural pure innocence is expressed through the interior design. While using the eco-friendly trims, the combination of the materials and colours carries a clean green future, to which Luxgen and Neora are both committed.”

If Luxgen can bring its performance and battery range claims for the Neora concept to reality in a conventional sedan-shaped car, it will represent a significant step forward in the challenge to bring electric vehicles into the mainstream.

Luxgen was established in 2008, with its first launch outside Taiwan at the Dubai motor show in December 2009. The brand’s first model was a luxury people-mover named the Luxgen7 MPV, which was later joined by the Luxgen7 SUV.

The Taiwanese brand later launched what it claimed to be the world’s first seven-seat electric vehicle, the MPV EV+, which offered the same 180kW peak power output as the Neora concept but with a battery range of 300km – at a constant 40km/h.

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F1 Teams using ‘kickdown’ to trigger KERS

Four teams are using an innovative method to maximise the driver’s ability to efficiently deploy KERS in 2011.

That is the claim of Germany’s Auto Motor und Sport, describing the novel method as ‘kickdown’.
‘Kickdown‘ refers to the additional pressure that a driver must deploy beyond full throttle to activate the KERS power-boost.

It means the driver, who is already at full throttle when he needs to use KERS, must do nothing other than press even harder on the right-foot pedal to trigger the energy-recovery system.
Nick Heidfeld confirmed that he made the ‘kickdown’ suggestion for KERS when he joined Renault this season.

“I had the idea to use kickdown when we had traction control,” the German is also quoted as saying. “We did that at BMW.”

Another clever innovation in 2011 is in the Mercedes footwell, where Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg rest their foot on a third pedal to the left of the brake to activate the DRS rear wing.

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Toyota and WiTricity Form Wireless Battery-charging Alliance

Toyota has entered into a technological collaboration agreement with Massachusetts, United States based WiTricity Corporation* concerning the practical application of automotive wireless charging systems and the promotion of their widespread use. TMC plans to participate in a WiTricity capital increase.

WiTricity's charging technology uses resonance, which allows charging without direct contact and is more efficient than electromagnetic-induction, another wireless technology—but one that requires contact—that is starting to come of age in mobile phone and other chargers. TMC believes that resonance wireless charging is suitable for automobiles and aims for its early practical use.

The collaboration is aimed to accelerate development and eventual implementation of wireless charging for automobiles. The charging of a plug-in hybrid or electric vehicle could be as simple and convenient as parking near an embedded charger at a home or in a parking facility.

In the Toyota Global Vision announced in March, TMC expressed its commitment to leading the way to the future of mobility by integrating automobiles, homes and information technology. Wireless charging is just one of the many technologies TMC seeks to develop for the future.

WiTricity

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2012 Buick Regal eAssist Hybrid

2012 Buick Regal eAssist Hybrid

2012 Buick Regal eAssist Hybrid

Buick is doubling the number of cars it offers with a hybrid powertrain with the introduction of the 2012 Buick Regal eAssist hybrid. The more efficient Regal is expected to be rated 26/37 mpg city/highway pending EPA certification. The eAssist Regal is debuting at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show.
For those of you keeping track, that's one mile per gallon more in the city for the Regal eAssist hybrid than Buick predicts the LaCrosse eAssist hybrid will achieve in the EPA's hands. Both cars feature a 115V lithium-ion battery and a 15-kilowatt motor/generator. The engine at the heart of the cars is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine that produces 182 horsepower on its own, and is mated to a six-speed automatic transmission.
The same 17-inch lightweight alloy wheels (and low rolling resistance tires) are used on both Buicks. Thanks to the Regal's smaller size, however, the wheels don't appear as undersized as they do on the LaCrosse. If the driver is in an especially green mood, the car can be put into a fuel economy optimizing mode with the AC unit that allows for more frequent and longer engine stop periods.
Regenerative braking is, of course, part of the package. Unfortunately, so is reduced cargo capacity. Trunk space on the hybrid Regal is 11.1 cubic-feet (down from just about 14 cubic-feet on the regular Regal), still a smidge bigger than the LaCrosse eAssist's 10.9 cubic feet.
The Regal with the eAssist technology goes on sale this fall, but it's unclear where Buick will price it, given the LaCrosse is expected to start around $30,000. We'll have more details soon, live from the Chicago show floor.

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Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

Though we haven’t had the opportunity to drive the 2012 Hyundai Veloster yet, the boys over at Hyundai have let their partner in racing have a go at its new entry-level hatchback, and things have gotten a lot more exciting. How much so? About as much as 500 horsepower can deliver.
Rhys Millen has had great success tuning up the Genesis Coupe, but the newest Hyundai racer, which is making its debut at the 2011 Chicago auto show, provides another avenue to display his driving prowess. In stock trim, the Veloster appears to be a promising prospect for the first- or second-time new-car buyer. With 500 horsepower? Sounds like a beastly racing machine.
To start, Millen and his family firm Rhys Millen Racing took a Veloster and stripped it down to the bare chassis. It was then sent to sit in an alkali bath for five days, similar to the process endured by classic cars undergoing a full restoration. Completely nude, the chassis was stitch welded to improve rigidity.
A familiar sight resides in the engine bay, with Hyundai’s turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four setting up shop. A new turbo sourced from HKS captures the heated exhaust gases to offer 500 horsepower and 600 pound-feet of torque. All the power will be managed by Millen’s right foot and the Xtrac six-speed sequential transmission, while the Xtrac all-wheel drive system will be supported by Proflex long-travel suspension capable of surviving high jumps and very sudden and rapid changes in elevation.
Eventually, the body panels had to go back on but RMR came prepared. Losing weight is critical to a rally car’s performance, so the doors, quarter panels, vented hood, and front and rear fascias are now molded from a carbon-fiber/Kevlar composite and painted blue, orange, and white. As has become customary with Rhys Millen efforts, the Red Bull livery is applied to full effect. The change in build materials nets a 75-percent reduction in weight over the stock pieces, and Hyundai lists this Veloster’s curb weight at 2656 pounds.
In motion, a specially designed, carbon-fiber rear wing that’d look at home on a Porsche 911 boosts aerodynamic grip. Six-piston Alcon front brake calipers have been tasked with clamping down on 14-inch Alcon rotors. Just as impressively, the Alcon rear calipers house another six pistons each and push brake pads against 12-inch rear rotors. Protecting said brake components are special 18-inch HRE wheels wrapped in 245/40R18 Hankook Racing tires. And of course, the necessary safety appointments include an eight-point rollcage and a Sparco seat with restraining harnesses.
Millen will be behind the wheel of his personal creation, and a second Veloster will also be built for this year’s Summer X Games. Millen will take part in the 2011 U.S. Rallycross Championship.
Five-time British National Rally champion Marcus Dodd (who works magic with the Hyundai Accent WRC racecar) and Australian motocross freestyler/daredevil Robbie Maddison (who once jumped his motorcycle 322 feet and 7.5 inches to break a world record) will team up at the X Games.
A third Veloster will enter the racing scene too, though it’ll keep the front-wheel drive setup to stay eligible for a limited number of races in the U.S. Rallycross Championship’s 2WD class. Celebrity drivers will be determined at a later time.

Hyundai Veloster Rally Car

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2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond Edition

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond Edition

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond Edition

Platinum, titanium, unobtainium, they've all been used up for special editions and high-end trims, prompting Cadillac to go into the realm of precious stones to come up with a name for the special-edition CTS-Vs it showed at Chicago, dubbing them "Black Diamond," which is also the name for the trick, high-tech paint these get doused in.
In addition to the paint job, Black Diamond Edition CTS-Vs get yellow brake calipers behind Satin Graphite wheels plus yellow suede inserts in their Recaro seats - a scheme seen in the CTS Coupe Concept - and dark Midnight Sapele wood trim.
The Black Diamond package costs $4850 and is available on all three versions of the CTS-V - coupe, sedan, and wagon - and will be available starting in March.

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond Edition

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Wagon Black Diamond Edition

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2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

2012 Dodge Charger SRT8

The all-new Charger will once again receive a slight makeover later this fall, although this time it'll get musclecar mascara from Chrysler's Street and Racing Technology (SRT) team. Not only is the new 2012 Dodge Charger SRT8 more powerful than the last go-fast rendition, but according to preliminary test data, it's more efficient, too.
The new SRT8 Charger's improved efficiency is achieved in part by the addition of Chrysler's adaptive valve exhaust system and Fuel Saver technology. The latter switches the all-new 6.4-liter Hemi V-8 into a four-cylinder mode that's activated over a wider rpm range, thus minimizing consumption. By exactly how much has yet to be announced, but for a reference point, the last Challenger SRT8 powered by the 6.1-liter V-8 was rated 13/19 mpg city/highway. An active intake manifold and high-lift camshaft on the 2012 Charger SRT8 optimize low-end grunt for even more speed when you want it.
Each of the SRT8's 465 horses and 465 pound-feet of torque are routed to sticky 20-inch rear rubber through the brand's well worn W5A580 AutoStick five-speed automatic. Yes, we know, it's no pistol-grip six-speed manual (say, from the Challenger SRT8 392), or even a six-speed slushbox, but SRT has included a first-ever paddle shifting function to make the aging tranny more entertaining.
Even with the questionable gearbox in place, Chrysler reckons the SRT8 can sprint to 60 mph from a standstill in the high-4 second range, achieve 0.88 g on the skidpad, and top out at an estimated 175 mph. Quarter-mile times should be in the high-12 second range, Chrysler says.
Good thing there are four-piston Brembos to clamp down hard on 14.2-inch front/13.8-inch rear slotted rotors. The massive binders utilize Chrysler's Ready Alert Braking system that positions pads closer to the rotors when a collision is anticipated by onboard telemetry. Each corner also gets redesigned 20-inch forged aluminum wheels that sport black accents to emphasize their mirror-like faces.
An SRT first, the adaptive damping suspension adjusts stiffness levels based on driver inputs and road conditions. When left in Auto mode, the suspension's ECU calibrates all four corners to a softer level; toggle to Sport for a tauter road feel. Engineers installed a beefier power steering system for direct, yet livable communication.

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2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan

2012 Hyundai Genesis Sedan

Hyundai's Genesis sedan is much improved for 2012, yet its position in the market won't change one bit. The Genesis will continue to give engineers and product planners at Mercedes-Benz and Lexus fits, thanks to the sedan's upgraded V-6 engine, revised suspension tuning, and a new eight-speed automatic transmission -- not to mention the 429-horsepower R-Spec model.
Debuting at the Chicago Auto Show, the 2012 Hyundai Genesis sedan is prepared to battle competitors from above, like the Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and, more directly, the Chrysler 300C. Whether you choose the V-6 or one of the two V-8 models, the Genesis uses a new eight-speed automatic transmission.
In addition to the transmission, direct-injection technology increases the power and efficiency of the 3.8-liter V-6 Genesis. Power is now 333 horsepower (43 more ponies than before), and torque has risen from 264 pound-feet to 291 pound-feet. Hyundai expects highway fuel efficiency to increase to 29 mpg, though city fuel economy probably won't stray far from the 2011 model's 18 mpg. With power on the 4.6-liter V-8 remaining at 385 horsepower, this makes the V-6 model more of a value than before. Don't be surprised if the 2012 Genesis 3.8 accelerates as fast as a 2011 Genesis V-8.
The real news for the 2012 Genesis is the R-Spec model. Its 5.0-liter V-8 makes 429 horsepower at 6400 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque at 5000 rpm. This latest version of Hyundai's Tau V-8 has a revised bed plate to improve block rigidity and lower NVH-both important considerations since the engine also replaces the 4.6-liter V-8 in the larger 2012 Equus.
For the full R-Spec package, we'd recommend upgrading to the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 summer performance tires. Larger front and rear stabilizer bars should also help improve the driving experience, and form the backbone of what the automaker calls "aggressive chassis tuning." The R-Spec adds a little flash with dark chrome inserts in the headlights and unique 19-inch alloys. The steering has been tweaked, too, though we'll have to wait until we get some seat time before determining whether it's a true competitor with sportier entries in the segment.

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