Vroom, vroom in the Hyundai Genesis Coupe

In another life I would have been a racecar driver.  I am sure of it. There is nothing that gets me higher than getting behind the wheel of a racecar.

In my life, some of the most exciting and fun adventures I have ever had are connected with racing.

No, I don’t mean on the streets of Metro Manila (although, truth be told, I have been guilty of that). I have been fortunate enough to have driven a Porsche on the autobahn in Germany and have also joined a few dirt-road races hereabouts.

But those were the days, I guess. Now that I am older, and hopefully a bit wiser — as a driver, that is — I take fewer risks on the road … and off it, too.

So when the opportunity came for me to test-drive the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, I have to admit that at first I was a bit intimidated. “Getting old,” I whispered to myself as I climbed into the driver’s seat and drove the car for the first time.

The 2014 Hyundai Genesis Coupe in yellow is the closest I have come to driving a sports car in the last two years. I have been told that a thorough refresh last year brought stronger engines, a new eight-speed automatic transmission, retuned steering and suspension systems — and of course new front styling, more features, and other improvements.

I really love how the engine sounds when the car is revved — it is due to the new engine intake sound induction pipe to make it sound a little sportier from the inside; and all automatic models now have rev-matching on downshifts.

The Genesis Coupe is a really cool move for Hyundai. It marks the Korean manufacturer’s entrance into rear-wheel-drive sport coupes.

A REAL LOOKER

And, I mean it. There was no one who didn’t give the Genesis a double take as I drove it down the streets of the city, or even when it was parked in a parking lot.

The Genesis Coupe combines the brand’s “fluidic sculpture” look, but with a lot more “sports car” written all over it. With last year’s redesign, it got an injection of extra power and performance, as well as a bolder face, better detailing, and more of a premium sports-car look, even inside.

For those who want to know what is hidden under the hood, here are the specs: a 2.0-liter inline four with a twin-scroll turbocharger and larger intercooler. It has 274 horsepower and 275 pound-feet of torque, with peak torque reached at just 2,000 rpm; and a new 3.8-liter direct-injection V-6 in the 3.8 models makes 348 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque.

With its blacked-out grille and lower air dam, combined with all-new lower aero work, running lamps, and fog lamps, the coupe has a visually wider look in front. Enhancing those visual looks are headlights that have been reshaped and detailed, and a re-contoured hood with dual air intakes.

The tail lamps are now packed with LEDs, and they have new contouring, but in back the Genesis Coupe has changed the least. And there is an all-new lineup of 18- and 19-inch wheel designs. 

NOT JUST A SPORTS CAR

I know, I know. But it’s a guy’s car, you say?

I disagree.

Here’s why.  While the Genesis Coupe is primarily a sports coupe, it’s still pretty accommodating inside. It takes good care of front-seat occupants, has a spacious trunk and a reasonably refined cabin experience — plus improved interior materials. It’s equally good for long weekend hauls or the commute.

Since I am a smaller driver I was happy that the driver’s seat was height-adjustable, which made it just perfect for me. I can imagine that taller drivers would also welcome this feature.

The Genesis Coupe’s suspension incorporates a new design as well as slightly smaller stabilizer bars. It helps keep the car stable, more so when one tries some racecar driver moves while cornering over rough surfaces. 

I drove the Hyundai Genesis Coupe through the busy streets of Metro Manila. I stayed in the city and kept my eye on the speedometer.  And, although there were many occasions when I felt like flooring it, I took pride in the fact I’ve become a more mature driver.

Not everything about driving a sports coupe is about speed. It is also about comfort and about getting to the destination in one piece. The Hyundai Genesis Coupe made me feel like I could fly through the streets of the city, but it also kept me feeling safe in the stability of its ride and the knowledge that a woman driving a sports car can be really, really cool.