genesis

Rhys Millen Racing building midengine Hyundai Genesis Coupe

At the 2008 SEMA Show, Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) massaged one of the first available Hyundai Genesis Coupes into a wild, wide-bodied racer with a huge turbo and some crazy aero. For 2009, RMR plans to raise the bar with its RM460--a midengine, V-8-powered Genesis Coupe.

RMR started by yanking out the Coupe's stock 2.0T engine, as well as the rather useless back seats. After a good deal of bending, fabricating, and welding, the new engine bay (located just behind the driver's seat) was ready for the RM460's new ticker. Rather than reusing the stock I-4 … Read more

GReddy gives the Genesis Coupe a boost

When Hyundai announced that it would be debuting a 2-liter turbocharged version of its rear-wheel driven Genesis Coupe, I thought to myself, "The tuner crowd is going to go crazy over this."

Not even a year later, it appears that I was correct. Case in point, GReddy performance parts will be bringing a tuned-up Genesis Coupe 2.0T--dubbed the "GReddy X-Gen Street Genesis Coupe"--to the 2009 SEMA Show packed to the gills with performance parts and spinning its flywheel to the tune of 350-horsepower.

Bear in mind that the stock Genesis 2.0T packs only … Read more

Car Tech Live Podcast 137: The end of driving while distracted

Everyone is saying ENOUGH to driving while distracted; Volvo announces a plug in hybrid, while Mini wonders how to charge them; Chrysler gets rid of the book we never read, but always wanted; and we go for a ride in a really affordable performance car you wouldn't have taken seriously a few years ago.

Subscribe with iTunes (audio) Subscribe with iTunes (video) Subscribe with RSS (audio) Subscribe with RSS (video) EPISODE 137 SHOW NOTES

• U.S. to hold a summit on driving while distracted--soon a stigma equal to drunk driving?

• Volvo promises its first plug-in hybrid, in showrooms by 2012… Read more

Happy (belated) birthday, Sega Genesis

The Sega Genesis, put on the market to challenge Nintendo, turned 20 on Friday. And after a long and enviable stint, it became a classic game console that, to this day, is remembered as one of the few that made its mark without actually leading the market by the end of its generation.

Sega has had one of the most tragic histories in the video game industry. In the early 1990s, it had Sonic; Nintendo had Mario. It had high-quality, third-party titles; Nintendo had high-quality, third-party titles. It had the Sega Genesis; Nintendo had the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

Battles over which console was better were waged on playgrounds across the world. The Nintendo fans said Mario and the SNES were the kings of gaming. Sega fans said Sonic and the Genesis held that crown.

Today, the Genesis (and Sega's console business) are relics of the past. In the 20 years that has lapsed between the Genesis' release and today, despite Mario's enduring presence, the video game industry has changed dramatically. Nowadays, battles are waged over price as much as they are waged over games. And Sega, the once-beloved organization that kept a blue hedgehog as its mascot, is a third-party developer.

But it's the Genesis--and its success--that we remember today.… Read more

2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe first look

The 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe is finally available on North American roads. However, this is not just any old stretch of asphalt down which we find ourselves piloting the bright red Genesis Coupe 2.0T. This is legendary Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and on this road, there are no speed limits.

We were given access to both the 2.0T Track and the more powerful 3.8 Track model. Both vehicles featured a good list of standard cabin tech such as Bluetooth hands-free, a 10-speaker Infinity audio system, and keyless entry with push-button start. USB and auxiliary ports are also … Read more

Report: Presidential BlackBerry coming soon

After months of waiting, President Obama will soon get his super-secure BlackBerry.

The Washington Times newspaper reported Thursday that the presidential BlackBerry 8830 is "in the final stages of development by the National Security Agency." The agency is still testing the encryption software to ensure it's up to snuff. And the president could have his new device in a matter of months.

A Washington, D.C.-based company, Genesis Key, developed the software called SecureVoice that will be used to secure the high-security BlackBerry. Research In Motion, the maker of the BlackBerry, has also been involved in development, the Washington Times said.

Since the inauguration in January, President Obama, who vowed security officials would have to pry his BlackBerry out of his hands, has been using a cumbersome work-around to communicate with key members of his staff and close aides. … Read more

DSiWare, WiiWare, and Virtual Console releases for this week

This week adds more downloads for the DSi, a party pirate game to WiiWare, and a Sega Genesis remake of the Pitfall series. DSiWare Mixed Messages (Activision, 500 DSi Points): Mixed Messages is a party game all about communication. Play along with up to 21 different users in the game of "telephone" for your DSi. Master of Illusion Express: Shuffle Games (Nintendo, 200 DSi Points): The Master of Illusion series continues with Shuffle Games. This mini game will allow you to predict what your audience is thinking! WiiWare Party Fun Pirate (TOMY Corporation, 500 Wii points): Exchange turns … Read more

Hyundai gets detailed with the Genesis Coupe

Hyundai released details of its upcoming Genesis Coupe this morning (via Webcast). Not exactly the best kept secret in automotive news, the Genesis Coupe is related to the Genesis Sedan in the loosest way possible, sharing very few components such as the 3.8-liter V-6 engine and six-speed automatic transmission.

Hyundai used the Infiniti G37s Coupe, the Mazda RX-8, and the BMW 335i coupe as benchmarks for the Genesis Coupe's performance.

Two engine choices

The Genesis Coupe will be available with a choice of two engines: a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that builds 210 horsepower at 6,000rpm with … Read more

The 404 288: Where Natali opens it all up to us

A new kind of Natali Del Conte joins The 404. She references "Octopussy" and makes us play Marry/Boff/Kill. We can already tell that HR is going to be on us any second. She brings some big news to the show by announcing CBS will be streaming live online via Ustream.tv "The Early Show" on Saturday morning. It's their first attempt at an interactive, live show. We anticipate a rowdy chat room with Natali on.

On today's show, we chat about the worst kind of fanboys--forgetting the fact that almost all of … Read more