Hyundai must be feeling a bit of pressure from the Scion FR-S/Toyota 86/Subaru BR-Z that it's chosen the 2012 North American International Auto Show to debut a mid-cycle refresh of its best-selling Genesis Coupe as well as its entry-level Veloster coupe.
The Hyundai Genesis Coupe, with its 300++ horsepower V6 engine and rear-wheel drive found its way to the heart of every car enthusiast. For the 2013 model year however, the love has grown. The same 3.8-liter V6 engine on the range-topping Genesis Coupe now makes 348 horsepower thanks to direct-injection technology. Meanwhile, the entry-level forced-induction 4-cylinder model sees a power bump to 274 horsepower from 201 thanks to a modified and improved turbo and intercooler set-up. Hyundai is retaining the 6-speed manual transmissions as standard on these two models while offering a new 8-speed automatic as an option.
This mid-cycle refresh also features a new front end, an improved interior with better materials and finishes, a revised and quicker steering rack, new front strut settings and a revised damper setting as well.
Meanwhile, the best-selling Veloster coupe gets an engine the looks deserved. While the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine was okay, the sporty looks of the Veloster dictated that it needed more power under the hood. The result? Hyundai has shoehorned a twin-scroll turbocharger upping the output to 201 horsepower. According to Hyundai engineers, the overall power combined with the Veloster's light curb weight bests the likes of the Volkswagen GTI and Honda Civic Si in power-to-weight ratio. In fact, it's pretty darn close to that of the Mini Cooper S. Capping of the upgrades is a quicker steering rack.
The Veloster Turbo also gets unique exterior upgrades such as a revised grille, front and rear bumpers, tail lamps and center-exiting exhaust.
More photos after the break.
