Ivan Phipps and the AMS R&D...
Ivan Phipps and the AMS R&D team have been working overtime to evaluate the coupe and have already prototyped a number of bolt-on power-adders, including a full turbo-back exhaust system.
If you read the May issue of Modified, then you'll probably remember the test drive we did of Hyundai's new and affordable rear-wheel-drive sports coupe, the Genesis Coupe. Test driver and senior editor Andy Hope felt that the 210-bhp, 2-liter turbo version would be the hot ticket with some mods, but in stock form enjoyed the V-6 version more for its ability to hang the tail end out, thanks to its 306-bhp and easily disabled traction control. Question is, how receptive will the 2.0T Genesis Coupe be to some aftermarket monkey business designed to push horsepower up into rear-tire-burning territory? To answer that question, I turned to AMS Performance's special projects technician Ivan Phipps (whose 9-second, street-legal S14 was featured back in July '07), who recently picked up a Nordschleife Gray 2.0T Track coupe in order to evaluate it and develop a line of AMS go-fast goodies for it.
If you're unfamiliar with AMS Performance, you've probably been in a five-year coma because this shop has become one of the most widely respected tuning shops and performance parts manufacturers in the country. Known best for its DSM and EVO tuning expertise and its dominant EVO time attack and drag machines, in recent years AMS has expanded its product line to include an increasingly diverse group of machines like the Subaru Impreza and R35 Nissan GT-R as well as some Euro machines like the BMW 335i and Porsche 996 and 997 Turbo. Soon, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe will be added to that list, once the engineering team at AMS puts the final touches on the prototyped parts in development for this platform.
But before they could start the prototyping process, Ivan and the AMS crew had to spend some time evaluating the OEM components in order to determine where their special go-fast voodoo is needed most. As you may know, the 2-liter turbo engine in the Genesis Coupe is a GEMA World Engine collaboratively designed by Mitsubishi, Chrysler and Hyundai for use in their respective vehicle lineups. So the 2.0T Genesis Coupe's basic engine design is very closely related to the EVO X's engine, though there are significant differences-including cylinder head and manifold designs. But given the underlying DNA of the World Engine in the Hyundai, there's good reason to believe the Gen Coupe's 2-liter mill is capable of pumping out some serious horsepower with a little love from the aftermarket.
Once Ivan took delivery of his Korean turbo coupe, he and the AMS team began their evaluation with a dyno session to baseline it for power, boost level, air/fuel ratio as well as fuel pressure, manifold air temperature, knock sensor readings and spark plug condition. With this information, as well as a detailed visual inspection and measuring session, the R&D team is able to determine which stock components will need to be upgraded first in the search for more power and which stock components can be left in place a little longer. According to Ivan, "We feel that the exhaust, intercooler and intercooler piping are going to be the biggest restrictions. All three of these items are just tiny from the factory."
According to AMS' measurements, the factory exhaust has a 2.375-inch (60mm) outer diameter and is crushed down to 1.75-inch for about 8 inches in length to clear an underbody brace. The mid-pipe attaches to a secondary catalytic converter, and because this cat is behind the O2 sensor, deleting it shouldn't throw a check-engine light. The mid-pipe also has a bullet-style resonator, which likely has an inner diameter smaller than the rest of the exhaust system. So clearly there's some room for improvement. "We did some careful measuring and feel that a 3-inch exhaust system will fit very well and still be routed cleanly. We are exploring several upgrade paths including a side-entrance, dual-end outlet muffler like we are using for our BMW 335i exhaust, a dual muffler straight shot setup and possibly a tunable exhaust like we are producing for the EVO X."