In case you missed it, Hyundai recently released an all-new front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform named the Genesis Coupe. Just to bring you up to speed, we like it, and tuners around the world are hard at work developing parts for both the naturally aspirated V-6 and turbocharged inline-four cylinder engines. All indications show that big numbers are coming soon. But horsepower is only one part of a vehicle's performance arsenal. We wanted to find out how the rest of the chassis responded to modifications. To do that we headed out to Willow Springs Raceway with a bone-stock car, a truck load of parts, Rhys Millen, and his talented pit crew.
It should come as no surprise that we chose Rhys for this mission. He's already built a competition version of the car (Jan. '09 cover story), which is currently competing in the Formula D drifting series and should have a few time attacks under its belt by the time you read this. He is also about to launch a line of thoroughly tested components under his private label RMR. Seeing as Rhys chose the 3.8-liter V-6 version for his race car, that's what we went with for the test. It should also be noted that since everything was going to get swapped out anyway, we used a GT model instead of the Brembo-shod Track edition.
The schedule for the day was hectic. Instead of having a private test day, we crashed the second round of the Redline time attack series. This left no time for mistakes on the track or in the pits. In order to get accurate data, we entered the car in the Modified class. By running with the highly tuned competitors, we could get a couple of clean laps in each session before ducking into the pits to get out of the way and get working on the car. Between sessions, the team would bolt parts onto the hot car and adjust the setup to their predetermined settings. As it turned out, the car was potent enough to run with the big boys, and Rhys' crew was seasoned at wrenching under the gun. TJ Hanrihar has been the lead tech on the drift team for two years, and crew chief Costa Gialamas and team manager Eric Cantore have been around since Rhys' rallying program some 11 years back. It all went like clockwork.
Session 1: Stock 3.8GT With RMR Oil Cooler
The "Big Track" at Willow Springs is scary fast. And typically it is at its fastest during the first session of the morning. After that the heat of California's high desert tends to wither both power and traction. An ambient temperature of around 65 degrees Fahrenheit with a little sun on the pavement is about ideal. Then the track slows down by roughly a second for every 10 degrees above that. So at 75 degrees, our baseline run was already a little off, but it was as good as it was going to get.
In all fairness to Hyundai's engineers, no stock street car feels good while cornering at triple-digit speeds. The suspension, with its ride comfort compromises, isolates the driver from the road surface. Without being able to feel the tires, you almost have to wait for the horizon to yaw before making corrections. Add to that the increased camber and toe gain from the significant suspension travel and it becomes a real handful. The car never really took a set, and keeping it on the racing line required large and continuous steering and throttle adjustments. Still, the wobbly Drunken Master technique netted us a pair of respectable lap times.
Session 2: RMR Shocks, Springs And Sway Bars
The RMR suspension package includes KW springs and dampers with private label RMR upgraded sway bars. The dampers are single adjustable up front and double adjustable in the rear. Aside from being larger and stiffer than stock, the RMR bars are adjustable with two holes per side in the front and three holes in back. As a complete set, these upgrades should provide plenty of tuning flexibility. Fortunately for us, Rhys had previously dialed in the setup at Willow, so when the crew bolted everything on, it was good to go.
By Andy Hope
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