Friday, May 16, 2014
Richmond Review · Page 13
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Welcome to the driver’s seat
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Hyundai raises the bar with world class Genesis VERNON – There is little expect to pay for the Euchance of falling asleep ropean leaders. Will they at the wheel of the 2015 hold their price in resale? Hyundai Genesis, even on – Likely not during this one of those long summer generation, but if the amdriving vacations. bitious Koreans continue The twisty route around to prove reliability and the Okanagan lake counquality then they will. try, chosen to show off the Meanwhile, an owner is agility of this new luxury going to enjoy years of Its eye-catching sedan from the Korean driving a performance manufacturer, guaranteed design, with a giant oriented in comfort and all behind the wheel kept front grille, would style. The fit and finish their eyes glued to the not look out of place inside rivals those with road ahead. which it chooses to parked next to a But should such external compete for the dollars stimulus not be available BMW, Audi or Merc, in the wallets of the for the long distance which is precisely the well-heeled. The subtle driver, there is a nifty little use of leather and micro intent. gadget below the glove suede is classy; with box. An industry-first Napa leather and real Keith Morgan sensor control system wood trim available detects when CO2 levels as an option. Double are too high and boosts the cabin with stitched leather seats always look good fresh air. Research by Hyundai engineers but it’s what’s inside that counts on a determined that drowsiness increases lengthy trip! The foam beneath in this when CO2 concentrations inside the case offers both support and comfort in cabin exceed 2,000 parts per million. Of the right places. Both front seats offer course, cracking a window works the 12-way power adjustment and there’s a same way but many do not detect the power-adjustable thigh extension with onset of a sleepiness until it’s too late, side bolsters that’s available for the while others are reluctant to let in that long-legged. cold mountain air during a winter jaunt. A new power trunk lid goes a step Count me in that group. further than the new trend to enable Gadgets aside, there is much to stimuopening by swinging your leg under the late the senses in the all-new Genesis. rear to pop the trunk. Tired of standIts eye-catching design, with giant ing on one leg with two arms full of front grille, would not look out of place groceries? parked next to a BMW, Audi or Merc, When your pocketed key nears the which is precisely the intent. It’s benchtrunk, it automatically opens after marked against such German Masters at three-seconds. a price segment below what one would A High-Beam Assist (HBA) function
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welcome to the driver’s seat.
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switches to low beams when an oncoming vehicle is detected. Other options include a panoramic sunroof, a heated steering wheel, ventilated front seats, tri-zone automatic climate control, and rear door window blinds. Driver-assist safety technologies are also available in abundance for those who like the car to do some thinking for them. The new Genesis is also a statement of intent: it heralds what will be the look of the seven new less-premium Hyundai products expects to grace our showrooms before 2016. When it comes to driving, it’s really a tale of two cars. The top-of-the-line model offers a big V8 5-litre power plant, with 420 horses at its disposal. Ironically, it’s best enjoyed jogged along at low speed on the highway, where it has the feel of an old-fashioned big family sedan. (It’s not a lot of fun on the twisting lakeside roads of the Okanagan.) Cars destined for the Canadian market will come with an all-new HTRAC
active wheel drive (AWD) system. Says Hyundai: “Performance of the vehicle’s all-new platform was validated in some of the world’s most demanding driving environments, including Germany’s famed Nürburgring Nordschleife and Korea’s Yeongam Formula 1 racing circuit.” The large variety of proving grounds offered by the northern Okanagan was much more appealing to me. And especially so in the car equipped with the 311 horsepower, 3.8-litre GDI V6 engine. Flipping between the Normal, Eco and Sport modes and tapping the gear-changing paddles on the steering wheel made for an enjoyable drive. Little lean in the corners and sprightly up hill. Both engines are coupled to an 8-speed automatic transmission with a SHIFTRONIC manual mode. The base price is $43,000, $48,000 gets you the Luxury version, and $53,000 loads up the tech features. If you want the V8, get ready to spend $62,000. keith.morgan@drivewaybc.ca
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Safety Tip: If you’re taking a road trip this May long weekend, be realistic about travel times as highways will be busier. Plan rest stops every 1.5 to 2 hours to avoid becoming fatigued while driving and check drive.ca for road and weather conditions before setting out.
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