Hyundai Genesis 2009 – 2012 performance upgrade guide

The Hyundai Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s first attempt at making a proper rear wheel drive (RWD) sports car.  While it is certainly a good car, it does have some significant negative drawbacks.  In this article, we provide suggestions based on over 10 years of experience within the automotive performance industry about how to compensate for the negatives and maximize the positives of this vehicle.

• Hyundai Genesis Strengths:
• Rear wheel drive
• Factory limited-slip differential
• Good Value
• Impressive and sleek looks

• Hyundai Genesis Weaknesses:
• Factory tune is sluggish and overly rich.
• Big improvement is made with the mods and tuning options listed below
• Cast internals
• Limited power potential on stock internals.  Approximately 250-300WHP before the stock internals need upgrading
• Clutch
• Limited power potential on stock clutch.  Approximately 250-300WHP before the  clutch needs upgrading
• Small Intercooler
• May be upgraded with high-performance aftermarket intercooler.  However some models are not compatible with the stock front crash bar.

       
Click on thumbnails for larger image.

Listed below is our suggested upgrade path for this vehicle for the various levels of power that you would like to achieve:

• Step1: Tuning, Intake, Exhaust, Wheels
• These are the simplest modifications that will give you the best bang for your buck.  Tuning requires no physical modifications to the Genesis.  It optimizes the computer (ECU) to better utilize the components that are already there.  Adding an intake and exhaust will allow your engine to breath better and will generally give your car a more aggressive and powerful sound.  Lighter wheels give the car a unique and stylish look as well as reducing weight.  Weight reduction increases your Genesis’s acceleration and braking performance.
• Component Suggestions:
• For fast and simple tuning, a flash is ideal.  However, if you plan on adding more modifications in the future and anticipate the need for further tuning, we suggest going with a DynoJet CMD.
• Velocity Factor has developed our own in-house intake that we recommend.  It features a stainless steel Blitz cone filter and utilizes the factory ram-air funnel.
• Exhaust is a matter of preference.  Most cat-back exhausts for the Hyundai Genesis provide similar performance with build quality and appearance being the major differences.  For those who prefer a single-exit exhaust, we recommend the Greddy Ti-C Exhaust for 2010+ Hyundai Genesis 2.0T.  For those who prefer a dual-exhaust, we recommend the CPE Genesis 2.0T Cat Back Exhaust System catback exhaust.
• Wheels are a very personal choice.  Velocity Factor is a factory authorized dealer for the top wheel brands including Volk, Advan, VMR, Vossen, and Work.
• Step 2: Brakes and Suspension
• With more power comes the need for better handling.  Before any additional power over what is achieved in step 1 can be added, Your Genesis needs a braking and suspension upgrade so that the power can be controlled safely.  Replacing the brake lines is an economical way to improve brake performance, however, for optimal braking performance, we recommend a big brake kit.  Adding performance springs is a cost effective way of improve handling.  However for maximum adjustability and performance, we recommend going with coilovers.
• Component Suggestions:
• Top-of-the-line braking performance can be found in Brembo’s 15″ big brake kit.  However, for those on a budget, we recommend the StopTech 14″ big brake kit or the K-Sport 14″ big brake kit.
• If choosing to go with performance springs, we recommend H&R Sport Lowering Springs – 2010+ Hyundai Genesis
• If choosing to go with coilovers, Tein is a brand known for quality and provides a basic coilover package at an affordable price.  BR Racing, Meagen, and K-sport offer coilover packages with significantly more options at a similar price-point.  For all-out track quality suspension, Stance offers multiple high-end and professional grade coilover options.
• Step 3: Forced Induction Upgrades
• Once the handling is optimized to handle more performance out of the engine, we can start turning up the power some more.  One of the biggest bottlenecks in the Genesis Coupe is the intercooler and downpipe.  We recommend changing these out with larger high performance aftermarket parts.  When changing out these components, please be advised that retuning the ECU is vital.  Because you are flowing significantly more air through the engine, this may cause a dangerously lean condition without the proper tune.  If you are not sure, please contact us and we will be happy to provide you with free help and advice.  When tuning for this level of performance, it is also recommended to have a wideband air-to-fuel ratio (AFR) gauge as well.  This gauge will help you dial in the optimal settings and let you know when to dial it back before it’s too late.  At This point, we also recommend upgrading to a Forge Blow Off Valve for Hyundai Genesis or Forge recirculation valve.  The Forge direct replacement valve is designed to be a more durable and performance oriented valve than the OEM unit. The OEM valve is suitable for stock boost levels for a period of time, however, once boost pressure is raised, and after prolonged use, the stock valve will no longer be adequate. Raising the boost output of the vehicle will have a number of effects on the OEM valve. First and foremost, the additional boost pressure will quickly exceed the capacity of the OEM spring to keep the valve closed under higher boost levels. Since you cannot change the springs in the OEM valve, it cannot be adjusted for higher boost levels. Secondly, the additional heat generated by the increased boost will quickly deteriorate the OEM rubber valve diaphragm, which will also lose strength with repeated oscillations. The Forge valve uses full billet aluminum construction and Viton silicone o-rings that will withstand the highest boost levels and repeated abuse. It is also tunable for varying boost levels with the included spring tuning kit.  At this stage, it is also time to start considering upgrading the stock engine mounts in order to better handle the added torque and horsepower.
• Component Suggestions:
• When choosing an intercooler for the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, its important to remember that some of the aftermarket options are not compatible with the factory crash bar.  For those who want to retain the factory crash bar and bumper we recommend either the Mishimoto, Synapse, or AEM option.  For those willing to sacrifice the factory crash bar for better performance, we recommend going with the CP-E option.  Of all the intercooler kits that are not compatible with the factory crash bar, the CP-e Core Front Mount Intercooler for Genesis 2.0T is the only one that includes a replacement crash bar.  Greddy and HKS also make an intercooler kit for the Genesis Coupe, but you will have to fabricate your own replacement crash bar.
• For the downpipe, we recommend going with one of the CPE Hyundai Genesis 2.0T 3 SS Downpipe w/cat or CPE Hyundai Genesis 2.0T 3 SS Catless Downpipe. CP-E offers their downpipe either with a high-flow catalytic converter (“cat”) or with no cat.  For cars that will be driven primarily on the street, we recommend going with the cat option since it will reduce the likelihood of check engine lights and issues with emissions.
• If you choose to install a wideband AFR gauge at this point, we recommend the DynoJet WideBand2 add-on for CMD.  One very nice feature of this system is that, when paired with the DynoJet CMD, it is capable of auto-tuning the fuel maps to match your desired AFR values.  Caution, if you are not absolutely sure about how to properly tune a vehicle, please contact us.  It is possible to permanently damage your engine when not done properly.
• Because the Genesis Coupe 2.0T does not use a MAF (mass air flow) sensor, there is no reason that the residual boost pressure at throttle lift cannot be vented to the atmosphere such as with a Blow-off-valve (BOV). The BOV vents excess boost into the atmosphere, as apposed to the recirculation valve, which recirculates it back into the intake.  This is a choice that is based on user preference.  For those who prefer a louder turbo sound, we recommend the Forge BOV.  For those who prefer a more discreet or “sleeper style” sound, we recommend the Forge recirculation valve.
• For engine mounts we recommend going with the CP-e Engine Mounts For 2010+ 3.8L Hyundai Genesis.  They come with bushings in 60 and 50 durometer.  For cars that are primarily used on the street, we would suggest going with the 50 durometer.  The 60 durometer option is intended for cars tha will see significant track time.
• Step 4: MORE POWER!!
• By following our suggestions in the first 3 steps, it is possible to achieve up to 250-300 WHP.  For those who want more power above this, significant modifications are required to the stock drive-train components in order to safely produce more power.  The stock clutch will not be capable of handling more power and will need to be replaced.  The stock turbo and fuel injectors will also have to be replaced in order to achieve more performance.  This will require an aftermarket turbo manifold as well.  Depending on how much fuel is being requested by the ECU, an aftermarket performance fuel pump may also be needed.  Because the stock engine comes with cast internals, they will need to be replaced with high-performance forged rods and pistons.  Performance motor-mounts will also be needed in order to harness the added torque.  Significantly more skill and experience and access to a dyno is also needed when tuning a car at this level.  If you are not absolutely sure of your skills and do not have access to a dyno, we HIGHLY suggest you contact us before proceeding down this road.
• Component Suggestions:
• Because this level of modification is so highly dependent on the individual setup, it is almost impossible to provide broad recommendations for specific components.  The best recommendation that we can provide at this stage is to contact us and we will be happy to help you plan your custom high-performance build.  We are available to provide free advice and support Monday through Friday 10:00am – 6:00pm and Saturday 11:00am – 4:00pm.