SEMA: Hyundai Cosworth Genesis Coupe revealed

Hyundai boasted a strong presence at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, with a pair of Genesis Coupes standing out at the world's largest aftermarket tuning show, the most impressive featuring a Cosworth-tuned engine designed for hooning.

The rear-wheel drive Hyundai Genesis Coupe is currently not offered for sale in Australia, but is expected to hit local showrooms in 2015 when the second generation Genesis Coupe arrives, which will provide the Korean car maker a vehicle to rival the ultra-popular Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 rear-wheel drive coupes among others. The Cosworth Genesis Racing Series coupe, as the name suggests, is powered by a Cosworth-fettled V6 engine developing 286kW at 6400rpm and 440Nm at 5100rpm – big increases from the regular 228kW/360Nm.

UK-based engineering company and former F1 engine supplier Cosworth went to work on the Hyundai's 3.8-litre direct-injected V6 engine with one goal in mind, to boost power to "tyre-shredding" levels. Nicole Armbrustmacher, director of marketing, Cosworth Americas, says the company achieved this goal thanks to a number of upgrades, including new Cosworth intake and high-flow exhaust systems, tweaks to the ECU and better thermal management.

"The Cosworth Genesis Racing Series Coupe truly demonstrates the purpose-built performance potential of the affordable Genesis Coupe line. We’re proud to partner with Hyundai for this ultimate racing series model," said Ms Armbrustmacher.

Backing up the extra herbs from the engine, the satin blue Cosworth Genesis coupe gets uprated Cosworth Performance suspension, a more powerful Cosworth 'Big-Brake' setup and the car runs the full gamut of exterior extras, from alloy wheels, to a carbon fibre front splitter and rear diffuser.

The second Hyundai Genesis Coupe SEMA concept that raised a few eyebrows at the SEMA Show was tuned by FuelCulture, but unlike the Cosworth machine it uses the smaller, turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder motor, and sports more eye candy in the form of a wide body kit. Normally producing 157kW/302Nm, the Fuelculture Genesis Coupe concept's 2.0-litre turbo mill grinds out 232kW/328Nm thanks to an engine upgrades including cold air intake, boost controller, new exhaust system and ECU flash.

Joey Redmond, the founder of FuelCulture.com said Hyundai's 2.0-litre turbo engine is "virtually bulletproof" and the ready-to-go turbocharged plumbing made it ideally suited to the project. "Much of the tuner community has a real affinity toward forced induction, and that’s why we chose the production turbo engine over the normally-aspirated V6," he said.

The wide body kit on the car is one of the first of its kind according to Mr Redmond, adding an extra 50mm width to the car's 1864mm thickness.

"On the exterior, this is one of the first wide-body kits for the Genesis Coupe, and the finished product looks phenomenal. The interior compliments the exterior perfectly, with richly-textured suede instrument panels, Alcantara seats and polished pedals."

Finished in a glossy Apple Red paint, riding on 19-inch alloy wheels and fitted with a full suite of Rockford Fosgate audio equipment – including obligatory 12-inch sub woofer – the car clearly has enough 'show' to match the 'go'.

Hyundai is just starting to push it's SR performance arm in Australia, with the Veloster Turbo SR its first meaningful performance car offered locally, but the next generation Genesis Coupe which has been widely praised (and modified) in the US will certainly be a game changer for the brand when it arrives in 2015.

Read the latest news and reviews on your mobile, iPhone or PDA at carsales' mobile site.