Korean Missile: The 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Dynamic Edition

The 2019 Genesis G70 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

About ten years ago, I started writing that Korean cars---Hyundai and Kia---were roaring up in the rearview mirrors of the established Japanese automakers---Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mazda---and would soon be as just as solid a choice to buy. That came true. Now, it's the Europeans' turn to worry.

Hyundai's luxury-sport wing, Genesis, has just introduced its first true sport sedan, the G70. And I spent a week driving the highest-performance version, the G70 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

30 Minutes With: The 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition

The 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

Publisher's note: Normally, the cars you read about here at TireKicker are loaned to us by the press fleets of the various manufacturers for several days. Seven is typical.  Occasionally, we'll get a longer period of time, and sometimes it'll only be three or four days.  Our "30 Minutes With" series features cars we spent half an hour driving during the just-concluded Western Automotive Journalists Media Day in Monterey, California.

Needless to say, these are quick drives and brief impressions that we hope to be able to flesh out with a full review of the vehicle at some point in the near future.

Media Days is a driving program, with journalists taking cars from the staging area at Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley over Laureles Grade and back or off-road on the acclaimed Land Rover Experience on the grounds of Quail Lodge.

My sixth drive of the day was the 2019 Genesis G70 RWD 3.3T Dynamic Edition.

New Flavor To A Favorite Dish: The 2018 Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport

The 2018 Genesis G80 RWD 3.3T Sport.

A year and a quarter ago, we professed our deep admiration for the 2017 Genesis G80 5.0.   Something to the effect of  "a Lexus LS competitor for GS money." Not much there we'd change, but the world is changing and five liters worth of V8 under the hood is the old way of doing things, so for its sophomore year, the G80 is offering a 3.3-liter V6 twin-turbo model known as the 3.3T Sport.

A Work In Progress: The 2017 Genesis G90 RWD 3.3T Premium

The 2017 Genesis G90 RWD 3.3T Premium.

Two and a half years ago, I wrote about the Genesis G90's predecessor, the 2015 Hyundai Eqqus, saying that it wasn't quite there yet ("there" being a no-excuses luxury sedan that Lexus' flagship LS 460 should fear), but that it was, in a vacuum, a remarkable achievement and that I might well be writing about how the 2019 model had well and truly arrived.

We may need to adjust that to 2021.

Relentless Pursuit, Pursued: The 2017 Genesis G80 RWD 5.0 Ultimate

The 2017 Genesis G80 RWD 5.0 Ultimate.

It takes an enormous amount of confidence for a mainstream carmaker to spin off a new luxury line.  Toyota's choice to do that with Lexus makes it look like a no-brainer, but it's wise to remember that  Nissan has not done nearly as well with Infiniti, nor has Honda with Acura.  And Mazda was thisclose to launching one, Amati, but after three years and more than $400 million in research, decided not to.

With all that to consider, Hyundai is making the move.  For 2017, Genesis is its own line of cars.

New Car Review: 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec




The 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec.

Let's settle one thing right now. This is not the car that will keep Ford's Mustang up all night, shivering from fear in its corral. If, in the early days of the Genesis Coupe, that was true, the rapid development of the 'Stang into a performer in 6-cylinder guise and an outright muscle car with the V8 has moved the target.

So let's assess the Genesis Coupe 3.8 R-Spec for what it is. A smartly styled, aggressive Asian sport coupe. The Toyota Supra of our time perhaps....for our time's equivalent of Celica GT money.

Hyundai Genesis V6 Review

Back from a couple of weeks learning new things and I thought I'd try one of them out.

What you see above, instead of the usual still picture, is a collage from a company called Vuvox. Photos, video, text...all kinds of stuff can be cobbled together to create a slideshow.

Click the square button to the left of "share" to play it fullscreen.

This is a first, stills and text only effort..about 30 minutes of trial and error on software I only heard about yesterday. My thanks to NBC News correspondent John Larson for letting me (and a roomful of about 20 others) know about it.

Is it a new way of reviewing the cars...especially once I get on top of the learning curve? I don't know. I welcome your input.

As for the Hyundai Genesis, important information that didn't fit into the quickie Vuvox:

Five-star crash ratings in all categories.

EPA estimated 18 city/27 highway miles per gallon.

Can Hyundai pull this off? Challenging Lexus (and to a lesser extent, Infiniti and Acura)? Just remember how Lexus started...by challenging Mercedes-Benz with a competitive car priced $15,000 lower.

This could be interesting.