Hyundai's new 5.0-liter V8 to produce 429 horsepower [Plus 55mpg 3 cylinder]

Auto Blog ^ | November 12, 2010 | Steven J. Ewing

[2ndDivisionVet]

During a recent powertrain briefing, Hyundai revealed some more details about its new 5.0-liter Tau V8 and 1.0-liter Kappa three-cylinder engines that will be used in a variety of global markets in the near future.

Slated for use in the Genesis sedan as well as the larger Equus, Hyundai's new V8 will use direct injection to produce 429 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. That's a healthy increase of 59 horsepower and 8 ft-lbs of torque over the 4.6-liter V8 it's replacing, while also increasing fuel economy by one mile per gallon to 18/26 thanks to an all-new eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai has not mentioned any plans to offer the new Tau 5.0 in any other products, though we'd love to see it shoehorned under the hood of a Genesis Coupe. (Full disclosure: We really want to see a 5.0 battle between the Genesis Coupe and Mustang GT.)

On a much smaller level of displacement, Hyundai also detailed a new 1.0-liter Kappa inline three-cylinder engine that will be offered in other markets in the new i10 subcompact. Currently, this engine produces 69 horsepower and returns around 55 miles per gallon on the United States testing cycle. And while this 1.0-liter engine currently isn't slated for consumption here in the States, future versions of the Kappa engine could come to our shores. Hyundai says that we'll see a turbocharged, 110-hp version of the 1.0-liter three in 2012, and that a turbocharged 1.2-liter Kappa will be released shortly thereafter. The 1.2T is estimated to produce around 130 to 140 hp, making it more suitable for American-sized vehicles.

[StayoutdaBushesWay]

I have a Santa Fe and a 2006 Tiburon both are great cars. The Tiburon is especially fun to drive, handles quite well and has some zip to it. Of course my wife picked out yellow for the color and I hated it, but it’s grown on me and is actually pretty cool looking now that I’ve gotten used to it. Gets lots of looks too I notice.

[Fresh Wind]

Well, it is a Cadillac.

You pay a lot for the name.

[Candor7]

I drive Chevy. Wifey drives Hyundai.She is on her fifth since 1987. They have been good rides, tough, dependable and cheap.Each one delivered well over 100 thousand miles before we gave each one away to our kids, who drove them another 3 or 4 years. Nothing needed but regular oil changes, brake jobs, and strut change outs,and tires, along with an annual under the car oil spray each fall.The engines are tough.

[RayChuang88]

If Hyundai can make the Kappa 1.2-liter I-3 turbo run reasonably smoothly, that engine could make it to the next-generation Hyundai Accent that will be unveiled next spring at the New York Auto Show--essentially using the same design characteristics as the Ford Ecoboost technology.

[presently no screen name]

That’s a good testimony for Hyundai.

[counterpunch]

The Tau V8 will only be in the Genesis sedan, and not the sports coupe?

[Wooly]

It is m understanding that the 306 HP V6 engine will be getting direct injection which is supposed to increase the output to somewhere around 350 and then it is rumored that they will offer a turbo or supercharger option. This engine is supposed to be designed to max out at 425 HP.

[truthguy]

As they say in the automotive circles, Hyundais look like they have already been in an accident. The Koreans are taking a page from the Japanese. Buy German and American Cars. Tear them apart and find out how they work. Then reverse-engineer and then add different body styling. This saves on R&D. But at least the Japanese hire Americans and Italians to do the body design. The Koreans don't have to do the engineering. They are also subsided by Korean Government. The Koreans do not allow in imports without huge tariffs. Trust me I write from Korea at this very moment and I KNOW how they operate. Then they undercut the market with lower cost structure as they pay VERY low wages. I wouldn't drive a Korean Car if you gave it to me.

[castlegreyskull]

My first car was a 1987 Hyundai Excel. It broke down often, but it was easy to repair. I went to the junk yard and there was between seven and ten of them there between the years 1986 and 1991, and I could always get any part I needed replaced there. I learned most of what I know about basic car repair on it.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

My 68 Cadillac produces 390 hp. Unfortunately, it requires gasoline that the US seems unable to produce these days - for some strange reason.

[Citizen Tom Paine]

Notice to my dear readers. The US sells about 6,000 cars in South Korea because they limit imports. South Korea sells about 200,000+ cars in the US because of “free trade”. Is this a great country, or what? Also note that the US has an unemployment problem. Experts seem to have difficulty figuring out why. I bet you have an answer.

[sargon]

Hyundai has also invested in American jobs as well: they operate a plant in Alabama where the Santa Fe and Sonata are built by American labor.

I wouldn't have bought my '06 Sonata if it hadn't been manufactured here.

If South Korea would reciprocally open their markets to American cars, of course, the free trade situation would be more equitable...

[BfloGuy]

The US sells about 6,000 cars in South Korea because they limit imports

Yeah, and President Bush negotiated a trade agreement with Seoul in 2007 that would have eliminated those limits. The Democrats still won't let it pass.

Oddly Enough!