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" Hyundai told us the all-new 2015 Genesis will go toe-to-toe with the Germans. We hear this a lot. Everyone, it seems, wants the credibility of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. The obvious counterpoint is that not everyone can pull it off. Hell, the Germans have a hard time beating themselves. Notice that we&amp;#039;re not laughing at Hyundai for trying. The last Genesis proved that the Korean company had made it to the big leagues. It was never the dynamic equal of the rear-wheel-drive Germans, but when you live in a country without autobahns, luxury cars don&amp;#039;t necessarily need sporting credentials. It seems Hyundai agrees. This time, the Genesis leans on its luxury, not litheness. The new sedan returns in a substantial wrapper that&amp;#039;s been stretched nearly three inches in wheelbase, though not significantly in length. Sporting a bonded and laser-welded frame with liberal use of high-strength steel and the occasional use of aluminum, the Genesis takes big leaps forward in both torsional and bending stiffness. Stiff means quiet. So, too, does the extra insulation and foam that Hyundai used to fill openings in the structure. The last Genesis&amp;#039;s two engines remain on the menu, but both produce fewer horsepower than before. The 5.0-liter V-8 loses 9 hp to peak at 420; the 3.8-liter V-6 drops 22, to 311.   READ THIS: 2015 Hyundai Genesis remakes its image What happened? Peak horsepower is an autobahn bragging tool, but American luxury-car buyers drive with the tach needle pointing at the small numbers. Hyundai retuned the engines to deliver more low- and midrange grunt, which they desperately needed. Given who buys this car, this was probably a wise decision. Speaking of playing to your audience: The Genesis gets optional all-wheel drive, a feature that luxury buyers adore. In lieu of a clever, advertising-friendly name like Quattro, 4Matic, or xDrive, and for only $2500, V-6 Genesis buyers can catch a case of HTRAC. Unimaginatively, it&amp;#039;s short for Hyundai Traction\u2014a selectable, dual-mode all-wheel-drive system. Under normal driving conditions, the system sends 60 percent of the engine&amp;#039;s torque to the rear wheels. In Sport mode, up to 90 percent can be diverted to the rear while accelerating out of a corner. That helps handling and ...  Wait. Scratch that\u2014Genesis drivers won&amp;#039;t care. They will, however, notice the five-seater&amp;#039;s elegant, fluid shape. No longer resembling an amorphous, insurance-ad Photoshop job, the Genesis looks and feels substantial. Inside, as you close the heavy doors and settle into La-Z-Boy-like seats, the cabin feels spacious, comfortable, and expensive.   READ THIS: Hyundai built a mid-engined Veloster Turbo As horses go, the V-6&amp;#039;s ponies are lazy. Mash the pedal and the computer won&amp;#039;t crack any whips. Thrust is spurred on gradually, and the eight-speed automatic sets its own schedule for gear selection. Acceleration eventually occurs, but smooth always trumps quick. It&amp;#039;s like an elderly English butler: consistent, efficient, gentlemanly, and not necessarily fast. By all means, however, avoid taking tea when the going gets curvy. Quick steering inputs result in ponderous, roll-heavy motions. The Genesis remains stable, but every lane change includes a ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl. The benefit of the soft suspension is a pillowy ride; together with the library-quiet interior, the Hyundai cruises down the interstate like a limousine. The tuning is the drawback. You&amp;#039;d think the V-8 would offer more usable muscle and that its available electronic Continuous Damping Control suspension should give more involvement, at least in Sport mode. Nah. The stiffer mode still can&amp;#039;t overcome the suspension&amp;#039;s too-soft springs, and the V-8 is so quiet you can barely tell what lies under the hood.  Modern luxury cars require lots of tech, and the Genesis delivers a few clever touches in addition to the usual suite of luxo-gizmos. For example, it has a novel automatic trunk opener: Simply walk up to the trunk with the key fob in your pocket, wait three seconds, and the trunk opens. (Something tells us this will eventually bite someone. Somehow.) The Genesis costs several thousand dollars less than the mid-size German sedans\u2014not that it really competes with those cars. But it seems Hyundai has figured that out. The Genesis sits happily in the part of the automotive landscape where American luxury cars used to live. Lincoln might have noticed that hole in the market, but it hasn&amp;#039;t done anything about it. Meanwhile, the Koreans are doing a fine job filling it. READ THIS: The Hyundai PassoCorto is a Geneva-bound mid-engine sports car 2015 Hyundai Genesis   Price: $38,950  Powertrain: 3.8-liter V6  Drivetrain: 8-speed automatic  Weight: 4136 lb  Fuel Economy EPA City/Highway: 18/29 MPG  "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars/first-drives/reviews/a8140/first-drive-2015-hyundai-genesis/>