Described as a rolling laboratory, the Hyundai RM16 (short for Racing Midship 2016) is the latest poster car for the company’s ongoing ramp-up of its new N performance division. Hyundai’s first N model, to be introduced next year, is likely to be a GTI-rivalling hot hatch based on the European i30, instead of a mid-engine two-seater like the RM16, which appears to be a Veloster coupe on steroids. But the RM16’s turbocharged 2-litre engine and 6-speed manual gearbox will go into the upcoming “i30 N” in some form, with about 260bhp for the K-pop petrolhead to play with.
The second model from Hyundai’s six-month-old luxury sub-brand Genesis is an update of the eponymous 3.8-litre V6 saloon. In addition to cosmetic changes for the exterior, improved materials for the spacious cabin and more sophisticated driving aids, there’s now also a G80 Sport model, powered by a turbocharged 370bhp 3.3-litre V6. The new variant is differentiated by its aggressive mesh grille, supportive seats and racier steering wheel. The Genesis G80 will come to Singapore in the first quarter of 2017. A smaller saloon called the G70 will be revealed next. (Read our review of the Sonata.)
Kia’s first plug-in hybrid electric car made its home market debut in Busan. The K5 PHEV’s features include a lithium-ion polymer battery pack, an all-electric city driving mode with a range of up to 44km, and a coasting guide that uses an in-dash icon and audible alerts to coach the driver in eco-driving. In the car’s front left fender is the charging port, through which a full charge can be done in under three hours via a 240-volt outlet and about three times longer via a 120-volt outlet.
The flagship of Ford’s upmarket marque Lincoln is a surprisingly stylish full-size saloon with a newly developed twin-turbo 3-litre V6 that produces 400bhp and 542Nm. The Continental’s interior is impressive, with patented-design 30-way front seats that could have come from a private jet, comfortable limo-like rear seating, amenities aplenty and classy materials, which include aluminium appliques and a complete leather wrap of the dashboard.
