Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) and Hyundai have been working side-by-side for four years. The do-it-all racing and tuning outfit run by the infamous rally racer, drift driver and car builder Rhys Millen have been using the Genesis Coupe for various experiments since its debut. One of their most recent has produced a car that could very well find its way into production: the RM500. Looking like a lower and more aggressive production coupe, the RM500 would fit right in on any Hyundai showroom floor as well as any corner’s apex. It’s also the type of car that if released, would have the guts to walk right up to the muscle car giants of the big three.
Under the hood of RM500 isn’t a racing-only, fuel sucking one-off rocket ship that refuses idles. Instead of the typical show car engine is the already proven Hyundai-built 5.0 liter Tau V8 pulled from the 2012 Genesis Sedan R-Spec. With help from a RMR exhaust with GReddy mufflers and updated oil cooler, the RM500 produces 450 horsepower. Not only does this bump in power prove that the big Tau has tuning potential, it also shows that Hyundai is willing to outhorsepower both the Mustang GT and Camaro SS. So far, full details about the transmission pairing have yet to be released, but the pictures show a six speed manual shifter. To accompany the added airplane thrust of the direct injected V8, RMR showed off the car carrying a number of new bolt ons for Genesis Coupe line. A new front lip, subtle spoiler, rear diffuser, side skirts, fog light ducts and grill were all added and all made from carbon fiber. The interior is a very production ready suede with RMR accents scattered throughout. And helping put its power to the ground are street friendly Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires and HRE 19 inch wheels. All-in-all, the Hyundai Genesis RM500 could very well be intended for production.
“From the moment I saw the Tau V8 engine in the Genesis R-Spec sedan, I knew it would be a perfect fit for the Genesis Coupe, adding even more performance and power to the dynamic coupe,” said Rhys Millen, owner, Rhys Millen Racing. “The sleek and practical exterior modifications would allow this Genesis Coupe to look good parked in your driveway or turning laps at the track.”
Source: Hyundai
