2015 Hyundai Genesis Sedan: Android, Atom, And More

Blue Link receives substantial updates on the 2015 Hyundai Genesis sedan. The biggest upgrade is a 3G modem from LG Innotek that’s now placed within the infotainment unit to leverage cloud services integrated by Covisint. This allows for much quicker response of Blue Link commands and better integration with the infotainment system. Earlier versions of Blue Link had a separate module that was separate from the head unit for telematics functions.

New Blue Link features to the 2015 Genesis sedan include Google destination search and advanced remote start. While the previous versions of Blue Link supported remote start, it was slow to send commands, which required going through an Internet connection for a feature that can be easily performed by a button on the key fob. This latest version includes adjustments for an engine timer (up to 10 minutes), climate controls, and defroster.

There’s a new Blue Link app for iOS and Android that integrates with the calendar too. The calendar integration enables Blue Link to provide notifications by leveraging your schedule with weather and traffic conditions. Theoretically, say you live in the suburbs and need to take your kids to a doctor’s appointment in the city. You input the date and time of the appointment into your calendar, Blue Link sees you have an appointment, and reminds you to leave by a certain time to make it (after evaluating traffic conditions). If it’s freezing or scorching hot outside, Blue Link will also remind you to remote start your car to get the cabin to your preferred temperature. Essentially, Hyundai is taking Google Now functionality and integrating it with your car to make life easier and more comfortable.

As previewed at CES 2014, Hyundai has a Google Glass companion app for Blue Link. Google Glass Explorers can remote start, lock/unlock doors, find directions to the car, and other miscellaneous features. It’s definitely a tech exercise, which we can’t imagine many Genesis buyers taking advantage of. Nevertheless, it’s interesting to see Hyundai be the first auto maker to embrace wearable technology.

Three Sound System Options

Hyundai offers three different sound systems on the 2015 Genesis sedan, all with HD Radio support. Base models come with 7-speaker stereo that features 2-way component speakers up front. Adding the Signature Package steps things up to a Lexicon 14-speaker stereo with a 3-way configuration up front. Drivers that opt for the Ultimate Package receive a bump to the Lexicon 17-speaker system. Both the 14 and 17 speaker systems feature 12 channels of digital amplification.

The vehicles we drove were equipped with the Lexicon 17-speaker system. It sounds pretty good but is tuned for a flat response with neutral sound. SiriusXM wasn’t the best candidate for sound quality and I forgot to grab my flash drive full of music before catching my flight. Fortunately, Lexicon graciously provided all attendees at the event with an old fashion CD copy of the 2014 Grammy Nominees. The mix of pop, hip hop, and country music provided us with excellent materials to audition the sound system.

After sampling the music mix, I came to the conclusion that the system shines mostly with hip-hop, where there’s heavy emphasis on mid-bass. Listening to Same Love by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and Swimming Pools (Drank) by Kendrick Lamar made the Lexicon system shine. The other tracks had great clarity from the tweeters, but the Lexicon system suffers the same pitfalls as every other factory system, and that’s the subwoofer. Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do to power a subwoofer with energy-efficient digital amps that take up very little space.

  • s3anister
    I can't be the only one that gets disappointed when a new article is posted and it turns out to be a car...
    Reply
  • danwat1234
    They should make a hybrid version with a powerful electric motor to boost acceleration and to regen with and start/stop the engine with.
    Reply
  • blackmagnum
    I can't get over to being interested in a product that is a hobo's Bentley wannabe. Thanks A.T.H.
    Reply
  • JOSHSKORN
    <yawn> Call me when they start making cars that run on photosynthesis, so we can do away with gasoline and make Al Gore shut up about Global Warming.
    Reply
  • Flicules
    I have become a little dissapointed lately with you guys covering only spaceships instead of more down-to-earth cars(price wise). I really doubt that a guy who affords an A8, a Bentley or this Hyundai really bothers to check reviews on the internet...It's nice to get a taste of the future...but a balanced mix would be better i think. Feels a bit like Top Gear :D
    Reply
  • Avro Arrow
    Strange car. Looks like an Aston Martin from the front and a Hyundai Elantra from the rear. One big mistake they made is they really overdid that fake wood paneling. That "wood dashboard" is hideous. It looks like it belongs in a Jeep Wagoneer.
    Reply
  • tuanies
    13045675 said:
    They should make a hybrid version with a powerful electric motor to boost acceleration and to regen with and start/stop the engine with.

    The problem with Hybrids on big vehicles is there's very little benefit. The next review will be of the Lexus LS600hL and the fuel economy is only about 2MPG better in the city but 1MPG worse on the highway, at the cost of 2 Equus'.

    13045840 said:
    I can't get over to being interested in a product that is a hobo's Bentley wannabe. Thanks A.T.H.

    Judging by that, anything in that $50k range is a hobo's Bentley.

    13046439 said:
    I have become a little dissapointed lately with you guys covering only spaceships instead of more down-to-earth cars(price wise). I really doubt that a guy who affords an A8, a Bentley or this Hyundai really bothers to check reviews on the internet...It's nice to get a taste of the future...but a balanced mix would be better i think. Feels a bit like Top Gear :D

    Interestingly enough, the GT-R, A8L, Equus and Bentley are the stories where there was someone that chimed in saying they owned one. But that's where there's all the advanced in-car tech. While I have come across lesser cars, there's not enough tech or new features from another model for a complete story. I do plan on having a quick story on the new WRX/STI, Fiesta ST, and eventually Mazda3. However, I believe the next round of updates to compact and subcompact cars should bring new tech that will be worth covering. We're working with vehicles on a 5-year development cycle so what was new 5-years ago is what shows up for production.

    We will also start a project car series as well with my new 2014 Mazda5 Sport 6MT that I'm working to upgrade with whatever bits of tech I can get my hands on from the aftermarket.

    13047022 said:
    Strange car. Looks like an Aston Martin from the front and a Hyundai Elantra from the rear. One big mistake they made is they really overdid that fake wood paneling. That "wood dashboard" is hideous. It looks like it belongs in a Jeep Wagoneer.

    That wood paneling is actually real matte wood. Its porous and treated.
    Reply
  • ubercake
    There's high-tech gadgetry going on all over this vehicle, but I always find it funny when auto companies throw in an analog clock to take up some space on the center console (in addition to the digital clock up in the main display). I guess if you never learned to read a digital clock you can always fall back on your analog clock reading skills? Personally, I'd prefer some iteration of a sundial in place of an analog clock.
    Reply
  • BranFlake5
    Nope! This is not a luxury car of my taste. I'd buy an Audi A4 Quattro before even considering this thing. Heck, I'd buy a Tesla for a bit more.
    Reply
  • g-unit1111
    13047884 said:
    There's high-tech gadgetry going on all over this vehicle, but I always find it funny when auto companies throw in an analog clock to take up some space on the center console (in addition to the digital clock up in the main display). I guess if you never learned to read a digital clock you can always fall back on your analog clock reading skills? Personally, I'd prefer some iteration of a sundial in place of an analog clock.

    Yeah I've always thought that's kind of random too. Let's put the highest tech you can possibly imagine in a car, charge $50K for it, then it's put a 10 cent time piece in the center of the dashboard. :lol:
    Reply