Do you remember the Hyundai Genesis coupe? If not, we don’t blame you considering it was a blip in the timeline for the automaker as a whole, much less the sports coupe market. But still, it was a decent attempt by the Korean brand to instill some sportiness into its lineup while working its subtle way into the minds of the American subconscious like a preventative dose of Nyquil. And the Genesis coupe lasted just as long as that medicine takes to wear off, but will Hyundai ever bring it back?

The Hyundai Genesis coupe checked most of the boxes

The Hyundai Genesis coupe was in production from 2010 to 2016 and ended up dying when the automaker’s Genesis luxury brand got started. But when it was around, it was clear that Hyundai was trying to tickle everyone’s collective taste buds by creating what it thought was the perfect recipe for a low-slung coupe.

And to the brand’s credit, it worked well on paper. The Genesis coupe had an aggressive exterior style that incorporated a classic wedge shape complete with arching fenders and an athletic squat. It was a classy design and a far departure from almost anything else the brand had produced before it, except for maybe the first-gen Tiburon. And to top it all off, there were two different engine choices to cater to almost everyone and, best of all, it was rear-wheel-drive.

What were the engine choices?

Up until the 2016 model year, the Genesis coupe came with a choice between a 274-hp, turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder or a 3.8-liter V6 engine that produced 348 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. Both engines could be mated to either a six-manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission, with the latter being the better way to go. Although, with the V6 paired with the manual transmission, Car and Driver were able to pull off a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.7 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 14.3.

Why didn’t the Genesis coupe survive?

Again, the Hyundai Genesis coupe looks great on paper and in pictures but driving it is a different story. Kelley Blue Book mentioned in their review of the 2013 Genesis coupe that it “doesn’t offer the refined machine interface or nuanced feedback that separates mere performance cars from true driver’s cars.” And Consumer Reports also noted that that the Genesis coupe’s V6 engine is powerful and the car has “precise and agile handling,” but also that the ride is stiff and unsettled, the manual transmission doesn’t shift smoothly, and the clutch is heavy for daily use.

Should Hyundai revive the Genesis coupe?

Considering the Genesis luxury lineup consists of a trio of lengthy sedans, it might actually benefit from having a two-door model as well. However, taking a look at Car Sales Base, it looks like the Genesis coupe peaked in sales toward the middle of its production cycle with over 12,500 units sold in 2013, but lost steam over the next few years and ended the run with just over 4,700 units sold in 2016.

What that means is history could repeat itself if another Genesis coupe were to be born, especially considering Americans are into SUVs more than anything else these days. So ultimately, we doubt that Hyundai would ever venture into the sports coupe territory again. After all, that’s the Veloster N is for.