The 2017 Genesis G90 is the first car to go on sale in North America with the all-new Hyundai-Kia twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter Lambda II V6 engine, a powerplant we will see in a number of upcoming vehicles from at least two of the brands.
Under the hood of the Genesis G90, it’s rated at 365 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 376 pound-feet of torque from a low 1,300 all the way up to 4,500 rpm. That’s what they call a flat torque curve. It will run on both premium and regular fuel but less horsepower with the latter.
Following the air flow, the intake charge starts with two separate filter boxes that each feed into a separate turbocharger mounted low down below each cylinder bank. They’re uncommonly small turbochargers and thus spool up quickly with little lag.
The air charge then travels down to an air-to-air intercooler mounted low behind the front fascia, easily seen. From there it travels back up to the main throttle body and into a composite intake manifold with variable runners.
With its direct fuel injection, there is little of the fuel system to be seen from above, most all of it being hidden beneath the valve covers. The aluminum 4-valve heads feature dual variable cam timing and have exhaust manifolds cast into them to allow the turbochargers to bolt directly onto them.
With 10:1 compression, pretty high for a turbocharged engine, all of the aforementioned tech features and computer controlled wastegates help the engine attain its low lag and flat torque curve even on regular unleaded fuel.
Looking around the engine compartment, the G90 sports plenty of premium luxury car trims and trappings. Extruded aluminum cross bracing looks finely machined and complete sound shrouding surrounds the engine itself. Cast aluminum strut towers are stiffer and lighter than stamped steel.
As far as servicing the G90 yourself goes, everything is easily seen and reached. The main fuse block is ahead of the passenger at the firewall, the windshield washer fluid right next to it. The battery itself is mounted in the trunk next to the spare tire.
Brake fluid and the oil level dipstick are found up at the driver side firewall, the brake fluid burried a little requiring a long neck funnel to top off. The engine CPU is down beneath the shrouding next to the brake fluid reservoir.
The engine coolant is up front right at the radiator location and the oil fill is on top of the engine where you would expect it.
In the Genesis G90 we tested with its 8-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive the EPA rates it at 17 mpg city, 24 mpg highway and 20 mpg combined. Our observed fuel economy was 19 mpg combined.
