During the course of any given day, an auto writer receives all manner of emails in their inbox from manufacturers, PR flacks and just about anyone somehow connected to the automotive industry.

Most of the time it’s announcements, pronouncements and on occasion, invitations.

One of the most coveted invites is one extending an offer to attend a day at a track, learning more about specific vehicles and if we’re lucky, the chance to do some hot laps in a cool car. Bonus if you have a professional driver in the passenger seat providing helpful instructions to assist in being a better driver. No, doing this activity doesn't make anyone of us a qualified or licensed race driver – it’s purely fun.

Such was the case a few weeks back when such an email arrived from Hyundai Canada inviting writers from across Canada to attend the Fourth Annual Hyundai Fun Day at Canadian Tire Motorsports Park (CTMP) – formerly known as Mosport – in late August.

The intent was to showcase the latest (mostly 2015) models from Hyundai in various environments – no, it’s not all zipping around the all new Driver Development Track (DDT).

Armed with a route map, we had a choice of transport to CTMP: Genesis V8 Ultimate; Genesis V6 Tech; Sonata 2.4 Limited; Sonata 2.4 Sport Tech; or, the Sonata 2.0T Ultimate. My driving partner and I selected the AWD V8 Genesis – a loaded, $62K premium vehicle I had the good fortune to have driven for a week some week’s beforehand. Driving rural roads and highways, the Genesis delivered all it was expected to. Comfort, handling, loads of features, all-wheel drive and a premium sound system.

All too soon we arrived at our destination.

We soon discovered the day Hyundai had in store.

In no particular order, there was a challenging autocross course, monitored with sophisticated timing equipment. The vehicles for this endeavour? The Veloster Turbo with a six-speed manual transmission. Red line excitement in a $26K and change speedster – at least, that’s how it seemed on track. Needless to say, I did not shatter any time barriers that day – only personal illusions as on my best run, I “only” clipped two cones – worth an additional 2 seconds each!

Next up was a parking trial, driving a six-speed Accent – with no rear-view camera. A very short course, to be sure involving severe negotiation of cones and various obstacles, the least of which was an aforementioned Genesis. Talk about pressure – or incentive – depending upon your point of view.

For those into reality TV, there was a mini-Amazing Race-type contest – a scavenger hunt driving an Elantra Ltd Tech – with automatic transmission.

If you were into mud, hills, uneven road surfaces and SUVs, there was a well-planned excursion in either a 2014 Santa Fe XL or Sport or a 2015 Tucson. All were equipped with Hill Descent Control which appears to work quite well – given the terrain we experienced. Naturally traction and stability control were politely disabled.

But without question, the main event was an opportunity to drive the new DDT – in either a 2014 Genesis Coupe V6 3.8 GT or, the lively 3.8 R-Spec. Hyundai listened to previous Coupe owners and have delivered cars with even greater appeal and promise – no matter how you look at them. There is no longer a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. Now, the R-Spec’s impressive limited-slip differential, performance Brembo brakes, six-speed manual, and R-Spec suspension are all available in a rear-wheel drive vehicle with way more horsepower. With available 348hp, this is a car that can most definitely and euphemistically be referred to as a willing runner!  For the record, this fun to drive sports coupe is available at a suggested MSRP of $28,299 – impressive in every arena. Not once did this beast fail to impress. It always felt firmly planted, even when cornering aggressively and never felt as if the car, when pushed, would lose the pavement – unless driver error was involved.

After a hot, exhausting and exhilarating day, it was time to head back to our original base. This time driving the impressive Sonata 2.0T. In mostly highway driving, this car left me wanting more. No, it was not lacking; far from it. It proved a relaxing ride home in comfort in a well-appointed, tech-laden sedan with further enhancements to Hyundai’s fluidic sculpture approach. From a styling standpoint, the look of the car has tremendous curb appeal. I now have to book this car for an extended test to report in more detail in the very near future.

Since arriving in this country with the three versions of the Pony back in 1984, Hyundai, like the majority of Asian manufacturers, has and continues to learn and grow from its success – and failure.

Wonder what the next 30 years will bring? Stand by. The industry and consumer public waits eagerly for further innovation and value propositions.