Attainable dream cars like these mostly died off, but the enthusiast community's love for them proved more durable. In an era when high-performance cars from across the Atlantic were less expensive than those produced at home, thousands of prospective car buyers prayed for the return of an imported, rear-drive sport compact that they could afford to put in their own garages and admire up close.

Now Hyundai has answered their prayers with the new Genesis Coupe. Designed to remind us 20- and 30-somethings of the hot cars of our youth, it even shares its name with a video game console from the same period (remember the Sega Genesis?), and, perhaps not coincidentally, with a certain pop-rock group that broke through around the same time under the leadership of Phil Collins and his mullet (remember the album Invisible Touch?).

The Genesis Coupe is fast becoming a headache for product planners at Ford, Nissan, and Chevrolet, since it's flexing some serious cut-price muscle in the face of cars like the Mustang, the 370Z, and the Camaro.

All Genesis Coupe models are two-door, rear-drive, 2+2 seaters. Standard power comes from a two-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 210 horsepower, though a 3.8-litre, 306-horsepower V6 is available. A six-speed manual transmission comes standard with both engines, and a GT package that includes track-ready hardware like Brembo brakes, a sport-tuned suspension, and a Torsen limited slip differential is also available with each.

The tester – a 3.8 GT loaded with all the options except automatic transmission (performance buffs wouldn't have it any other way) – was highly drivable, even addictive. Standard complaints regarding both entry and exit space as well as rear-seat capacity all apply, though the extra-wide body and generous front-seat space make it a comfortable ride for two occupants of even above-average size.

Despite the stiffer track-oriented suspension bolted to 19-inch wheels, the big coupe rode with an appreciable softness around the edges, too. It's low, wide and sticky, but it doesn't pummel driver's spinal columns relentlessly over rough roads. Structural rigidity here rivals that of the average boulder-- so the Genesis feels solid and tight driven over just about anything. Goes like absolute stink, too.

After waking up its 306 horses with the touch of a button, drivers put them to work via a beefy shifter and heavy clutch. Use of one's bicep and thigh muscles are required to drive and shift this car, but it pulls them into the experience and rewards them for their efforts.

Genesis Coupe remains entertaining regardless of its fairly hefty size and weight, and it offers up flat cornering, a sharp and heavy steering feel and a slippery but predictable rear end if drivers push too hard.

Upon exiting said corners, drivers can exploit a meaty powercurve that starts just off idle, and stays on strong until near the 6,500 RPM redline. A loud, infectious and semi-exotic howl is available at any prod of the throttle, and it's accompanied by a notable ramp-up in forward momentum, and in the roaring yelp from the factory short-ram air intake. You can almost picture Hyundai's engineers sitting around the lunchroom discussing the array sound effects the Genesis Coupe should make.

In all, Hyundai's got this engine dialed in beautifully. Drivers will love blasting its sound off of nearby buildings and tunnel walls, and aurally, there's no need to install an aftermarket exhaust or intake. There isn't even a plastic engine cover to muffle escaping sound effects.

The traction control system is set up nicely, too. It's extremely sensitive and effective when left on, dials itself back in the snow, and can be dismissed fully with a simple button press for on-demand wheelspin. If that's your thing, you can make your buddies in front-drive coupes jealous that your car can drift, like in those youtube videos.

Pricing came in at $36,495 for the six-speed, six-cylinder 'GT' tester with navigation, Infinity audio, leather seating, Bluetooth and a sunroof. This puts the highest performance and most heavily-equipped version of the Genesis Coupe into the same pricing ballpark a base-model, V8-powered competitor.

And, unlike cheaper six-cylinder powered versions of machines like the Camaro or Mustang, the Genesis 3.8 doesn't mean settling for second-best with the smaller engine, either. It's also nearly $10,000 cheaper than a comparably-equipped Nissan 370Z. It's no Nissan 370Z where dynamics and looks are concerned, but it's still a tremendous pile of performance car for the money.

For thirty-six-five with all the toys, you'll have trouble doing this well for the money elsewhere. End of the day, where bang for the buck is concerned, the Genesis Coupe 3.8GT is like a three-dollar bag of dynamite.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8GT

Engine: 3.8 liter V6, DOHC, 306 horsepower
Drivetrain: rear wheel drive
Observed Average Mileage: 11.5L / 100km
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Features: navigation, brembo brakes, LSD, Infinity Audio
What's Hot: fantastic engine and transmission, great sound effects, bang for the buck
What's Not: Limited rear-seat space, can get thirsty

Price as Tested: $36,495