RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580 Video Teased Ahead of Pikes Peak Debut

Just the Facts:

• Hyundai issued a black-and-white teaser video about its RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580 race car.
• The Genesis PM580, driven by Rhys Millen, will debut on April 19.
• It will compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 27.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, California — Hyundai on Thursday issued a moody, black-and-white teaser video about its "never-before-seen race car," the RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580, which is bound for a world debut on April 19. The car will compete at the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb on June 27.

The new Genesis racing car will be driven by Rhys Millen, who dramatically intones, "It's man and machine against the mountain," in the video. Inside Line contacted Hyundai Motor America on Thursday morning, but the automaker would not provide any technical information about the car at this point. The video, which runs 1 minute, 45 seconds, does not show the full vehicle but only gives brief looks at the wheels and its underpinnings. The video identifies the vehicle as the RMR Hyundai Genesis PM580.

In a statement, Hyundai, Red Bull and Rhys Millen Racing said they "will attempt to set a new world record at the famous Pikes Peak course [in the car]." The current record holder is Nobuhiro "Monster" Tajima, with a record time of 10:01.408. Millen says he will attempt to come in at under 10 minutes at the race.

"Breaking into the 9s has been a dream and desire of mine for the last 10 years," said Millen in a statement. "I finally have the team, support, and infrastructure to put in a serious effort to go after the world record."

The video explores the Millen family history and its link to the Pikes Peak race. Rhys' father, Rod Millen, tamed the 14,110-foot Colorado mountain in 1994 with a time of 10:04.06. "To me, this was the ultimate hill climb," said Rod Millen in the teaser video.

The video then focuses on Rhys, who proclaims, "It's my turn to bring the record back into the family name."

Hyundai said in a statement that Rod Millen will be testing the car in early June, due to a scheduling conflict with one of Rhys' Formula Drift series events.

Inside Line says: The Hyundai video whets the appetite for what's to come at the grueling 12-1/2-mile race up the mountain. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent