There’s a new sport coupe out there, one boasting great power, great looks and an amazing amount of refinement and sophistication, especially considering the source. It’s an example of what a car company that’s on the ball can do, even with tough times facing the industry. With this car, its manufacturer is signaling the competition that it’s not going to take new challenges, or tough times, lying down.

The car is the 2010 Ford Mustang GT and, as luck would have it, I had the keys to one the same week that I was due in Las Vegas to drive another game-changing car: the 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. If someone had told me just a couple years ago that Hyundai would make such a sophisticated performance coupe at a bargain price, I’d have laughed my ass off. Not now. The Genesis Coupe is for real.

Considering the price and performance parity between the two, comparing them was a no-brainer. Heck, the Genesis Coupe has been billed as a Mustang Killer since it was unveiled at last year’s New York Auto Show. In all honesty, I thought one of the two cars would blow the other out of the water. Maybe the Ford’s American V-8 power would shame the V-6 Korean, easily making up for its lack of finesse. Or the Genesis Coupe might be so nicely balanced that every ugly wart on the Mustang would be enlarged by contrast.

Instead, the 2010 Ford Mustang GT still has all that chest-thumping power, but with a healthy dose of refinement unknown to Mustangs since, well, ever. On the other hand, despite having “only” a V-6, the Genesis coupe is a blast to drive, with power to spare and precise handling. Picking a winner between the two was going to be tougher than I thought.

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