Will rival some serious performance SUVs.
Luxury marque Genesis, the posh offshoot of Korean automotive juggernaut Hyundai, appears to be hard at work on its new GV80 SUV, a high-riding performance wagon that’ll take on cars like the Range Rover Velar and Jaguar F-Pace. It’s been reported that the Korean company is presently undergoing driveline and suspension testing near the Arctic Circle, with the cars camouflaged as a selection of existing Hyundai vehicles, albeit with extensive modifications.
“The GV80 Concept is an SUV that alludes to the confidence and evolution of the Genesis brand. Its design is timeless, with an understated yet dynamic overall surface complexity. These are all characteristics that embody Genesis, which you’ll continue to see in future models.” — Luc Donckerwolke, Head of Design, Genesis
The Genesis GV80, when it was shown in concept form in April last year, championed hydrogen fuel-cell propulsion that was supplemented by a plug-in electric system. The production model will only retain half of that combination, namely the plug-in hybrid setup, while the hydrogen fuel-cell system will be replaced by a conventional internal combustion engine.
When the concept debuted, it showed off an elegantly-styled four-seater, with a spacious and plush cabin, befitting the segment it’s targeting. The ‘elegantly-styled’ bit will likely be retained, as should the spacious and plush cabin, though the Genesis GV80 will probably be offered in 5- and 7-seater layouts.
The Genesis SUV will go a long way in establishing the brand in the market, given that the company has a relatively low penetration rate in markets outside of China, Korea, America and the Middle East, and help bolster the company’s image as it makes its way into markets in Europe and (the rest of) Asia. With any luck, if the SUV proves successful, it may be the model to launch the brand in our market too.
The Genesis reinvention has seen the launch of the G80 and G90 saloons, with the recently-launched G70 saloon aimed squarely at cars like the BMW 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Two SUVs will follow the G70, with a sports coupe sandwiched in between. Quite the timeline.
With the offensive, Genesis is expected to gather enough steam to break into the European market too, having already axed a Hyundai Genesis from the lineup in various European countries, likely to make way for the launch of Genesis as a stand-alone brand.
Stay tuned to CarShowroom for more information as it comes.
