The Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury brand Genesis is preparing its U.S. vehicle range, customers, and manufacturing facilities for a big switch to all-electric propulsion. In a series of announcements in conjunction with the 2022 New York International Auto Show this week, it premiered a new version of its X Concept electric vehicle (EV) called the Speedium Coupe, revealed the GV60 Priority One program for its first EV for U.S. consumers, and announced U.S. production of its upcoming Electrified GV70 SUV.

The venue was Genesis House New York, a cultural space in Manhattan’s Meatpacking District that opened in November as the brand’s base in the U.S. More than just a showroom, it consists of three floors welcoming guests/customers into Korean culture with a library, tea pavilion, restaurant, and terrace garden overlooking Hudson Yards, the Hudson River, and the High Line reminiscent of a courtyard outside a “hanok” or traditional Korean house.

 

Speedium update for X concept

The X Speedium Coupe looks ahead to the next wave of EVs and highlights Genesis’ future as a luxury electric vehicle brand with a six-model lineup by 2030. The new concept was born out of a “freestyle” design exercise based on last year’s X Concept led by Luc Donckerwolke, Genesis’ Chief Creative Officer.

The Speedium name was inspired by the Korean racetrack in the city of Inje and encapsulates Genesis’ belief that the emotional value of driving will remain strong in the era of electrification. The concept’s metallic “Inje Green” was inspired by the color of the mountainous landscape around the Korean racetrack.

Genesis says that the car embodies its design philosophy of Athletic Elegance in a more progressive way. The design team followed the principle of reductive design, or “less is more,” for the concept, with restrained elegance, clean lines, and subtle curves. The brand adds that it is not a conventional concept car that previews production-lineup plans, and it provided no technical details on the electric-propulsion system.

“This car is an open-door moment in Genesis’ journey towards our future EV design,” said Donckerwolke. “This isn’t a show car; it’s a look into our design processes as we explore ideas for the next wave of EVs, one that incorporates Genesis’ DNA.”

In front, the brand’s signature Two Lines lamps have evolved into a full-width element encompassing the Crest Grille. The lines integrate the daytime running lamps with the low and high beams.

From overhead, the hourglass silhouette accentuates the muscular wheel arches. From the side, the Parabolic Line extending from front to rear is intended to evoke a classic car with a deliberate “anti-wedge” design. The elliptical tail, with a tension between convex and concave surfaces, is interrupted by the V-shaped upper brake and other lights.

“We are giving each design element space to breathe,” said Donckerwolke. “It’s not about making the design elements compete with each other, but about orchestrating the elements so that they complement and respect one another.”

 

GV60 gets Priority One

After a slow start since a U.S. market debut in 2016, Genesis has set monthly sales records for the past 16 months, with 11,723 sales in Q1 2022. It hopes that continuous improvement in product and customer experience will continue the momentum.

In select U.S. markets, the Priority One program is designed for a personalized purchase experience for the GV60, the brand’s first dedicated EV. It will be available at launch this spring in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York for a limited time.

“With Genesis Priority One, we are renewing our promise to our clients to provide a purchase experience tailored to them,” said Claudia Marquez, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America.

Revealed in September, the GV60 crossover is the first Genesis vehicle built on Hyundai Group’s Electric-Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) dedicated-EV platform also used by the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6. The car is 4515 mm (177.8 in) long, 1890 mm (74.4 in) wide, 1580 mm (62.2 in) tall, on a 2900-mm (114.2-in) wheelbase, making it shorter than the other two by about 6 in (152 mm).

The standard rear-wheel-drive, standard four-wheel-drive, and performance four-wheel-drive models. All feature a 77.4-kW·h battery with a maximum driving range of 451 to 368 km (280 to 229 mi).

Output ranges from 168 kW/350 N·m to 320 kW/605 N·m in Sports Mode, with 360 kW/700 N·m in Boost Mode. The last mode is enabled for 10 s for 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in just 4.0 s.

The GV60 is the first Genesis model to feature electric-Active Sound Design (e-ASD), the system providing virtual sounds through the speakers based on the driving mode, vehicle speed, and accelerator pedal position. Road Active Noise Control minimizes noise while driving. Preview Electronic Control Suspension uses information from the front camera and navigation system to improve ride comfort.

A conditioning function provides better performance when the battery temperature is low and shortens charging times. A multi-rapid charging system boosts the 400-V supplied by a charger to the car’s 800 V, enabling stable and rapid charging with various charging device outputs. At a supplied 350 kW, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 18 min. The GV60 can also be used as a mobile power source, with a vehicle-to-load function to charge other electric devices when camping or enjoying outdoor activities.

Other GV60 innovations include Face Connect and Fingerprint Authentication. Face Connect recognizes up to two drivers’ faces to lock/unlock the car doors without a key using a B-pillar near-infrared camera. It can also adjust the headup-display, driver’s seat, steering wheel, side mirrors, and infotainment settings. Fingerprint Authentication System allows drivers to start and drive the car without a key and offers an authentication function for in-car payments and the release of Valet Mode.

 

U.S. production for Electrified GV70

Genesis also announced in New York that the Electrified Genesis GV70 will be produced in the U.S. at its manufacturing facility in Montgomery, AL, expected to begin in December 2022.

“We are pleased to bring Genesis production to the United States for the first time,” said José Muñoz, President & CEO of Genesis Motor North America.

In November, SangYup Lee, Head of Genesis Global Design, unveiled the Electrified GV70 at Auto Guangzhou 2021, with Jay Chang, Global Head of the Genesis brand, introducing the brand’s vision for electrification.

The Electrified model is built on the GV70 platform but with a host of new technologies exclusively for the EV. Design changes include aero-modified front fascia and Crest Grille with hidden EV charging port, with a rear bumper having a tailpipe-free skid plate. Inside is a variety of eco-friendly materials.

It will be available only as an all-wheel-drive model. Details on output, performance, and range for North American models will be available closer to launch, but the top model is expected to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.5 s with Boost Mode.

Here again, the vehicle has a 400-V/800-V multi-rapid charging system that will accommodate various charging infrastructures and can raise the voltage supplied by typical chargers from 400 to 800 V. Its vehicle-to-load feature supports a 3.6 kW charging of external devices. The addition of 350-kW rapid charging enables the battery to charge from 10% to 80% in under 20 min.

Highlights of electric driving are a system that connects or disconnects the motor and drive shaft enabling switching between 2WD and AWD to increase efficiency. Smart Regenerative Braking System 2.0 adjusts braking based on driving habits, real-time navigation, and road conditions. Active Noise Control-Road reduces road noise using four sensors and eight microphones to create opposite-phase sound. Preview Electronic Control Suspension smooths the ride based on information collected through the front camera and navigation system.