Genesis has come a long way as a standalone brand under Hyundai's guideship, and they've successfully managed to take a swing at the premium car and crossover game with multiple proposals, some of which boast battery-electric power. This makes them futureproof, yet the Korean automaker isn't resting on its laurels.
Quite the opposite, in fact, as there are several new vehicles in the making as we speak. One of them will be the GV90, and contrary to its name, it won't be a high-riding alternative to the G90 sedan. Well, it will, albeit with an electron-sipping powertrain, as it is bound to become the brand's all-quiet flagship high-rider.
Details surrounding its development date back a couple of years, when the first reports emerged that unofficially announced it. And while some forgot about it during this time, it was recently brought to our attention in a fresh set of spy shots that revealed a fully camouflaged prototype sitting in a parking lot in Death Valley, where it was presumably undergoing hot weather testing.
Photo: Kolesa
Familiar Design With an Aerodynamic Twist
If you look closely behind the wrapped-up face, you will see that the Genesis GV90 has a familiar lighting signature. The quad units inevitably tie it to other models in the company's current lineup. The grille will have a similar shape as well, and its closed-off design will remind of the Electrified GV70. We can also see a wide central air intake with a sensor mounted in the middle and the usual air curtains on each side of the front bumper.
The presence of that fake hump makes it trickier to spot some of the major styling traits at the rear, but it is evident that Genesis' signature quad taillights are present. The crossover will have a dynamic roofline and ride on large alloys. The snapped tester had a set of black five-spoke wheels wrapped in Pirelli Scorpion tires and featured a generous ground clearance. But make no mistake, this won't be an off-roader disguised as a posh SUV but a premium electric model that should be a good daily driver.
Cockpit Reminiscent of Other Genesis Vehicles
Despite snapping the prototype quietly sitting in a parking lot, our man with the cam couldn't get close enough to take a few pictures of the interior. But it should be a familiar place. We expect the Genesis GV90 to offer a spacious cabin with three rows of seating, and this will probably be a big selling point. Unlike the smaller GV80, which can accommodate mostly kids on the third row, the GV90 (or is that the Electrified GV90?) should be able to take a pair of adults on short journeys, given the extended legroom.
It will be interesting to see if the brand's upcoming flagship electric crossover will feature a dashboard panel similar to the Electrified GV70, with the infotainment screen sitting on top of the dashboard, or if it will get a layout along the veins of the G90, where the two screens mix together. We expect the upper trims to feature heated and ventilated front seats with massaging, premium audio systems, fine leather upholstery, and perhaps the option of second-row captain's chairs.
Photo: Kolesa
Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 7 Underpinnings – and Probably More
Since it appears to follow in the footsteps of the Hyundai Ioniq 7 and Kia EV9, it is likely that the Genesis GV90 will share the same architecture. That would be the E-GMP (Electric-Global Modular Platform), which is also the foundation stone of the GV60, Ioniq 5 and 6, and EV6. This probably means it will utilize the same battery packs as the Kia EV9, which has a 76.1 kWh unit in the Standard model and a 99.8 kWh when it comes to the Long Range and AWD versions.
The EV9 has an estimated driving range of up to 300 miles (483 km) in the most frugal configuration, and its battery can be juiced up in 24 minutes from 10 to 80%. The base flavor features a rear-mounted electric motor making 215 hp (218 ps/160 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) of torque. The Long Range has 201 hp (204 ps/150 kW) and 258 lb-ft (349 Nm), and the dual-motor variants with all-wheel drive boast 379 hp (384 ps/283 kW) and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) combined.
Genesis is rumored to introduce the GV90 as a 2025 model for the US market sometime in 2024. It is yet unknown how much it will cost, but since it needs to separate from the brand's lesser electric vehicles and its mainstream cousins from Hyundai and Kia, we think it might be priced close to $100,000. Naturally, the upper specs will set buyers back even more, so Genesis will surely aim high with this zero-emission crossover. Could it perhaps convince you to place a deposit for one and say no to its rivals, which comprise, among others, the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV?
After a series of unfortunate events put an end to Cristian's dream of entering a custom built & tuned old-school Dacia into a rally competition, he moved on to drive press cars and write for a living. He's worked for several automotive online journals and now he's back at autoevolution after his first tour in the mid-2000s. Full profile
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