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Genesis Doesn't Create a Paris Concept, Still Displays the Older New York

Genesis felt its New York concept car deserved more air time than it's got so far, so it took center stage at the brand's stand in Paris as well. Still, nobody seemed to mind as the New York is an intriguing-looking car.
Genesis New York Concept in Paris 20 photos
Photo: S. Baldauf/Guido ten Brink
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It was first introduced at the New York show this spring, and it was said to preview the design direction Hyundai's new luxury brand is going to take. That makes it quite important and would explain why Genesis hasn't felt it was necessary to come up with a new concept.

And, indeed, there's a lot to take in. The first impression is that somebody put an Alfa Romeo Giulia and a Maserati Ghibli inside a Japanese centrifuge and spun the hell out of the two sedans until this thing fell out. There's nothing particularly Korean about it, but then again, has this country really built its own identity in the automotive world? We think not.

Well, Genesis could very well be the brand do it, even though at this moment it looks like Korean means an unexplainable mix between Italian and Japanese. Whatever it is, it's also a huge departure from the bland models Hyundai has treated us with over the years, and given what other manufacturers have built lately (just look at Lexus, for example), it's not unthinkable that a lot of the New York's creases will make it into production.

The interior, however, is an entirely different story. It is pure fantasy, but if Genesis finds a way to keep that floating ultra-wide display one way or another, we predict good things for this brand's models. It may not fit particularly well with the idea of luxury that Genesis is trying to convey, but with different colors and materials, it could be made to look a lot more distinguished. Of course, that steering wheel has to go...

Despite its aspect, the Genesis New York Concept isn't a fast car. It is powered by a four-cylinder 2.0-liter engine and an electric motor, which would make it a hybrid. The total power of the system sits at 242 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque (352 Nm). We hope the four-seater is rather light, otherwise this powertrain would struggle to offer a decent driving experience. Genesis doesn't say anything about its performance figures, and it's probably for the better.

If this concept is indeed a sign of things to come from Genesis, then the Korean brand has all the chances of making it. On the other hand, it won't be easy to penetrate on all markets, especially in Europe where luxury cars from other parts of the world find it hard to break through. But if Genesis can set a strong foothold in Asia and in the USA, that should prove more than enough.
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About the author: Vlad Mitrache
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"Boy meets car, boy loves car, boy gets journalism degree and starts job writing and editing at a car magazine" - 5/5. (Vlad Mitrache if he was a movie)
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