Photo: Stefan Baldauf/SB-Medien
What you’re looking at isn’t the previous generation of the Santa Fe. Genesis is testing the production version of the GV80 Concept with the help of this prototype, and as it happens, the real deal will premiere sometime in 2019 for the 2020 model year.
The conglomerate made up of Hyundai, Kia, and their subsidiaries is the fifth-largest in the world of all things automotive, with 7.39 million vehicles sold in 2018. No fewer than 13 new or facelifted models are planned for 2019, including the first-ever utility vehicle from Genesis Motors.
Turning our attention back to the test mule in the photo gallery, a few details are on display thanks to a window sticker. JX1 could be the internal code of the vehicle, then there’s 3.5G 4WD AT. What that’s supposed to mean is 3.5 liters, six cylinders, gasoline, all-wheel drive, and most likely an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai hasn’t offered an engine with that displacement since the Sigma, which ended its tenure with the G6AU and G4HC in the second half of the 2000s. Given these circumstances, we’re expecting the GV80 or whatever it will be called to feature an evolution of the Lambda II engine.
Hyundai is also working on the Theta III, but displacement won’t go beyond 2.5 liters and the number of cylinders is limited to four. To this effect, the 3.5-liter V6 MPI in the all-new Santa Fe sounds like the engine in question. This member of the Lambda II family has 276 horsepower to offer at 6,300 rpm along with 247 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
“Wait, does this mean the platform is front-/all-wheel drive?” According to Luc Donckerwolke, fortunately no! In other words, the Genesis GV80 is taking the battle to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. And as it is the case with the German competition, the customer pool that would drop money on the Genesis isn’t as interested in off-road capability as those who choose the Suzuki Jimny, Land Rover Defender, or Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Over in Europe, there’s a case to be made for the 2.2-liter CRDi that Kia offers in the Stinger. The 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged four-cylinder is also compatible with this platform, so look forward to three engine options.
Turning our attention back to the test mule in the photo gallery, a few details are on display thanks to a window sticker. JX1 could be the internal code of the vehicle, then there’s 3.5G 4WD AT. What that’s supposed to mean is 3.5 liters, six cylinders, gasoline, all-wheel drive, and most likely an eight-speed automatic transmission.
Hyundai hasn’t offered an engine with that displacement since the Sigma, which ended its tenure with the G6AU and G4HC in the second half of the 2000s. Given these circumstances, we’re expecting the GV80 or whatever it will be called to feature an evolution of the Lambda II engine.
Hyundai is also working on the Theta III, but displacement won’t go beyond 2.5 liters and the number of cylinders is limited to four. To this effect, the 3.5-liter V6 MPI in the all-new Santa Fe sounds like the engine in question. This member of the Lambda II family has 276 horsepower to offer at 6,300 rpm along with 247 pound-feet of torque at 5,000 rpm.
“Wait, does this mean the platform is front-/all-wheel drive?” According to Luc Donckerwolke, fortunately no! In other words, the Genesis GV80 is taking the battle to Mercedes-Benz and BMW. And as it is the case with the German competition, the customer pool that would drop money on the Genesis isn’t as interested in off-road capability as those who choose the Suzuki Jimny, Land Rover Defender, or Mercedes-Benz G-Class.
Over in Europe, there’s a case to be made for the 2.2-liter CRDi that Kia offers in the Stinger. The 2.0-liter Theta II turbocharged four-cylinder is also compatible with this platform, so look forward to three engine options.
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