Photo: Genesis
With neither of the Hyundai and Kia sister brands able to credibly develop a range of premium vehicles, the Koreans made the decision to create a new sub-brand called Genesis, which was officially launched last year.
With the short history lesson over, it's worth pointing out that the Genesis range already comprises two models, the G90 flagship and the G80, which is nothing more than a converted Hyundai Genesis sedan. Well, that's not entirely true, as the G80 will get a few style augmentations when it goes on sale this summer.
With the top end of the lineup covered, Genesis will now switch its attention towards the midsize segment, something the brand's officials have officially confirmed at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show. That can only mean one thing: sooner or later, we're going to see a Genesis G70 to rival the likes of BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
A first taste of what's in store for us in this regard could be provided by the Genesis New York Concept, a design study that has all the signs of fitting the required bill. It's definitely a sedan, it appears to have the right proportions for a midsized vehicle and it's got the sporty attitude needed to go up against the more established German models.
Before we get our hopes too high, it's worth remembering this is just a teaser for a concept, so there are still a lot of variables to consider. Genesis isn't giving a timeframe for when we should expect a G70 unveiling, so we also have no idea how far ahead in its development the Koreans are at the moment. But if they manage to keep most of the New York Concept's design cues - and it's not overly futuristic, so there's no reason not to - they'll have a very good starting point.
The Genesis G70 should be a sporty sedan with rear-wheel-drive and a decent collection of engines and transmissions available. To put it into the company's own words, it “hints to the athletic elegance of the four-door sports sedan, expressing the design direction that will distinguish forthcoming Genesis products.” Oh, Genesis, doesn't everything these days? Doesn't everything?
Talking about the concept, Manfred Fitzgerald, head of Genesis, explained, “The New York Concept is a progressive concept car that showcases the design quality of the brand. With its expressive volumes and refined design, the New York Concept truly embodies the athletic elegance, which characterizes Genesis products.” And speaking of Genesis products, we're to expect a few more in the coming years, namely a coupe and a couple of crossovers. Pretty soon, then, Hyundai's luxury division will have a complete portfolio that will allow it to ask the other premium manufacturers some questions. And rest assured, they'll have their answers ready, so it's going to be a very interesting battle.
With the top end of the lineup covered, Genesis will now switch its attention towards the midsize segment, something the brand's officials have officially confirmed at last year's Los Angeles Auto Show. That can only mean one thing: sooner or later, we're going to see a Genesis G70 to rival the likes of BMW 3 Series, Audi A4 or Mercedes-Benz C-Class.
A first taste of what's in store for us in this regard could be provided by the Genesis New York Concept, a design study that has all the signs of fitting the required bill. It's definitely a sedan, it appears to have the right proportions for a midsized vehicle and it's got the sporty attitude needed to go up against the more established German models.
Before we get our hopes too high, it's worth remembering this is just a teaser for a concept, so there are still a lot of variables to consider. Genesis isn't giving a timeframe for when we should expect a G70 unveiling, so we also have no idea how far ahead in its development the Koreans are at the moment. But if they manage to keep most of the New York Concept's design cues - and it's not overly futuristic, so there's no reason not to - they'll have a very good starting point.
The Genesis G70 should be a sporty sedan with rear-wheel-drive and a decent collection of engines and transmissions available. To put it into the company's own words, it “hints to the athletic elegance of the four-door sports sedan, expressing the design direction that will distinguish forthcoming Genesis products.” Oh, Genesis, doesn't everything these days? Doesn't everything?
Talking about the concept, Manfred Fitzgerald, head of Genesis, explained, “The New York Concept is a progressive concept car that showcases the design quality of the brand. With its expressive volumes and refined design, the New York Concept truly embodies the athletic elegance, which characterizes Genesis products.” And speaking of Genesis products, we're to expect a few more in the coming years, namely a coupe and a couple of crossovers. Pretty soon, then, Hyundai's luxury division will have a complete portfolio that will allow it to ask the other premium manufacturers some questions. And rest assured, they'll have their answers ready, so it's going to be a very interesting battle.
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