After Kia made the rounds with the beautiful and sporty Stinger, it’s the turn of Hyundai Motor to reveal a sporty sedan of its own. Dubbed as a BMW 3 Series rival, the 2018 Genesis G70 will go official on September 15 in Seoul, South Korea.
It’s rather curious Genesis Motors didn’t use the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show to take the wraps off the G70, but then again, don’t forget that Hyundai’s premium division will arrive in Europe toward the end of the decade. Based on market dynamics and consumer preferences, Genesis will most likely launch its mid-sized and compact SUVs before making a splash in the Old Continent.
To raise awareness that the G70 is coming, Genesis took to YouTube to hype up potential customers with the following promise: “Your show, your party, your celebration.” Throughout the 30-second video, you’ll notice young adults having a blast on the streets of Seoul. This, in turn, might be a clue to what sort of core customers Genesis is targeting with the RWD sports sedan.
Negligibly larger than the 3 Series and C-Class, the G70 shares its underpinnings with the Kia Stinger. Confirmed to ride on a shorter wheelbase than its half-brother, the G70 will be offered with at least three engines: an inline-four turbo diesel (2.2 CRDi), a gas-fed 2.0-liter turbo, and the range-topping 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6. Referred to as the Lambda II T-GDi, the six-cylinder produces 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque. And yes, all-wheel-drive will be available as an optional extra, as will an 8-speed box.
In preparation for the big day, YouTuber “design review car” rendered the 2018 Genesis G70 based on the most revealing spy shots available and a shadowy teaser image. There’s no denying the front is instantly recognizable thanks to the shape and pattern of the grille, but that’s not enough to woo people away from the German establishment, at least not in the first instance.
Provided that the price is right and performance is up there with the best the segment has to offer, Genesis might have a winning chance with the G70. As per the South Korean media, the G70 2.0-liter T-GDi will hold a starting price of 37.5 million won when it goes on sale later this year. The United States market can expect to get the all-new model in early 2018.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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