HYUNDAI GENESIS
It’s a sting! Kia in the sights
HYUNDAI’S high-performance, rear-drive response to the Kia Stinger GT will pick up more luxury, more features and the option of a V8-bashing hybrid drivetrain – plus, it won’t even wear a Hyundai badge.
The hotly anticipated twinturbocharged V6 engine that will appear in the Genesis G70 – the 3 Series-rivalling small sedan due later this year to spearhead Hyundai’s new luxury brand – is set to get an electric upgrade as part of an alternative drivetrain performance push.
And Wheels can reveal there will also be a sleek coupe bodystyle of the G70, likely to be called GT70, to act as the model range’s performance flagship. A cabriolet spinoff that could be badged GC70, is also under discussion.
The GT70 is set to arrive as a fiercely priced BMW 4 Series, Audi A5 and Merc C-class coupe rival.
Speaking at the recent New York motor show, Genesisg Genesis chief Manfred Fitzgerald confirmednfirmed hybrid and electric drivetrainsetrains would form a crucial partt of the six-model Genesis range ge (see sidebar p14).
First to arrive rive will be the G70 from late this s year, with an update to thee current Hyundai Genesis, badged ged G80, to follow.
“Alternative ve propulsion systems are at the core of this brand,” Fitzgerald erald said. “The internal combustionbustion engine’s dominance of performance [is] going to go away.”
In its standard dard guise, the 3.3litre twin-turborbo V6 (set to debut in the Stingerr within months) pumps out 276kw 76kw and 510Nm, the latter on tap from 1300rpm. Even a modestest hybrid upgrade will push that evenen higher.
Of course, the hybrid system – likely to be a plug-in set-up that allows some all-electric driving for about 50kmkm – will add weight, something thathat will take the
edge off performance.
But expect the overall equation to boost acceleration as part of a push towards hybrid performance.
As for a V8, it appears Genesis is keen to rely on technology rather than cubic capacity for its future performance models.
Genesis design chief Luc Donckerwolke was quick to dismiss future Genesis V8 models.
“As much as I like V8s … the electrification is going to be a main element [for performance],” Donckerwolke explained.
“Emissions have to be reduced drastically; today a V8 is not exactly responding to that.”
Elsewhere, the Genesis G70 is expected to up its luxury game to tempt buyers into a car that will share underpinnings with the more affordable Stinger.
After a tentative toe in Australian waters, Genesis will launch locally with a massive clean-sheet product offensive that will introduce an entirely fresh design direction, that includes headlights which abandon the traditional ‘eye’ look.
The man behind the pen, Donckerwolcke, is also responsible for the exterior design of the Lamborghini Gallardo, Bentley Flying Spur, and Skoda Octavia among others.
Marketing gurus at Genesis are using case studies from the development of Lexus and Infiniti brands to avoid the usual ‘luxury arm’ pitfalls, with the customer retail experience given key priority.
“Alternative propulsion systems are at the core of this brand” Genesis chief Manfred Fitzgerald