Luxury automaker brings the future
Trio of cars bound to make the auto world sit up and take notice
Fresh off a win at the North American International Auto Show last month in Detroit, Mich., luxury automaker Genesis has arrived in Toronto with a stunning array of current product and a peek at the beauty we may see in showrooms of the future.
Relatively new to the market, Genesis is a luxury brand, created by Hyundai just over three years ago, which has taken the market by storm, most notably led by the stunning G70 sedan, which was named the North American Car of the Year in Detroit.
Located on the 800 level of the south building of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, well away from the parent company’s display, Genesis has brought the G70, the redesigned G90 and the Essentia Concept to the AutoShow.
The G70 has put the luxury sedan world on notice that there is a new player in town, with a sporty athleticism that is on par with the traditional European leaders in the segment.
While the sedan market may be shrinking overall, the G70 is well positioned to shake up the sales charts. It truly is one of the must-see models at this year’s show.
First launched in 2016, the Genesis G90 is the South Korean automaker’s flagship and has been redesigned for the 2020 model year. Unveiled to the North American public at the recent Montreal show, the G90 showcased the extension of the brand’s “Athletic Elegance” design language, first seen with the G70.
While elegant, the previous G90 somehow lacked passion and this refresh shows that the Genesis team is committed to making the big sedan stand out.
The front end features a new quad lamp setup which is said to play a big part in all future Genesis models. Those lamps flank an expansive crest-shaped grille. The quad lamp theme continues to the rear of the vehicle, where they are wing-shaped to evoke visions of the Genesis logo.
The already luxurious interior has not been messed with much. Instead, Genesis has focused on improving the space with the addition of noise-cancelling technology to make an already quiet cabin even more silent. The large widescreen display now offers split screen functionality and the infotainment system stays up to date with over-the-air technology.
Canadian buyers will enjoy a 420 horsepower, 5.0-litre V8, which sends power to all four wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission. An adaptive suspension system ensures the smoothest possible ride.
The Genesis name first appeared on the North American market in 2008, as the Hyundai Genesis, a luxury sedan aimed at aspiring executives. The name on the sedan, however, might have been somewhat overshadowed a couple of years later, when the first Genesis Coupe came to market and won the hearts of young car enthusiasts.
Acknowledging then that the Genesis brand has its roots firmly in sports cars alongside luxury, the crown jewel of the Genesis display has to be the futuristic Essentia Concept.
Created as the brand’s first allelectric vehicle, the Essentia Concept is a smouldering coupe design, built around a hightech, lightweight carbon fibre monocoque.
Once again, the Athletic Elegance theme plays a part, as the Genesis team created its own vision of a true Gran Turismo. Long, low and lean, the Essentia features a gently arched bubble roof that flows into a tail reminiscent of Italian race cars of the late ’50s. Gull wing doors add to the exotic flair. The new Genesis signature quad lights are there too, in the shape of thin lines which accentuate both the front and rear body lines.
Performance is the soul of a true GT car, so the Essentia Concept features a high-density battery that’s fitted to the centre tunnel and powers multiple electric motors. Zero to 100 km/h times around three seconds are predicted. Modern consumers expect technology to release them from many of life’s more mundane tasks, so Genesis has envisioned the cabin of the Essentia as a place to disconnect into a virtual escape, but having the car fully connected to the environment surrounding it.
With driving-experience-specific settings, the Essentia will be able to tailor vehicle settings to meet the driver’s needs for certain road and traffic conditions.
Connected with smart homes and other devices and using AI, the Essentia will allow drivers to perform tasks such as turning on the lights at home or adjusting the home thermostat with just a few words.
The Essentia Concept is a glimpse into the not-so-distant future! A bright future!