New Genesis G70 (Render)
Hyundai’s newly-born luxury division Genesis had revealed a rather
tasty vehicle aptly named the Genesis New York Concept. The Peter Schreyer-led
design, introduced a new styling direction for the brand and more
interestingly, an abstract interpretation of what their future products and in
particular, their BMW 3-Series competitor may look like.
That vehicle will eventually come to
fruition as the Genesis G70; a four door saloon with sleek rear-wheel-drive
proportions. One of the most notable aspects of the
Genesis concept was the long hood and short deck. The front-end styling is dominated by a
large G80-like chrome grille, angular air intakes and intersecting headlight
cutouts.
Whilst the Concept had interesting
fender vent patterns, this study employs a subtle fender crease which almost
has a reverse-Z appearance when coupled to the strong shoulder lines. Cabin styling is expected to be toned
down significantly from the concept, yet will showcase some of the more general
design themes and subtle detailing. The four-seater arrangement of the show-car
will morph into five, with ample space and tech goodies to play toe to toe with
its rivals.
Yet it’s under the bodywork where it
intrigues the most; the New York preview showcased a hybrid setup with a
2.0-litre four mated to an electric motor, making a combined total of 242 Hp
and 260 lb-ft of torque - not exactly potent. However with an eight-speed
automatic channeling power to the rear wheels, it could make for quite an
involving drivers car.
Interestingly, there has been conjecture
about the G70 sharing its platform (code-named CK) with the upcoming Kia GT
sedan. If so, this could also open up the possibility of a 3.3-liter
turbocharged V-6 being used, which would pump out close to 350 horsepower.
So when can we expect the real thing to
arrive? If speculation is correct, the G70 could appear in production trim as
early the 4th quarter of this year or early 2017. Later down the road, a G70
Coupe variant is also anticipated and would serve as a rival to Audi’s A5
coupe, BMW 4-Series and MB C Class coupe.
