Genesis’ CEO has confirmed the 2020 G80 will be
introduced in South Korea this September. Speaking with Car & Driver,
Manfred Fitzgerald said the redesigned sedan will feature the “next evolution
of our design language” and roll out to global markets following its domestic
launch.
There’s no word on when the model will arrive in
America, but Fitzgerald confirmed the car won’t be offered with a V8 engine.
This is somewhat surprising as the current G80 is available a 5.0-liter V8 that
produces up to 420 hp and 519 Nm of torque.
Since the V8 is a no-go, the range-topping engine
will be likely be a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 that develops 365 hp and 509 Nm of torque. It’s significantly less powerful than the
V8, but it’s not that much more fuel efficient as the current G80 with the
twin-turbo V6 is only rated 1 mpg – city, highway and combined – better than
the V8 variant.
The V8 engine should continue to be offered in the
G90, but it appears to be living on borrowed time. As Fitzgerald explained,
“Don’t expect another evolution of the V8” as “We really have to pay close
attention to markets and legislation, and hedge our bets.” Since Fitzgerald ruled out the
possibility of upgrading the engine, it appears Genesis is eyeing a future
without the V8. As a result, we shouldn’t expect to see it in any upcoming
models and it will likely be phased out when the G90 is redesigned.
The news will probably disappoint fans, but Genesis
is embracing electrification. As part of a plan announced in 2017, Genesis will
launch its first electric vehicle in 2021. It will eventually be followed by a
longer range model which can travel at least 500 km.
