The new Genesis luxury auto brand has enticed car enthusiasts with several impressive vehicles from the onset. The flagship G90 sedan, G80 and G80 Sport and the upcoming dynamic rear-drive G70 sedan have made impressive strides in earning loyal customers and a growing international following.
But what lies ahead for the Genesis brand? Glimpses of this vision can be seen through the concept cars unveiled by Genesis in recent months. The GV80 Concept, showcased at the New York Motor Show this year, is the brand’s first interpretation of a versatile luxury SUV. The concept is a midsize, rear-wheel-drive crossover with a plug-in hydrogen fuel cell powertrain to run on electricity.
It is more than just an aesthetic exercise for the brand, however. It foreshadows the Genesis move into the SUV market, revealing the naming pattern Genesis will use for the SUVs in its lineup and offering a sleek new take on design features, including headlights and side mirrors.
The GV80 is not just an elegant vehicle, however. The visual identify of the GV80 was very much influenced by the brand’s fuel cell technology, which dictated the concept’s clean, simple, sculpted and lightweight look. Recognizing the brand’s global impact, Genesis seeks to push the world forward in implementing clean tech in a variety of ways. Genesis will continue to study the benefits of similar alternative propulsion systems and eco-friendly technologies for future product applications.
“The GV80 Concept is a SUV that alludes to the confidence and evolution of the Genesis brand – its design is timeless, with an understated yet dynamic overall surface complexity,” said Head of Genesis Design, Luc Donckerwolke.
To complement the refined exterior, the GV80 Concept’s beautifully crafted interior environment showcases a curated combination of high-quality materials, vibrant colors and rich textures that lend themselves to timeless sophistication. The interior features an innovative Human Machine Interface that offers users intuitive operation and function control through the use of a new multi-function interactive controller with capacitive touch.
All of this technology is seamlessly blended into the precision designed details of the vehicle. The horizontal 22-inch curved OLED infinity display presents two distinct zones, providing separate driver and passenger experiences. The top of the interactive multi-function controller features a concave gorilla glass touchpad and knurled metal wheel with handwriting recognition as a unique method for interacting with the informational panel.
The Genesis brand is looking to unveil six vehicles including sedans, SUVs, and a coupe on three new dedicated platforms by 2021. And, although branded a concept vehicle, the GV80 is not too far from a production version that will be coming in the next two years.
In Qatar, the newest luxury of the auto market is available at the Skyline Automotive showroom on B-Ring Road, the official distributor of Genesis in the country.