New Genesis Comes with Performance of Premium German Cars

On October 24 at the Hyundai Kia Namyang Research Center in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, Hyundai Motors opened a media presentation for the new Genesis and revealed the actual vehicle for the first time to domestic automobile reporters. 

The new Genesis looks a lot leaner and dandier compared to the concept car announced at the US Detroit Motor Show in January. If the concept car had more of a bold, muscular, macho feel to it, the actual vehicle is a lot more relaxed and neat, like a sophisticated city gentleman. Hyundai explained, “The upgraded ‘Fluidic Sculpture 2.0’ from our design philosophy started in 2009 will become the family look of Hyundai vehicles,” and added, “The new Genesis is the first model to be designed based on Fluidic Sculpture 2.0.”

The front of the new Genesis has a large hexagonal grill applied. The concept car had a square grill. The rear is very restrained, so much that it almost looks boring. The side looks less muscular in volume and expresses speed and sophistication. Compared to foreign brand vehicles, the front looks like an Audi, the rear a Lexus, and the side a Jaguar. 

The length of the new vehicle is 4,990 mm, which is actually 5 mm longer than the original model, but because of the leaner design, it looks smaller. 

As for the performance, Hyundai paid extra attention to the ride and handling. In the beginning of its development stages, Hyundai set the goal to implement “the performance and speed of a German premium car.” The domestic and international competing targets were set to the Mercedes-Benz E Class and BMW 5 Series. 

Hyundai did not reveal the driving system of the new Genesis, but it is most likely to use a 3.3 liter and 3.8 liter GDI engine with an eight speed transmission. The recently-developed three-liter turbo GDI engine will be installed later. It comes in two driving systems, rear wheel drive and four wheel drive.