As the prestige automotive arm of the Hyundai empire, the Genesis brand has, over time, carved a nice niche for itself as a premium provider of cars with a selection of vehicles to suit most users. With a choice of fully electric vehicles (EV), like the GV60 featured here, or internal combustion powered saloons and estate cars (station wagons), Genesis products offer the very best build quality that also incorporates safety, security, comfort and driving enjoyment all backed up the careful use of the very latest technology and EV engineering.
The GV60 Exterior
The Genesis GV60 is a luxury high-performance electric vehicle with a sleek and athletic ‘crossover’ utility design; ‘Athletic Elegance’ is the phrase the company like to use and based on the stylish exterior, they’re not wrong. It’s a very good looking car.
Featuring the brand’s trademark ‘Quad Lamp’ graphic, the front design perfectly complements the vehicle’s refined and capacious body in the shape of a sporty, dynamic double wedge. The Genesis signature ‘Crest’ grille moves to a lower position than on previous models to accommodate cooling requirements specific to the dedicated high performance electric platform. A first for Genesis, the GV60 also features a clamshell bonnet design, a single panel which combines the bonnet and wings, creating a sleek profile.
GV60 displays a distinctive silhouette, aerodynamically honed from the nose to the rear spoiler, creating an efficient profile with a short overhang and a long wheelbase. Seamless and minimal body surfacing combined with a powerful stance gives the Genesis an undeniable visual presence. In addition, the chrome ‘Volt’ window surrounds, which begin from the top of the windscreen and move towards the rear before finishing in a distinctive V shape, are another design element that demonstrates non-conformist style of GV60. The look is also accentuated by the cutting-edge look of the bold, optional, digital exterior mirrors. Using a pair of cameras that are linked to OLED monitors set into the inside of the front doors, this innovation provides a wide, crystal-clear rear side view of the vehicle. The driver's view can be enhanced with features including ‘Lane Change Assist Line Display’ and ‘Reverse Parking Screen Magnification.’
Other exterior highlights include the flush-fitting hidden door handles that automatically pop out when the driver approaches the car with their smart key or uses the segment ‘Face Connect’ camera. As with the digital exterior mirror, these additions enhance aerodynamics as well as reinforce the Genesis commitment to state-of-the-art technology.
Around the back, GV60 features a sloping roof profile that ends with a distinctive fixed spoiler that helps reduce aerodynamic drag for enhanced EV efficiency. Lower down, the shoulder volume of the rear wing emphasises the purposeful stance, further highlighting the car’s dynamic, high-performance electric vehicle image.
The GV60 Interior
The interior balances elegant premium design and exceptional craftsmanship with spaciousness and state-of-the-art technology, meeting the demands of today’s active and connected lifestyles. The ‘floating’ dashboard architecture and interesting detailing combine to create a premium vibe.
Sitting at the heart of GV60’s interior is the ‘Crystal Sphere’ (nothing to do with dungeons or dragons by the way), set into the raised centre console. A strong design element, it helps create a connection between the driver and the vehicle. When the GV60’s electrical systems are turned off, the Crystal Sphere becomes the vehicle’s mood lighting, adding to the aesthetic of the driving experience by delivering a calming glow to the cabin. When the car is ready to drive the sphere rotates 180˚to reveal the ‘Shift By Wire’ controller, suggesting an atmosphere of futuristic mobility. The Crystal Sphere also acts as a safety feature, clearly indicating whether the vehicle is turned on or not. This is important for a vehicle as silent as an electric car, where the only indication of the car’s current state are the indicators on the instrument cluster.
When charging, the Crystal Sphere cannot be rotated into driving mode, providing an easy reminder of GV60’s current state. Between the front seats of GV60 is a ‘floating’ centre console which, at a glance, appears to be hovering. In combination with other unique features, such as the slim cockpit and flat floor, it helps provide occupants with a generous sense of space and luxury. Not only does it house the ‘Crystal Sphere’, it also features intuitively placed hard button shortcuts for GV60’s frequently used functions. Sitting above this is GV60’s next-generation infotainment system, the ‘Connected Car Integrated Cockpit’, that combines a pair of 12.3 inch digital instrument clusters to create a neatly integrated panoramic display that blends a high-tech look with outstanding usability. Placed directly ahead of the driver, it creates an immersive and intuitive layout that places them at the heart of the driving experience.
Elsewhere, the physical switchgear has been carefully kept to a minimum, both for a cleaner look and ease of use. Wireless phone charging is standard and there are no less than four USB-C ports, two in the front, two in the rear, ensuring all occupants’ devices are always charged, allowing them to remain connected on the move.
Comfort inside this compact Genesis begins with ample space for every occupant, including unrivalled headroom and legroom for up to five occupants, the uncluttered aesthetic further enhancing the expansive feeling of space. With a totally flat floor and the ‘floating’ centre console, GV60 offers occupants space to stretch out and relax in true luxury. An implied sense of calm in the GV60 is enhanced by the use of cutting-edge sound-deadening engineering to deliver a soothing environment. Acoustic glass is used in the windscreen and front doors, while the specially developed tyres feature a lightweight foam insert that helps radically reduce the amount of road noise in the cabin.
In addition, careful attention has been paid to the windscreen surround, door mirrors and rubber seals, all of which have been honed to keep wind noise to a minimum. The use of hydro-mount bushes (springs with integrated hydraulic damping) for some of the suspension components and subframes has further helped eliminate unwanted noises to tune the interior for exceptional refinement.
The Power
With the Genesis GV60, every detail has been carefully considered to make the switch to electric vehicles as effortless and user-friendly as possible. Featuring state-of-art electrical hardware and software, the car houses a multi-charging system that provides stable and straightforward recharging of the battery across a wide range of chargers, including fast, rapid and ultra-fast devices. At the heart of GV60 is a powerful electrical architecture that enables 800V and 400V charging without the need for additional components or adapters. This patented technology operates the motor and the inverter to boost 400V to 800V, allowing for stable charging regardless of the infrastructure.
When charging at 240 kW with the ultra-fast charging function, the battery can be charged from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. GV60 also features a unique battery conditioning function that manages the battery’s temperature to ensure optimal conditions. The state-of-the-art system not only preheats the cells to secure better performance when the battery temperature is low but can also shorten the amount of charging time by adjusting the battery temperature.
The power depends on the model chosen. At the top of the range is the ‘Sport Plus AWD’ (4x4) model, aimed at drivers seeking the ultimate in motoring enjoyment. Featuring a pair of motors for the front and rear wheels, it delivers a stunning combined output of 360 kW (equivalent 483BHP / 490PS) and a mighty torque figure of 700 Nm. Performance is explosive, with the 0-62mph benchmark taking just 4.0 seconds. Yet this model is also capable of travelling 289 miles (466 km) on a single charge. For urban use, the single motor, less powerful versions with a more range may be preferred but this car makes a great all-rounder in the city or on the open road.
Genesis have made a quiet corner of the prestige motoring world their own. They build interesting and very useable cars that have an air of uniqueness about them. Find out about the availability of Genesis cars for export from the UK, potentially VAT-free, to New Zealand, Ireland, Cyprus, Kenya and elsewhere by contacting us here at MHH International.
