Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai, has just revealed the first official shots of their first-ever SUV. Called the GV80, it will be based on the second-generation G80’s rear-wheel drive platform and is slated for launch in South Korea this month while Australia will receive it later in the year.
“Over the last four years, Genesis has established itself as a respected luxury brand with superior vehicle quality and a line-up of class-leading sedans with charismatic and discriminating style,” said William Lee, Executive Vice President and Global Head of the Genesis Brand. “With the launch of GV80, Genesis will elevate expectations for excellence within the luxury SUV market.”
The marque claims that while their new SUV is all about luxury, the V in GV80 represents “versatility” and the kind that can only be doled out by the up-market Korean brand. Right, we’ll let you be the judge of that one when the time comes.
In terms of styling, the front fascia of the production GV80 gets a large crest-shaped grille and losses the two-tier chromed affair sported by the concept car. One thing that has stayed the same are the Quad Lamp’s, which according to former Lamborghini designer and chief design officer of Hyundai Motor Group, Luc Donckerwolke, reflects the brand’s design direction and will likely be seen on future models.
Genesis did not release a photograph of the rear but it’s safe to assume (based on leaked pictures of the production car) that the taillights will feature the same Quad Lamp design as the front. The leaked pictures also showed a modern SUV that’s devoid of a massive light bar spanning the width of the rear but instead has ‘Genesis’ spelt out in place of it.
The interior mimics minimalism with features such as a low dashboard with a slim air vent stretched across it and a wide-ratio screen dishing out infotainment. The centre console is home to physical controls for the climate control and other features. Overall, a tasteful affair.
The Korean auto maker has yet to reveal any technical details of the GV80. We will undoubtedly know more about the all-new SUV as we approach its global debut.
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