(image: Genesis Motor America)
SEOUL, Mar. 29 (Korea Bizwire) — Hyundai Motor Co., South Korea’s largest carmaker, said Thursday that it has unveiled its Essentia concept at the New York International Auto Show.
The all-electric, high-performance concept provides a vision of the future of the Genesis luxury sub-brand, the carmaker said.
Hyundai Motor produces Genesis-badged models under an independent marque separate from other vehicles in its lineup and even set up Genesis Motor America to more effectively make inroads in the key market.
Essentia is the Genesis brand’s first battery electric vehicle and features a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque design; a robust, multi-motor electric powertrain; and a custom-tailored interior.
Executive Vice President Luc Donckerwolke, the head of Genesis Design, said Wednesday (U.S. time) that the Genesis Essentia concept defines the company’s vision for an electric Gran Turismo that integrates athletic elegance and Genesis DNA as defining parameters.
“We understand our obligation as a luxury car manufacturer to create objects of desire, sparking passion and inspiration by emphasizing a culture while exceeding expectations in terms of technology and connectivity, bringing our outside world seamlessly to the inside of the vehicle,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, global head of the Genesis Brand.
The carmaker said the side profile of Essentia is dominated by the iconic parabolic line that provides a visual structure to the body while also emphasizing its overall length.
The concept car also has butterfly doors, and a sensor mounted in the B-pillar integrates fingerprint controls and biometric facial recognition for opening and closing the doors.
The carmaker said a state-of-the-art, high-density battery pack is housed in the center tunnel in an I-shape structure, as opposed to underneath the passenger compartment.
“This allows Essentia to achieve the super-low, 50-inch roofline and spacious, GT-style cabin. With an estimated 0-to-60 time of just 3.0 seconds, Essentia brings sports car-level performance to the realm of electric luxury coupes,” according to the carmaker.
It also said Essentia features advanced vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle technology, meaning that Essentia can inform the driver of up-to-the-minute road conditions, and help avoid accidents and traffic jams.
Also Wednesday, Genesis Motor America premiered the 2019 G70 luxury performance sedan at the New York International Auto Show in a move to boost its presence in the highly competitive entry-level luxury segment.
The G70, already on sale in South Korea, rounds out the Genesis brand’s sedan lineup, joining the G80, G80 Sport and flagship G90, and the brand will continue to expand its product portfolio to all echelons of the luxury auto market, according to the carmaker.
“The G70′s U.S. debut is a very important milestone for Genesis,” Fitzgerald said. “The G70 is all about the driver’s experience. We look forward to how our youngest and most dynamic sedan will connect with our clientele through refined performance and athletic elegant design.”
The carmaker said the G70 has been tested in some of the world’s most challenging environments, including Death Valley, northern Sweden and Germany’s vaunted Nurburgring Nordschleife, to ensure world-class driving dynamics and exceptional durability.
It said that, in the U.S. market, the G70 will be available with three powertrain configurations and five trim packages, ranging from the well-equipped Advanced to the range-topping Sport.
The G70 will arrive at retailers in summer 2018 and will be available in eight exterior colors: Victoria Black, Casablanca White, Himalayan Grey, Santiago Silver, Adriatic Blue, Mallorca Blue, Havana Red and Siberian Ice.
(Yonhap)
