US Genesis EV delays won’t affect Aus

A SUPPLY roadblock to the US market for Genesis electric vehicles will not have any effect locally, according to a Genesis Australia spokesperson.

On track for a Q3 launch in Australia, the Genesis G80 Electric is the company’s first EV and joins a pair of petrol G80s – the 2.5 T four-cylinder  and 3.5T V6 variants in the premium large sedan segment.

Two more Genesis models will follow the G80 Electric in quick succession, the GV70 Electric SUV and the GV60 compact electric SUV.

“We are on track for a Q3 launch here with all three and in fact, have just registered a number of Genesis EVs for the launch phase,” the spokesperson told GoAuto.

“G80 Electric will be available in top spec only and be priced in the $140,000–$150,000 range,” they said.

“At this stage we aren’t calling any sales numbers for the vehicle suffice to say enquiry has been good.”

The G80 Electric broke cover in April 2021 at Auto Shanghai in China and was immediately identified as a competitor for Tesla Model S, a vehicle that has been on the market for a decade.

Neither G80 Electric nor GV70 Electric use Hyundai’s Electric Global Modular Platform (E-GMP) whereas the new GV60 does. The E-GMP platform is purpose-built for EV applications and is scalable across a number of segments and in two- and all-wheel drive formats.

It will feature in many new models from the Hyundai group in coming years.

The G80 Electric has the biggest battery pack among BEVs from the Hyundai Motor Group so far at 87.2kWh, enabling a range of up to 427km in the big four door sedan, according to the Korean EV certification system.

It runs two 136kW electric motors, one in the front and one in the rear for AWD capability and a total system output of up to 272kW and 700Nm.

According to Genesis, DC fast charging from 10 to 80 per cent takes 22 minutes but only when using an 800V ultra-fast charger. 

As a halo vehicle, the local version of Genesis G80 Electric will be specified to Luxury standard and include the necessary accoutrements to justify that with additional features like Australia-specific adaptive suspension components, a solar roof panel to increase range along with the obligatory regenerative braking.

Inside is a full leather four-seat interior with electric assistance for most functions and a 21-speaker premium audio system along with high-end infotainment.

The G80 Electric scores the full suite of Hyundai/Genesis active and passive safety features including advanced driver assist technology.

Despite being a big, heavy sedan, G80 Electric is capable of clocking a 0-100kmh sprint in 4.9 seconds, thanks in part to the 700Nm of available torque.

In terms of outright efficiency, the G80 with an 87.2kWh battery is capable of 4.3km/kWh when fitted with 19-inch wheels.

G80 Electric’s powertrain has a ‘Disconnector Actuator System’ (DAS) that can connect or disconnect motor and drive shaft based on different driving conditions, enabling the vehicle to switch between RWD and AWD to reduce unnecessary power loss and increase efficiency.