Genesis product range to extend to six models

GENESIS Motors Australia has revealed its plans for a future product rollout as it launches its two-model sedan line-up, with the South Korean prestige brand to feature six models in its portfolio by 2021 and more to follow.

All of Genesis’ future models will be manufactured in both left- and right-hand drive, with its local arm stating that it is keen to bring all available product Down Under.

Speaking at the brand’s national media launch, Genesis Motors global head Manfred Fitzgerald said there was a slew of new product around the corner.

“This is only the beginning of it,” he said. “We will have an extension of our product line-up until 2021, we will have six vehicles out there, of which we will have the first SUV which will be followed by a second SUV shortly thereafter.

“Then we will have more exciting body styles which I won’t disclose at this point, which will arrive subsequently. So, rest assured that there will be a full line-up coming very soon.”

With all future models to be produced in both left- and right-hand drive, Mr Fitzgerald said the time between model released in the domestic and international markets will be reduced significantly.

“Traditionally it was always the domestic market – and this is also the case in the future – gets the first shot at the products,” he said.

“But the big distances between the model introductions will be reduced to the minimum.

“So, we are anticipating reducing this to the absolute minimum to have the product sequence and the rollout of the product worldwide in a similar fashion.”

The first new product to come will be a production version of the GV80 concept first shown at the 2017 New York motor show, which is expected to arrive in Australia to take on the likes of the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE in the premium large-SUV segment.

While GV80 debuted with slit-like headlights and tail-lights, and a plug-in fuel-cell powertrain, the production model is expected to eschew the futuristic propulsion system in place of something more contemporary while introducing toned-down styling cues.

Likely powertrain options for the GV80 include the 272kW/510Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 from the G70 or the 232kW/397Nm 3.8-litre aspirated V6 used in the G80, while Korean examples of the G70 are also offered with a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder engine also found in Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) large SUVs including the Hyundai Santa Fe and Kia Sorento.

The arrival of the GV80 should provide welcome appeal to the Genesis range, which is launching with entrants in the premium mid-size- and large-sedan segments – two areas of the market which have seen retracting sales in recent years.

Arriving in 2021, Genesis is keeping tight-lipped about its next SUV, but given its sedan line-up stretches from the mid-size to upper-large segments, the next SUV will likely take the form of the GV70 or GV90.

A GV70 mid-size SUV would make sense as it would add valuable sales volume, with the segment it would compete in being one of the most popular, with contenders such as the BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC and Audi Q5 among the potential model’s rivals.

It is not yet known if the SUV family is expected to be underpinned by the same architecture, however future Genesis vehicles will not share platforms with HMG siblings.

On the other hand, a GV90 upper-large SUV could act as a flagship variant for the company’s SUV line-up and would help enhance its reputation as a prestige brand when competing against the likes of the Range Rover, BMW X7, Mercedes-Benz GLS and Lexus LX.

Another potential engine candidate for the GV90 could be the 5.0-litre V8 found in the G90 sedan, which produces up to 313kW/520Nm, depending on fuel type.

For those counting at home, the G70, G80 and two SUVs make four models, meaning there are two more offerings to come to Australia by 2021.

The first possibility is the next-generation G90 upper-large sedan, which will be produced in right-hand drive for its next generation and is slated for release in Australia.

Genesis Motors Australia product planning manager Chris Saltapidas said the company’s local arm has its hand up for the G90, as it would make a suitable flagship offering for Genesis.

“One thing that would be nice to fill the sedan line-up, even though it’s declining and the segment is very minimal in terms of volume is the upper-large, so a right-hand-drive G90 in its next generation, so we’re pushing for that,” he said.

“It’s not confirmed but it’s pretty positive, especially with how Manfred discussed about making all products available for both left- and right-hand drive.

“So, it would be good to have a full sedan line-up and a full SUV line-up. And then we have products like Essentia, so it’s possible to have product like coupes in the future as well.”

However, G90 received a mid-life update late last year, so an all-new version may not be ready by 2021 – meaning all three potential SUVs could make their way to Australia.

That still leaves one more model, which as Mr Fitzgerald and Mr Saltapidas hinted at could be a production version of the Essentia coupe concept first revealed at last year’s New York motor show.

The low, long 2+2 coupe could be the first full-electric production model for Genesis, with Mr Fitzgerald confirming the brand will launch a zero-emissions platform in 2021.

No details have been given on the range, size or outputs of the full-electric powertrain, aside from the Essentia concept being pegged as “high-performance”, however Genesis will make the switch from internal-combustion engines to battery-electric models, bypassing hybrid engines.

The Essentia concept features sleek, stretched proportions with a GT-like body, and under Genesis’ naming conventions would likely be called GT70 or GT80, depending on the size of the as-yet-unrevealed model.

To deal with the slew of new product arriving in coming years, Genesis is building a second production facility to build SUVs next to its existing plant in South Korea.

Genesis launches in Australia this week with a single studio in Sydney to sell G70 and G80, with stores to follow in Melbourne and Brisbane next year.