Genesis GV90 electric SUV teased for the first time? [Update]

Update: ‘Design’ section updated and ‘Custom home appliances’ sub-section added to ‘Genesis GV90 Features (expected).’

Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury brand, announced in September 2021 that it aims to build an EV line-up of eight models by 2030. During the announcement (via Youtube), the company revealed a teaser of its future EV line-up that indicated that one of the future Genesis EVs could be a large SUV called Genesis GV90. A KoreanCarBlog report dated February 11, 2022, states that the large electric SUV internally goes by ‘Genesis JG1.’

Genesis has launched three electric models, the Genesis Electrified G80, Genesis GV60, and the Genesis Electrified GV70. On March 2, 2022, Hyundai Motor Company (HMC) announced that the six more Genesis EVs due by 2030 will include two cars and four SUVs, including the GV70 EV. The company, which owns and operates the Genesis brand, didn’t reveal the other three future Genesis electric SUVs, but one of them could be the rumored GV90.

Design

All future models shown in the teaser have the signature “Two Lines” design element on the sides, a feature not present on the Genesis Electrified G80 and Genesis GV60, which only have it on the front fascia. “The Two Lines are us,” Genesis said in the GV60 announcement, emphasizing how this design element makes models instantly recognizable and its growing importance in future launches. The model on the extreme right is a large SUV, probably a relative of the Hyundai Ioniq 7 and Kia EV9. It could arrive as the Genesis GV90 with three-row seating.

The large SUV on the far right appears to be the Genesis GV90. Image: Hyundai Motor Group

On November 30, 2021, an exclusive report from etnews.com said that Hyundai Motor Group had started the Genesis GV90 development. The company was discussing the development and supply of electronic parts planned for use in the future model with partners. It will produce working prototypes sooner or later, and we’ll likely see them undergoing tests on public roads from that stage. Until then, unofficial illustrations are all we’ve got to share about the design unless HMG were to release a concept car this year. Hyundai and Kia announced their future flagship SUVs with concepts in 2021, so it’s not unrealistic to expect Genesis to follow this year.

Below is a speculative render of a Genesis GV90 from South Korean artist HITEKRO. The flagship SUV could offer interior space comparable to conventional full-size luxury SUVs like the Mercedes GLS and the BMW X7 in a smaller size, thanks to the dedicated EV platform E-GMP.

The Genesis GV90 would be the flagship electric SUV, developed alongside its platform mates Kia EV9 & Hyundai Ioniq 7. Image Source: YouTube/하이테크로 [HITEKRO]

The rendered Genesis GV90 has a typical crossover styling with plenty of curves and a low height that makes it softer than the Jeep Grand Wagoneer or the Cadillac Escalade, both of which will have EV variants in 2024. It features thin Two Lines design quad headlamps flanking a closed-off Crest grille. The lower front-end looks ordinary, which customers preferring a traditional design would surely appreciate.

The “Two Lines” design of the headlamps reappears on the sides on the same horizontal axis, right behind the wheel arches, and continues till the front doors. Flush door handles and smooth and simplistic bodywork contribute to the much-needed poise, while the sleek greenhouse and the sharp kick in the beltline add to the SUV’s dynamic character. At the rear, the tailgate is a little slanted, and we expect thin, twin-lined Quad Lamps in line with the rest of the design elements.

A Korean Car Blog report from January 2022 suggests that Genesis has built early prototypes of the GV90 using body panels of Hyundai’s Palisade. Spy pictures of this purported test mule have surfaced online, but they haven’t revealed design details of the series production GV90. It also appears that testing of the powertrain and chassis elements has begun, but production-body prototypes could take until later this year to appear on roads.

Genesis GV90 Features (expected)

The GV90 would benefit from the advancements of the Hyundai Motor Group’s E-GMP platform. Below are some of the features one expects from the group’s flagship SUV.

Magic Roof

According to The Korean Car Blog’s sources, the GV90 will feature a ‘Magic Roof’ that allows controlling the light, heat, and transparency. We think this could be a glass roof that users can change from transparent to opaque electronically. It’s also possible that Genesis is going for a technology similar to SPD-SmartGlass that allows individually dimmable sections. Another catchy feature The Korean Car Blog mentions for the GV90 is a new type of heating system derived from Ondol, a traditional Korean underfloor heating system.

Multi-charging system

Like every other E-GMP EV model, the Genesis GV90 should feature a multi-charging system that supports both 800V ultra-fast charging and 400V fast-charging. Expect the full-size electric SUV’s maximum charging capacity to be between 250 and 350 kW, which would allow charging from 5 to 80% as quickly as in under 20 minutes.

Bi-directional charging

Thanks to V2L technology, the GV90 should allow using it as a mobile power source. Customers will likely be able to charge external devices and even other EVs with up to 3.6 kW of power.

Wireless vehicle charging

Genesis will become the first global brand to offer wireless charging on a car with the GV60. If the technology is successful and sees enough demand in the compact model, the company may offer it even in the flagship GV90.

Genesis GV60 wireless charging pilot program has been launched in S.Korea. If successful, it would be implemented on models like the GV90, which share the same E-GMP architecture. Image: Hyundai Motor Group

On January 2, 2022, Genesis introduced a pilot project at three locations in South Korea: Genesis Gangnam, Genesis Suji and Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang — each having a wireless charging station. To enable wireless charging, drivers have to park the front section over the EV charging mat, similar to how we place a smartphone on a wireless charging dock.

Genesis has partnered with American wireless EV charging expert WiTricity to develop the technology. As a part of the pilot project, the brand plans to install 75 wireless charging stations to analyze the feasibility and customer reaction to this technology before delving into full-blown commercialization, which could occur after March 2023.

Chung Jin-Hwan, Head of the Electrification Development Group at the Hyundai Motor Group, confirmed in 2020 that the brand’s E-GMP platform is getting ready for wireless charging capability. He added that the brand was rectifying problems inherent to wireless charging, and development was underway for commercial applications.

New-generation infotainment system

The GV90 is likely to get a new-generation infotainment system developed using the NVIDIA DRIVE platform. This platform includes a hardware and software stack, and it will allow the infotainment system to combine navigation, connectivity, audio, video, and AI-based connected car services.

Hyundai Motor Group plans to integrate the proprietary connected car systems of its three brands into one in the future, as per a report from Maeil Economic Daily. Instead of renewing Hyundai’s BlueLink, Kia’s Kia Connect (UVO), and Genesis’ Genesis Connected, it could launch a common connected car system for the brands in a few years. The company hasn’t set a specific timeframe for releasing the new unified solution.

Face Connect + Fingerprint Authentication System

The GV90 should feature Face Connect, the brand’s face recognition system that locks and unlocks the vehicle’s doors without a key. An infrared camera will likely be integrated into the B-pillar to scan the driver’s face. Biometric authentication methods may include even a fingerprint reader built into the vehicle’s start-stop button.

Autonomous Driving

At HMC’s 2022 CEO Investor Day on March 2, 2022, Jaehoon Chang, the company’s President & CEO, revealed in his presentation that the G90 would receive Level 3 autonomous driving with Highway Driving Pilot (HDP) in December 2022. Initially, HDP will not require driver involvement at speeds of up to 60 km/h (37 mph). HMC will keep increasing the speed limit with OTA updates and provide improved functions when regulation allows.

The all-new G90 features two LiDAR sensors on the lower grille for autonomous driving functions. Based on spy shots, a more recent report from The Korean Car Blog has said that road-testing of the G90’s LiDAR is underway.

HMG should offer the advanced version of the Highway Driving Pilot in the GV90 right from launch in markets where this feature is legal. It could also gain Valeo’s third-gen LiDAR, which debuted in November 2021. Valeo plans to commercialize its latest LiDAR sensor in 2024, and vehicles equipped with the third-gen Valeo LiDAR allow autonomous driving on the highway at speeds of up to 130 km/h (81 mph). This LiDAR works in all light conditions, be it dazzlingly bright or pitch black. It creates a 3D real-time view of the vehicle’s surroundings at a rate of 4.5 MP and 25 fps.

Remote Parking

The GV90 would feature hands-free parking as well. At the 2022 CEO Investor Day, Chang said that HMC would update Remote Smart Parking Assist 2 (RSPA) through OTA and continue developing it to provide customers more convenience. The company plans to use LiDAR technology also to improve RSPA 2.

Custom home appliances

According to The Korea Economic Daily, Hyundai has partnered with LG Electronics to source home appliances such as a steam closet and refrigerator for the Ioniq 7. Given that the GV90 would be a luxury model price-positioned above the Ioniq 7, it should inherit these comfort and convenience features, besides sporting advanced features. Hyundai could go a step further and invite LG Electronics to design exclusive equipment for the GV90 and other upper-class Genesis EVs.

Powertrain

The Genesis GV90 could use the same motors and battery pack as Hyundai’s Ioniq 7 and Kia’s EV9. The Hyundai model will reportedly come in RWD and AWD variants, with the latter packing two motors generating 308 horsepower. However, the output figures in the Genesis model could be higher to match the expectations of premium SUV customers.

A 100 kWh battery pack providing a range of more than 300 miles is likely to be the source of energy in the top-end GV90. Kia targets a range of 540 km (336 miles) for the EV9, and the GV90’s range could also be around 350 miles. The EPA-est. range figures could be slightly lower, though.

Either at the launch or during the lifecycle, the GV90’s battery pack may consist of new lithium-ion battery cells with more energy density than the currently used technology. In its mid-to-long-term EV strategy document (link), Hyundai has said that it plans to raise the energy density of lithium-ion cells from 600 Wh/L to 700 Wh/l by 2025 before moving to solid-state technology (mass-production) in 2027.

Source: Youtube/Genesis

Release Date

The Genesis GV90 electric SUV will enter series production in 2023, claims the first etnews.com report. This year, a concept version could precede it, keeping potential customers engaged until the sales launch at the end of 2023 or early 2024.

Genesis will offer the GV90 in the U.S., which has the potential to be the new model’s biggest market. Claudia Marquez, COO, Genesis Motor North America, has indicated that a full-size SUV for the U.S. is in the pipeline, as per a MotorTrend report. Marquez rhetorically asked that while Genesis does offer a three-row option in the GV80, “what about bigger SUVs?.” She said she’d have to wait “until a certain date,” before talking about it.

Genesis’ goal is to become net carbon neutral by 2035. Chang explained briefly how:

The end goal is to pursue carbon net-zero by 2035. In addition to the bold transition to 100% electrification, we intend to innovate the entire value chain, beginning with raw materials, vehicles, and their components, to all worksites that include plants where the cars are made.

Jaehoon Chang, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor Company (Futuring Genesis)

Marquez confirmed that the Electrified G80 and the GV60 on sale in S. Korea in 2021 would arrive in the U.S. this year.

Genesis’ sales hit a new milestone

HMC launched Genesis as a separate luxury brand on November 4, 2015, and the first model, the Genesis G90, followed on December 9, 2015. “So far, it’s been an intensive, bold, and successful journey,” Euisun Chung, Chairman, Hyundai Motor Group, said during the ‘Futuring Genesis’ event on September 2, 2021. In the presentation to announce its long-term vision and new sustainability goals, Genesis said that it is becoming a 100% EV brand by 2030 and a carbon-neutral brand by 2035.

On December 2, 2021, Maeil Economic Daily reported that Genesis’ cumulative sales surpassed 600,000 units. Commendably, in 2020, sales of Genesis cars were higher than Jaguar’s – 128,365 units. According to a report from Le Monde, the long-established but struggling British luxury brand sold 90,000 vehicles in 2020. Business improved further in 2021, with 138,756 Genesis cars sold. It reported 59,463 G80 units, 24,591 GV80 units, 4,994 GV70 units, and 1,190 GV60 units for the bygone calendar year.

At the all-new G90 launch in January 2022, Chang told the S.Korean media that Genesis expects to sell 215,000-220,000 vehicles this year, The Investor reported. He added that while there’s no plan to electrify the G90, the company will formulate a plan to electrify a high-end model belonging to a different segment. It’s possible that Chang was referring to the Genesis GV90 as the high-end model. At the 2022 CEO Investor Day, Chang said that Genesis EV sales target for 2030 is 350,000 units. Genesis should have achieved a 12% market share in the global luxury EV market if all goes as per the plan.

Genesis will pursue brand differentiation into high-quality EV by combining various new technologies with the luxury attributes of Genesis.

Jaehoon Chang, President & CEO, Hyundai Motor Company (2022 CEO Investor Day on March 2, 2022)

Genesis GV90 FAQs

What is the Genesis GV90 release date?

The Genesis GV90 could arrive at the dealers by early 2024.

Which models will be the Genesis GV90 competitors?

The Range Rover EV, Cadillac Escalade EV, Jeep Grand Wagoneer EV, and the Mercedes EQS SUV should be indirect rivals to the Genesis GV90.

What is the expected Genesis GV90 price?

Expect prices to start north of USD 70,000 in the U.S. market.

Featured Image Source: YouTube/Genesis_worldwide

Keyword: Genesis GV90 electric SUV teased for the first time? [Update]