Genesis reveals GV60, a quirky electric oddball SUV

It was probably inevitable that Hyundai’s luxury arm, Genesis, would build an electric car based on the same E-GMP underpinnings as the futuristic looking Ioniq 5.

Today, it unveiled that very car, calling it the GV60. And you’d have a touch time telling a layman that it shares anything with the aforementioned 5.

The two models look very different, with Genesis adopting a much more conventional and rounded look. It calls this its “most athletic model yet”. The paired-off headlights and tail lights follow similar familial lines to other current Genesis products.

The lack of a big primary grille underscores that you’re looking at a BEV, too. Although the eagle-eyed will note that the Genesis ‘crest’ grille is still there … only it’s about 1:20th the size and sits directly on top of the secondary grille. The floating roofline treatment also warrants a second look.

The silhouette is an interesting one. The GV60 has the same ‘supersized hatchback’ appearance as the 5, which makes sense given it likely features the same surprisingly long wheelbase. Expect the model to be a little larger than a Hyundai Tucson.

I say expect because Genesis hasn’t revealed much in the way of specs for the model. These are expected to be unveiled in the coming months.

As you’d expect, Genesis has gone the extra mile to give the GV60 extra luxury chops to separate it from the 5. Chiefly, it gets camera-based wing-mirrors with screens mounted inside on the door cards. There’s also flush door handles, and a rotating ‘Crystal Sphere’ drive mode shifter in the center console.

Genesis has been one of the longest ‘will they, won’t they’ stories in New Zealand motoring. Hyundai New Zealand has been coy on the matter of offering Genesis vehicles locally in the past, with no Genesis models offered since the last-generation G70 several years ago.

The electric GV60 is perhaps the right car at the right time to make Genesis work in New Zealand. Let’s see if they bring it here…