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Genesis teases future large SUV with GV80 concept

After years of rumors that Genesis would add an SUV to its lineup, Hyundai's in-house luxury brand unveiled the GV80 concept at the New York Auto Show Wednesday. Genesis didn't reveal key details of the concept, such as its dimensions and whether it would fit three rows, but prior intel suggests a Genesis SUV would be a little larger than a Jeep Grand Cherokee and a little more expensive. However, the press release does establish three facts: opulence abounds, the high-rider previews the brand's future design language, and a hydrogen fuel cell powers the GV80 – conceptually, at least. The overall shape – dressed in a "bespoke Ice Granite finish" – seems a touch common, although we must note that numerous players already crowd the large luxury SUV field. To give the GV80 a unique identity, Luc Donckerwolke, head of Genesis design, tapped the arsenal of luxury and detailing he amassed during stints at Lamborghini and Bentley. Genesis' trademark crest grille gets filled with diamond mesh, and sits in a contoured channel that defines a spine running the length of the SUV. The quad headlights are nothing more than four swept-back slits. Along the sides, 23-inch wheels frame a deep vent carved into the bodywork, while the mesh pattern in the five-spoke alloys matches the trussed B- and C-pillars. In back, thin, fiber-optic taillights emphasize width and stylized vents in the lower fascia cool the powertrain. The interior puts on the real show. An analog speedometer jazzes up the digital dash cluster, the driver's display flowing into a curved, 22-inch OLED screen set atop the "bridge" instrument panel. The display's two zones serve driver and passenger separately. The driver can use the glass touchpad multi-function controller and knurled metal wheel to toggle through functions, and the passenger taps the metal pinstripes set into the ash wood console and center tunnel. That tunnel runs the length of the cabin, creating four distinct seating areas. Rear-seat passengers can also touch the metal stripes to control seatback screens. Many cows died to create the interior ambiance, with smooth and quilted-diamond-stitched leather everywhere. Suede, polished aluminum, and slate ash wood provide contrasts from the dash to the cargo area. The GV80's "advanced plug-in hydrogen fuel cell" specs remain a mystery, but it might not be an empty tease. Two years ago, Hyundai showed off the Intrado compact CUV concept at the Geneva Motor Show.

Hyundai plans to catch up with other automakers, offer EVs

YONGIN, South Korea (Reuters) - South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co is developing its first dedicated architecture for electric vehicles, seeking to catch up with the likes of Tesla in the growing segment with multiple, long-range models. While the platform will not be completed soon, Hyundai Motor and affiliate Kia plan to roll out small electric sport utility vehicles (SUVs) based on an existing underpinning next year, said Lee Ki-sang, who leads Hyundai-Kia's green cars operations. Hyundai will launch an electric SUV, followed by a sibling model by Kia Motors next year, Lee said, citing strong demand for SUVs. The subcompact or compact models would have a range of more than 300 km (186 miles) per charge, and would be "more competitive" than rival offerings, Lee said. And Hyundai said in a statement on Thursday that it plans to launch a new luxury electric vehicle under its Genesis marque in 2021, after introducing a plug-in hybrid version of an unidentified Genesis model in 2019. The separate platform represents a major push into the battery electric-car segment for a firm which has long trumpeted rival fuel-cell vehicles, reflecting strong investor pressure to compete more vigorously in a market that has been stimulated by U.S.-based Tesla's longer-range models. And tough fuel-economy and emissions regulations in the United States, Europe and China are compelling automakers to push fuel-efficient cars even though low oil prices have undercut demand. Hyundai's electric-car platform would allow the automaker to install a battery pack in vehicle floors to accommodate more battery capacity and maximize cabin space, Lee said. "The electric-vehicle platform will require high up-front investments, but we are doing this to prepare for the future," he said at Hyundai-Kia's green car research center in the city of Yongin, outside Seoul. He did not reveal the cost. Lee, a senior vice-president at Hyundai Motor, was speaking during an interview on the eve of an auto show that kicked off in Seoul on Thursday. Analysts said Hyundai had no choice but to build separate electric-vehicle platforms to be relevant in the segment. "The separate platform may incur losses initially, but Hyundai will be left behind the market if they don't offer long-distance models, like 300 km, 500 km and 600 km," said Ko Tae-bong, an analyst at Hi Investment & Securities.

2017 Genesis Model Year Preview and Updates

Having been sold in US showrooms under the umbrella of parent company Hyundai, with the 2017 model year Genesis becomes a stand-alone franchise pursuing both near-luxury and luxury clientele. It starts with an existing model – the GENESIS G80 – brought from the Hyundai showroom, and doubles-up with the all-new G90, which replaces the existing Hyundai Equus. A smaller 3 and 5 Series competitor called the G70 is already announced, but not yet in showrooms. What's missing? Any sort of crossover. GENESIS G80: What is currently the division's entry-level sedan adds Android Auto and Apple CarPlay to both the 3.8 Base and Premium trim levels. Also, standardized convenience and luxury features are added to the mix, as is an abundance of safety technology. Finally, the G80 will be available in a new Patagonia Blue. G90: The Genesis G90 is an all-new luxury sedan, replacing Hyundai's Equus in the Hyundai/Genesis model mix. Designed to compete with BMW's 7 Series and Mercedes S Class, the G90 combines high levels of luxury, high performance via a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, and a significant number of active safety features. At the Genesis launch the G90 sits ready to define the brand.

Hyundai and Kia announce $3.1-billion investment in US facilities

Update: A US spokesperson for Hyundai had no further information, but called the reports about the automaker's investments accurate. Hyundai and Kia announced this morning a plan to invest $3.1 billion into its US facilities over the next five years. According to Automotive News, the new investment is a 50-percent increase over what Korea's two largest automakers have brought to the US in the last five years. The automakers already have several large-scale manufacturing bases in the US, but the new investment could bring another plant into the fold. There is the possibility of producing a Genesis product in the US or building a new plant for a US-specific crossover. The announcement is the latest US investment plan as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office Friday. Trump has singled out automakers for not building cars in the United States, and Ford, General Motors, and Fiat Chrysler all announced plans to invest in the US since the beginning of January. Skeptics say these moves would have to be years in the making, though Trump has been quick to take credit for them. Not all of the new money will go toward building new plants. Hyundai and Kia could simply expand the already busy plants in Montgomery, AL, and West Point, GA. Beyond that. The automakers could further their research into electric and autonomous vehicles. Like many other automakers, the two Korean giants have backed down from planned expansions into Mexican manufacturing. Although many automakers currently build or were planning to build new vehicles in Mexico, threats of importation fees appear to be causing caused automakers to refocus some of their efforts toward US production. With all this new investment in the US, Kia and Hyundai said there will be no jobs moved to Mexico. Meanwhile, this morning GM announced plans to bring truck axle manufacturing back from Mexico. As with all of the recent announcements, Hyundai and Kia stated that Trump's upcoming presidency played no part in the decision to reinvest in the US. Related Video: News Source: Automotive News Plants/Manufacturing Genesis Hyundai Kia Mexico Trump jobs investment

2018 Genesis G80 Sport gets the G90's twin-turbocharged V6

For 2018, Genesis has revised the whole G80 lineup with a few small tweaks to interior and exterior design, but the real news is the new G80 Sport trim. The new model offers a significantly different looking, and probably different feeling, car. The changes start outside with more aggressive front and rear bumpers, as well as new sideskirts. The front bumper has sprouted a pair of vents between the upper and lower grille, along with larger side grilles. The rear bumper gets a faux diffuser and dual exhaust tips on each side. The look is accented by dark chrome and copper-colored trim, as well as exclusive 19-inch wheels. The aggressive exterior hints at the new mechanical bits underneath. Under the hood, the Sport gets the twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 from the G90 flagship sedan. As in the G90, the V6 makes 365 horsepower and 376 pound-feet of torque, with the latter available anywhere between 1,300 and 4,500 rpm. It should certainly be an enjoyable engine with so much low-end torque, but it is interesting that Genesis would introduce the trim with a less-powerful engine than the 5.0-liter V8, which is available on other G80 trim levels. The V8 makes 420 horsepower and 383 lb-ft. Perhaps Hyundai doesn't want to create a range-topping sporty model just to have a more impressive N model steal its thunder. Aside from the engine, the G80 Sport also gets upgraded suspension that's been retuned and fitted with continuously adjusting shocks, and entilated discs are added at the rear. Genesis tuned the shift-by-wire eight-speed automatic to be more aggressive. Inside, Genesis added a variety of sporty touches, including carbon fiber trim, aluminum pedals, a leather sport steering wheel, and leather seats with copper contrast stitching. The G80 Sport goes on sale this coming spring. The rest of the mildly revised G80 line-up will be available at the same time. Genesis did not, however, reveal pricing for any of its 2018 G80 models. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Genesis G80 Sport Image Credit: Genesis LA Auto Show Genesis Luxury Performance Sedan 2016 LA Auto Show genesis g80

Consumer Reports no longer recommends Honda Civic

Consumer Reports annual Car Reliability Survey is out, and yes, there are some big surprises. First and foremost? The venerable publication no longer recommends the Honda Civic. In fact, aside from the walking-dead CR-Z and limited-release Clarity fuel-cell car, the Civic is the only Honda to miss out on CR's prestigious nod. At the opposite end there's a surprise as well – Toyota and Lexus remain the most reliable brands on the market, but Buick cracked the top three. That's up from seventh last year, and the first time for an American brand to stand on the Consumer Reports podium. Mazda's entire lineup earned Recommended checks as well. Consumer Reports dinged the Civic for its "infuriating" touch-screen radio, lack of driver lumbar adjustability, the limited selection of cars on dealer lots fitted with Honda's popular Sensing system, and the company's decision to offer LaneWatch instead of a full-tilt blind-spot monitoring system. Its score? A lowly 58. The Civic isn't the only surprise drop from CR's Recommended ranks. The Audi A3, Ford F-150, Subaru WRX/STI, and Volkswagen Jetta, GTI, and Passat all lost the Consumer Reports' checkmark. On the flipside, a number of popular vehicles graduated to the Recommended ranks, including the BMW X5, Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, and Cruze, Hyundai Santa Fe, Porsche Macan, and Tesla Model S. Perhaps the biggest surprise is the hilariously recall-prone Ford Escape getting a Recommended check – considering the popularity of Ford's small crossover, this is likely a coup for the brand, as it puts the Escape on a level playing field with the Recommended Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and Nissan Rogue. While Ford is probably happy to see CR promote the Escape, the list wasn't as kind for every brand. For example, of the entire Fiat Chrysler Automobiles catalog, the ancient Chrysler 300 was the only car to score a check – there wasn't a single Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, or Ram on the list. That hurts. FCA isn't alone at the low end, either. GMC, Jaguar Land Rover, Mini, and Mitsubishi don't have a vehicle on CR's list between them, while brands like Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, Nissan, Lincoln, Infiniti, and Cadillac only have a few models each. You can check out Consumer Reports entire reliability roundup, even without a subscription, here.

The Genesis G90 is more expensive, but still a really good value

Hyundai's luxury brand, Genesis, has finally released pricing for its G90 flagship sedan. Despite moving up in price, it still presents a great value. The 365-horsepower, twin-turbocharged V6 model kicks things off at $69,050 and the 420-horsepower V8 starts at $70,650. Selecting AWD for either model will add another $2,500 to the price. This new starting point is also a notable price increase compared with the outgoing Equus, which started at $62,450. Not only that, but the Equus also comes close to the starting price of the Lexus LS, which starts at $72,520. The good news is that the G90 comes with loads of standard equipment that make it a great deal compared with the competition. For example, let's take the Lexus LS that seems to be the closest in price. Although it starts at just $4,000 more than the G90, you won't get the goodies of the G90 unless you start adding options. Specifically, to get the heated and ventilated seats, 7.1 surround sound stereo and automatic braking systems the G90 has, you'll be spending well over $80,000 on the Lexus. The Germans are similarly expense. The only large rear-drive luxury sedan that can compete against the G90's value is the Cadillac CT6, which starts at $54,490. But at that price, you still won't have all the features of the Genesis, and you'll have a significantly less powerful turbo four-cylinder under the hood. So if you don't mind a badge with no established prestige, the Genesis G90 provides all the benefits of a flagship without the cost. Related Video:

The Genesis G70, BMW 3 Series fighter, poses for spy shots

During the presentation before driving the new 2017 Genesis G90 in Vancouver a few weeks ago, the US brand honcho for Genesis, Erwin Raphael, talked a bit about the G70. That's what you're seeing in the spy shots above. In that presentation, Raphael referred to the G70 as a near-luxury sedan, but based on the proportions we see in this set of spy photos, it's probably more fair to say it'll be the sportiest Genesis on offer. A quick refresher: with the addition of the G70, the Genesis brand will have a lineup that is loosely similar to the German competition. The G90 is a big boat, mostly luxury oriented. The G80 (a slightly revamped version of the Hyundai Genesis sedan) is one size smaller, with a bit more sporting character. The G70 should crank the needle further into the sport-touring realm. All three are rear-wheel drive, and it's almost assured that the G70 will also get an all-wheel drive option like the G80 and G90. The proportions look spot on, but they're not nearly as risky as the Genesis Hybrid Sports Sedan Concept from the New York International Auto Show. That's probably a safe bet considering Genesis's conservative corporate parent company, Hyundai. We can see a short rear deck, a fairly conventional greenhouse, and a long hood covered in thick camouflage – which may hide a power bulge, or else, why cover it up? A power bulge makes us think of the most intriguing possibility that might rest beneath: Genesis's new twin-turbocharged Lambda 3.3-liter V6, which is right now exclusive to the G90. It's a great motor, with no lag and a rich, fat torque curve. It'd be a hoot in the G80, and a riot in the smaller G70. If we're lucky, the highest-performance G70 will get this engine. It's more likely that the G70 will be offered with a choice of either a 2.0-liter turbo inline-four, or the large and still potent 3.8-liter V6 that's currently found in the G80. It's also a safe bet to assume that Hyundai's internally-developed eight-speed automatic will be the G70's sole transmission. There's also talk of a hybrid, perhaps resembling the Hybrid Sports Sedan Concept's theoretical 2.0-liter plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Whatever form it takes, a hybrid is likely. Also likely is a spring debut on the auto show circuit for the finalized sheetmetal of all versions of the G70. We'll keep you posted. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Genesis G70 Spy Shots View 14 Photos Green Spy Photos Genesis Coupe Future Vehicles Hybrid Luxury Performance Sedan genesis g70

Genesis G80 and G90 owners can use Amazon Alexa to control their cars

While a number of car companies, including BMW, are preparing their cars to be compatible with Amazon Alexa and devices that support it, Genesis has beaten them all to the line. The company announced today that both the G90 flagship sedan and the smaller G80 sedan are compatible with a newly available Alexa skill. The skill allows drivers to talk to Alexa and have it start or stop the car, activate the lights, locks and adjust the climate control. For instance, if you want to start your car and have a specific temperature, you can say, "Alexa, tell Genesis to start my car at 70 degrees." That's pretty cool. The skill does require the car's owner to subscribe to Genesis Connected Services, which is complimentary for three years with the purchase of any new Genesis model. The owner also needs to have an Alexa-enabled device like the Amazon Echo, Echo Dot and Amazon Tap to use the feature. Fortunately for new G90 buyers, Genesis will provide an Amazon Gift Card that can be used to get an Amazon Echo. However, G80 buyers won't get this bonus, so they and existing Genesis will need to provide their own Alexa-enabled device through other means. Related Video:

2017 Genesis G90 First Drive

The Genesis G90, new flagship of a new brand, makes me think of Shakespeare. Specifically, the tragedy of Troilus and Cressida, one of the Bard's more obscure and difficult works. But not because that play has much to do with the G90, but because that oft-forgotten work lent the Toyota Cressida, itself an obscure thing, its name. We're playing six degrees of Kevin Bacon with old playwrights and forgotten Toyota sedans because the luxurious Toyota Cressida directly paved the way for the Lexus LS400 to emerge a few years later. Since Lexus was the most phenomenal success to emerge from the late 1980s Japanese luxury brand movement, what better template for success? Genesis's Cressida was the Hyundai Equus. Both were uniquely badged, both sat slightly apart from a much less luxurious lineup. Both were not quite translated to American tastes, attempting to pass off indigenous flavors as export bonuses. The Cressida was pinched and cramped within, and frosted with gimmicky electronics; the Equus was tailor-made to a Korean businessperson's tastes. Both tested the waters and proved to product planners that there was room for a luxury brand. Lose the battle, win the war. Don't tell that to Troilus, though. Genesis won't quit with the G90. They're planning six vehicles by 2020, and the G80 (the old Hyundai Genesis sedan) is going on sale in September. A smaller G70 sedan will follow up later on. We expect an all-wheel drive coupe (or coupeish four-door) to replace the unloved Genesis Coupe, which should be significantly more upscale and luxurious to compete with the German brands. If it looks anything like the Vision G coupe concept from 2015, that won't be hard. Erwin Raphael, brand manager in the US for Genesis, tells us that a small SUV built on the G70 platform and a mid-sized one built on the G80 platform will follow (and in this SUV-crazy market, can't come soon enough). The slide below, provided by Genesis, shows the way forward. Genesis will craft its luxury brand not only with product, but also with a few customer service pillars that are worth a mention. Genesis expects most of their cars will be leased, and so they include a bunch of perks crafted to a typical lease period, like free service. On top of that, all Genesis dealers will offer a valet-style service to pick up your car for maintenance while dropping off a loaner. Other brands and dealerships do this piecemeal, but it will be a brand-wide pillar for Genesis.