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Genesis G70 Shooting Brake makes its grand entrance for lucky Europe

The Genesis G70 Shooting Brake is officially official now, as Genesis just revealed the car in a few photos today. And yes, Genesis is calling this G70 variant the “Shooting Brake” despite having four doors. No matter the semantics, this wagon is one attractive offering. It builds on the revised design of the G70 sedan on its way here, then translates that into a wagon body shape. That means it gets the dramatic new Genesis grille and instantly-recognizable split lights in both front and back. Before we get too far into the weeds, though, know that this car is not meant for U.S. consumption. Genesis specifically built this car for its grand entrance into the European market, and it will launch in Europe. ThatÂ’s to be expected with any new wagon, as American buyers would seemingly rather buy something like GenesisÂ’ upcoming GV70 than this G70 Shooting Brake.  Compared to the sedan, the Shooting Brake is exactly the same length at 184.4 inches. Genesis kept it small to appeal to European customers wanting a car with a smaller footprint. Despite the similar size, the wagon body shape gives the Shooting Brake 40% more cargo area than a standard G70 sedan. Doing the math, that means the Shooting Brake should have nearly 15 cubic-feet of space behind the second row. No final specs were provided, but folding that second row down is where things should really open up, and the true potential of the wagon body shape should shine. The Shooting Brake is designed with a fairly aggressive slant to its rear window, which likely cuts into rear cargo space, but it sure does look good. ThereÂ’s only one photo of the interior, and it previews an attractive red and black two-tone look. Powertrain details for Europe are MIA for the time being. WeÂ’ll be getting the carryover 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder and 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 options with the refreshed G70 in the U.S. Europe will likely add a diesel option to the mix, and maybe even a manual transmission. European buyers will have this G70 Shooting Brake and many other Genesis options available to them including the G80, GV80, GV70 and the G70 sedan.  Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Hyundai Ioniq 6, Genesis GV70e continue EV product blitz through 2022

A Hyundai presentation to investors has revealed an onslaught of competitive-looking products coming in the next couple of years. It includes more electric variants of existing vehicles, as well as dedicated EVs for the Ioniq sub-brand, as well as updates for popular existing models that have to ensure they don't get stale. Perhaps the biggest news is the fact that Ioniq 6 is sedan will follow the retro-cool Ioniq 5 hatchback, hitting the road by 2022. With styling flowing from the stunning Prophecy concept revealed last year, it will help bolster the Ioniq sub-brand as an exciting choice for mainstream EVs. It's classified as a C-segment sedan, meaning it will be about the size of a Honda Civic. But before the Ioniq 6 arrives, a yet-unnamed CUV will also join the lineup in 2021. It's not clear whether that model will be for foreign markets or the U.S., but either way Ioniq is shaping up to be a strong nameplate. However, that doesn't mean it will be the sole source of EVs in the Hyundai empire. Following the launch of the battery-electric G80 later this year, Genesis will in 2022 offer an battery-electric version of its GV70. These will be named the G80e and GV70e, if trademark filings discovered earlier this year are any indication. Unlike the Ioniq 5 and 6, it will likely take the shape of their gasoline-powered counterparts with only minor styling changes. In 2022, updates to both the Sonata and Palisade will hit the market. Both vehicles were all-new in 2020, and their strong designs still appear fresh. However, Hyundai clearly understands the importance of keeping its bread-and-butter offerings fresh in a competitive market, unlike some Japanese and American automakers we could mention. Nowhere in the presentation was Kia mentioned, as the company is trying to keep the brands separate. However, Kia's boss has said it is going full steam ahead in the EV push, trying to outdo even Hyundai. The Hyundai juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down, and other automakers should take note (or be very afraid). Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Hyundai reveals the 2021 Hyundai Santa Fe

Genesis G70 wagon teased by European division

We've known for a little over a year that Genesis has been toying with the possibility of a G70 wagon or shooting brake. Early last year the company said as much, and the following summer a prototype was caught by one of our spy photographers. But now the car is official, as the European division of Genesis released teaser shots of the long-roof G70, giving us our best look yet. The design is low and sleek, as we would expect from the company that has given us such brilliant concept designs as the recent X and slightly older Mint and Essentia. From the B-pillar forward, it's mostly the same as the refreshed G70 sedan, but moving rearward, we see a number of changes. The rear door glass has a lower sill and the top bends farther down to meet it. This makes some extra room for wraparound rear glass. Though extended, the roof still stays low and tapers toward the rear, and it's accentuated by a rear spoiler. Interestingly, the car doesn't appear to be much longer than the sedan. Genesis hasn't given exact timing for when the G70 wagon will go on sale, but we would imagine either late this year or early next year. The brand is only just launching in Europe this year, and the first models on sale will be the G80 sedan and GV80 crossover in the summer, followed by the G70 sedan and GV70 crossover a little after. We also suspect the G70 wagon will only be offered in Europe, in part because it was announced by the European division. Certainly, Genesis and its parent Hyundai aren't afraid of trying low-selling models in America, as the now-discontinued G70 with a manual transmission showed. But the wagon would have the additional obstacle of the GV70 crossover, which should be far more popular and fill a similar niche in America. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Genesis brand will be introduced in Europe this summer

  SEOUL — South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co said on Tuesday it will launch its premium brand Genesis in Europe this summer, debuting its flagship sedan and sports utility vehicle (SUV) in one of the world's fastest growing electric vehicle markets. Genesis, which launched as Hyundai's standalone luxury division in 2015 to compete with premium brands like BMW, Mercedes and Lexus, said it will sell both conventional and electric models in the region. "The Electrified G80 will be the first all-electric Genesis to arrive in Europe. A further two battery electric cars will follow, providing European customers with a choice of three Genesis zero-emission cars within the first year," Genesis Motor Europe said in a statement. The unit said orders will open for the Genesis G80 sedan and the Genesis GV80 SUV in June, with the new G70 sedan and GV70 SUV following soon after. "While Genesis cars are now at a level right below Lexus cars in the U.S. market, it would take some time for them to stand out in Europe as a luxury brand, considering competition among prominent European brands," said Lee Seung-hwan, an analyst at Daishin Securities. Lee said however the Genesis brand has room to grow in the European market as they could offer more cost-competitive EVs than other European carmakers. Sales of electric and plug-in hybrid cars in the European Union almost trebled to over 1 million vehicles last year, accounting for more than 10% of overall sales, data from the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA) showed. As carmakers began rolling out new EVs to meet environment regulations, Volkswagen AG, EuropeÂ’s biggest automaker, unveiled its ID.3 and ID.4 models, while premium brands such as BMW, Mercedes and Audi launched high-end versions. In the first quarter, sales of Genesis cars jumped 165% in South Korea and more than doubled from a year earlier in the United States, according to Hyundai sales data. The brand launched last month in China.  

2022 Genesis G70 price undercuts main German and Japanese rivals

Hyundai-owned Genesis has released pricing information for the 2022 Genesis G70, the entry point into its range. The sedan is aimed directly at the BMW 3 Series, among other luxury sedans, but it's cheaper than most of its rivals. Comprehensively redesigned for the 2022 model year, the G70 carries a base price of $38,570 including a mandatory $1,045 destination charge. That figure corresponds to a base, rear-wheel-drive model equipped with a turbocharged, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine tuned to develop 252 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, and an eight-speed automatic transmission; the six-speed manual transmission is no longer available. Buyers can pair the 2.0-liter with all-wheel drive for an additional $2,100, and those who want more luxury and technology features can step up to the Prestige trim, which costs $42,570 with rear-wheel drive or $44,670 with all-wheel drive. Next up in the trim hierarchy is the V6-powered G70, which gains a turbocharged 3.3-liter rated at 365 horsepower and a stout 376 pound-feet of torque. Unlocking two additional cylinders costs $43,145 with rear-wheel drive or $45,245 with all-wheel drive. In addition to the base model, Genesis offers three V6-powered trim levels called Sport Advanced, Sport Prestige and Launch Edition. In its priciest configuration, the Launch Edition with all-wheel drive, the G70 costs $55,545 including destination. That's more expensive than the bigger G80. To put those figures into context, BMW charges $42,245 (including a $995 destination charge) for an entry-level, rear-wheel-drive 330i, while the most affordable Lexus IS starts at $40,075 with a $1,025 destination charge factored in. Shop at Mercedes-Benz, and you'll need to set aside $42,650 (with $1,050 for destination) for a C300. Genesis priced the G70 below its main rivals from Japan and Germany, but it didn't skimp on content. Even the entry point into the range comes standard with 18-inch alloy wheels, LED exterior lighting, heated door mirrors, heated front seats, a 10.25-inch touchscreen, a navigation system and a long list of electronic driving aids, including Highway Driving Assist (HDA), high-beam assist (HBA), and lane-keeping assist (LKA). As a bonus, every G70 regardless of trim level includes Service Valet, which bundles complimentary scheduled maintenance and at-home pickup for three years or 60,000 miles. Clearly, Genesis is going to great lengths in a bid to beat the competition.

Hyundai Q1 profit triples, as it adjusts production due to chip shortage

  SEOUL — Hyundai Motor Co posted a first-quarter profit that nearly tripled to its highest in four years as people bought its luxury cars, but warned it would have to adjust production again in May because of a chip shortage. Unlike its rivals, the South Korean automaker staved off production halts in the first quarter, thanks to a healthy chip inventory. But the shortage, exacerbated by factors including a fire at a chip factory in Japan and storms in Texas, is now catching up with Hyundai. Hyundai, which has lagged its rivals in the electric vehicle (EV) race, also said on Thursday that it was developing solid-state batteries and planned to mass produce EVs using solid state batteries in 2030. In February, Hyundai launched its Ioniq 5 electric midsize crossover, the first in a planned family of EVs that it hopes will propel it into the third rank of global EV makers by 2025. Hyundai Motor and Kia together aim to sell 1 million EVs in 2025. In the quarter ended March 31, Hyundai was unscathed as people at home and the United States snapped up its high-margin sports-utility vehicles and premium Genesis cars as the coronavirus pandemic dragged on, fueling car ownership. Net profit surged 187% to 1.3 trillion won ($1.16 billion) from 463 billion a year earlier, when business slumped as countries shut down to limit the spread of the coronavirus. This was in line with an average Refinitiv SmartEstimate. Revenue rose 8.2% to 27.4 trillion won. Hyundai is expected to report net profit of 1.4 trillion won for the April-June period, up 536% from the corresponding period a year earlier, Refinitiv SmartEstimate showed. Hyundai affiliate Kia Corp reported operating profit of 1.1 trillion won for January-March, up 142% on the year. Hyundai, which together with Kia is among the world's top 10 automakers by sales, has temporarily paused production three times since the beginning of this month and saved chips for its most popular models. "The condition of semiconductor parts is being a little more prolonged than we expected," said Seo Gang-hyun, an executive vice president at Hyundai. "As the semiconductor procurement condition is rapidly changing, it's difficult to predict production status after May.

Genesis Electrified G80 is a classy, subtle entry into EVs

The rumors and spy shots were correct, and the first electric Genesis is the Electrified G80 midsize luxury sedan. It's interesting that Genesis is starting with an electrically-converted version of an existing model, since the Hyundai and Kia brands are rolling out clean-sheet designs. But the subtle bodywork hides fully up-to-date electric guts. As you can see, you'll have a hard time telling an Electrified G80 (yes, that does appear to be its official name) from a gas-powered G80. The biggest differences are in the front fascia, where the pentagonal grille has an inverted mesh across most of it. The lower intake loses a bit of chrome and isn't as opened up. Interestingly, this design looks a little cleaner than the regular one, since it seems to do away with the plastic shield for cameras and sensors. This new grille also hides the charging door. You might also be able to distinguish the Electrified G80 from the rear, as it lacks the dual exhaust outlets in the bumper. Genesis hasn't provided all of the mechanical and electrical specs for the Electrified G80, but we do know that it will have standard all-wheel drive courtesy of a pair of electric motors. It will apparently hit 60 mph in 4.9 seconds. Exact battery capacity is also a mystery, but Genesis says the NEDC range is 311 miles. That will undoubtedly be lower in EPA testing. That range will also be backed by the same charging capabilities as the completely new E-GMP Hyundai and Kia models with 800-volt, 350-kW DC fast charging that Genesis claims will charge the car from 10% to 80% in 22 minutes. Not only that, but it can provide 3.6-kW charging from the car to whatever appliances you might plug into it. Not surprisingly, the Electrified G80's interior looks just like the regular one, but that's not a bad thing by any means. And the elegant design is bolstered by environmentally friendly materials choices such as recycled wood trim, recycled fabrics and natural leather dyes. Genesis also notes that it has fully adaptive suspension and active road noise cancellation. Despite the reveal happening in Shanghai, the Electrifed G80 is coming to the U.S. Pricing, availability and other specifications have yet to be announced. Since the other E-GMP cars are slated for release this year, and parts of this car are already on sale, we would expect it to go on sale this year, too. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Tiger Woods thought he was in Florida after high-speed crash

Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva (Getty Images).   Golf great Tiger Woods wasn't sure where he was when a sheriff's deputy interviewed him after his one-car crash in February, according to a 22-page report obtained by USA Today. Woods was in Los Angeles for The Genesis Invitational and promotional appearances but told the deputy that he thought he was in Florida, where he makes his permanent residence. The report details the conversation between deputy Kyle Sullivan and Woods, which took place at the hospital as Woods was receiving stitches for an injury to his face. "I then asked (Woods) if he is able to tell me about what happened regarding the traffic collision," Sullivan wrote. Woods "told me he did not remember being involved in a traffic collision. (Woods) thought he was currently in the state of Florida." A deputy found Woods' backpack at the scene, and in a pocket found an empty, unlabeled pill bottle. But investigators decided it was irrelevant to the crash. The report also revealed that Woods' blood pressure had fallen "too low to administer any type of pain medication" in the immediate aftermath of the crash, which left the 82-time PGA Tour winner with serious injuries to his right leg. It also confirmed that Woods was driving in a straight line when he should have attempted to navigate a curve while speeding on the morning of Feb. 23. Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday at a press conference in downtown Los Angeles that there were no signs of impairment for Woods, who will not face any citations or charges for the crash on Feb. 23.  Deputy Sullivan said he saw no signs that Woods had been drinking or was under the influence of a substance. He said Woods denied taking anything and was quick to answer questions. "The primary cause or factor for this traffic collision was driving at a speed unsafe for the road conditions and inability to negotiate the curve of the roadway," Villanueva said. Villanueva said Woods' Genesis SUV was traveling an estimated 84 to 87 mph on a stretch of road that has a speed limit of 45 mph. Woods, 45, struck a raised median, crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree before rolling over in Rolling Hills Estates, just outside of Los Angeles. "Had (Woods) applied his brakes to reduce his speed or steered to correct the direction of travel, he would not have collided with the center median and the collision would not have occurred," said Sgt. Michael Downing, per the report.

Genesis wants to know: Will you put down a deposit for the X Concept?

Once in a blue moon a carmaker drops a concept so stunning, so compelling, that it elicits shouts of "Build it!" across the internet. It's a rare event, but that's exactly what happened to Genesis last month when it unveiled the drop-dead gorgeous X Concept. Indeed, we were one of the voices clamoring for a production version. The reaction was so positive, in fact, that Genesis themselves have begun taking the temperature for a potential production X Concept on social media: If you would reserve the Genesis X with a $1,000 deposit, leave us a comment. Our President & CEO Mark Del Rosso wants to know. #JustAsking #GenesisXConcept Concept vehicle shown. pic.twitter.com/uDaloZ70UI — Genesis USA (@GenesisUSA) April 3, 2021 Genesis said very little about what might be under the X Concept's sleek sheetmetal, except that it was electric. Perhaps it's taking a page from Tesla, which routinely takes deposits for cars that have yet to be built. The Genesis X takes many styling cues first seen on the Essentia Concept, and designers Luc Donckerwolke and SangYup Lee — both ex-Bentley — put a lot of thought into what they represent. But even if you ignore the backstory, the X Concept is an almost impossibly alluring machine. It somehow manages to make a very traditional two-door luxury coupe design simultaneously classically beautiful and ultra modern at the same time. Even the clever way in which the LED headlights extend past the front wheel arches into the fender is at once brilliant but so simple (obviating the need for a separate turn signal light on the fender) you wonder why no one has ever thought of it before. Genesis is the latest but not the only carmaker to have concepts receive such high praise. Lexus famously turned the LC into a production GT after overwhelming response, and kept the V8-powered luxury coupe very faithful to its show car design. Nissan got the similar feedback with the IDx but chose not to build it, disappointing enthusiasts and burning a lot of goodwill for the brand. It looks like Genesis is at least considering making the X Concept into a production car. They've already got our vote. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.

Tiger Woods was speeding at nearly double the 45 mph limit before crash

LOS ANGELES — Tiger Woods was speeding when he crashed his courtesy Genesis GV80 CUV in Southern California in February, leaving the golf superstar seriously injured, authorities finally revealed Wednesday. Woods was driving between 84 and 87 mph on a downhill stretch of road outside Los Angeles that had a speed limit of 45 mph, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said Wednesday. The stretch of road is known for wrecks and drivers hitting speeds so high that there is an emergency exit for runaway vehicles just beyond where Woods crashed. Villanueva blamed the Feb. 23 crash solely on excessive speed and WoodsÂ’ loss of control behind the wheel. Sheriff's Capt. James Powers said there was no evidence that the golfer braked throughout the wreck and that it's believed Woods inadvertently hit the accelerator instead of the brake pedal. Detectives did not seek search warrants for the athleteÂ’s blood samples, which could have been screened for drugs or alcohol, or his cellphone. Sheriff's officials said there was no evidence of impairment or of distracted driving. Investigators, however, did search the SUVÂ’s data recorder, known as a black box, in the days after the crash. No traffic citations were issued. The sheriff said Woods gave permission for authorities to reveal details about the crash. Documents show that Woods told deputies he did not know how the crash occurred and did not remember driving. At the time of the wreck, Woods was recovering from a fifth back surgery, which took place two months earlier. Woods, who is originally from the Los Angeles area, had been back home to host his PGA tournament, the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, when the crash happened. He was driving an SUV loaned to him by the tournament when he struck a raised median in Rolling Hills Estates, just outside Los Angeles. The SUV crossed through two oncoming lanes and uprooted a tree. The athlete is in Florida recovering from multiple surgeries, including a lengthy procedure for shattered tibia and fibula bones in his lower right leg in multiple locations. Those were stabilized with a rod in his tibia. Additional injuries to the bones in his foot and ankle required screws and pins. Woods, 45, has never gone an entire year without playing, dating back to his first PGA Tour event as a 16-year-old in high school. He had hoped to play this year in the Masters tournament, which begins Thursday.