Genesis GV80

Go Bold

From the pop-up Genesis House in Hudson Valley, New York to the Hamptons and everywhere in between this Genesis GV80 commands attention. Making my way to the town of Sag Harbor, on a fabulous fall weekend, I was confident that GV80 would feel at home among the best from stylish SUVs parked on Main Street. I overheard many inquiries about the car among passersby, many who’s curiosity was triggered by the GV80’s bold and distinctive grille. One conversation ended with a call to action… “Let me Google this…my lease is up next month.”

Photo: Genesis.

Driver’s seat that contains seven air cells to reduce fatigue

Athletic Elegance

The GV is a perfect example of a free-flowing style and heightened attitude to perform on any road condition from highway to curvy country road. Available with a choice of 2.5-liter or 3.5-liter turbocharged engine the new GV80 is the first SUV from the Genesis brand, and it introduces a variety of firsts for the Genesis, including responsive electronic control suspension, active road noise cancellation, and active motion driver’s seat.

“We enjoyed the challenge of applying our ‘Athletic Elegance’ design language to an SUV architecture,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “The precise proportions and attention to every detail denote that GV80 is authentic to Genesis design principles.

It is that design of that Crest Grille and the Parabolic Line that runs smoothly along the side and accentuated by power lines above each wheel emphasizing stance and presence. The Quad Lamps, which flank the Crest Grille, are made possible with sophisticated lighting technology that you would find in a more expensive SUV.

World’s first application of Road Active Noise Cancellation

The Beauty of White Space

Once inside the GV80 it is all about the characteristic of the elegant South Korean architectural philosophy “the beauty of white space”. The concept of “luxury in space” defines the open feeling of the cabin of GV80 that gives you the feeling of traveling in a much larger cabin.

“We were able to express a luxurious feel for the interior of GV80 through reductive design and channeling the Korean roots of the Genesis brand,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President, Head of Genesis Design. “The concept of the ‘beauty of white space’ is a hallmark of Korean design.”

Sitting inside you notice the interior is sleek, thin air vents that run across the passenger compartment, a 14.5-inch, split-screen infotainment display sits front and center atop the dashboard. The number of hard buttons and switches was kept to a minimum, both for aesthetic purposes and ease of use. In up-level variants, soft materials cover every surface, from the inside of the door handles to the quilted knee pads that line the lower sides of the console.

The ornate center control unit on the center console covers an electronic, shift-by-wire transmission base with a dial-style shift. Handwriting recognition through the Genesis Integrated Controller helps users set a destination or enter data without having to operate a keyboard on the navigation screen by simply using handwritten letters on the writing recognition control system.

The Genesis GV80 arrives into a crowded market filled with luxury SUVs with great fanfare. Consumers today are demanding performance, technology, and modern comforts that seamlessly integrate, style with substance. The GV80 delivers all of that while looking like the best dressed in the hood. Genesis GV80.

Photography: David Lewis Taylor.