Genesis Essentia coming in 2021? Outrageous EV concept about to become a reality

The outrageous Genesis Essentia could be about to become a production reality, with the brand's global chief promising a full EV on a new and dedicated platform will launch in 2021.

The two-door, four-seat stunner was revealed at the New York Motor Show in 2018, and - on paper - was an absolute rocket; a carbon-fibre-framed EV capable of clipping 60mph (96.5km/h) in just 3.0 seconds.

The Essentia was dripping with headline-stealing features, too, like a see-through panel in the bonnet that offered a through-the-looking-glass view of the Essentia’s inner workings, including its suspension componentry. And inside, the cabin had been stripped back to the essentials, with just a flat-bottomed wheel perched in front of an 8.0-inch driver display.

The front seats are trimmed in cognac leather.

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The seatbelt connectors are uniquely forged out of polished aluminium.

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A leather-wrapped centre console neatly splits the cabin in two.

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The cabin has been stripped back to the essentials, with a flat-bottomed wheel perched in front of an 8.0-inch driver display.

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A layered carbon fibre decals gives the cabin a Magic Eye-style 3D effect.

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At the car's reveal 2018, the brand's global chief, Manfred Fitzgerald, told CarsGuide that he was targeting a "2021 or 2022" launch.

“The reality (for that car) would be somewhere around 2021 or 2022," he said at the time. "We are also launching two dedicated EV platforms in that year, and as this is a pure battery electric vehicle, it would be on that platform.”

The good news, then, is that 12 months later, Fitzgerald has all-but confirmed the Essentia for production in 2021 - even if he didn't go quite so far as mentioning it by name.

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"We’re serious about everything we do. Normally in the automotive industry, concepts have a very short shelf life. You see them, they make a big splash, and then they’re off and never seen again," he said.

"We don’t treat them that way. We are still pursuing that in a very serious manner, And hopefully we’ll be able to make a statement on that in due time.

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"What we’ve said is that our first serious attempt will be in 2021 when we will introduce our first electric vehicle on a dedicated electric-vehicle platform."

Given we've seen three concepts from Genesis to date (the GV80 SUV, the Essentia and this year's Mint), and that the GV80 is due to launch in Korea by the end of 2019, it certainly sounds as though it is the Essentia that will be the next concept to become a reality.

For now though, watch this space.

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Do you want to see the Essentia become a production reality? Tell us in the comments below.