'Not just electrified combustion cars' - how the GV70 and G80 skipped hybrid to become tech leading electric cars

Revealed in prototype form in Australia last week, the Genesis GV70 mid-size SUV and G80 sedan set themselves apart from other EVs in the sports luxury space for more than one reason.

One major factor is the that neither will be available as a hybrid. In fact, there are no hybrids present in the Genesis range, nor are there any planned for the near future.

This is a stark point-of-difference from Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Lexus, and Jaguar Land Rover, all of which have brought hybrids in various formats to Australia in recent years, as they work their way toward full electrification.

Speaking to CarsGuide at the reveal of the GV70 and G80 Electrified prototypes, the brand’s representatives explained this EV-first strategy employed by Genesis.

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“Genesis is very much on that electric warpath, so to speak,” they said. “Hybrid technology is one step along that path, but from a wider Hyundai Group perspective it is a specific stepping stone. For the Genesis brand, the aspirations were much higher from the get-go. EVs were the focus. We have been very clear about our direction there.

“Hybrid has its place in the group, but when it comes to this idea of ‘sports luxury’ – is there anything really there for hybrid which can fulfil both promises? We think fully electric is better suited to that – sportiness might not be the sole focus, but it is always part of the Genesis brand.”

A prime example of Genesis skipping ahead on the electrification front is the fact that the GV70 and G80 Electrified models are the first cars based on a combustion car platform to have fast-charging 800v architectures. As the brand’s spokespeople explained though, the Genesis rear-drive platforms had been planned for this move long before the combustion versions had even arrived.

“A lot of that tech has trickled down from e-GMP into those platforms, thanks to the modularity of what underpins those cars, that was possible,” they said.

The GV70 inherits much of its electric capabilities from the e-GMP platform, despite sharing a chassis with combustion vehicles.

“These cars were planned from the beginning to be electrified. The idea that they’re combustion vehicles which have been retro-fitted isn’t really fair. We’ve operated on a 10-year timescale, so yes, it’s fair to say they were planned long before you had even seen the combustion versions.”

Other forward-thinking electric features which arrive on the GV70 and G80 Electrified models include two-way V2L charging as also appears on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, Kia EV6, and GV60, a full-size power outlet in the boot of the GV70, and a solar panel which can trickle charge the high-voltage battery on the roof of the G80.

The GV70 also features under-bonnet storage in a similar manner to many pure EVs and the brand is keen to point out that it only loses roughly 40 litres of boot capacity in comparison to the combustion variants for “minimal compromise”, as the brand puts it.

Both cars are also enormously powerful and are exclusively all-wheel drive, with the GV70 producing up to 360kW/700Nm under ‘boost mode’ and the G80 producing 272kW/700Nm. Both will travel over 450km on a single charge.

That’s not to say that consumers should look past the e-GMP-based GV60 though, with the Genesis representatives revealing the bulk of the brand’s EV interest had been for the dedicated electric SUV so far.

Genesis Australia was keen to point out much of the demand was directed at the GV60 dedicated EV.

“While we’ll say that the derivatives in the form of the GV70 and G80 are more than competent as electric vehicles, the e-GMP cars still have clear advantages. Things like the flat floor, unique packaging in the cabin, superior cabin space, the tall glasshouse and body rigidity.” they said.

Genesis said since opening its online portal for expressions of interest it had received over 1800 applications, most of which it expects will be for the GV60, as it was still the “hero model” despite the GV70 and G80 inheriting much of its technology benefits in familiar form factors.

“We expect demand to outstrip supply” the brand’s spokesperson said, “We’re not being arrogant, but if you look at the market and what the GV60 offers, then it makes sense.”