Genesis GV80 News

Genesis renews the lease on life for its twin-turbo V6 engine in the GV80 luxury SUV

People hate change. It’s just a fact of life, once we get accustomed to doing things a certain way, we’re happy to keep doing them even if a better alternative emerges.And if you want proof, look no further than the mixed results brands such as Genesis, Tesla and others have had with trying to make the buying experience better by doing away with the conventional new car showroom.But as Hyundai’s luxury brand has discovered, people actually prefer a conventional buying experience rather than the seemingly superior option Genesis is providing.The marque eschewed the traditional dealership model and opted for boutique-style retail spaces in Sydney and Melbourne CBDs which would arrange for a brand representative to bring a car directly to the would-be customer at their convenience. However, the brand has since added ‘Test Drive Centres’ in more conventional locations and recently announced plans to expand dramatically, with new showrooms on the Gold Coast and Sydney as well as introducing ‘agents’ that will be positioned at existing dealerships (most likely Hyundai dealers).Genesis Australia Chief Justin Douglass said the brand has tried multiple methods of reaching customers, but the preference is clearly towards the traditional.“So both sites do have the opportunity to test drive on site,” Douglass explained. “We do Genesis-to-you as well, so if a customer lives in that area and doesn't want to travel, to Parramatta, for example, or in Prahran in Melbourne, then our staff from those studios will take a car to them. So we certainly do sell cars from those sites, but certainly not at the level that we sell through our established showcases.” While Douglass made it clear the inner-city retail ‘studios’ will stay, he acknowledged they have some limitations.“I guess the opportunity for us is, when you look at the way the studios are structured, they're really brand experience centres. So we don't have the capability of showcasing our full range of vehicles at the sites," he said.“But, as I mentioned before, some customers are certainly happy to purchase through that type of environment, that type of experience, but you're right, there's still customers that prefer the traditional method, but we just happen to be conveniently located for those customers as well.”Genesis is by no means alone in this new trend of trying to make buying a car more convenient for buyers in recent years. It has been a period of upheaval in the car industry, with both Mercedes-Benz and Honda moving to the so-called ‘agency model’ that sees all sales handled directly by the brands, with the previous dealerships now only responsible for customer handovers. This has seen both brands endure a sales decline as seemingly both customers and dealers have come to terms with this new way of doing business.But that won’t deter new brands from trying to do things differently, General Motors Australia recently opened its first Cadillac Experience Centre in Sydney, with plans for more as it tries to compete with more established luxury rivals.Those who prefer to drive to a showroom, look at different vehicles, test drive and buy will likely be able to continue to do that for years to come though, as it will take a long time for people to accept such dramatic change.

The Audi Q7, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE rival may be a lot dearer on paper – its entry price up a whopping $24,300 – though Genesis says this reflects buyer preference for the Luxury pack and petrol power.

Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis, has sharpened its offerings as it looks to make ground in the increasingly competitive luxury car market.

Genesis has joined the swoopy coupe-style SUV brigade with the reveal of its new GV80 Coupe large SUV.

Genesis Australia has streamlined its GV70 and GV80 SUV line-ups, while also increasing pricing by as much as $2030 across the board from September this year.

The Genesis story in Australia has been a slow burn - not exactly the six days it took in that Genesis - but it's starting to prove there's a market for its niche offering of luxury-focused models built from platforms and mechanicals of Hyundai and Kia's

Hyundai’s tough ladder-frame rival for the LandCruiser 300 Series and Nissan Patrol could spawn a luxury-soaked Genesis version, giving the Korean premium brand an answer to vehicles like the Lexus LX and the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon.That’s the word from Genesis’ Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, who says he has sketches of a Genesis-badged off-roader ready to go, while at the same time hinting that a true Hyundai Group 4WD is coming by saying that he couldn’t talk about it “yet”.If and when that model appears, it will be on the table for a Genesis version, with Mr Donckerwolke saying “I don’t see why it wouldn’t fit the brand”.“I cannot talk about that yet” he said. “But it’s always the same thing — we make synergies within our group, and when we see that there is a potential to utilise (a vehicle), when this is inline with the brand values, why not?“I don’t see why it would not fit the brand. We have a defined line-up of vehicles, and whether there are extra satellites that will add to that, this is something to be discussed, but first we have to do the homework.”A ladder-frame 4WD has long been rumoured at Hyundai and Kia, with the work going into the latter’s dual-cab ute expected to be adopted into an off-road-focused SUV.And with Genesis on board, the model could be among the most powerful in Australia. Genesis uses a 3.0-litre turbo-diesel inline-six engine, good for a substantial 205kW and 588Nm, in its GV80, for example. And then there’s the not-so-small matter of that same model’s lusty twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6. That engine produces a significant 279kW and 530Nm, fed through an eight-speed auto and sent to all four wheels.The only question Mr Donckerwolke has to answer is whether the model would be the "right genetic fit" with the brand."If you have a G-Wagon, for example, then this car is justified because of its heritage, even more than because of its performance," he says."To plug something artificially into a brand could be a mistake if it does not have the right genetic fit with the brand. As a design? Yes? As a business opportunity, that’s another story."That said, the design guru says he has sketches of a Genesis 4WD ready to go so he'll "Will we see a Genesis answer to the Lexus LX? We'll have to wait and see.

Genesis has just revealed the vehicle that it hopes will take the fight to cars like the Mercedes-Benz GLE and BMW X6, with the GV80 Coupe expected to land in Australia in the first half of 2023.

Genesis sold just 1039 cars in 2022 but was one of the biggest winners in a challenging year for the luxury car market in Australia. While Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Audi, Lexus and others suffered declining sales as they struggled with a variety of issues, not least of which the on-going global supply chain crisis, Genesis continued its year-on-year growth.