After launching only with sedans, Korean luxury brand Genesis has been busily rolling out SUVs – and its latest concept automotive may very well be amongst its upcoming latest models.
“The X Gran Equator is a brand new potential addition to a lineup which is already quite big,” Genesis chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke told Australian media at this month’s Latest York motor show.
“In a few years we now have reached a family of SUVs… We’ve got shown last 12 months there’s one other one coming, a flagship SUV, very soon,” he added, referring to the upcoming GV90 previewed by last 12 months’s Neolun concept.
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“Now the query is: how can we position the Gran Equator inside this lineup? How can we ensure there’s not going to be an overlap or cannibalisation between those vehicles?
“I do consider there’s room for that.”
Once the GV90 is launched, Genesis can have 4 SUVs: the small, electric-only GV60; the mid-size GV70, available with combustion or electric power; and the massive, combustion-powered GV80, which is anticipated to be among the many first Genesis models to get the brand’s upcoming 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain.
These SUVs complement the mid-size G70 sedan and wagon, the massive G80 sedan, and the flagship G90 limousine offered overseas – the latter of which could spawn coupe and/or convertible variants.
Genesis hasn’t released powertrain details for the X Gran Equator concept, nor has it released dimensions.
Nonetheless, it’s clearly on the larger side, particularly with that lengthy bonnet.
While its chunky Ridge Grappler LT315/45R24 tyres wrapped around huge 24-inch wheels point to a level of off-road ability, the X Gran Equator’s long bonnet and two-row seating configuration – if not its squared-off lines – bring to mind sleek, more coupe-like SUVs just like the defunct Infiniti QX70.
Mr Donckerwolke said the X Gran Equator concept isn’t a flight of fantasy, and is technically feasible.
“Mainly, the Gran Equator was designed by my team in a really short time. Like all the opposite projects, I be sure that due to my engineering team being involved within the project that each one those projects are feasible, that we don’t must face any big hurdles if we now have to understand that may mainly make the project unsuitable,” he said.
“From the technical standpoint, the platform works, the technical side works, now it’s obviously the demand.”
Mr Donckerwolke told media in Latest York that between the show and the concept’s unveiling on the Genesis House retail location the night before, it had already received a positive reception internally.
“Everybody has called and asked, ‘When can I even have it?’. All of the regions have been. I believe this can be a big progress,” he said.
“It’s plugging into the SUV emotion, it’s going back to the off-road capability that truly makes those SUVs real and authentic.”
While it has key Genesis design cues like its Twin Lamp split-level lighting, it doesn’t simply seem like a smaller or larger version of any existing SUV from Hyundai’s premium brand.
“It has its own character… We don’t wish to do the Russian dolls. All of the cars have their very own characters, their very own specific tailored design,” said Mr Donckerwolke.
Unique details on the concept’s exterior include a split-opening tailgate, and 4 individual sunroofs.
Inside, Genesis designers went for a mix of analogue and digital design elements.
There’s no touchscreen – an omission that may surely be rectified with a production version – but there are 4 discrete digital dials said to be inspired by the dials of vintage cameras.
There’s a crystal-look rotary controller much like that within the GV60, while a number of the switchgear on and across the steering wheel is harking back to that in current Genesis models.
The swivelling front seats are unique to the X Gran Equator, nevertheless, as are the chunky grab handles on either side of the centre stack and rear centre console.
The cabin has a two-tone colourway, while the upholstery has a diamond pattern – one other example of Genesis’ G-Matrix patterning.
Genesis says its concept “marries on-road sophistication with off-road resilience”, though it hasn’t shared any technical specifications of the vehicle, similar to dimensions or powertrain type.
The luxurious brand’s concepts often result in production vehicles, except its various two-door coupe and convertible concepts – none of which, so far, have entered production.
This Article First Appeared At www.carexpert.com.au
