Corroborating an earlier report, Genesis confirmed it’s developing hybrid technology it plans to roll out across its range. The brand initially detoured gasoline-electric drivetrains to give attention to EVs, nevertheless it realized its audience is more open to going hybrid than to going electric.
Chatting with Top Gear, company boss Mike Song confirmed the move on the sidelines of the Goodwood Festival of Speed. “Five years back, we anticipated that the EV era would arrive in a short time, and we actually desired to be a pacesetter and a disruptor within the EV space. Electrification remains to be our vision. We still have 100%-electrified vehicles, however the market and the purchasers now want hybrid greater than EV,” he observed.
His team’s goal is to bring hybrid models to the market “as soon as possible.” He stopped short of showing which nameplate will inaugurate the hybrid system; regardless, it won’t be the last. Song told Top Gear that “as many models as possible” will probably be offered with a hybrid option.
Although it is not official, the aforementioned report sheds light on what the primary hybrid Genesis might be powered by. Development work reportedly began in 2023, and the system is allegedly built around a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine. It’s likely not a plug-in system; it’s either a 48-volt mild-hybrid setup or an ordinary hybrid drivetrain. It’s too early to inform whether Genesis will ultimately offer different hybrid systems.
Genesis could launch its first hybrid in 2025, so likely as a 2026 model. If that is accurate, it means the Hyundai-owned company’s plan to launch exclusively electric cars starting in 2025 has modified. Nothing is official, but we would not be surprised: softening demand for EVs in key markets, including ours, has convinced several carmakers to backpedal on previously-announced plans to go electric-only. Cadillac notably admitted that gasoline-powered cars will probably be sold alongside EVs” for plenty of years” after pledging to go fully electric in 2030.
This Article First Appeared At www.autoblog.com
