Genesis Cars
Korean · 8 models
Hyundai luxury arm turned standalone brand. The G70 took on the BMW 3-Series and the awards followed. Ex-BMW M engineering, ex-Bentley and Lambo design.
KoreanGenesis is the luxury division of Hyundai, spun off into a standalone brand in 2015. The name started as a single Hyundai model, the rear-drive Genesis sedan of 2008, which proved a Korean company could build a credible large luxury car. Hyundai split it into its own marque, hired serious talent, and went after the German establishment directly. The engineering credibility came from Albert Biermann, the former head of BMW M division, who joined to lead Hyundai and Genesis performance development. The design language came from Luc Donckerwolke (ex-Bentley, Lamborghini, Audi) and Peter Schreyer, giving the cars the twin-line lighting signature and clean surfacing that now defines the brand. The G70 (2018) is the enthusiast entry point: a compact rear-drive sport sedan with an available 3.3 liter twin-turbo V6, aimed squarely at the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. It won Motor Trend Car of the Year in its debut season. The G80 is the mid-size sedan, the G90 the full-size flagship. The GV70 and GV80 are the SUVs that now drive most of the brand sales, and the GV60 is the dedicated electric model on the same 800-volt E-GMP platform as the Hyundai Ioniq 5. On WhipJury, Genesis submissions are still building, led by G70 3.3T builds and the occasional GV70 and G80. It is a young brand, but the rear-drive sport sedan formula gives it real enthusiast appeal.
Genesis models we cover
From model to marque
The first Genesis was a 2008 Hyundai sedan, a rear-drive V6 and V8 luxury car that signaled Hyundai serious intent. It sold well enough to justify a full brand split. In 2015 Hyundai launched Genesis Motor as a standalone luxury division, the way Toyota created Lexus and Nissan created Infiniti.
The lineup
G70. Compact rear-drive sport sedan, 2.0 liter turbo four or 3.3 liter twin-turbo V6. The enthusiast pick. Shares its platform with the Kia Stinger.
G80. Mid-size luxury sedan, the volume sedan in the range, available with rear or all-wheel drive and an Electrified G80 variant.
G90. Full-size flagship sedan aimed at the Mercedes S-Class and BMW 7-Series.
GV70 and GV80. The SUVs that carry the brand commercially. The GV70 has a high-output 3.5 liter twin-turbo V6 and an electric variant.
GV60. Dedicated EV on the 800-volt E-GMP platform, sharing hardware with the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5.
Genesis on WhipJury
Genesis is a newer presence on the platform. The G70 3.3T is the most common submission, valued for its rear-drive layout and twin-turbo V6. GV70 and G80 examples appear as the brand grows. Expect more as the lineup matures and the enthusiast community catches up to what the brand is offering.
Frequently asked questions about Genesis
Genesis on the WhipJury blog
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