All-New Genesis G70 calls 3 Series and C-Class as rivals

Hyundai’s luxury division, Genesis, has unveiled its first entry into the premium compact executive class with the all-new G70 sedan.

Launched today at Hyundai Genesis Design Centre in the company’s Namyang R&D Centre in South Korea, the G70 is set to go on sale later this month in the Korean market, before hitting showrooms in North America and other global markets early next year.

“The Genesis G70 is the latest demonstration of our dedication to delivering innovative, customer-oriented vehicles,” said Hyundai Motor Group Vice Chairman Dr. Woong-Chul Yang. “We will continue to focus our R&D efforts on the development and expansion of the Genesis brand. It is a great point of pride to have Genesis showcase what a true luxury brand of Korean origin can present to our customers.”

Rivalling the likes of BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4, the Genesis G70 adopts design cues from the larger G90 for a highly sculpted and muscular look, featuring a large crest-type grille, long bonnet, short front overhang and elegant roofline. The hockey stick daylight opening and parabolic sidelines further express the unique design signatures of Genesis, while the rear lamps, evolved from the G80 (Hyundai Genesis), have been stretched to the end of the rear to convey a wide and dynamic stance.

Inside, the interior packaging is driver-focused with simplicity being prioritised. The three dimensional switches of the centre fascia and dials enhance functionality, while the sport-grip steering wheel adds to a more involving driving experience.

For materials Genesis designers chose aluminum door handles, quilted leather door panels, metal speaker grills and many quality soft touch materials throughout the interior. Quilted patterns and Nappa leather seats further add to the premium ambience of the interior.

Three powertrains are on offer in the G70, starting with the 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol with 185kW of power and 353Nm of torque. Moving up, the 2.2-litre four-cylinder turbo diesel is rated at 149kW and 44Nm.

At the top of the range, the 3.3-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine – the same unit seen in the Kia Stinger GT – develops a potent 272 kW and 510 Nm, enough to launch the sedan from 0 to 100 km/h in a claimed 4.7 seconds with the in-built Launch Control, before hitting a top speed of 270 km/h. Variable ratio steering, torque vectoring, rear limited slip differential and electronically controlled suspension are standard in the G70 performance flagship, providing agile steering response and an optimal ride and handling experience.

All variants are available with either rear- or all-wheel drive. Genesis stopped short of specifying the transmission but expect an eight-speed automatic to be fitted across the range.

On the safety front, the G70 range is equipped with a suite of advanced driver assist systems including Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Highway Driving Assist (HDA), Blind spot Collision Warning (BCW) and Driver Awareness Warning (DAW).