Genesis files trademarks for six new EVs

Genesis has gone on a trademark-filing frenzy to prepare the way for a pure-electric version of almost every car it makes.

According to Genesis fan site GVforums.com, the South Korean rival to BMW and Mercedes-Benz has filed to protect the G70e, G80e, G90e, GV70e, GV80e and new GV90e nameplates ahead of the launch of the three sedans and three SUVs.

The car-maker has already announced that it will launch an electric GV60 SUV that's believed to be heavily based on the current Hyundai Kona Electric, but the new patents filed in late January suggest it will be joined shortly by battery-powered versions of the core Genesis range.

First up is likely to be the G80e sedan as disguised prototypes are said to have been spotted testing at the Nurburgring in Germany.

Interestingly, sharing the core model names suggests that the electric powertrain might be shoehorned into the current brand's all-new rear-drive aluminium architecture, rather than be based on the more advanced E-GMP platform that Hyundai has created specifically for pure-electric cars of the future.

The new patent filings also suggest Genesis is readying a flagship GV90 SUV that could do battle with the BMW X7. If so, as well as an electric powertrain, the full-size SUV could come with the brand's 5.0-litre V8.