Genesis G80 Sport revealed

The wraps have come off the Genesis G80 Sport, a racier version of the large Korean luxury sedan.

Full details on the new Genesis variant – including performance statistics – will be revealed around August, followed by its Australian arrival in the fourth quarter of this year.

It’s unlikely to be a Mercedes-AMG E 53 killer, but it won’t be as expensive as the $162,300 German sports sedan either.

The almost five-metre long (4995mm) executive saloon features a newly designed front bumper with a sportier look, plenty of dark chrome accents and a restyled rear bumper complete with subtle lower diffuser.

The Genesis G80 Sport’s hero colour is Cavendish Red. Genesis will also offer two additional brake calliper colours: black and red.

Completing the Genesis G80 Sport’s visual exterior transformation are unique 20-inch alloy wheels with a G-matrix pattern and dark finish.

Inside, prospective owners will be greeted with a new three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and offered the choice of three different dashboard trims, including real aluminium, real carbon-fibre or a diamond-patterned hybrid weave pattern – a first for the Genesis brand.

The interior of the sportier Genesis G80 can be ordered in either black leather upholstery with grey or red stitching, or with brash red leather upholstery – both with the option of diamond quilting or a V-pattern finish.

Apart from the fitment of four-wheel-steering to improve low-speed agility and high-speed stability, no details about the car’s chassis or powertrain upgrades have been detailed yet.

Nor is it clear whether Aussie models will be available with all-wheel-drive, as in some other countries.

The Genesis G80’s range-topping 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6 (279kW/530Nn) is expected to be offered with the Sport model, capable of propelling the big sedan to 100km/h in a claimed 5.1 seconds.

There’s a battery-powered Genesis G80 EV on its way too, as well as a new diesel-powered version of the Korean premium brand’s flagship sedan in Australia, but it remains to be seen if we’ll see a BMW M5 or Mercedes-AMG E 63 rival based on the G80 anytime soon.

Hyundai’s spin-off luxury brand is unlikely to challenge BMW or Mercedes-Benz for market dominance in the near term, but sportier model variants like the Genesis G80 Sport will be key to its growth.

Genesis also offers a very different customer experience to the traditional German brands, including no-haggle fixed pricing, very few options, free servicing over five years, free loan vehicles and/or home delivery of vehicles for service.

We’ll publish more details on the Genesis G80 Sport as we get them.