Straight-six diesel power for Genesis GV80

The Genesis GV80 will go on sale Down Under around the middle of this year, offering Australians an affordable alternative to large luxury SUVs like the BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz GLE.

And in big news out of Korea today, the range of local engine options available for the first Genesis SUV will include an inline 3.0-litre six-cylinder turbo-diesel. Other engines will comprise a 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder at entry level and a 3.5-litre twin-turbo petrol V6, but it’s the diesel that’s likely to send consumers into a spin.

While Mercedes-Benz has recently returned to its roots with an inline six-cylinder engine, as has Jaguar – and BMW never gave up on this type of engine – it’s a global first for Hyundai and its luxury brand.

If the Genesis-exclusive diesel six -- which will deliver a claimed 205kW of power and 590Nm of torque and is "designed to achieve best-in-class dynamic performance and fuel economy" -- is the highlight of the new SUV, the architecture of the Genesis GV80 comes a close second.

Built on the same new longitudinal-engined platform set to underpin the next-generation G80 large sedan – due in Australia towards the end of 2020 – the GV80 has been developed from scratch to offer rear-wheel drive and four-wheel drive variants.

Genesis says the new rear/all-wheel drive platform of the GV80 -- the V in which stands for versatility -- has been specifically developed for lighter weight and improved crash safety, while fuel consumption of the rear-wheel drive five-seat diesel model is claimed at 8.5L/100km.

Hyundai is not discussing pricing and specifications for Australia at this stage, but has confirmed the Genesis GV80, which was officially revealed two weeks ago, has undergone local testing in recent months and engineers have settled on an Australian suspension tune for the all-new large SUV, which will offer up to seven seats.

On sale in Korea from this month in diesel form, with both petrol engines to follow, the Genesis GV80's optional all-wheel drive system will feature Multi-Terrain Control comprising sand, mud and snow modes and an electronically controlled limited-slip rear differential.

In a first for Genesis, the GV80's electronically controlled suspension comprises 'road preview', which optimises ride comfort by using front cameras and navigation information to recognise and then react to upcoming road conditions.

“Our chassis engineers matched these versatile drive modes to an electronically controlled suspension with road preview that employs the intelligent ADAS camera to detect obstacles like speed bumps and adjust the damping forces accordingly,” said Albert Biermann, Head of Research and Development Division at Hyundai Motor Group.

Genesis is claiming a number of world-first advanced driver-assistance (ADAS) systems, including artificial intelligence-based Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning (SCC-ML), Highway Driving Assist II (HDA II), which helps the car stay in its lane when merging and changing lanes.

The GV80 will come with 10 airbags including a centre-mounted airbag between the front occupants, plus Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA), Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist (BCA), Rear Cross-traffic Collision-Avoidance Assist (RCCA) and Driver Attention Alert Warning (DAW).

Owners will be able to avoid visiting their dealership for repairs in some instances thanks to real-time remote diagnosis, and can remotely check on their vehicle and its surroundings via a smartphone app.

The GV80 is claimed to deliver world-first Road-Noise Active Noise Control (RANC) technology, which "overcomes the limitations of existing noise control technologies that rely on physical technology, such as materials and body structures" to reduce road noise by analyzing road noise in real time and then generating sound waves of opposite phases in 0.002 seconds.

William Lee, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Genesis, said the Hyundai group's first luxury SUV will be a pivotal model for the fledgling luxury brand, which so far sells on the mid-size G70 and large G80 sedans in Australia.

“GV80 represents the essence of the innovative spirit of Genesis,” he said. “As we launch GV80, our first luxury flagship SUV, we simultaneously open a new chapter for Genesis.”

Remaining relatively true to the daring concept that previewed it, the GV80's interior and exterior styling was a collaboration between Genesis Design studios in South Korea, Germany and the US.

“We enjoyed the challenge to apply ‘Athletic Elegance’ design language to SUV architecture,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President, Chief Design Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “The precise proportions and attention to every detail denote that GV80 is authentic to Genesis design principles.”

“The Quad Lamp graphic will become the most recognizable, unique signature of Genesis design, as the simplest of lines communicate a distinct identity," Donckerwolke said. “Two lines will come to define Genesis.”

A G-Matrix pattern appears in light fixtures throughout the exterior, which features an aluminium bonnet, doors and tailgate, and on the optional 22-inch wheels.

It also appears inside, where an uncluttered cabin design is said to focus on “the beauty of white space” and features a full-width air-vent, 14.5-inch, split-screen infotainment display, minimal physical buttons and switches, and soft materials on every surface.

“We were able to express a luxurious feel for the interior of GV80 through reductive design and channeling the Korean roots of the Genesis brand,” said SangYup Lee, Senior Vice President, Head of Genesis Design. “The concept of the ‘beauty of white space’ is a hallmark of Korean design.”

An ornate control unit on the centre console houses a dial-style electronic gear shifter and the Genesis Integrated Controller to set navigation destinations or enter phone numbers via handwriting.

Genesis says augmented reality navigation will present virtual driving guidelines over actual driving images to help drivers recognise roads, while video taken by the front-mounted camera is also displayed on the infotainment screen.

Another first is an active motion driver’s seat that contains seven air cells to reduce fatigue, while the front and second-row seats are also heated and ventilated seats and an air purification system automatically operates in real time according to indoor air quality via an in-vehicle fine dust sensor. Genesis says the system removes 99 per cent of fine particulate matter, which maintains a clean and fresh cabin environment.

In South Korea, GV80 customers will be offered a “Your Genesis” build-to-order program via which they can specify their engine, driving wheels, number of seats, exterior color (up to 11), interior colour (up to five), wheel design and option packages to create their own individual vehicles.

The first (and flagship) Genesis SUV, which was first previewed by a concept at the 2017 New York auto show and originally due for global release last year before being delayed to 2020, is expected to be joined in late 2020 and early 2021 by a smaller SUV dubbed the GV60.

Likely to be based on the all-new Hyundai Tucson due this year, the Genesis GV60 will do battle with Australia's most popular mid-size premium SUVs including the BMW X3, Audi Q5 and Mercedes-Benz GLC -- Australia's top-selling luxury model in 2019.

Genesis is also expected to eventually add the GV70 -- a coupe-style crossover the go up against the BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.

Watch this space on Friday (January 17) for our first drive of the all-new GV80 following its global launch at the Korea International Exhibition Center (KINTEX) west of Seoul today.