New Genesis G80 revealed

The all-new Genesis G80 sedan has been unveiled via a digital press conference streamed around the world.

Bringing striking new styling, new technology and more safety, while drawing power from a range of engines within the Hyundai group, the redesigned large luxury sedan is due to arrive in Australian showrooms in the third quarter of this year.

Sitting on a third-generation rear-wheel drive platform said to be “exclusive” to Genesis, the new G80 is claimed to be up to 125kg lighter than the vehicle it replaces. The new model is 4995mm long, 1925mm wide and 1465mm high.

The Genesis G80 will be available in a choice of three powertrains globally: a 223kW/421Nm 2.5-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, a 279kW/530Nm 3.5-litre turbo-petrol V6 and 154kW/441Nm 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder.

On-road refinement has been purportedly improved courtesy of additional sound insulation, electronically controlled suspension and a road preview system that uses the car’s front camera to prime the suspension for upcoming obstacles.

The 2021 Genesis G80 sets out to truly pamper its occupants with new convenience features including a remote smart parking assistant that remote drives/reverses in narrow spaces, Home Connect functionality and a Valet mode that enhances vehicle security.

On the safety front, the Genesis G80 scores the latest round of technologies, such as Highway Driving Assist II, Smart Cruise Control with Machine Learning, Pre-active Safety Seat, Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist and Blind-Spot Collision Avoidance Assist. This is on top of 10 airbags.

Balancing what designers call athletic and elegant characteristics, the 2021 Genesis G80 features a new quad-lamp aesthetic that is familiar with the GV80 large SUV.

A similar theme transcends the tail-lights at the rear, complemented by tapered lines with no shortage of chrome work. Twenty-inch wheels complete the G80’s sleek look.

Inside, the G80 features thin air-vents that run across the width of the cabin, sitting atop a centre fascia with minimal buttons and switchgear.

Instead, navigating the G80’s features is done via a trio of screens comprising a head-up display, 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and large 14.5-inch centre infotainment screen – the latter operated via touch, a centre rotary dial, touch-and-write commands or voice commands.

In terms of proportions, the G80’s headroom and legroom numbers have both increased by lowering the seating height of the second row.

Pricing and exact Australian specifications for the 2021 Genesis G80 will be revealed in the coming months, ahead of the local release of the Korean premium brand’s new flagship sedan around August.