NEW YORK MOTOR SHOW: Genesis Mint unwrapped
Korean premium brand claims mini Genesis Mint coupe is luxury car for the cityLuxury car-brand Genesis has pulled the drapes off the Genesis Mint concept at the 2019 New York motor show.
Created for the city, the Korean car-maker says its pure-electric Genesis Mint is a lightweight city car that's been 'tailored for the needs of a modern lifestyle.'
Said to be both 'highly manoeuvrable' and 'exhilarating' to drive, the Genesis Mint design looks like an evolution of the stunning Essentia concept that was revealed this time last year at the 2018 New York show.
Looking more like a scaled-down take on a classic coupe rather than a traditional hatch, the Genesis Mint's design is dominated by its squat proportions, ultra-short front and rear overhangs, quad front lamps, floating glass roof and the brand's trademark 'Crest' grille.
Featuring two traditional doors, the Mint also gets a pair of rear-hinged dihedral doors that give access to a generous rear luggage compartment.
Like the Essentia, the Mint hides its clever aero beneath the skin that includes a special pattern used on the lower half of the body that's claimed to improve the efficiency of the airflow around the battery floor, maximising cooling performance.
Inside, the light and airy cabin, the small Mint gets a minimalist interior that appears to pay tribute to a 1960s Ferrari, with acres of tan leather used from floor to ceiling.
The couch-like bench seat, meanwhile, looks like it's been created to be as comfortable as possible.
Featuring a pair of three-conjoined round infotainment screens that flank the weird oblong steering wheel a seventh infotainment screen is mounted within the steering wheel itself, that displays the speed and range of the battery-powered pint-sized coupe.
Speaking of which, Genesis has released only a few details of the Mint's powertrain, saying that its advanced batteries provide for a range of 322km and are capable of being recharged using next-gen 350kW fast chargers.
Commenting on the his new concept, former Bentley and Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke said: "The Mint Concept is a new urban icon that marries classic proportions with forward-looking, minimalist design,” said Donckerwolke.
“The Mint Concept instantly finds purpose and meaning in the city, just as so many people who call the world’s most densely populated metropolises home.”
It's not the first time a car-maker has attempted a luxury take on a small city car.
Aston Martin famously tarted-up the innovative Toyota IQ in the hope that its rebadged Cygnet would win fans among its wealthy customer base.
Sadly (for Aston), the idea of charging upwards of $60,000 for a $15,000 car didn't take hold.
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