Luxury brand Genesis is starting the new year with a bang. The Korean brand just released the first images of the brand's first crossover, called the Genesis GV80. The GV80 takes its looks strongly from the concept of the same name, revealed at the New York auto show in 2017, and it fills the SUV-sized hole in the company's lineup. Currently, three sedans make up the automaker's entire lineup, which isn't great in a market where everyone wants an SUV.
The GV80 will launch in South Korea this month and is expected to see sales here start later in the year. The V in the name means versatile, reflecting that this three-row crossover offers more flexibility than the brand's sedans. While it will be based on an all-new rear-drive-biased platform, the GV80 will come to Canada with all-wheel drive as standard.
This midsize crossover offers styling much like the company's G90 sedan, including the recently refreshed version of that car's massive grille and dual-strip LED head and taillights. It's also one of the rare vehicles where the production version might actually look better than the concept car.
Inside, it has a simple design, with what looks like one large screen coming out of a very flat dashboard. A full-width vent breaks up the lines horizontally, and the climate control system appears to be another touchscreen display with two large dials much like what Land Rover has been using of late. What looks to be open-pore wood covers the centre console, and the seats in the photo model are wearing quilted-stitch leather.
Genesis held back on the technical details, though Genesis could offer the brand's 3.3L twin-turbo or 3.8L V6s as well as the 5.0L V8 found in the G80 sedan.
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