As consumers continue to flock toward the ubiquitous SUV, the station wagon continues on its downward trajectory. Indeed, they've become somewhat of a rarity and, as a result, fewer manufacturers are choosing to offer them stateside. Even Mercedes-Benz, purveyors of some the finest longroofs available, don't plan on building them forever.
That's why, when Genesis unveiled the Shooting Brake variant of its G70, we admired it from afar. No point in lusting after what you can't have, right? Well, that may change very soon. Speaking to Autocar, the brand's Chief creative officer, Luc Donckerwolke, said "We did the G70 Shooting Brake for Europe but then all the markets said 'we want it as well'. Even the US said 'we don't want any wagons here', then they said 'oh sorry, can we revise that?'"
Is this a hint suggesting the achingly gorgeous Shooting Brake is heading stateside? Well, it might just be. The recipient of the 2022 World Car Person Of The Year award told the British publication that although South Korea isn't necessarily a "wagon country", Genesis is introducing the vehicle there shortly.
He remarked, "As soon as you invest in something and the business case is justified, why not offer in other countries as well?" It may not top the sales charts, but there are plenty of US consumers who don't want an SUV but desire a premium product that melds style, individuality, and practicality.
While this sounds promising, we reached out to Genesis for comment. A spokesperson told CarBuzz "We do not currently have any updates to share regarding G70 Shooting Brake availability in the United States."
Starting from £35,250 in the UK (approx $46,800), it doesn't command that much more of a premium over the sedan, in the UK at least. Stateside, the G70 Sedan has a rather appealing base price of $36,000. We're willing to bet that several buyers would be willing to shell out extra cash for the exclusivity and practicality of the Shooting Brake, though.
In Great Britain, three trim levels - Premium Line, Luxury Line, and Sport Line - are offered and can be paired with two engine options; a gas-powered 2.0-liter four-cylinder or a diesel 2.2-liter four-cylinder. The pair delivers 197- and 199-horsepower, respectively, although Luxury and Sport Line models receive a 252-hp 2.0-liter gas engine. All engines are, naturally, turbocharged.
It appears the UK subsidiary hasn't made the 3.3-liter V6 available but, as we saw at the 2021 Goodwood Festival of Speed, it's swift enough without the lusty 365-hp six-cylinder. Despite Genesis USA's tight-lipped stance, we're hoping we get to enjoy the Shooting Brake on local roads very soon.