Genesis is reportedly considering launching a production-spec version of its Mint Concept city car for the European market, according to Autocar.

Head of product planning for Genesis, Mark Choi, said: "We're looking at expanding our model line-up, and especially in Europe, a smaller model is being considered. But it's not a simple case of adding new models; we need to factor in the growth of sales anticipated for our current cars, weigh that against our manufacturing capacity and then consider the rising cost of raw materials and understand how that affects the decision."

The Mint Concept was unveiled at the 2019 New York Auto Show which, the last time we checked, takes place in the US state of New York. So it's interesting that the South Korean luxury brand is only examining a European market entry. However, small city cars designed for urban settings remain popular in Europe.

Automakers have made attempts to bring them here, such as the Ford Fiesta. It was discontinued in the US back in 2019 due to dwindling sales and left the European market last year. If Genesis were to proceed with a production version, the vehicle would slot below the GV60 EV.

In terms of architecture, engineers could adapt the E-GMP platform, which underpins the GV60 and is solely dedicated to pure battery electrics. It wouldn't make financial sense to design and engineer a separate platform for a single model. Plus, E-GMP has a scalable wheelbase, meaning it can be lengthened or shortened depending on the vehicle.

The report mentions the 350 kWh rapid-charging capability could be modified to work with a smaller battery, something that would save weight, space, and reduce the price tag. One thing that would definitely have to be improved from concept to production is range.

The Mint only had a 200-mile range, a figure that was acceptable four years ago but would have to reach at least 250 miles today, even for urban driving duties. One design element that would surely be dropped are the twin scissor doors. We can also picture Genesis lengthening the body to an extent in order to have four doors. This would make it far more competitive against the recently updated Volkswagen ID. 3, for example.

Genesis officials did not provide a timeline for a production decision but it's fair to assume this will remain an overseas-only affair when it does arrive.