Hyundai is out to prove it can do luxury and performance cars with its new Genesis sub-brand. The South Korean Automaker brought its executive class G90 sedan to the 2016 Detroit Auto Show and announced that it had something up its sleeve for New York. Well the 2016 New York Auto Show is here and Hyundai's offering is this, the Genesis New York Concept. Seriously, that's its name. The concept gives us a glimpse at the Genesis G70 which will do battle with the likes of the BMW 3 Series.
The New York Concept is a concept car through and through, but some of its features are bound to make the production car. One of those could be its hybrid powertrain. Hyundai didn't divulge many details but did say that the car has a 2.0-liter GDi engine paired with an unspecified hybrid system. That engine produces 242 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque and is mated to an eight-speed automatic. As you can see the New York Concept's main attraction isn't what's under the hood. No, this concept is about Genesis showing off its tech and design chops. To that end we direct your attention inside to the concept's mammoth 21-inch touchscreen. Yes, that's almost two feet of touchscreen running across the dashboard.
The touchscreen is a combination instrument panel, navigation system and infotainment system. We're not really sure how safe it would be for the driver or passenger to constantly be reaching over to touch the screen but it's a cool idea and this is a concept car after all. The New York Concept's seats and door panels are swathed in leather, and speaking of seats check out the back! There are only two seats which are split by the center console. Obviously a design like that won't make the production G70 but it does boost the New York Concept's sporty credentials and what Genesis calls its focus on "human-centered luxury." The exterior of the New York Concept is what will get most people talking, and with good reason.
Genesis says that it's meant to have a look of "refined athletic elegance," and to us that description is perfectly fitting. The grille looks lovely as do the recessed air intakes, err, "air flow guides." The door handles sit flush with the body, a feature we'd like to see make production. Same goes for the air vents on the quarter panels. The lengthy and razor-thin lights are also pretty damn stunning, if potentially unsafe. Hyundai just launched Genesis and has a very, very long way to go before it starts stealing sales from the established German and Japanese luxury brands. However, concepts like this show that Genesis could very well become a player in the luxury sport segment courtesy of outside the box designs and future-forward tech.
We're looking forward to seeing more of the Genesis G70. Hopefully the next time it surfaces the four-door will be closer to production and sporting its real name. (Really, you people couldn't think of something more creative to name this concept?!) Also, we'd like to know a bit more about that hybrid powertrain. A great looking car with a massive touchscreen is fine and dandy but cars like the 3 Series are loved because they get up and go when you hit the gas pedal. Hopefully Genesis keeps this in mind.
