(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to reflect the correct number of EVs in the Genesis line-up.)
Were we talking fairy tales, Genesis would be the tortoise racing against a competing field of hares. It was a latecomer to the luxury market and slow to expand its product line-up, especially when it comes to introducing its first battery-electric vehicle. But the South Korean carmaker is quickly making up for lost time, especially when it comes to EVs.
With the launch of the new Electrified GV70, Genesis will soon have a total of four battery-powered models in its line-up. It’s a version of the popular, gas-powered Genesis crossover that was named the 2022 Motor Trend SUV of the Year and which was a runner-up for North American Utility Vehicle of the Year.
“Eventually, we will be an all-electric brand,” Andre Ravinowich, senior manager of Genesis product planning and strategy, said during a preview of the Electrified GV70 in Los Angeles.
A growing EV line-up
At this point, Genesis has introduced three all-electric models:
- The Electrified G80, a version of its midsize sedan;
- The GV60, a compact electric SUV; and
- The newest addition, the Electrified GV70.
Sharp eyes will notice something unusual about the naming strategy. Two of the three models use the term, “Electrified,” in their name. The GV60 doesn’t because it was designed from the start to only be offered with a battery-electric drivetrain. It’s based on the E-GMP platform shared by not only Genesis but its more mainstream siblings, Hyundai and Kia.
Genesis going all-electric — eventually
“Electrified” products don’t use the E-GMP architecture but rely on an older platform that can handle a mix of different powertrains, whether all-electric, all-gas or hybrid. Eventually, said Ravinowich, Genesis plans to drop the gas and hybrid versions and switch solely to battery power. At that point, he explained, the “Electrified” designation will go away.
Despite using a more conventional platform, Genesis engineers were able to squeeze in the Electrified GV70’s motors, battery pack and control electronics without intruding on the SUV’s cargo and passenger space. It remains roomy and well-appointed, with only a handful of changes that even the driver might notice. Outside, there are no special badges. The clearest signal to a casual observer would be the lack of any exhaust pipes.
As with the three other Genesis battery-electric vehicles, the Electrified GV70 uses twin motors, one on each axle, to create what is known as a “through-the-road all-wheel-drive system.” There’s no connection between the axles, but using sensors and computer software, power is varied to the motors to compensate for different road and weather conditions, as well as driver input.
By the numbers
The drivetrain delivers a combined 429 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, but the driver can tap the “Boost” button on the steering wheel to up the pony count to 483 for 15 seconds at a time.
The 800-volt electric architecture used by the Electrified GV70 helps speed up charging times, meanwhile, the crossover capable of going from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in as little as 18 minutes when plugged into a 350 kW DC public quick charger. Using a conventional Level 2 public or home charger would take about 7 hours to hit 100 percent.
The Korean luxury brand isn’t ready to release final range numbers but it’s expected to come in around mid-pack. If it’s anywhere near what the GV60 manages, that would be around 250 miles per charge.
Pricing and incentives
Genesis isn’t ready to release pricing for Electrified GV70. The smaller GV60 starts at $60,385. Some observers have predicted the newer model will start above $70,000.
The Electrified GV70 will break ground in another way: it is the first Genesis vehicle that will not be imported from South Korea. Instead, it will be produced at the Hyundai manufacturing facility in Montgomery, Alabama.