NEW YORK – Hyundai’s new Genesis luxury brand gives a glimpse at what its upcoming models will look like with a sport-sedan design concept unveiled today at the 2016 New York International Auto Show.
“With its expressive volumes and refined design, the New York concept truly embodies the ‘Athletic Elegance’ that characterizes Genesis products and will continue to do so for future models that come from our luxury brand,” Manfred Fitzgerald, Genesis brand chief, says in a pre-show release.
Modern luxury lifestyles and products, as well as forms from nature, inspired the appearance of the New York concept, Hyundai says.
The brand’s performance nature is represented by its long hood and dash-to-axle ratio, upright grille and horizontal headlamps, while sophistication is said to be relayed by pixelated light guides at the inner edge of headlamps.
In profile, the New York concept has the familiar cues of a sport sedan, including a tapered cabin with powerful shoulders and overhangs that are shorter in the front and longer in the rear.
A low deck and elongated taillamps are key elements of the rear of the sedan.
Hyundai says attention to detail shows in flush front- and rear-door handles integrated into the car’s beltline, as well as integrated hood, front-fender and quarter-panel vents.
Inside, designers wanted to eliminate negatives associated with some in-car technology. The car’s 21-in. (53-cm), 4K-resolution floating curved display by LG is one antidote, combining driver instruments and multimedia functions. However, some instruments remain analog, Hyundai notes.
A convex instrument panel and an open steering wheel – improving handling and instrument visibility – are other interior elements.
The center console runs the length of the 4-seater and features a bowl-shaped central control panel with aluminum inlays incorporating switchgear. The panel accepts single and multi-touch finger swipes, as well as handwriting and circular-scrolling finger movements.
Hyundai says the control panel includes a rotary dial in addition to touchscreens.
A 3-D gesture-control sensor allows certain content to be “thrown” from one area of the display screen to another.
The New York concept is painted ceramic blue with copper-colored lower-bumper and sill inlays, while interior colors are rich tan, copper and aluminum. The interior is done fully in leather, with sliced suede on headrests for a “soft tactile accent.”
In addition to the forthcoming G80 (formerly the Hyundai Genesis) and G90 (formerly the Hyundai Equus) large luxury sedans, the Genesis brand plans four new models targeting the BMW X3 and X5 CUVs, a 2-door coupe and a 3-Series fighter. The latter may be hinted at by the New York concept.
The hybrid concept makes 242 hp and 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) from a 2.0L gasoline direct engine paired to an 8-speed automatic transmission and unspecified electric motor. Output is similar to that of the ’16 BMW 328i, which makes 240 hp and 255 lb.-ft. (346 Nm) of torque from its 2.0L turbocharged I-4.
