Genesis, Kia Light Up New York

Hyundai Group’s Genesis luxury line continues to make inroads against more established German and Asian luxury models with stellar interiors, connected-car tech and battery-electric vehicles. And now a performance trim line.

At this week’s New York International Auto Show, Genesis introduces its new Magma performance line to go up against BMW’s M line and Mercedes-Benz’s AMG cars.

The Genesis Magma electric GV60 CUV and G80 midsize sedan will try and hotfoot Genesis worldwide sales if they can win the attention of the weekend track drivers and just those who like some flash and vigor in their daily drivers.

The GV60 is the brand’s first globally available model. Weirdly, the South Korean company is not releasing actual performance numbers for its performance car. That is likely because engineers are still figuring things out for horsepower and torque.

For now, we must decide how interested we are in the packaging: vivid orange paint, which carries through to the seatbacks and upholstery stitching; big grille and vents; fins and a rear wing; nifty aerodynamic wheels that channel cooling air to the brakes. We will have to sit tight until the engineers decide how much pop comes from the accelerator pedal.

The G80 is getting similar special trim treatment, but the catch with getting one is that it will only be distributed in the oil-rich Middle-East markets.

Then there is the Genesis Neolun Concept, a large luxury SUV that points to a future production model. The Neolun features rear-hinged second-row “coach” doors that the company says may make it to production. The interior of the concept car has purple cashmere and leather, seats that swivel and a super-size flexible screen that rolls and unrolls as needed.

Kia K4 GT-Line

The Hyundai Group certainly stays busy. While most automakers blew off this year’s New York show, the Asian company seems out to dominate it. Down the price ladder from Genesis, Kia shows the K4 4-door, which will replace the Forte value-priced sedan.

The current Forte stakes out a price territory that Detroit has largely abandoned –  $19,900 to $24,000. The K4 figures to stay in the neighborhood with a design that echoes certain body-styling elements of the EV9 CUV, while the headlamps are reminiscent of the Telluride SUV. The silhouette has a fast-back look to it, yet it still has a trunk. Too bad; a true fastback might be preferable. The GT version gets unique styling cues to make it stand apart, as well as 18-in. wheels and black trim bits.

Regular K4 models get a 2.0L 4-cyl. with 147 hp and 132 lb.-ft. (179 Nm) of torque, while the GT comes with an optional turbocharged 1.6L 4-cyl. with 190 hp and 195 lb.-ft. (264 Nm) of torque.

The K4 will go on sale in the second half of this year.