Genesis, the burgeoning luxury arm from Hyundai, has whipped the covers off a rear-drive luxury rival to the BMW 3 Series and Mercedes C-Class. Built on the same underpinnings as the Kia Stinger, the G70 will be available with a range of compact, powerful engines.
There will be three engines on offer in the G70, headlined by a turbocharged GDI V6 engine making 365 hp (272 kW) of power and 490 Nm (361 lb-ft) of torque. It takes 4.7 seconds to hit 62 mph (100 km/h) and keeps pulling all the way to 167 mph (270 km/h). Downsizing to the turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine drops power to 250 hp (186 kW) and torque to 353 Nm (260 lb-ft), while the four-cylinder turbodiesel makes 200 hp (147 kW) of power and 441 Nm (325 lb-ft) of torque.
Regardless of engine, the car comes with Launch Control for quick getaways, along with dynamic torque vectoring and a mechanical limited-slip differential on the rear axle. The range-topping G70 V6 Sport comes standard with a variable-ratio steering rack and active suspension, too. Hyundai, sorry, Genesis seems keen to make the car feel properly sporty to drive, with a low seating position and active (fake) engine noise system for a better roar in the cabin.
That sports-luxury character is clear from the outside, where the design team has done a great job of making the G70 look different to the Stinger. Style is obviously subjective, but we'd argue the big grille and clean flanks of the G70 make it a more attractive proposition than its Korean stablemate. There are 10 exterior paint finishes on offer, and the range of attractive wheel options (check out the gallery, there are a few on show) makes for a sharp looking vehicle.
Inside, the basic design and architecture is undoubtedly attractive, but we'll need to have a poke around before passing judgement on material quality. There's an abundance of choices: five different leather colors, along with the usual selection of trim materials should keep customization-keen buyers happy.
As you'd expect of a modern luxury car, there are plenty of active safety features in the G70. Forward-collision warning, adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warnings are all part of the package, while the bonnet pops up slightly to protect pedestrians in an accident. Along with foot traffic, the car can now detect and help avoid cyclists on the road, something that could prove invaluable in crowded European cities where two-wheeled traffic is prominent.
Pricing for the G70 hasn't been announced yet. North American specification and price info will be revealed in early 2018, so stay tuned – and let us know if you'd have one of these over a Kia Stinger in the comments below.
Source: Hyundai