Genesis' first crossover a year away

[larrymg1]

Genesis' first crossover a year away

Genesis' first crossover a year away

August 20, 2018 @ 12:01 am

Vince Bond Jr.

The G70 is expected by the end of summer.

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In 2022, Genesis plans to have a stand-alone network of dealers and a sufficiently diverse lineup of vehicles for them to sell as it seeks to take its place alongside the industry's leading luxury marques.
By then, the upscale challenger could have three crossovers to balance a product menu that has been carried by sedans that are highly rated but have struggled to build sales momentum in a truck-dominated market. The brand also is looking to extend a hand to the eco-conscious with electrified offerings from two dedicated EV platforms.
G70: The sporty sedan — the first Genesis nameplate that isn't a carryover from the Hyundai brand — is expected to join the entry-level luxury sedan segment by the end of summer, complete with a manual option for driving purists. The G70 powertrain menu includes a 252-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder engine available for the eight-speed automatic and six-speed manual variants. It also has a 365-hp 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6. The manual is offered only on the 2.0-liter option. Genesis is counting on the G70 to expand its buyer base to younger consumers and women.
G80: The G80 was freshened for the 2018 model year with additional safety features, along with a Sport model with a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V-6. A redesign is possible in 2019. Sales are down 32 percent through July, so it could use a spark.
G90: The flagship is up for a freshening in 2019. Sales of the giant sedan continue to slip in today's crossover-driven market.
Electric sedan: The brand said last year that it planned to bring an electric sedan with a 310-mile range to market in 2021, joining the increasingly crowded pool of would-be Tesla competitors.

Future Product: Hyundai, Kia and Genesis timeline Future Product Pipeline

The GV80 concept previews Genesis’ first crossover.

GV70: The second of Genesis' planned crossovers is expected to ride on the same rear-/all-wheel-drive platform as the G70 sedan and use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbo and an optional 3.3-liter twin-turbo. Hybrid or plug-in hybrid versions are possible. A GV70 crossover would quickly follow the larger GV80. If the GV80 arrives on schedule in the late-2019, early-2020 time frame, the GV70 could come a couple of months later.
GV80: Genesis unveiled the GV80 concept as a fuel cell vehicle at the 2017 New York auto show. It's slated to be the first crossover added to the brand's utility-starved lineup. Global brand chief Manfred Fitzgerald told Automotive News in March that the three-row crossover could come at the end of 2019 or early 2020. Fuel cell or plug-in hybrid versions could be in store.
Third crossover: A mystery "CUV" listing was included in a product pipeline that Hyundai showed reporters last year in Korea. It could join the lineup in 2021.


You can reach Vince Bond Jr. at vbond@crain.com -- Follow Vince on Twitter: @VinceBond86
Genesis' first crossover a year away

 

[PMCErnie]

Pretty sad. Even the brand new '19 Santa Fe, soon to hit the dealer lots, will beat the GV80 to the USA by a FULL YEAR. There's really no good excuse for such lethargy. Oh, yeah, I know, "they need all this time to make it perfect." Sorry, that excuse cuts no ice with me.

 

[YEH]

^ What's your point?

The Hyundai Palisade CUV will likely only beat the GV80 to the lots by less than half a year.

There are different time-frames when models were greenlit and when work began on the underpinning platforms.

And no, it doesn't have to be perfect (no vehicle is), but it has to get most things (esp. the important stuff) right.

Otherwise you end up w/ Jag and Alfa CUV sales nos.

 

[PMCErnie]

^ What's your point?

The Hyundai Palisade CUV will likely only beat the GV80 to the lots by less than half a year.

There are different time-frames when models were greenlit and when work began on the underpinning platforms.

And no, it doesn't have to be perfect (no vehicle is), but it has to get most things (esp. the important stuff) right.

Otherwise you end up w/ Jag and Alfa CUV sales nos.

I made my point above.

 

[YEH]

^ Which has been rebutted numerous time w/ numerous reasons, such as...

1. Jag CUV and Alfa Stelvio sales haven't been good (been outsold by the Stinger which is not a CUV). So, again, simply having CUVs doesn't = sales (need to do it right).

2. If Hyundai had sold a (FWD) Genesis CUV (or 2) alongside the Genesis/G80, decoupling Genesis from Hyundai would be an even more expensive and time-consuming endeavor than it is; as is, Hyundai probably has lost $$ or at best is breaking even after compensating dealerships

3. A previous gen Santa Fe Sport-based Genesis CUV would be outclassed in numerous ways by the new Santa Fe.

4. There have been those (like you) who have constantly whined about how long it is taking the Santa Cruz lifestyle pick-up to make it to market. But like for the GV80, it needed to wait until the next gen Tucson platform (on which it is based upon) was developed.

 

[DWIL80]

I hope they change the headlight design on that GV80, not a fan of the look from the pic in the original post here. Just my opinion.

Also, maybe Hyundai is in no hurry to give Genesis a crossover since they want to let Hyundai sell more Santa Fe's, Konas, and Tucson's. I don't agree with the strategy, but that could be one of the reasons. At this point, the Santa Fe is so loaded that it retails for just under $40k fully loaded. 5 years ago, I would have never guessed that Hyundai would have the balls to sell a SUV for close to $40k lol.

 

[Mr. Incredible]

I hope they change the headlight design on that GV80, not a fan of the look from the pic in the original post here. Just my opinion.

they will, there are NHTSA federal regulations for length, height, width, and depth that have to be met.

Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/31738/10/10_chapter5.pdf


pretty much why concept car designs get altered so dramatically when they hit production.

just look at what happened to the G80 (Gen2 Genesis) from the 2013 concept to the 2015 actual production:

 

[EdP]

they will, there are NHTSA federal regulations for length, height, width, and depth that have to be met.

Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/31738/10/10_chapter5.pdf

They may change them, but even the legal ones like Jeep uses look out of place to me. They just don't look proportional to the rest of the body front end. Or maybe I'm just getting too old and traditional.

 

[YEH]

Also, maybe Hyundai is in no hurry to give Genesis a crossover since they want to let Hyundai sell more Santa Fe's, Konas, and Tucson's. I don't agree with the strategy, but that could be one of the reasons. At this point, the Santa Fe is so loaded that it retails for just under $40k fully loaded. 5 years ago, I would have never guessed that Hyundai would have the balls to sell a SUV for close to $40k lol.

Doubt that's the case, as the GV80 will be an entirely different price-point than the new Santa Fe (note: a loaded Sorento has been around $40k for some years now).

It's not like Hyundai doesn't want to sell more CUVs - whether they be Hyundais or Genesis models.

In addition to the aforementioned, Hyundai has the 3-row/8-seater Palisade CUV on the way, as well as a smaller CUV slotting beneath the Kona.

But based on a disguised/cladded Santa Fe which looks to have a longer WB, there may a new 3-row Santa Fe (replacing the renamed SF XL) which will slot btwn the 2-row SF and the Palisade (the Palisade, in top trim, would likely compete w/ the lower trim of the GV80 on price, and the Palisade will be ready about the same time as the GV80).

On top of that, it seems that Hyundai has plans for a BoF SUV that will compete against the Toyota Hilux, and Hyundai reportedly has a dedicated BEV CUV in development to go along w/ the Nexo HFC CUV.

So if this all comes to pass, Hyundai will go from 2.5 CUV/SUV models to 8.5 models - and then you have the Genesis CUVs.

The problem is where to build all these new models.

Hyundai has already stated that it intends to build the next gen Tucson at its 'Bama plant, but that likely will require an expansion of the facilities, as more likely than not, they'll also build the Santa Cruz life-style pick-up there as the US will be the largest market.

The BoF SUV is about 3.5 years away as that's when the new platform will be ready (will also underpin a pick-up slated for Australia and markets like SE/S Asia and the Middle East) as Hyundai has a lot on their plate (in fact, concerned that they may have too much on their plate).

The GV80 not being ready for another year is actually a good thing in my book as it won't have to launch during the confusing transition period - unlike for the G70 which will be sold at Hyundai dealerships (which have acquired a Genesis franchise) at the time being.

Much better for the Genesis brand if its new models (w/ the new Essentia design language) start off being sold at stand-alone Genesis stores.

Let's not forget, Alfa Romeo's return to US was officially confirmed in May of 2006; while Alfa has the Stelvio, it won't have its core 3 CUV lineup completed til around 2020-2021 - which is about the same time Genesis will have its core 3 CUV lineup.

Genesis was launched in the US in late 2016, so will accomplish the same thing as Alfa w/ a decade's less time.

 

[PMCErnie]

Not having vehicles to sell, when a market like CUVs/SUVs is hot, could never be termed “a good thing.”

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[EdP]

Not having vehicles to sell, when a market like CUVs/SUVs is hot, could never be termed “a good thing.”

Very true, but having the wrong vehicles is even worse for the future. They are taking the time to do it right, hopefully.

 

[Edmguy]

Anyone know if there has been any info or speculation what what kind of tow rating the GV80 might have?

More specifically, I am wondering if it will be more like the Germans (Q7, X5, GLE) or Jeep Grand Cherokee that have tow ratings in the 7-8,000lbs or if it will be more like crossovers from NA and Japan that max out at 5,000lbs.

I want to replace my 2016 Grand Cherokee in the next 1-2 years but need something that can tow over 5,000lbs. Hoping I will be able to consider the GV80.

 

[YEH]

Not having vehicles to sell, when a market like CUVs/SUVs is hot, could never be termed “a good thing.”

Well, it all depends...

Let's say Hyundai did a tarted up Santa Fe Sport and Santa Fe as Genesis CUVs (which would have been a mistake for various reasons, including that they would be inferior to the new Santa Fe and upcoming Palisade in many respects - don't want your mainstream branded vehicles to be better than your lux branded ones).

Sure, Hyundai would have sold some - probably somewhere in the ballpark of what Lincoln has done w/ the MKC and MKX (which, btw, has been somewhat disappointing for Ford) - but isn't the point of sales to make a profit?

Any profit Hyundai would have made from such sales would be given up as part of the now larger compensation amounts Hyundai would have to pay the dealerships (putting aside the the issue of further complicating the disentanglement of Genesis from Hyundai) - so, at best, Hyundai would be breaking even, if not taking a loss.

And even if Genesis had the GV80 ready now, not exactly the best time to launch a new model (as we are seeing w/ the G70) due to complications w/ separating Genesis from Hyundai and establishing a new dealer network.

Whenever G70 sales begin, it will struggle for a period of time as there will be a patchwork of dealerships (those which have already signed on for a Genesis franchise and where Genesis is recognized as a separate brand).

Furthermore, as the GV80 and next gen G80 will be the first 2 models to get a distinct (Essentia) Genesis design
language, it would be better for the brand if they never saw the lot of a Hyundai dealership and began their existence at Genesis dealerships.

And as stated before, simply having CUVs is no panacea - as seen by low Jaguar and Alfa CUV sales, and for that matter, disappointing Lincoln CUV sales.

Almightly Lexus did a cheap/rush job on the 3-row RX-L (merely extending the rear and not taking the trouble to lengthen the WB) and sales have reflected that, forcing Lexus to offer big discounts.

 

[ThoughtfulOne]

It would be interesting to see if Genesis released a large SUV (let's call this GV90) as well. Such a thing might compete with the truck-based SUVs (think Cadillac Escalade or Lincoln Navigator or perhaps the Lexus LX).


They are probably targeting MY2020 in that case.

they will, there are NHTSA federal regulations for length, height, width, and depth that have to be met.

Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/31738/10/10_chapter5.pdf


pretty much why concept car designs get altered so dramatically when they hit production.

just look at what happened to the G80 (Gen2 Genesis) from the 2013 concept to the 2015 actual production:


View attachment 15113

IMO one of the few cases where the actual production model was better looking than the concept.