"Ioniq 5 and EV6 Advantages in One Place"…Genesis' First Dedicated Electric Vehicle GV60

Genesis' first dedicated electric vehicle 'GV60' special exhibition was held on the 30th at Cafe Camp Tong in Apgujeong, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] "They have combined the best features of Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and EV6."

On the 30th of last month, Hyundai Motor Company unveiled the Genesis brand’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the GV60, to the media for the first time at a cafe in Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

The first look at the Genesis GV60 was quite different from the images and videos seen before. After examining the vehicle overall, one could feel the advanced sensibility of Hyundai’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the Ioniq 5, and the sleekness of Kia’s first dedicated electric vehicle, the EV6, simultaneously.

The moment I first saw the GV60, the crossover-type Kia EV6 with its smooth curves came to mind. While the existing internal combustion engine GV series conveyed grandeur, the GV60, befitting an electric vehicle, had a sleek and clean impression, making it stand out.

Genesis' first dedicated electric vehicle 'GV60' special exhibition was held on the 30th at Cafe Camp Tong in Apgujeong, Seoul. An official is starting the engine through fingerprint recognition. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@

Genesis' first dedicated electric vehicle 'GV60' special exhibition was held on the 30th at Cafe Camp Tong in Apgujeong, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The front and side of the vehicle combine digital sensibility with streamlined volume appropriately. The quad lamps with a two-line design on the front, which have a more advanced image, represent an evolution from the square lamps of the Ioniq 5. The two-line design is expected to clearly show that the GV60 belongs to the Genesis brand when it passes by.

A new emblem was also applied on the hood, featuring a flat surface that reduces the thickness of the existing emblem by nearly 80%, engraved with a delicate guilloch? pattern seen in luxury watches.

The GV60 is equipped with next-level convenience features such as natural language-based artificial intelligence (AI) voice recognition technology, facial recognition vehicle access, and fingerprint ignition, enabling interaction with the driver.

During the actual vehicle exhibition, a docent tour was also conducted. When a curator who had pre-registered their face and fingerprint stood in front of the B-pillar on the driver’s side, the vehicle’s built-in camera recognized the face and automatically opened the door.

Additionally, when the driver touched the vehicle with their finger, the ignition automatically turned on, demonstrating the characteristics of a futuristic car that can be operated without a key.

Moreover, unlike the previous method of voice commands such as "Turn on the air conditioner" or "Turn on the heater" for temperature control, simply saying "I'm cold" prompts the vehicle to adjust the temperature accordingly.

While embodying the traits of a futuristic car, the console box and steering wheel maintain the form of an internal combustion engine vehicle, reducing any sense of incongruity. To consider drivers of electric vehicles who do not hear engine sounds when starting the car, a spherical-shaped Crystal Sphere with mood lighting was installed. The Crystal Sphere visible when the ignition is off flips to become a shift dial when the ignition is turned on.

Genesis' first dedicated electric vehicle 'GV60' special exhibition was held on the 30th at Cafe Camp Tong in Apgujeong, Seoul. Photo by Moon Honam munonam@

The GV60 has generous dimensions with a length of 4515 mm, width of 1890 mm, height of 1580 mm, and a wheelbase of 2900 mm. However, as a crossover utility vehicle (CUV) style, its cargo capacity is less than that of traditional SUVs, and the second row does not fully flatten (full flat) on the four-wheel-drive model, requiring leveling work using mats for car camping. Also, the small size of the frunk (front trunk) is considered a drawback.

The maximum driving range on a single charge of the GV60 is 451 km. This is longer than the Ioniq 5 (429 km) but shorter than the EV6 (475 km). There are three trims: standard rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive performance model.

The performance model’s zero to 100 km/h acceleration time is 4 seconds, comparable to high-performance sports cars, boasting higher driving performance than the recently released EV6-GT Line 4WD (zero to 100 km/h in 5.2 seconds).