Genesis will join stablemates Hyundai and Kia in introducing an all-electric crossover this year.
Like the upcoming Kia CV and the Ioniq 5 from Hyundai, set for an imminent reveal, the Genesis electric crossover will use the dedicated all-electric E-GMP architecture.
Genesis’ EV is currently referred to internally as the JV, though we expect that name to change for production.
The company’s Australian operation confirmed late last year the JV would arrive in Australia during 2021.
Though it still wears some boxy camouflage, we can see the Genesis JV has a sleek, coupe crossover shape à la the Audi Q3 Sportback and Q5 Sportback, a radically different look to the sharply-creased Ioniq 5.
The wheels on this prototype look production-ready and, if you peer through the disguise, we can see Genesis’ signature bi-level lighting at both the front and the rear.
The tiny exterior mirrors suggest these will be camera-based mirrors as are optional on the Audi E-Tron.
As the Ioniq 5 is identical in length to the new Hyundai Tucson at 4630mm long, it’s likely the JV will be a similar size. For reference, the upcoming Genesis GV70 measures 4715mm long.
The Genesis JV could therefore serve as a rival to the upcoming Audi Q4 E-Tron and BMW iX1, though the JV will be unique from those in using a rear/all-wheel drive platform instead of front/all-wheel drive.
We also expect the JV to pack some punch considering the level of power the Ioniq 5 will offer.
Details published by Hyundai Austria and reported by The Korean Car Blog show the Ioniq 5 will have dual-motor all-wheel drive when it launches, and a combined 230kW of power. It’ll be good for a 5.2-second sprint to 100km/h.
Set to touch down in Australia during 2021, the Ioniq 5 will offer up to 550km of all-electric range on the tougher WLTP test with the larger 73kWh battery option, and 450km with the smaller 58kWh battery.
Kia has also promised it’ll introduce a high-performance electric car as part of its seven EV launches by 2027. Its first vehicle on the E-GMP platform, the CV, will be revealed this quarter.
Like the Porsche Taycan, the E-GMP platform will use an 800V architecture for ultra-rapid charging at up to 350kW. That means an 80 per cent charge in just 18 minutes, or up to 100km of range in just five minutes connected to the right kind of charger.
The JV won’t be the only all-electric vehicle that Genesis will introduce, with an electric version of the Genesis G80 sedan incoming that’s expected to be called e-G80.
Genesis has said it’ll take anything that’s been engineered for right-hand drive, which means the e-G80 is likely on the table. Of Genesis’ current model range, only the G90 flagship sedan is left-hand drive-only.
