A sportier-looking Genesis G80 now won’t launch in Australia until 2022.
The Genesis G80 Sport was originally slated for a launch in the third quarter of 2021, but Genesis Australia has subsequently confirmed it won’t launch until January 2022.
It’s widely known supply chain issues across the industry are causing vehicle launches to be delayed.
Local pricing and specifications have yet to be announced.
The G80 Sport features a range of exterior and interior design tweaks plus some suspension tuning, but no extra power.
The suspension has been modified with stiffer springs and retuned dampers that can make use of camera and navigation data.
In Korea at least, the Sport trim will be available with all of the G80’s current powertrains, though there’s no extra power or torque on offer.
The optional Dynamic Package does, however, improve straight line performance.
Only available on Sport models with the twin-turbo V6, the Dynamic Package includes launch control and a new Sport+ driving mode that speeds up gear changes.
Genesis claims these changes drop the 0-100km/h time from 5.1 seconds to 4.9 seconds.
The Dynamic Package also includes 20-inch wheels — instead of 19-inch rims — and rear-wheel steering, as well as an active noise cancellation system that “preserves the sporty engine sound and significantly reduces uncomfortable road noise”.
As with most other rear-wheel steering systems, the Sport’s system turns the rear wheels in opposition to the front pair at speeds below 60km/h. At higher speeds the rear wheels point in the same direction as the front wheels.
As with non-Sport variants, the 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder is rated at 224kW of power and 422Nm of torque, while the twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 makes 279kW and 530Nm.
Externally, the Sport is distinguished from other G80 models through a unique front-end design that includes a more aggressive bumper, dark gloss chrome trim for the grille, and black bezels for the headlights.
The use of dark gloss chrome also extends to the side mouldings, while there’s a restyled bumper and diffuser down back.
It’s been revealed in a vivid new shade called Cavendish Red, similar to the Mauna Red available on the recently introduced GV70 Sport.
Like the GV70 Sport, the G80 Sport features unique alloy wheels with Genesis’ G-Matrix pattern, though these are 20-inch instead of 21-inch wheels.
Buyers will be able to choose between black and red brake calipers.
Inside, the controversial two-spoke steering wheel has been replaced with a sportier-looking, three-spoke item.
The G80 Sport offers a new Sevilla red interior with V-pattern quilting on its seats.
It’ll also offer the option of a monotone black interior with either grey or red stitching, while the seats will also be available with diamond quilting.
Instead of real wood like other G80 models, the G80 Sport will offer a choice of real aluminium or real carbon trim, plus a third option which Genesis says is a “diamond-patterned hybrid weaving pattern”.
While the previous generation of G80 offered a Sport variant in other markets with an exclusive twin-turbocharged 3.3-litre V6 engine, the second-generation G80 was introduced with an optional twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre petrol V6.
In other markets, the GV70 crossover is available with the twin-turbo 3.5-litre in non-Sport variants, though here it’s exclusively offered with that badge.
The GV70 Sport packs a limited-slip differential and ‘Road-Preview’ adaptive suspension over lesser GV70s.
The introduction of a G80 Sport leaves only the GV80 SUV and flagship G90 sedan – the latter of which isn’t sold here – without a Sport variant.
While the large luxury sedan segment isn’t a high-volume one, Genesis has been diligently fleshing out its recently redesigned G80’s model range.
It added a 2.2-litre turbo-diesel four-cylinder option for July 2021, though this has just been discontinued as Genesis wraps up global production of the model.
A dual-motor electric model called the Electrified G80 will arrive in the first half of 2022.
Electrified G80
