Genesis GV80 Coupe Concept Unveiled

Just days before the New York Auto Show is set to kick off, Genesis pulled the wraps off a new design at the Genesis House studio in New York’s Meatpacking District.

The trendy neighbourhood is an apt place for Genesis to show off the GV80 Coupe Concept; a style that’s become increasingly popular in recent years amongst other premium brands. With the Genesis lineup rapidly expanding with SUVs, it only makes sense that this squatter, fastback format would show up sooner or later to compete.

While many concept cars are fragile design studies with fanciful and impractical features, the GV80 Coupe Concept appears notably well-sorted and realistic, short of the 23-inch wheels, carbon fibre roof, and the beefy cross brace separating the cargo and passenger areas. The interior is defined by four aggressively-bolstered, racing-style bucket seats, each draped in Nappa leather and suede and accented with eye-catching plaid orange stitching. The cabin shows liberal use of carbon fibre but the dashboard is laid-out with plenty of familiar Genesis design elements reinforcing the belief that a production version can’t be far off.

Group Chief Creative Officer, Luc Donckerwolke is leveraging the GV80 Coupe concept to reveal design elements we can expect to see on future performance Genesis models. And while it may seem strange for an SUV to be the canvas on which to display these elements, Donckerwolke emphasized the intentional duality of the GV80 Coupe’s design philosophy meant to balance both athleticism and elegance. With the Genesis lineup now anchored in more than a half-dozen models spanning a broad range of consumer needs, the company seems comfortable to expand into more emotional – and presumably smaller volume – offerings.

The GV80 Coupe is very much an evolution of the Genesis design language, highlighted especially by the twin strakes that compose each front corner’s lighting, and now span the entire width of the tail. The long hood and dramatically sloped roof with the upswept belt line give the greenhouse a pinched profile. The back glass wears a split upper spoiler, while the rear cutline flows from the powerful rear haunches up to a very distinctive ducktail lip, capped with a strip of carbon fibre. A dark trim along the lower portion of the doors gives the GV80 Coupe a sleek wasp-waist, helping to emphasize the sporting intent.

The GV80 Coupe Concept is built around the existing GV80 SUV mechanicals, but otherwise, no further information was available about what may be planned for beneath the GV80 Coupe’s sexy skin. Given the popularity of the SUV Coupe, it’s likely a production version will do very well for Genesis, especially if its appearance doesn’t get too diluted from the concept. We can only hope that the GV80 Coupe Concept is also a serious glimpse into more overtly sporting offerings from Genesis in the future.