Genesis Needs To Put The X Gran Coupe And Convertible Into Production
Today, at the Seoul Mobility Show in Goyang, Korea, Genesis is feeling a bit sporty. The brand just took the covers off two new concepts, the X Gran Coupe and X Gran Convertible. These new vehicles continue the manufacturer’s X Gran lineup of concepts that includes the X Gran Berlinetta. In fact, the X moniker has been used on a Genesis drop-top not that long ago, simply called the X Convertible.Â
With the new concepts, the company states they will Unfold a New Era of Genesis. That’s a lofty proclamation, but the luxury manufacturer has never sold a production coupe or convertible as of yet, and no, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe does not count.
Concepts Based in Reality
Producing the X Gran Coupe Concept and the X Gran Convertible Concept wouldn’t be a pipe dream as both are based on the full-size Genesis G90 sedan. That makes these cars larger-sized two doors, which makes sense for a brand looking to elevate its status.Â
Up front, the cars feature the ubiquitous Two-Line headlights that adorn all Genesis models. On the concepts, the lights stretch and extend into the widened fenders that emphasize the car’s wide track.Â
Smack dab in the middle of the lights is the usual Genesis grille that the brand states is inspired by woven metal strings arranged in a diamond shape. Further down the fascia are two deep intakes on either side of a uniquely stylized lower grille. Even with these changes, the X Gran noses are easily identifiable, just lower, leaner, and sportier.
The Gran Unknown
The hood on both cars is elongated to enhance the sporty silhouette, but what’s underneath the sheet metal, we do not know. All Genesis would reveal about the car’s performance pertains to the steering wheel, which is more about style than anything else. It features an aluminum third bottom spoke with a pattern that complements the small rotary controls.Â
If we are to speculate about the concept’s actual performance, we wager there’s an adjustable suspension, all-wheel drive, and multi-piston brakes. Under the hood, we’d expect at least the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6, most likely with the e-supercharger. Maybe, though, this would be a great platform to introduce a new, more potent powertrain. We can only hope and dream.Â
Lower is Better
Back to what we do know, both the X-Gran Coupe and X-Gran Convertible feature a steeper raked windshield compared to the G90 sedan. The roof also sits lower, further enhancing the car’s sporty character.Â
With the loss of two doors compared to the sedan, the remaining pair have been elongated, allowing reasonable ingress and egress for rear-seat passengers. The doors also incorporate one of my favorite features, fameless windows.
Upping the Interior
Each concept’s interior has been inspired by nature themes. The X Gran Coupe, for example, has design elements inspired by Mediterranean olive trees, according to the brand. There are olive leaf motifs on the floor mats, and olive wood veneer is microperforated to create an olive-themed atmosphere lighting. Even the leather has received the olive treatment, naturally tanned using wastewater from Italian olive oil production. While on the topic of leather, the roof is swathed in the material, with a fully quilted pattern.Â
Moving over to the X Gran Convertible, it’s all about the spirit of fine wines. Starting with the color schemes, the exterior paint is designed to be reminiscent of pressed grapes, while inside, the color pallet is meant to resemble hues of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes from the Livorno region of Italy.
To increase the feeling of luxury, crystals are incorporated into details on the steering wheel, center console and ventilation systems. The front seats feature embedded screens and rear passenger air vents.
Oh, and There’s That Hypercar Over There
Remember how Genesis is entering the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2026 with a new hypercar?
A bit more of the brand’s plans and designs are also showcased at this year’s show in Seoul. A half-scale model of the GMR-001 Hypercar is on display, and the brand announced it will compete in the European Le Mans Series during 2025 as a learning experience for next year.
Building a foundation for the Hypercar program, GMR will use an LMP2 car to get reps as a team unit, building the crucial operational teamwork required to be successful in endurance racing. Genesis will compete in the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) before joining the IMSA Sportscar Championship for the 2027 Daytona 24 Hours.
We’re quite eager to see how the new racing endeavor will do in the coming years.
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A 20+ year industry veteran, Mike rejoins the AutoGuide team as the Managing Editor. He started his career at a young age working at dealerships, car rentals, and used car advertisers. He then found his true passion, automotive writing. After contributing to multiple websites for several years, he spent the next six years working at the head office of an automotive OEM, before returning back to the field he loves. He is a member of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC), and Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA). He's the recipient of a feature writing of the year award and multiple video of the year awards.
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Those are cars that I would buy. A SUV or a crossover, never!!
Stunning. We need more big coupes and convertibles on the road. There used to be SO many body type options. Now everything is a compact or mid-size SUV. The world has become so homogenized and bland.