HERE are the clearest pictures yet of Hyundai’s long-awaited response to the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class, Audi A4, Jaguar XE, Lexus IS, Infiniti Q50, and Alfa Romeo Giulia.
Known as the Genesis G70, the medium-sized rear-drive sports/luxury sedan is slated for Australia, but not before the second half of next year at the very earliest, following a probable world premiere by the time the North American International Auto Show in Detroit rolls around in January.
Though masked by both canvas and swirly tape camo, the prototype’s general form is obvious from the images, with the G70 adhering to the long-bonnet/short boot sports sedan silhouette. While no where near as dramatic, there is more than a hint of the ‘Hybrid Sports Sedan New York Concept’ unveiled in the Big Apple last March. We hope the show car’s striking interior translates into production relatively intact.
What’s underneath that bulging bonnet is equally intriguing. Though entry level variants are expected to employ a new 2.0-litre four-cylinder direct-injection turbo petrol unit, up-spec versions might use the NY Concept’s 180kW/353Nm 2.0-litre hybrid powertrain. There are also a pair of V6s on offer, in either circa-232kW/397Nm 3.8-litre atmo or 272kW/510Nm 3.3-litre twin-turbo guises, to provide a serious performance threat to the likes of the Audi S4 of this world. Fingers crossed, too, that the South Koreans see fit to stuff a 5.0-litre V8 in there too…
Handling all that power should be Hyundai’s eight-speed automatic transmission, with some markets earmarked to score all-wheel drive models to supplement the rear-drive vehicles destined for Australia. It is also understood that a development of the larger Genesis G80’s existing architecture will underpin the G70, meaning longitudinal powertrain and multi-link rear suspension set-ups.
Confused by the alphanumerical nomenclature? To refresh, the G70 will be the smallest of the recently established Genesis brand’s three-pronged luxury segment attack on Europe and Japan’s finest, sitting below the BMW 5 Series-rivalling G80 (the new name for the facelifted sedan currently known simply as the Genesis 3.8 in Australia, and due here in March), as well as the flagship Genesis G90 that may not even make it to our shores owing to it being left-hand drive-only (for now).
Going on where the Genesis 3.8 is positioned right now (currently from $61,500), G70 pricing ought to undercut the German competitors significantly, meaning a sub-$50,000 kick-off for the 2.0-litre turbo auto; where the high-performance versions land is anybody’s guess, but it is not unreasonable to assume they would slip well below the $100K barrier.
The G70 sedan isn’t the last Genesis in the pipeline, with two SUVs in BMW X5 and BMW X3 sizes set to surface sometime next year and 2018 respectively, followed by a two-door G70 coupe on the horizon for a 2019 launch.
Whether all share the same basic architecture remains to be seen, so watch this space.
Have spy pics of your own? We'd love to see them. Just email them to wheels@bauertrader.com.au
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