It wouldn’t matter how high people’s expectations were for this new model, and it wouldn’t be a problem if they didn’t have any. A well-made car can shine alone, no matter what anyone’s expectations - like the Genesis Electrified GV70. The Electrified GV70 is perfectly ready to deliver a wide variety of pleasures to anyone. There is an excellent balance between intention and achievement. This model will give those who expected it more than expected, and it will open up a whole new world to those who didn’t expect any.
People expect a few things from electric vehicles - most importantly, their range. The Electrified GV70 has a maximum driving range of 400 km on a single charge, which should be enough for anyone. A 77.4kWh battery is placed on the floor and supports both 800V and 400V charging. The 350kW class ultra-fast charger can complete charging from 10% to 80% in about 18 minutes. How fast and pleasant!
The electric motors produce 160 kW and 350 Nm of power at both the front and rear wheels. The two add up to 320 kW or 700 Nm. You’ll hardly ever use all of this power on public roads. It’s better to go to the circuit to enjoy its performance thoroughly. Or you could go to the Autobahn in Germany.
With so much power, it takes just 4.8 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h; and in boost mode, it’s 4.2 seconds. I’ve tried it a bit in a safe place, and I didn’t expect it to feel this way in an SUV of this size. The Genesis Electrified GV70 weighs 2,230kg (based on 19-inch wheels). There is a very heavy yet thrilling feeling in the pleasure of speeding an SUV that weighs more than 2 tons with such power.
But it would be incomparable to the models designed only for speed in the first place. It’s understandable that sports cars run like that, but driving the Electrified GV70 takes you to another level. It’s not that ruthless to hit your head on the headrests, but it accelerates powerfully, steadily, and relentlessly. Relentless and tenacious, never giving up and running fiercely.
In the cabin, I can’t hear much other than the sound of the motor running. The Electrified GV70 is equipped with Active Noise Control-Road (ANC-R). The acceleration sensor on the front of the car detects road noise, and the microphone at the back picks up the interior noise. It analyzes the front and rear noise and sends out the exact opposite waveform next to the passenger’s ear from the speaker. It is the same technology used in noise-canceling earphones and headphones.
As I floor the accelerator, the field of view begins to narrow before you can even feel the background rushing through the windshield and side windows. This affects my body fluid. I feel like the acceleration of gravity is pressing me down, and I feel like my blood is circulating a little faster. The field of view narrows once more. The background now just lines. When I reach the top speed my body can handle, I put my foot on the brake and press it slowly. Now is the time to stop. It’s time to get back to a normal pace.
The fact that EVs can run so fast may not be such a unique factor. Electric motors are inherently like that. The moment you step on the accelerator, the maximum torque is released. The output steadily increases; At least, EVs can do so more easily than internal combustion engines. However, it is not easy to implement such ferocity as a standard and a mature and rich sense like the Genesis Electrified GV70. Genesis Electrified GV70’s sense of acceleration is not hastily. It’s not hasty, and it doesn’t seem to be obsessed with speed either. It seemed to know that it was born to drive fast. Then the true value of Genesis was built on top of that.
The Electrified GV70 focused more on the sense of luxury the driver and passenger receive in the cabin. This car has a minimum of smoothness right from the start, without being overly aggressive no matter how fast it is. Combining two seemingly extreme personalities in an appropriate proportion may also be their skill. The Genesis Electrified GV70 strikes an exquisite balance between the essence of a premium SUV and the strengths of EVs.
The Electrified GV70’s mature sense of balance is accentuated even more intensely on the winding road. Even when pushed hard, it doesn’t panic. Low center of gravity and instantaneous acceleration are characteristics of EVs. There’s a fundamental dynamism that comes from that. But I never imagined it would be this stable when I drove relentlessly. With each steep corner, I started to gain confidence in my fingertips and toes. I thought it would be okay to run a little faster at this pace. Little by little, the Electrified GV70 began to be enchanted by the mature and stable performance it showed at every corner. It was faster than I expected, but it also had the unique comfort of the GV70 in its core. And this is the power of Genesis.
The Electrified GV70 are EVs that completed the GV70 as a base. It’s probably not easy to tell the two apart when they meet on the highway. There isn’t much difference - maybe the G-matrix pattern and blue license plate on the radiator grille that shows this is an EV. The interior is the same. Perhaps the difference would be the eco-friendly materials used for the headlining. Electrified GV70 uses eco-friendly fabrics made from recycled PET materials.
As GV70 already features perfect design, its electrified sibling continues to boast a satisfying exterior and interior. Although it is an SUV that a family of four can enjoy ample space, this never follows the market’s conventional wisdom; there is no room for boredom. Sophisticated sensibilities are everywhere our hands and eyes touch.
At the bold rear are the two rows of rear lamps - the design language of Genesis. The two thin and light lines and the gentle yet voluptuous curves perfectly harmonized. The gentle drop from the highest point of the A-pillar to the rear lamps is also attractive. It’s not an overt coupe line, but it’s sleek enough and visually maintains its fluidity without missing out on space. The trunk space is 503L. When the second row is folded, there is enough space for two adults to enjoy the cabin.
After driving on highways and winding roads, I enjoyed Comfort Mode on the way back. I kept the ‘Driver Only’ button pressed in the climate controller. This button prepares for situations where the driver alone travels in an SUV, where the whole family can move comfortably. It reduces unnecessary power consumption by only operating the air conditioning system in the driver’s seat. There is also a ‘HEAT’ button next to it. Similar to the air conditioner button of an internal combustion engine, it is a button that can separately control the heater of an electric vehicle. Considering the most power-consuming features in an electric vehicle are the heater and seat warmer, this option has been prepared for the driver to enjoy the best fuel efficiency.
What do cars mean to us? Is it an efficient means of transportation? Is it a convenient tool to enjoy leisure time? Is it a cool object that shows my own taste and lifestyle?
Some cars only serve as effective means of transportation. Some cars show reliability, generosity, and potential to feel on the weekend. Some cars show agility. It could be all of these, or it could be just one of them.
The Electrified GV70 embraces all these meanings and purposes with its unique versatility. The efficiency of 400 km of driving distance guarantees its identity as a reliable means of transportation anytime, anywhere. Thinking about the possibility of going anywhere and the ample space makes it fun to imagine the upcoming weekend. A high-quality design language will not get tired even after a long time. Sometimes, it will relieve stress with the dynamics of the momentum that seems to dominate the road. Owning an Electrified GV70 is like owning all these capabilities, possibilities, and images.
A stand-out ‘wow-factor’ indeed appeals to consumers. But the Genesis Electrified GV70 on the market has one advantage, which doesn’t mean it’s one - It’s versatility. The level of perfection was once again improved with the ability to satisfy all aspects of each aspect and be complex enough and not lose the balance. The future belongs to those who make bold choices. When you’re ready to enjoy, there’s no need to hesitate.
by Woo-Sung Jung (Lifestyle columnist / CEO of 〈The Park〉)
He is a writer and lifestyle columnist. He worked as an auto journalist for GQ and Esquire for over ten years, and in 2018 he founded 〈The Park〉an automobile-related lifestyle magazine.
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