Rear Seat View of Genesis G80 Electrified Face-lift Model Rear Seat View of Genesis G80 Electrified Face-lift Model

2024.11.13 GENESIS 분량7min

The Ultimate Luxury Electric Sedan: Package Engineer Explains: The Rear Seat of the Electrified G80

The Electrified G80 has returned with a refined and comfortable rear seat, befitting its role as Genesis' flagship electric sedan. Here, the package engineer gives us an in-depth explanation of the rear seat space in the Electrified G80.

A view of Genesis G80 Electrified Face-lift Model

Genesis is expanding its horizons as an EV brand, and the redesigned Electrified G80 is a key part of that. Originally launched in 2021 as the first electric vehicle from Genesis, this model has undergone significant updates after three years, emphasizing the brand's vision for luxury electric vehicles.


One of the most notable changes in the Electrified G80 is the more spacious and luxurious rear seat, in line with its status as an flagship electric sedan. Despite being derived from an internal combustion engine model, Genesis has maintained its strategy to present a high-end, comfortable electric vehicle, showcasing the luxury the brand is known for.


Rear Seat View of Genesis G80 Electrified Face-lift Model


To create a more comfortable rear seat, the redesigned Electrified G80 features an extended wheelbase of 130mm and a redesigned rear space. This wasn’t an easy task, as maintaining the already refined design of the previous model while creating a newly optimized space required careful attention. Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak from the Genesis Engineering Solutions Team, who played a crucial role in developing the rear seat of the Electrified G80, explains:

A researcher in charge of developing the package of Genesis G80 Electrified FL model

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak of the Genesis Engineering Solutions Team, who led the package development for the Genesis Electrified G80, explains the rear seat design of this flagship sedan.

Q: One of the key features of the redesigned Electrified G80 is its roomier and more luxurious rear seat. Expanding the body and increasing space during the update couldn’t have been easy. What prompted this decision?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: Feedback from customers of the previous model pointed out the lack of space and convenience in the rear seat. Since the Electrified G80 shared the same specifications as the internal combustion engine model, there were clear space limitations. For the redesigned model, we developed the model with a focus on making the rear seat a VIP space, maximizing comfort and convenience. To achieve this, we extended the wheelbase by 130mm and equipped the rear with premium features like electric reclining and ergo-motion seats, power-operated door curtains, and an Easy Close system that allows the doors to be opened and closed at the push of a button.

Researchers in charge of developing the package of Genesis G80 Electrified FL model

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak and Research Engineer Ahyun Kim (on the right) from the Genesis Engineering Solutions Team explained that the rear seat package design of the Electrified G80 embodies the identity of a flagship sedan.


Q: What was the main focus when redesigning the rear seat space?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: Simply expanding the body to increase space is straightforward. However, maintaining the design perfection rooted in the brand's philosophy of "Athletic Elegance" while creating a comfortable and functional space is a challenge. To overcome this, we focused on an optimized size increase (length +130mm, wheelbase +130mm) and proper dimension allocation (living space +70mm, seat comfort space +60mm) during package development.

Table describing the change in the size of the Genesis G80 Electrified FL Model

Q: What exactly does "optimized dimension allocation" mean?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: During the package planning phase, we identified three key elements to enhance the rear seat experience: First, creating sufficient legroom for a comfortable seating posture. Second, ensuring ample headroom worthy of a flagship sedan. Third, implementing the REST (relaxation) mode seat position, first introduced in the G90, to increase comfort.


To meet these goals, we moved the hip point (the point where the hips meet the seat) 70mm backward, allowing even passengers over 180cm tall to stretch their legs comfortably. Additionally, we incorporated independent electric reclining seats, differentiating the Electrified G80 from the internal combustion model, and allocated the remaining 60mm to ensure seating comfort, as expected from a flagship sedan.


Table describing changes in rear seat space of Genesis G80 electrified partial change model

Q: The extended wheelbase has entirely been used to increase rear space and seat comfort. How much have the legroom and headroom increased?

 

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: The front seat remains unchanged, but the rear legroom and headroom have increased by 83mm and 20mm, respectively. In many electric sedans, rear seat comfort is often compromised due to the battery pack positioned under the floor, leading to uncomfortable seating and reduced headroom. However, in the redesigned Electrified G80, we used the extended wheelbase to reposition the hip point and secure ample legroom. By extending the car's length and slightly raising the height by 5mm, we were able to maintain the sleek roofline while adding 20mm of headroom in the rear.

 

Although the addition of power-operated door curtains slightly reduced shoulder room, and the reclining seats reduced trunk capacity by 20 liters, these changes are barely noticeable. After experiencing the rear seat, passengers will find it significantly more spacious and comfortable.

A researcher explaining the rear seat space change of Genesis G80 electrified partial change model

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak mentioned that they meticulously adjusted even the smallest angles of the rear seat to provide a more comfortable and refined travel experience.

Q: The rear seats feel not only roomier but also more comfortable. Were there any changes made to the seat angles?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: The newly applied electric reclining seats allow passengers to adjust the seatback angle and cushion tilt to their preference, providing an optimized seating posture. Additionally, the right-side rear seat, often used as the VIP seat, is equipped with a leg rest to further enhance comfort, befitting a flagship sedan.


When REST mode is activated, the front passenger seat moves forward, and the seatback, cushion, and leg rest angles are adjusted to provide an ideal position for relaxation. However, the range of adjustment for the leg rest depends on whether the front passenger seat is occupied, its position, and the seatback recline angle. Even the fixed rear seats, which don’t have electric reclining, have been padded with additional cushioning and tilted 2 degrees further to offer a comfortable and relaxed seating experience.


Table describing rear seat changes in Genesis G80 electrified partial change model

Q: The Electrified G80 includes a variety of new features such as electric reclining seats, Easy Close, and power-operated door curtains. How do these enhance the rear passenger experience?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: The Electrified G80 offers a seamless and refined experience for owners of flagship electric sedans. From simplifying the process of entering and exiting the vehicle to offering a restful environment during travel, the independent electric reclining seats and VIP-exclusive REST mode provide ample comfort. The rear seats also feature Ergo Motion seats with a massage function to prevent fatigue during long trips.

The Easy Close system further enhances the convenience of rear passengers. By pressing a button on the rear console armrest, door trim, or front center console, passengers can easily close the doors. A button on the door trim allows passengers to open the door with a light push. We also added power-operated rear door curtains that can be easily controlled via a window switch, and the rear console armrest now includes a wireless smartphone charging system.

Rear Seat View of Genesis G80 Electrified Partial Change Model

Q: Given that this is an electric vehicle, couldn't the height of the center tunnel have been reduced further?


Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: The Electrified G80 is based on the internal combustion engine platform. While we made changes to aspects such as exterior design, high-voltage battery, charging ports, and cluster graphics, removing the center tunnel entirely wasn’t feasible. Still, we minimized its height to reduce any discomfort and ensured that rear passengers could fully enjoy the expanded space.


A meeting of researchers in charge of developing the package for the Genesis G80 electrified partial change model

The Genesis Engineering Solutions Team put significant effort into creating a comfortable space in the Electrified G80. (From left: Research Engineer Tae-yoon Kim, Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak, Research Engineer Ahyun Kim, and Research Engineer Hyuk-jun Pak)

Q: Simultaneously developing both internal combustion engine and electric models on the same platform must have presented challenges. Were there any difficulties during development?

 

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: Unlike SUVs or crossovers, maintaining adequate ground clearance is a key concern for sedans, especially to protect the high-voltage battery positioned underneath. When using the same upper body structure for both internal combustion and electric models, the seating position and foot space for passengers are inevitably different, resulting in less interior space in the electric version. This was considered a drawback in the previous Electrified G80 model. In the redesigned version, we extended the length to overcome these limitations and provide a spacious experience suitable for a flagship electric sedan.

Rear seat of the Genesis G80 electrification partial change model

Q: As Genesis transitions to an electrified brand, how will package technology for flagship models evolve?

 

Senior Research Engineer Bohyun Pak: The most important consideration in a flagship model is delivering a comfortable and premium experience that offers unique value to customers. This includes both physical space and the emotional experience. Just because the powertrain changes doesnt mean the experience and value should be diluted. As Genesis moves toward electrification, we will continue to overcome these challenges, ensuring that every scenario inside the vehicle offers a thoughtful and comfortable experience for our customers.

 

Photography by Min-seok Choi