Genesis Is Finally Revealing Some Of The GV90’s Looks
Genesis is serious about taking on luxury European rivals, and to do that, it needs products in the segments where BMW, Mercedes, and Range Rover are operating. While one side of creating a high-end image is showing one’s performance credentials, which Genesis aims to do at Le Mans very soon, another is the luxury element, and the upcoming GV90 will take the Korean brand to new heights, rivaling premium SUVs like the BMW X7 and Mercedes-Benz GLS. Our spies have caught a development mule undergoing testing in Austria, and for the first time, the big SUV is showing its front-end lighting signature properly, confirming a bold new look.
The Lighting Signature Will Look Like No Other
If these spy shots show a somewhat familiar face, you may be recognizing elements of the Genesis Neolun concept, revealed last year. Like that show car, the prototype in these images has a distinctive lighting signature that sees two LED running lights stretch across the front fascia, pausing over the top of the wheel arches, and resuming at the rear of the front fenders. The bottom DRL deviates slightly near the middle, slanting inward to create a valley that gives the GV90 its Genesis-specific look. A pair of intake grilles above and below the license plate will help with the impression of width, and we suspect there may be additional lighting units on each end of the bumper. Big wheels are a given, as is metallic trim around the glasshouse. We haven’t got a great view of the back since there’s still a lot of fabric camouflage clad to the car, but another dual-strip lighting design is evident. We expect less chrome than the concept, but the diamond-shaped grille mesh should make production.
What To Expect Beneath The Sculpted Skin
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While this particular prototype has conventional doors, earlier spy shots have indicated that the rear-opening coach doors that helped give the Neolun concept so much presence will make production, likely as an option. This could also suggest that a long-wheelbase version will be available, much like the ESV take on the Cadillac Escalade. The GV90 is reportedly codenamed JG1 and is based on a new EV platform called eM, which can be used to underpin SUVs as large as the GV90, along with vehicles small enough for the compact segment. As many as 13 new vehicles are expected to be launched on the architecture by 2030, though that may shift as legislation does. Will it be good enough to beat Audi’s upcoming Q9 and rivals from BMW and Mercedes? Time will tell, but the signs are good so far.