If you have yet to know, the Genesis brand is a sub-brand of Hyundai that aims to produce premium vehicles to contend against some of Germany’s most formidable car manufacturers. At the ongoing New York Motor Show, Genesis unveiled the ‘New York Concept’ (make of that what you will), a premium compact saloon that will take on the Audi A4, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and BMW 3-Series.
The New York Concept (we’re still cringing at the name) is a hybrid sports saloon concept with a front engine/rear drive mechanical layout, where underneath the bonnet lies a 242 hp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine mated to an eight-speed automatic gearbox.
Adhering to Genesis’ design theme of “athletic elegance“, the front fascia sports a wide mesh grille connected to its front long bonnet. The sharp looking air slats below each headlight promotes aerodynamic performance by continuously channeling air as the car moves.
Inside, apart from the standard leather interiors found in premium cars, there’s a distinctive curved 21-inch floating screen that acts as the driver’s instrument panel and infotainment system. The screen is set to incorporate the latest Human Machine Interface (HMI) concept as well, which includes finger swipes and advanced 3D gesture-control features.
Sure, the concept may wow us all, but it’s far from taking its final form. However, expect Genesis to unveil a near-production-ready model later this year. The Korean giant is certainly optimistic and ambitious in their plans to penetrate this market. But the bigger question remains – will it work? Will, say, a premium RWD Korean saloon be able to pull as big a crowd of customers as they do draw attention? Only time will tell.
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