Hyundai launches first Genesis EV sedan G80 in Korea

Hyundai Motor Co. said on Wednesday it has debuted a new electric sedan sold under the independent premium brand of Genesis in the Korean market as the automaker is rebranding itself as a maker of luxury cars.

Dubbed the Electrified G80, the mid-size luxury sedan is the premium brand’s first electric model that appears to be nearly identical to the gas-powered version, aside from a few minor trim differences and a different front grille that contains a panel that opens to reveal a charging port.

Premiered at Shanghai Auto Show in April, the G80 EV comes in all-wheel drive with an estimated maximum driving range per charge of 427 km, similar to Hyundai’s latest electric crossover utility vehicle (CUV), the IONIQ 5, which has a mileage of 429 km on a single charge.

The G80 EV accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers (60 miles) per hour in 4.9 seconds, according to Hyundai.

Its standard fast-charging capability will be able to replenish the battery pack from 10% to 80% charge in 22 minutes, it said.

An onboard vehicle-to-load system will allow the G80 EV to power external electrical devices from its battery pack at up to 3.6 kilowatts.

Drivers can also opt for a solar roof, featuring a large solar panel used to capture electricity up to 730 Wh a day to power the battery pack and increase the driving range by up to 1,150 km, it said.

The G80 EV is priced at 82.8 million won ($72,860) in the domestic market, which can go down depending on government subsidies.

Meanwhile, the Auto Express, a UK weekly automobile magazine, recently picked the IONIQ 5 as the car of the year for 2021, citing the electric car’s attractive design, infotainment technology and tempting price.

Write to Hyung-Kyu Kim at khk@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.