Hyundai debuts First Genesis EV sedan at Shanghai Auto Show

Hyundai Motor Co. on Monday unveiled an electric version of its premium brand Genesis at the opening of Auto Shanghai 2021 as the top South Korean carmaker makes an aggressive foray into the world’s largest auto market.

Dubbed the Electrified G80, the mid-size luxury sedan is the independent 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.

The global premiere of the electric G80 comes as Hyundai is rebranding itself as a maker of luxury cars in China, where it has been reeling for years from weak sales due to its focus on the mass market.

“Today is very special because it represents a variety of firsts for the Genesis brand. Not only because this is Genesis’ very first appearance at the Auto Shanghai, but it is also the first time we are unveiling a new product outside of Korea,” said Jay Chang, global head of the Genesis brand.

“The Electrified G80 marks the beginning of our journey into the EV market, representing Genesis in the era of electrification.”

The G80 EV doesn't ride on Hyundai’s dedicated electric-only platform, the E-GMP. Instead, it’s based on the regular, combustion-powered G80 sedan introduced in 2020.

The latest model comes in all-wheel drive with an estimated maximum driving range per charge of more than 500 km based on the global NEDC standard or 427 km on the Korean standard, and 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.

NEW FEATURES

An onboard vehicle-to-load system will allow the G80 EV to power external electrical devices from its battery pack at up to 3.6kW, while a disconnector actuator system (DAS) enables one of the electric motors to be disconnected depending on vehicle speed and driving situation to improve efficiency and increase range, the company said.

The electric G80 is also equipped with a solar roof, featuring a large solar panel used to capture electricity to power the battery pack and increase driving range, it said.

At the Shanghai motor show, Hyundai also unveiled the Genesis X Concept, an EV-based Gran Turismo concept car, to the Asian market for the first time.

The unveiling of the G80 EV comes about two weeks after Hyundai said it is taking the premium Genesis brand to China to revive its sluggish sales there.

Last week, Hyundai Motor Group said its two automaking units – Hyundai Motor and Kia – will launch more than 20 hydrogen fuel cell and other electrified models in China by 2030, including Hyundai’s IONIQ5 and Kia’s EV6.

RIVALS UNVEIL NEW EV MODELS IN SHANGHAI

Hyundai’s global rivals have also unveiled their latest EV models at the Shanghai motor show.

Japan’s Toyota Motor Corp. announced Toyota bZ, its newly established series of battery electric vehicles (BEVs). At Auto Shanghai, Toyota unveiled a concept version of the Toyota bZ4X, which will be the first model in the bZ series.

Toyota said it will introduce 15 BEVs, including seven new Toyota bZ BEV models, by 2025.

The Toyota bZ4X, an SUV BEV jointly developed with Toyota’s partner, Subaru, adopts the e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform also jointly developed by the two companies. Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China with worldwide sales of the model likely by the middle of 2022.

Meanwhile, German automaker Audi AG unveils its A6 e-tron concept ahead of Auto Shanghai 2021. The concept is its first vehicle to sport an A6 badge and be fully electric.

Write to Byung-Uk Do at dodo@hankyung.com
In-Soo Nam edited this article.