Genesis is gearing up to introduce its new high-performance sub-brand, Magma, and the GV60 electric crossover is said to be one of the first to make its debut. The vehicle has been partially revealed, shedding its camouflage, showing off Genesis Magma’s ambitious vision for more than just a high-performance model.
In terms of exterior design, the GV60 Magma significantly improves the design of the existing model, improving aerodynamics and cooling performance. The front end borrows heavily from the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo concept, most notably the redesigned front clip, which features a protruding chin spoiler and larger main air intakes.
Gone is the “smiling frog” grille design of the existing GV60, replaced by the massive A-wing style front fascia common to all Magma concept models. This fascia makes excellent use of Genesis’ signature “G-matrix” mesh design.
A pair of vents flanking the central grille appear to be air curtains or brake cooling ducts, while three oval air intakes are added to the nose of the vehicle, likely to help manage the heat of the high-performance motor and battery. The front clip includes downforce-generating dive planes at the front of the front fenders, and a pair of fins behind the wheels to help manage airflow around the sides of the vehicle.
The rear is still covered in camouflage, but a larger rear spoiler is expected to further improve aerodynamics. A flat underbody and a large diffuser are also expected to help manage airflow and reduce lift. The wheels and tires have a much more purposeful design than the GV60 Performance’s flashy wheels, adopting a more streamlined design similar to the G70 sports sedan.
There’s no official word on performance yet, but considering that its Hyundai Group cousin, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, produces 641 horsepower when its N Green Boost mode is activated, the GV60 Magma is expected to be even more powerful as a premium model.
650 horsepower is an easily achievable goal, and it could even go over 700 horsepower to compete with the Tesla Plaid. Given that the current GV60 Performance model can accelerate from 0 to 60 in under 4 seconds with 483 horsepower, the Magma model is expected to be surprisingly quick.
This output will likely be delivered via a pair of electric motors, which could either be the high-performance units used in the Ioniq 5 N or they could be fine-tuned with Genesis-specific coding. The battery could remain the same 77.4 kWh unit, but an upgraded 84.0 kWh power source is more likely. The impressive battery management software from the Ioniq 5 N is also expected to be applied to the GV60 Magma, providing consistent performance even as the battery capacity decreases.
The Genesis GV60 Magma is expected to make high-performance brands such as BMW and Mercedes-AMG nervous. In particular, it will be competing with models such as the BMW i4 M60, Tesla Model Y Performance, and Mercedes-AMG EQE SUV.
The first Genesis Magma model is expected to be revealed sometime this summer, and since the GV60 prototype looks close to production-ready, it is likely that this model will be the first vehicle to announce the debut of the Magma sub-brand.
As such, the Genesis GV60 Magma is ready to breathe new life into the market as an innovative electric crossover that goes beyond a simple electric vehicle and condenses Genesis’ high-performance capabilities.
Source: SHProshots and CarBuzz
Sophiya’s passion for cars ignited before she was three, and she would identify every vehicle on her street. That enthusiasm fueled her pursuit of a mechanical engineering technology degree and a career covering the auto industry. A four-time Canadian Automotive Journalism Awards winner, Sophiya now serves as president of the Automobile Journalists Association of Canada.
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