The G90 is the first luxury offering from Hyundai’s new premium sub-brand Genesis and will be entering the global markets in the second half of 2016.
Soon after announcing its new premium sub-brand ‘Genesis’, Hyundai has unveiled the Genesis G90 luxury sedan, its first premium offering under the brand and the automaker’s new flagship model. The luxury sedan is christened Genesis G90 in global markets and as the EQ900 in home market South Korea, being the official replacement to the Equus sedan. The car is based on a stretched architecture of the 2015 Hyundai Genesis, which will be rebranded as the G80 when the revised version arrives next year.
The 2016 Genesis G90 uses a new “Athletic Elegance” design language that lends muscular lines, hexagonal shaped grille, new sweptback headlights and vertically stacked tail lights that are reminiscent of the new Mercedes S-Class. Chrome is in abundance and the car exudes a statesman-like aura very effectively, also its potential customer base. The styling is influenced from the Vision G coupe but is familiar courtesy of the outgoing Genesis while the badging has changed and carries the Genesis emblem instead of Hyundai’s ‘H’.
Inside the cabin, the Genesis G90 is loaded on tech and gets all the modern creature comforts comprising of electrically adjustable leather upholstered seats, 12.3-inch infotainment system, 9.2-inch tablets for the rear entertainment system, three-zone climate control, double glass insulation for improved NVH levels, wireless charging facility and triple door seals. Interestingly, the centre console extends all the way to the back separating the electrically operated rear seats and adds a host of controls at the owner’s disposal.
Powertrain options include an entry-level 3.8-litre V6 petrol producing 231 PS and 396 Nm of torque, while there is a new 3.3-litre twin-turbo V6 that churns out 272 PS and 510 Nm of torque, doing the 0-100 km/hr run in 6.2 seconds. The top-of-the-line trim gets a 5.0-litre V8 motor tuned for 311 PS and 519 Nm of torque and can do the 0-100 km/hr run in 5.7 seconds. Transmission options include an 8-speed automatic with rear wheel drive as standard on all trims. However, Hyundai is offering the H-TRAC all-wheel drive system and the electronically controlled Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension as optional.
In terms of dimensions, the 2016 Genesis G90 is a show stopper measuring 5205 mm in length, 1915 mm in width, 1495 mm in height with a wheelbase of 3160 mm. A long wheelbase edition is also said to be in the works that could be for selective markets. Around 51.7 percent of the G90’s structure is made of advanced high strength steel, which is 10 percent lighter than regular steel. The automaker has reportedly received over 10,000 pre-orders for its luxury sedan which is an extremely commendable number. That said, it is unclear on brand Genesis making it to India anytime soon. Internationally, the G90 will go on sale in South Korea during early 2016 while sales in the western hemisphere will begin in the second half.
