The luxurious pinnacle of off-roading
At this year’s ongoing New York International Auto Show, Genesis has debuted yet another miraculous concept car that we desperately hope becomes a production reality. Earlier this month, Genesis showcased its pair of special variants of its full-size sedan – a large, luxurious coupe and a suave, seductive cabriolet – to much fanfare and excitement from its audience and online. Before those concepts were shown off, Genesis also debuted its GV90 SUV concept, which is set to become an all-electric production vehicle within the Genesis portfolio. We’re still waiting for more news about the stunning Genesis Berlinetta X concept, which was shown off at last year’s New York International Auto Show, and whether or not it will become a real production vehicle.
The Genesis X Gran Equator Concept, however, seems like a pretty likely candidate to join the stable of fashionable, high-quality Genesis luxury vehicles, considering its likely market aim at the likes of the off-road-focused Land Rover Defender and the Lexus GX. Using generative text-to-image artificial intelligence, we modified the official Genesis images to imagine what a production-ready version of the Genesis X Gran Equator Concept could look like, incorporating current Genesis design language and imagining what currently existing powertrains it could optimize. These images are for speculation purposes only and in no way depict any actual Genesis or Hyundai products.
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A mid-sized Genesis off-road SUV would directly compete against the Land Rover Defender, Discovery, and the Lexus GX
A true, hardcore off-roader from the Genesis brand isn’t just a bold idea; it would be a clear statement to the market that Genesis intends to take on segment giants like Land Rover and Lexus. Those legacy brands have earned themselves favorable reputations for excellent off-roaders through decades of conquering tough terrain, battling each other in Top Gear specials, and duking it out in seemingly endless off-road rally challenges. If Genesis really wants to be competitive here, they will have to show that they really mean business.
Thankfully, Genesis has at least earned itself a solid reputation for top-tier build quality and respectable durability, affording its marketing team enough criteria to confidently boast about a potential Genesis off-roader’s ability to get you home after a long day bashing about in the desert or in the mountains, whereas the same can’t always be said about some other brands. I’m looking at you, Land Rover, and that’s coming from an avid Land Rover enthusiast and owner. Much of the determining substance for rating the durability of a true off-roader comes from its running gear, so we can take a few educated guesses as to what Genesis might bestow upon a production version of its X Gran Equator Concept.
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Pulled straight from the belly of the Genesis GV80, the twin-turbocharged, 3.5-liter V6 that Genesis currently produces, which makes 375 horsepower and 391 lb-ft of torque, seems like an excellent starting point. If the Korean luxury marque were to fit its new off-roader with such a power plant, it would be directly competitive against Land Rover’s mild-hybrid, 3.0-liter straight-six and the hybrid, twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 in the Lexus GX 550 that makes just 349 horsepower, but a much stouter 479 lb-ft of torque. Despite the Genesis V6’s lack of hybridization compared to its more pedigree-laden foes, this fact means that the Genesis motor is inherently simpler, and therefore less prone to expensive maintenance and repairs. For die-hard premium off-road SUV enthusiasts, this is a recipe more akin to what earned Lexus its favourable reputation in the first place than Lexus’s actual current offerings. Such an idea might not be such a bad play for Genesis as they attempt to construct a reputation for dependable all-terrain capability.
A quirky, well-made Genesis interior would keep occupants disconnected from the elements
Despite having a knack for some serious off-road bashing, the goal of any luxurious off-roader is to conceal all of its rugged capability hidden beneath the driver and passengers, keeping occupants comfortable, refreshed, and protected from the harsh terrain in the SUV’s path. Genesis has done an excellent job creating interiors that feel modern and rejuvenating without coming across as too minimalist or bland. Yes, screens are neatly integrated into the brand’s interior design, but physical buttons still exist for vital controls, and the material quality punches far above its price point. If Genesis can continue this tradition in its future luxury off-road SUV offering, then it should be off to a good start, regardless of how many rocks it can climb over.
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Picture yourself ascending a mountain trail, eagerly anticipating the stunning scenery atop the summit, with a tightly packed picnic basket on the rear seat containing a seemingly endless supply of fresh, creamy cheese, sour grapes, and a dry yet buttery bottle of Chardonnay with its stem peaking out from the wicker. Your seat’s ventilation keeps your body cool, and the wave-pattern massage readies your muscles for your upcoming hike to the best vantage point you can find to soak in the views of the surrounding landscape.
On the Bang & Olufsen high-fidelity surround sound system, calming ambient beats keep your mind focused on the trail ahead, but relaxed and disconnected from the jagged rocks that would otherwise threaten your underbody, if not for forward-thinking protective skid plates strategically positioned to keep your mind at ease. This is the would-be Genesis luxury off-road experience, effortlessly combining the charismatic yet comforting elements of the brand’s product philosophy with the rugged capabilities of a high-end off-road SUV.
Final thoughts
While our dreams about a potentially upcoming Genesis luxury off-road SUV seem fine and dandy, they’ll only ever come to fruition should Genesis actually decide to build the damn thing. As we’ve seen with plenty of its other concept creations in recent times, the marque is more than willing to deliver on the front of exciting concept cars, but this seems to be at the detriment of its actual marketable lineup, which is becoming dated and increasingly overlooked as competitive brands focus their efforts on product updates and upgrades, rather than showing off hypothetical fantasies. Should Genesis decide to pony up and put something as intriguing as the X Gran Equator Concept into production, the brand might just finally have a serious winner on its hands.
About the author
Cole Attisha
Staff Writer, Autoblog