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New Genesis SUV Debuting in 2020 to Challenge BMW X5

By Tim Charlet on September 21, 2018

To compete in today’s completive automotive world, you need reach outside your comfort level. This is the challenge for Hyundai’s upscale brand Genesis as the traditional sedan manufacturer aims to enter the luxury SUV segment with the new G70 – an affordable luxury SUV that is intended to compete head-to-head against the BMW X5 and others in this competitive segment.

Since their debut in 2017, the sedan-only manufacture has sold 20,612 luxury vehicles in the United States. Year to date, Genesis has sold 8,940 units so far this year, which has Hyundai strategizing which concept vehicles to introduce to increase sales and market penetration.

To improve sales and keep the new brand in an upper growth trend, Genesis is planning to launch a series of crossover SUVs in the upcoming years. The first to hit the segment in 2020 is the GV80 concept – which made a debut at the New York Auto Show in 2017. The production variant of this concept is quite similar, with some minor tweaks. This mid-sized SUV is expected to be available to the public around the same time as the actively promoted G80 Genesis sedan. Both vehicles will be powered by a 3.8-liter, twin-turbocharged V6 or 5.0-liter V8 engine option.

Depending on sales of the GV80, Genesis is planning on unveiling the GV70 – and entry-level crossover that hopes to complete with the BMW X3, Audi Q5, and Mercedes-Benz GLC. There isn’t much known about the GV70, as it’s truly a paper-only concept currently. However, it is assumed that the vehicle will follow the lead of the GV80 – which is to take details from a similar-sized Genesis sedan and roll into the SUV variant. Genesis currently has a G70 sedan, which is a four-door mid-sized sedan powered by a 3.3-liter, 365-horsepower, twin turbo V6 engine. An adaptive, electronically controlled suspension matched with launch control and standard with Rear Wheel Drive makes the G70 a sporty, and quick-accelerating vehicle. The G70 is currently not for sale in the US, but is expected to make its debut in mid-2019.

Tags: Breaking News,  New Model,  SUV