Genesis has revealed its facelifted G80 sedan, featuring a more high-tech interior and some subtle exterior tweaks, ahead of an Australian launch in mid-2024.
The Korean luxury brand says more details specific to the Australian market will be provided closer to launch.
Exterior changes include a new dual-mesh design for the crest grille, which is flanked by new headlights that keep Genesis’ trademark two-line design but feature the brand’s Micro Lens Array technology.
There’s a new 20-inch alloy wheel design “reminiscent of an aircraft propeller”, while a restyled rear bumper sees the exhaust outlets hidden and V-shaped chrome details added that evoke the crest grille up front.
Sport models get a unique frontal styling treatment with the same headlights but a “double-layered G-Matrix pattern” and larger air intakes, while down back they get a unique black garnish.
More dramatic changes can be found inside, with the restyled dashboard dominated by a 27-inch-wide OLED display that integrates the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen.
Below this sits a touch-based climate control array, while on the centre console there’s a redesigned “crystal-like” rotary dial shifter.
It appears to have a different texture to the infotainment rotary dial, which has also become larger, helping to reduce confusion as to just which dial you’re grabbing.
The new screen array and rotary dials also feature on the updated GV80 crossover, due here in the second quarter of 2024.
The current G80 offers a 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen, and either 8.0-inch or 12.3-inch instrument cluster screens.
The G80 and G80 Sport will be offered in 10 exterior colours including a new Brooklyn Brown, along with four interior colour options.
The Sport, as the current model does, offers unique interior tweaks like a different steering wheel design and two types of carbon garnish.
Genesis hasn’t released any details about any mechanical changes to the updated G80. It also hasn’t revealed changes for the Electrified G80.
Currently, the petrol-powered G80 is offered with a choice of two engines: a 224kW/422Nm turbocharged 2.5-litre four-cylinder, and a 279kW/530Nm twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6.
It’s unclear if the G80, like the GV80 Coupe SUV and G90 flagship sedan, will get Genesis’ flagship engine: a twin-turbo 3.5-litre V6 with a 48V electric supercharger, pumping out 309kW and 549Nm.
The G80 has been Genesis’ best-selling vehicle since it was established as an independent brand in November 2015, with 390,738 examples sold globally between that date and the end of August 2023.
Genesis sold 1,008,804 vehicles overall during that period.
The G80 hasn’t been as popular in Australia, where large luxury sedans are niche sellers, as it has been in markets like South Korea and the US.
From January to the end of November 2023, Genesis has sold 47 examples. That’s more than the Jaguar XF (6 sales) and Maserati Ghibli (28 sales), but well below the German triad: the Audi A6 (236 sales), BMW 5 Series (455 sales) and Mercedes-Benz E-Class (381 sales).
That figure also includes the Electrified G80, which means it’s being outsold by the likes of the Mercedes-Benz EQE (388 sales) and considerably pricier Audi e-tron GT (304 sales).
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