Genesis coupe, convertibles on manufacturing pathway

The trio of Genesis X concepts released over the last few years are looking more and more likely to go into full-scale production.

The Genesis X, X Convertible and X Speedium concepts (jointly named the X trilogy concepts) are likely set to form the South Korean brand’s halo models as it begins its next chapter and evolution.

Speaking to Australian media, Luc Donckerwolke, the chief creative officer of Hyundai and Genesis, said the concepts have all proven very popular with plenty of demand.

“We are working on it, the fact is that I don’t want any design changes… in case the demand was there, which it is, it’s not a question of feasibility, it’s just a matter of a basic business case,” Mr Donckerwolke said in regards to getting the three models to production.

Previous reports have suggested that the convertible has already been given the green light but it now appears likely all three will make it to showrooms in time.

According to the former Lamborghini and Bentley designer, the vehicles should go in to production looking as close to the concepts as possible.

“Basically the request to make them real is with the simple condition that there will be no design change. It’s easy to make something that could look like that but basically, I said no design change,” he said.

“It has to be feasible, it’s a challenge for engineers, if I don’t give them challenges they are not going to perform. It has to be feasible.”

What powertrains the trio will come with remains to be seen, but we do know the vehicles will be electric. Given Genesis has confirmed that it won’t launch any new cars with internal-combustion engines from 2025, it’s unlikely any of the three will make it to production before then.

“At the beginning when we were looking at them, we didn’t consider that one would take over from the other one,” said Mr Donckerwolke.

“It was always with the thought of doing a complimentary family so each model has its own role and we were surprised because we were expecting to have a clear winner but it didn’t happen, we were confronted with the fact that we have demand for this one, this one and this one.”

Asked if luxury cars will still be in such high demand given the global financial instability, Mr Donckerwolke was unphased by the potential decline in demand.

“The pandemic has not affected any luxury manufacturers, goods or cars, that has not happened. The contrary. Now emotional vehicles are more in demand than any other vehicles,” he said.

Genesis engineers all its vehicles to be globally available – though only its G90 flagship isn’t available in both right- and left-hand drive – which means that when the X concept trilogy goes into production, Australia will have access to take the vehicles.

It’s far too early to speculate on price, but it’s fair to say that they will come to market as the brand’s three halo cars and given they will be fully electric as well, they will therefore sit at the very top of the Genesis line.