SerpApi.Org
Right now, the smallest vehicle Genesis makes is the GV60 crossover. In modern terms, it's a compact crossover that competes most directly with the Audi Q4 Sportback e-tron. There was a miniature moment back in 2019 with the Genesis Mint concept in 2019, but it faded away quite quickly.
Now, Genesis might be reconsidering something on the smaller side. Europe's Managing Director Peter Kronschnabl told Autocar that the brand is evaluating the idea of something smaller as Hyundai gets ready to launch the Ioniq 3. Here's what it could mean for the luxury brand.
Bones To Build A Sub-Compact Genesis
"We're evaluating this still but [have] nothing to confirm," Kronschnabl told Autocar. "For sure, for a brand that is evolving, we need to look at fast-growing segments where we might need to be present in order to nurture customers." He goes on to point out that Genesis is not looking for short-term opportunities or niches that don't make sense. Genesis has, indeed, moved forward consistently and with deliberation.
Kronschnabl writes off a luxury pickup as a niche nobody has filled and not worth exploring, and says there "are segments where maybe there is white space, but they don't make sense [for Genesis]. However, there is plenty of precedent for premium automakers to enter the sub-compact segment, mostly marketing them as city cars. And electric cars make for great city cars, where range isn't generally as important to buyers as size, comfort, and features.
A Case Against Using The Hyundai Ioniq 3
There's a simple reason we doubt that a Genesis sub-compact would be close in any way to the Ioniq 3. In short, that platform just doesn't seem a good fit for a luxury vehicle. The Ioniq 3 will run on the Hyundai E-GMP platform – a 400-volt platform derived from front-wheel-drive Hyundai-Kia architecture. It stands apart from the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and GV60, using the E-GMP 800-volt platform for rear-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.
Genesis has done a brilliant job of equaling or bettering its competitors as a premium choice, and it's hard to believe that front-wheel-drive would cut it on a truly premium vehicle for Genesis. However, the E-GMP with 800-volt architecture is scalable when it comes to wheelbase length. Whether it can scale down to work as a sub-compact is another matter as it was designed for larger vehicles. Both the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9 are three-row crossovers based on the platform.
CarBuzz Insight – Why This Matters:
Genesis is building a good head of steam, not just with its more mainstream cars, but also with its Magma performance line and the Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001 hypercar that ran at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. At this point, Genesis has a solid core of sedan and SUV products, but it doesn't have a sub-compact vehicle or a full-size SUV–two forms of vehicle that are staples of premium and luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes, Audi, and Lexus.
Genesis doesn't have an outright sports car, either. So far, it has been concepts, but a production sports car isn't typically high on the list when it comes to profitable vehicles for any brand. When it comes to all-electric vehicles, we suspect Genesis is mainly exploring going full-luxury with a full-size crossover or downsized luxury with a subcompact for its next segment. Range would likely be the issue for a full-size all-electric vehicle, so it likely boils down to doing the math on a subcompact.
Source: Autocar
