Genesis decided it’s high time to spill the beans on the third-generation G80. The sleek sedan is here to do battle with the Germans, more precisely the Audi A7 and the Mercedes-Benz CLS, but design-wise, we expected a tad more.
Don’t get us wrong, we’ve been head over heels for sleek sculpted sedans ever since Mercedes-Benz revealed the CL and the first-generation CLS. Since then, this style, more often than not coupled with a sloping roofline has been adopted by many fellow carmakers, including Audi - with the A7 - and BMW - with the 6 Series; no not the current car, the one that it killed a couple of years ago.
That said, let’s have a closer look at the new 2021 Genesis G80.
2021 Genesis G80 - Design
From the off, we must say kudos to Genesis for managing to integrate that huge grille into the G80’s front-end design.
One of the areas where the similarities are evident is the front end.
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However, the G80 sports CLS-like cues when viewed from the side, too.
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In the rear, there’s less CLS and more Audi A7, although Genesis tried to change things up a little bit with the horizontal taillights that adopt the same cluster design as the headlights - which Genesis calls Quad Lamps, by the way.
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A very neat trick is, however, the way the headlights continue on to the sides, behind the front wheels, in clusters that act as side turn indicators.
The 2021 Genesis G80 is 196.7 inches long, 75.8 inches wide, and 57.7 inches tall. Wheelbase stretches to 118.5 inches.
2021 Genesis G80 exterior dimensions
Overall Length (mm/in.) | 4,995 / 196.7 |
|---|---|
Width (mm/in.) | 1,925 / 75.8 |
Height (mm/in.) | 1,465 / 57.7 |
Wheelbase (mm/in.) | 3,010 / 118.5 |
2021 Genesis G80 - Engines and platform
The 2021 Genesis G80 sits on a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive platform (all-wheel-drive is also available). Genesis says 19% of the body is made of aluminum, which sheds 275 pounds (125 kilos) off the new G80’s hips compared to the model it replaces.
Since it’s developed as a global product, the G80 offers three powertrain choices. The entry-level gasoline unit is a 2.5-liter turbo-four good for 300 horsepower and 311 pound-feet of torque, while the range-topped is a 3.5-liter turbo V-6 cranking out 375 horsepower and 390 pound-feet of twist.
The G80 can also be had in diesel guise, courtesy of a 2.2-liter straight-four turbodiesel good for 207 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, but it’s unlikely that this engine will come to the U.S as it looks more like an option for Europe and Asia. For now, there’s no word on performance, but those details are expected to come out closer to the G80’s market launch.
Customers can opt or RWD or AWD, and the solely transmission choice is an eight-speed automatic unit.
2021 Genesis G80 engine lineup
Engine | Gasoline 2.5 T | Gasoline 3.5 T | Diesel 2.2 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Displacement (cc) | 2,497 | 3,470 | 2,151 | ||||||
Power (PS / HP) | 304 / 300 | 380 / 375 | 210 / - | ||||||
Torque (kgf·m / lb.-ft.) | 43 / 311 | 54 / 391 | 45 / - |
2021 Genesis G80 - Interior
We are yet to climb inside the new 2021 G80, but the press photos alone tell a story of newfound plushness for the luxury sedan. The steering wheel has a particular sleekness to it and you’ll do well to find lots of physical buttons and knobs inside the G80.
The sedan is fitted with a head-up display, while the driver can source his car-related info from a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. In the middle of the center console sits a 14.5-inch infotainment screen. Passengers can interact with the setup via a rotary joystick or by simply using the touch-and-write screen interface.
The rest of the cabin is wrapped around in leather, soft-touch materials, and open-poor wood trim.
According to Genesis, the all-new G80 will reach the North American market in the second half of 2020. In South Korea, customers can order one as of March 30.