Fighting the Germans is never an easy feat—and we’re talking luxury compact sedans, not the Wehrmacht. But Korea’s Genesis brand, born two years ago (yes, the luxury branch of Hyundai, if you will), has set its sights on exactly that with the launch of the 2018 G70—the company’s first compact luxury sports sedan, going toe-to-toe with the ever-popular BMW 3-Series.
As Woong-Chul Yang, Vice Chairman of the R&D division, says, “The Genesis G70 exemplifies our dedication to customer-oriented products and innovation.” We get it, but will that be enough to win over the Bavarian fans? From the sounds of it and from what we see in these photos and spec, Genesis may just pull it off, completing the sedan family with the preceding G90 full-size and G80 mid-size sedans.
Power: Choice of 2.0T or 3.3T engine
Powered by either a 2.0-litre turbocharged I4 or a 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6, G70 shoppers can enhance driving dynamics with upgrades including a Brembo brake kit, a sportier adaptive suspension system, and a mechanical Limited-Slip Differential (m-LSD).
In terms of output, expect the G70 2.0T to produce 249 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, or 251 hp with the Sport package, and an impressive 365 hp and 376 lb-ft of torque with the burlier G70 3.3T.
Exterior Styling
Curbside, the new G70 compact sedan is sculpted and sleek with dark chrome fender aero vents next to multi-spoke alloy wheels and a long hood that finds a short front overhand. Upfront, a fair bit is going on with different angles and edges, but the large crest-type grille does look sharp with the stretched-out LED daytime running lights. The rear lamps evolved from the mid-size G80 sibling and have been stretched to the corners of the rear to convey a wide and dynamic stance.
Genesis G70 Sedan Interior
Inside this luxury sedan, the centre stack finds a floating display up top with a clean control layout just below — all subscribing to a more horizontal-style layout which opens up the cabin. Premium materials and soft-touch surfaces are evident, as you’d expect; from the aluminum door handles and quilted leather door panels to the metal speaker grilles. Driver front-and-centre is sport-grip steering wheel, which to us, appears less sporty and more on the luxury side.
2018 Genesis G70 Release Date
In Korea, the G70 begins selling in a few days on September 20th. For the rest of us in North America, we expect dealer shipments to arrive in Spring 2018. Overseas product specifications in markets including North America, Russia, and the Middle East will be announced in early 2018.
