- Two turbocharged engines will be offered: 2.0-liter 4-cylinder and twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6
- Rear-drive 2.0-liter will offer a 6-speed manual gearbox
- Goes on sale in early summer
- Officially one of our favorite new cars for 2019
UPDATE: You can now read our first review of the 2019 Genesis G70
From the beginning the Genesis mission has been to compete with the established players in the luxury game. The G80 and top-of-the-line G90 followed a formula solidly established by parent company Hyundai—quiet comfort, plenty of power, loads of luxury features, and bargain pricing.
But while the new division’s top two offerings challenged the luxury establishment in terms of technology, quality, hedonism, and value, they weren’t quite on the same page in terms of all-around performance. The term sports sedan was rarely applied to either car in contemporary reviews. A New York auto show debutante, the G70 is conceived to give Genesis parity with the lords of the Autobahn, as well as offerings from Jaguar and Cadillac.
Specifically, the G70, which shares some underpinnings with its Kia Stinger sibling,was developed to deliver dynamic equality with the Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Mercedes C-Class, Jaguar XE, and Cadillac ATS. While the styling can’t be called risky, it’s consistent with the look the Genesis division established in its top models, with a big hexagonal grille flanked by LED lights and air scoops.
Also: Get your first look at the new and redesigned cars of 2019
Rear-drive architecture
What lies beneath is a dedicated rear-drive platform with an extensive development resume that includes lapping at the 14.2-mile Nordschliefe section of Germany’s Nurburgring race track, a must for any car with sports sedan aspirations.
Similar to BMW practice, the G70 is equipped with a strut suspension up front and a multilink arrangement at the rear. A mechanical (as distinct from electronic) limited slip is offered with a performance-enhancing Dynamic option package, and all-wheel drive is available.
U.S. models will offer two engine choices, both turbocharged. A 252-horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder, and a twin-turbo 3.3-liter V6 rated for 365 horsepower. In most of the G70’s five trims the engines are mated with a paddle shift 8-speed automatic transmission that includes launch control. However, the rear-drive 2.0-liter offers the choice of a 6-speed manual gearbox, an increasing rarity in this class.
There will also be five drive modes that allow the driver to tailor throttle response, suspension roll stiffness, all-wheel drive torque distribution, and steering effort. Braking includes the option of a high-performance Brembo system with 4-piston front calipers squeezing 13.8-inch rotors, and on models with 19-inch wheels the tires are high-performance Michelin Pilot Sport.
Also: Check out the latest news from the New York Auto Show
Active Safety
Like its bigger stablemates, the G70 will be equipped with a comprehensive suite of driver assist safety features—the Genesis Active Safety Control collection including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, blind spot detection and warning, lane keeping assist, and driver attention alert. As you’d expect, the G70 includes the latest in infotainment and connectivity. Not quite so predictable: the Genesis Connected Services, accessible via the company’s mobile app. Owners can schedule maintenance with their smartphones, and its list of conveniences includes valet service—the dealer comes to pick up the car, and returns it when service is complete.
The basic 3-year/36,000 mile warranty includes free scheduled maintenance, free roadside assistance, concierge services, free satellite radio and travel link data services, and lifetime complimentary traffic data. The G70 is due to go on sale in early summer as a 2019 model. Genesis refrained from releasing pricing information at the New York introduction, but reports from Korea suggest a base MSRP in the low $30,000 range.
More New and Redesigned Models for 2019
