Genesis unveils G90 flagship

HYUNDAI'S high-end sub-brand Genesis has shown off sketches of its forthcoming G90 luxury saloon, which will become the first official model for the fledgling premium offshoot brand.

Set to replace the US market-centric Equus, it will be known as both the G90 and the EQ900 when it is officially launched in Seoul in December this year.

The G90 will be positioned as both a luxury and a technology leader, according to the company, which calls the new car a “blueprint for change and innovation”.

“The G90 sits at the pinnacle of the Genesis brand,” said the head of Hyundai Motor R&D Centre and vice chairman of Hyundai Motor, Woong-Chul Yang, “and it demonstrates how we apply our human-centered values to give our customer true satisfaction in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience.”

It will sit above the Hyundai Genesis four-door sedan currently sold locally, which is likely to be rebranded as the Genesis G80. Six new models will be launched under the new brand by 2020, according to Hyundai.

Whether the G90 will be sold locally or not is still undecided, with Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s general manager of public relations, Bill Thomas, telling GoAuto that it is too early to consider whether right-hand-drive will be offered for all Genesis cars, or be limited to the higher-volume models.

“While we should never say 'never', it's unlikely Hyundai Australia will import G90, which is the new version of the Equus sold in other markets,” he said.

“Apart from anything else, we have no confirmation from our parent company that this car will be built in right-hand-drive. Given the relatively small opportunity for a RHD G90 globally, it probably won't be an option to us.”

The G90 will most likely be built on an extended version of the same new platform that underpins the Hyundai Genesis, and be powered by a similarly sized V6 petrol engine.

Given the parent company’s current interest in hybrid technology, the five-seat, rear-wheel-drive sedan – which is expected to exceed five metres in length – may well feature a hybrid powertrain.