DRAWING MORE GAZES OF AMAZEMENT THAN ANY OTHER CAR AT THE NEW YORK AUTO SHOW, GENESIS’S ESSENTIA CONCEPT HAS US HOPING FOR A BETTER TOMORROW

BY EVAN MONROE

March’s New York International Auto Show brought some standout next year designs, among them the fetchingly notchy Audi RS5 Sport back, the nimble sports utility Acura RDX, and the simply gorgeous all electric Jaguar I-Pace, but the throng surrounding the Genesis Essentia was without parallel, and so we were grateful for the enhanced access that press passes provided.

From Genesis Motors, the luxury division of Hyundai Motor Group that made its U.S. debut in late 2016 with the G80 and G90 models, this all electric concept made mincemeat out of even the sexiest designs on nearby turntables, and was intended to reimagine, according to its maker, the “athletic elegance design paradigm.”

“The Essentia concept defines our vision for an electric gran turismo that integrates elegance and Genesis DNA as defining parameters,” said Genesis Motors Executive Vice President Luc Donckerwolke, who is also head of design. “A gran turismo typology highlights our ambition as a luxurious car brand for connoisseurs, and it is the perfect base to project our name in the future.”

Genesis’s first all electric vehicle, the Essentia features a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque, twin motors (one at each axle) the battery pack for which is housed in the center tunnel (as opposed to underneath the passenger compartment), which assists in achieving the daringly low 50 inch roofline and spacious, GT style cabin. With an estimated 0 to 60 time of three seconds flat, it’s safely in the supercar category, a status amplified by the side profile parabolic lines (providing visual structure to the body while emphasizing length) which ultimately meet the muscular rear wheel arches. Gullwing doors feature fingerprint controls and biometric facial recognition for both opening and closing. Flanking the crest grill are signature quad lights, introduced on the GV80 Concept. Made possible by laser optical technology, the extremely thin and flush headlights are integrated into the body, extending onto a side blade aft of the front wheels, which creates a unique light signature.

The Essentia, though still in concept mode, has given rise to waking dreams among this crew, and we haven’t hoped for the future like this since the Martin Jet Pack first achieved steady flight last year.

Paramus Genesis
Located at Paramus Hyundai
234 Route 4 East, Paramus / 844.810.6974
paramusgenesis.net