Electric car Genesis GV60 Basic: Less power, same battery

The Hyundai Group still does not want to commit to a specific date for saying goodbye to the combustion engine. It is well placed in comparison with the convincing electric drives. Genesis, a brand that the group would like to attract to its customers especially smelters, is making an attractive offer with the new GV60 base model. Just because the performance is cut here, but not the battery and charging capacity. However, there is a catch.

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Rear-wheel drive instead of all-wheel drive

Hyundai offers various drives and batteries within the group on the e-GMP platform. In terms of energy content, the range on this basis ranges from 58 to 87 ( )kWh in the G80 Electrified, the voltage level is always 800 volts. Until now, the GV60 was only available with all-wheel drive, but now Genesis is adding it below. The SUV coupé can now also be ordered with rear-wheel drive and a 168 kW engine. Delivery is scheduled to take place from spring 2024.

77 kWh battery with a voltage level of 800 volts

The obvious thing would be to save money on the most expensive part in the base model, but the Genesis didn’t do that. Instead of packing the basic 58 kWh battery from the Hyundai Ioniq, the GV60 retains 77 kWh. It remains at a voltage level of 800 volts. The equation power (of charge) is equal to current times voltage (W = V x A) shows that if the amperage remains the same, the power of the charge increases compared to the 400-volt system. In some tests, the company’s cars have shown how fast they charge, provided the infrastructure can keep up. Genesis states the power consumption in WLTP as 17 to 19.1 kWh.

The basic decision to stick with the big battery in the GV60 doesn’t have to be permanent. Some companies are now looking at how customers react to offers with less energy or energy content. An example of the movement in the market is the BMW iX1, which is available with a similar battery and less power at a significantly reduced price. Volvo takes a small step back in terms of performance, but reduces the amount of battery power in the base model XC40 by at least 13 kWh.

There is no choice

The new GV60 base model is available from 53,500 euros, with a maximum of 1,180 euros for delivery and registration. That’s 9,900 euros less than the more equipped GV60 all-wheel drive model. The basic version includes, among other things, a few assistants, a heat pump, a navigation system and a rear camera. If it stays that way, the basic model has a catch: There is no choice, even when it comes to color. If you want a color other than pure white or want to ditch the equipment of the new entry-level model in any way, you’ll have to get a premium package of 3000 euros. This puts the GV60 on par with the BMW iX2, which offers more engine power, but it cannot keep up in terms of hardware and charging performance. But BMW is expected to add an iX2 with 150 kW for less than 50,000 euros in the summer of 2024. So there is movement in the market, although there is still no question of prices corresponding to the quantity.

(mfz)