Welcome to the Hooniverse News! As always, this is a weekly recap of the biggest stories in the automotive industry without the fluff or bull. This week: Genesis stuns with new G90, Kia shows off 2023 Niro in South Korea, Polestar offers glimpse at company’s first SUV, Aston Martin is giving the V12 Vantage a final run, plus your news for the week.
Genesis G90
The flagship of the growing Genesis brand is getting a substantial overhaul soon. Details are limited but we’ve been given a full look at the stunning redesign for the upcoming G90. The luxury sedan was last reworked in 2018 with a facelift, but this upcoming model will be a full rework – to what extent, we can’t say yet. But we can tell from these images that they aren’t messing around.
The G90 will continue to be available in two wheelbases much like its German rivals, the S Class and 7 Series. But unlike those rivals, it boasts a design that will get people talking. Genesis has recently introduced a design language that’s just more interesting than what you can get from most of its competition, and for the G90 they’ve taken it to a new level. The “most elegant interpretation of the brand’s design philosophy” involves a giant Crest Grille and sleek Two-Line lamps – two signature design elements in every new Genesis.
The new grille on this model has a Layered Architecture finish with two G-Matrix patterns layered on one another in order to create a three-dimensional effect. Meanwhile the Two-Line headlamps are the thinnest Genesis has made to date. The same lamp design continues behind the front wheel well for what are presumably side turn signals and maybe a courtesy light too. It’s a simple trick but it contributes greatly to the car’s style. And for one final party trick, the hood is a giant clamshell design in which a single panel combines the hood and fenders in order to greatly reduce panel gaps up front.
The Two-Line theme continues at the back, but the lightning elements are switched up a bit. A thin light bar stretches across the rear at the bottom and another one connects the two bigger combination lamps. The roofline tapers off dramatically at the C-pillar, but doesn’t sacrifice headroom for a “coupe-like” roofline that every other sedan seems to go for. Despite that, they still managed to give it an elegant and athletic appearance without ruining the back seats. Imagine that.
So far that’s all we know about the new Genesis G90. It’s a dramatically different take on a big luxury sedan. Its design takes chances and breaks from the norm, but manages to keep elegance and beauty intact. So in other words, Genesis is doing what BMW thinks they’re doing.
We can assume it’ll go on sale next year as a 2023 model and have some form of electrified powertrain(s), but we’ll just have to wait and see. The interior should be interesting as well.
[Source: Genesis]
2023 Kia Niro
Kia has shown off the 2023 Niro for the South Korean market, which means it’ll also come to the US at some point largely unchanged. The Niro is a compact crossover designed from the ground up to be electrified in some way, either as a hybrid or BEV. With these new images, we can see that will continue into a new generation along with some dramatic new looks inside and out.
In a press release obtained by Jalopnik, they call this design language “Opposites United”. It’s a busy design with new lighting elements and a grille that makes the car look like it’s shouting at you. There’s also lots of two-tone going on with black painted accents along the doors and a contrasting C-pillar reminiscent of the original Audi R8. The rear end is highlighted by thin LED strips on top and a second set of brake lights at the bottom.
The interior is probably a bit less polarizing. It has a cabin layout with a screen setup once reserved for luxury cars with a digital gauge cluster and a central infotainment screen, both arranged in a way that almost makes it appear as part of the same screen. Lending to its environmental-friendliness is the extended use of sustainable materials, which should become the norm in all new cars. A headliner made from recycled wallpaper and seat fabrics from eucalyptus leaves are two examples provided.
Additional details like pricing and the exact powertrains offered aren’t available yet. Those would be subject to change anyway for the US market, so we’ll wait until that announcement before digging deeper.
[Source: Kia via Jalopnik]
Polestar teases first SUV
Polestar, which is Volvo’s all-electric sub brand, is at the point of their life where they’re just beginning to expand into other markets. The Polestar 1 was a luxury coupe few could afford while the 2 was a smaller sedan that was more realistic for daily driving duties. They’re now teasing the next model, which unsurprisingly is poised to tap into America’s obsession with crossovers and SUVs.
And you guessed it – it’s called the Polestar 3. It’ll launch next year as the company’s first SUV and the first one built in America, with production set to take place in Charleston, South Carolina. The 3 is a big move for Polestar as the premium SUV market is still the fastest growing segment in the US and, most importantly, is expected to be one of the most rapid to adopt EVs. The majority of new EVs I cover here are crossovers/SUVs, so that checks out.
Even though the 3 in this image is wearing a giant QR code, we can already see heavy influences from other models and concepts, especially the Polestar Precept. Their design language is impressive because it looks like its own thing but you can also tell it’s still related to Volvo. Other brands are quick to throw futuristic shit onto a crossover and call it futuristic, but Polestar seems to be taking a more nuanced approach to it. It should look stunning when the QR code comes off.
[Source: Polestar]
The V12 Vantage will return
Jeff already covered this one but it’s too cool not to mention again. Aston Martin confirmed a familiar and much loved model is making a final comeback – the V12 Vantage. They announced it properly with a video of nothing but the sound it’ll make. It sounds glorious. Read up on Jeff’s predictions and catch the video here.
What’s your automotive news?
That’s all I’ve got for you this week, so now it’s your turn. If you saw anything, fixed something, broke everything, or otherwise did anything even remotely car related that you want to share with your fellow hoon, sound off in the comments.
Have a good weekend.
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