Genesis GV90 revealed: Rolls-Royce rival is Europe’s largest EV
It will be offered with the choice of seven seats or with a VIP-oriented four-seat arrangement (with rotating front seats) in range-topping Neolun trim, which also comes with pillarless, reverse-opening rear doors. An innovative dual-motion, sliding-hinge arrangement means that, unlike those seen previously on the likes of the Mazda RX-8, BMW i3 and Mazda MX-30, they can be opened independently of the front doors, and the back-seat passengers can get in and out more easily.
Extra reinforcements to the body shell compensate for the missing B-pillar, but Lee said that the unusual arrangement was one of the biggest challenges in taking the Neolun concept to production. “This car wasn’t just a design exercise; it has really pushed our engineering and manufacturing teams, and our suppliers. A hidden B-pillar on a small car like a BMW i3 is tough, but doable. Executing that on a car this size and weight, and still getting a five-star crash result, was almost an impossible mission.”
There’s ambient lighting, too, and a 25-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, which brings a new Virtual Venue function that can replicate the ‘signature acoustics’ of arenas such as Boston Symphony Hall and Wembley Stadium.
The interior material options have been chosen, Genesis says, “to deliver the attention to detail expected of a flagship” and include genuine stone, wood flooring and cashmere wool.
Lee said the primary aim of the design team was to ensure the GV90 retained as many of the Neolun concept’s features as possible. “We really tried to deliver everything from that show car: the 24in wheels, the full-width OLED taillights, the hardwood floor with the underfloor heating, and the crystal jewellery-look, cold-injection-moulded, strip headlamps. We didn’t overlook anything.
“We actually developed the concept car and the show car simultaneously. The concept had to be finished sooner, and so with some of its features we even managed to improve on them for the production car. The headlights are a great example. On the concept car, these had a more two-dimensional appearance; in the finished production car, they look even better, more jewel-like.”
Related posts
Latest Post
No Comments