Automakers use concept cars for a lot of different reasons. Sometimes it’s just to espouse some high-minded ideas about things like sustainability, recycled materials, or the very art of the automobile itself. Other times, they’re used as previews of an automaker’s upcoming new design language, or a new model in the pipeline. The lurid, intoxicating design of the latest Genesis concept has us hoping the latter is the situation in this case.
Get your wrist warmed up to write this one out, because it’s called the X Gran Berlinetta Vision Gran Turismo Concept. It was shown off at the Gran Turismo World Series World Finals in Spain as an accompaniment to the high-octane e-sports event. Following in the steps of other automakers, the X Gran Berlinetta was created as a digital concept for Gran Turismo, the popular racing video game series created by Polyphony Digital. However, Genesis saw fit to greet attendees with a full-scale mockup of the concept car, albeit without a drivetrain.
Right away, it’s obviously a Genesis—the brand’s mark clearly denoted in both the badging and the characteristic “Two Lines” lighting that sweeps across the front end and down the fenders. It looks particularly striking in this case, outlining the grand maw of the front air dam and punching through into the huge vent cutouts on the side of the vehicle. It’s a long-hood design with the cabin set back, with proportions that mean business.
Every outrageous concept needs some lairy aero features, and the X Gran Berlinetta doesn’t disappoint with a wing set into the front end that lets air pass through the dam and over the hood. The mouth, along with the graceful curves and bubble canopy, fondly remind us of the Mazda Furai concept of 15 years ago, though the lighting design and detailing places this design very firmly in 2023.
The rear end is similarly striking, again continuing the Two Lines motif with the stylish integrated taillight. As you’d expect for a modern hypercar design, there’s a sizable rear diffuser. It’s joined by a smoothly integrated rear wing that also encompasses cutouts built into the wheel arch. Oh, and don’t let us forget to mention the highly-geometric center lock wheels, and what appear to be fuel ports on the rear spine.
We’re also told the Magma color was influenced by Korea’s volcanos, along with the emotion and vibrancy of the rich Korean culture. It’s all a part of the brand’s “Distinctly Korean” ethos. Insofar as the company has strongly established its own design language and stand-out style, it ought to be applauded.
Inside, it’s got a racing-style steering wheel with a screen and plenty of controls that nobody short of the World Endurance Championship is qualified to mess with. Hilariously, the minimalist interior also features a rotary control that seems to be displaying a compass (below, to the right of the yoke). As any adept circuit racer will tell you, this is key to avoid getting lost on track. Or maybe, just maybe, it’s filler that was left in by the art department and nobody thought to change it.
Just as impressive as the concept’s styling are the figures boasted by its spec sheet. According to Genesis, the X Gran Berlinetta achieves a drag coefficient of just 0.34. Meanwhile, the hybrid “race-spec” drivetrain delivers 1071 horsepower and 986 pound feet of torque – which equals 1,337 Nm, so maybe Genesis was making a joke here. That’s all thanks to the front-mid-mounted Lambda 11 V6 that revs to 10,000 RPM, delivering 870 hp and 789 pound-feet of torque, with the rest contributed by a Yasa electric motor. 
Of course, there’s just one minor problem with that spec sheet. It’s all a bit … flimsy. See, when you’re making a concept car to drop into a video game, you’re not constrained with the rules of the road, any given racing series, or even physics itself. Since it’s just numbers in a computer, why not say it has one-billionty horsepower, and a unicorn co-pilot that can shoot lasers at enemy aircraft?
For now, the car will live its life in Gran Turismo 7. Players can tune in to the Manufacturer’s Cup broadcast in December, which will grant them early access to the concept in-game from January next year.
That’s not to discount the glory of this Genesis design. The company should also be credited with actually building a full-scale model, even if it didn’t get a drivetrain. It’s a thing of beauty, no argument about that. The idea of Genesis building a top-tier hypercar is also an intoxicating one, even if it seems an outside chance at best. Regardless, if the company keeps putting out these amazing high-end concepts, both in the performance and the ultra-luxury space, it has to rub off on the company’s product lineup. If something half this gorgeous and a third as powerful hit the market with a Genesis badge, we’d all be winners at the end of the day.
“Who wants an orange whip?”
https://youtu.be/1oOv3cuP8M4?si=O_QSooG_7rXH3po9
STOP. GIVING. RENDERINGS. SPECS*.
In my tiny brain this is exactly the same as a 7 year old drawing a triangle with 2 circles and saying it has a 12 million-billion horsepower v-17 engine.
*Partial pass if said specs exist. If I was told this was powered by a 160hp variant of the Theta II or whatever garbage they’re producing I wouldn’t give 2 shits. Maybe not even 1 shit. But only if it was included in their little 3d model.
Hopefully this is to showcase an upcoming factory colour option.
I can’t fathom why Genesis doesn’t make just one insane hypercar, or at least supercar before ICE is forced out. Would they make money on it? Who cares? They definitely have the money for it to be a loss, but it would be such a boon for the brand and would certainly appreciate in the future.
No, it wouldn’t be an every person car, but they need a true halo product just to prove they could do it, and give the brand something to stand on imo. And I’m annoyed they keep making beautiful concepts for no reason.
I want to see a mass production auto company make a relatively affordable, low mass, low drag hypercar out of parts bin components. All of the manufacturers basically have everything they need to do it, but no one does it. The closest would be GM with the Corvette, but it is large, heavy, and very unaerodynamic, especially considering how relatively svelte and slippery the C5 and C6 were compared to the C8(and IMO the C5 and C6 were much too large compared to what I have in mind).
Basically, a Miata-sized car built on a mass-market platform used in other vehicle models, with the largest engine that will fit from that manufacturer, using all off the shelf parts for its running gear and mechanicals, with the lightest and most slippery body design that they can make work with stability at top speed on the most ideal platform in their list for the application. Aero slipperiness should take precedence over aesthetics entirely and also over downforce to the extent that you only need enough downforce for stability, and no more(otherwise you add drag).
I’m confident an OEM could get a sub-$50,000 vehicle with at least 500 horsepower weighing under 2,800 lbs with a CdA value under 0.3 m^2 out the door, using either EV or ICE technology, that would also be a halo car for energy efficiency at the same time, if they simply thought outside the box and were willing to take some risks instead of sticking to all the same lame trends everyone else follows.
This Spectre still has the oversized grille, oversized wheels, rubberband tires, and overly busy styling Genesis AND everyone else has in damned near all of their vehicle lineups. Thankfully, the car is fictional. Actually building it would be a further waste of resources and talent, IMO, like most of today’s offerings.
oh fuck, I’ve been toecuttered
That’s a verb now? That’s hilarious.
That’s the alpine a110, or an alfa 4c but that was a pos. Gordon Murray himself praise the alpine.
An Alpine A110 or 4C, with less custom parts, and designed for much lower drag as the VW XL1 was, and as big/powerful of an engine as will work for the parts and form factor available.
I guess the Solstice was kind of a stab at that, but it still seemed kind of bloated. Also, not really sure if the aero was anywhere near what you are getting at.
The aero of the Solstice and Sky were nothing near what I’m describing. They had more than double that drag.
So a Lotus Elise only from ‘murica?
A Lotus Elise with less than a 1st gen Honda Insight’s drag would be very nice. The Opel Eco Speedster concept gives a glimpse as to the possibilities: 160 mph top speed on only 112 horsepower, and a fuel economy of 93 mpg driven in Europe. Imagine something like this made of conventional materials and designed to be inexpensive ala Mazda Miata. Except you shove an irresponsible amount of power into it, as much as you can fit while keeping the car balanced and inexpensive.
Its cool and all but my issue with Genesis is they are beginning to trend too much towards an uber lux brand. When they first came out, the idea was sold, at least to me, was that you could get something amazing for less than what you had to pay from Japan or Germany. Now they are the same or more in some cases. I love that 2 doors are threatening to make a comeback. I just wish they would make a comeback in the 40-60k range not the 90-10000000 range
I like the side profile and I like the rear, but that overly-busy front end with all of those over-sized openings and those oversized wheels with rubberband tires just ruins it.
I have always loved the wheel and tire profile of the Triumph TR6. Wide tires are nice, but I like some sidewall. Not just for ride, but aesthetically. I don’t know that many share that with me.
I love lots of sidewall for practical reasons. I want my tires to last as long as possible, even when abusing them, to not fail when I’m hooning the vehicle about, and to be inexpensive to replace. Bonus points if they’re low rolling resistance. Meaty sidewalls all help accommodate these features, but the current fad of narrow rubberband tire design works against this.
Oversized wheels are also terrible for aero drag.
Former TR6 owner here. I agree whole-heartedly. A taller sidewall on a low car look fantastic.
The front end looks like a catfish with a cleft lower lip. I get the design language, but… :shudder:
That rear end though? That’s seriously beautiful.
I like it overall, but man, that rear is stunning.
*decides to be Distinctly Korean*
*names the car in mostly Italian*
Seriously though, this is an ugly plastic supercar concept that was drawn up exclusively to include in Gran Turismo. It would be fine with me if you guys didn’t cover videogame cars.
Ditto for “announced” e-motos that will never see the light of day. Don’t get me excited for concepts with 0 specs and 0 pricing.