Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav A couple of years ago, Genesis showed us its unique take on the luxury electric SUV with the Neolum concept. The brand’s designers know how to draw a handsome shape, particularly using an SUV’s proportions, and the clean-lined concept featured a four-seat interior with no B pillar, swiveling front seats, and a thoughtful mix of leather, wool, and even wood. Now Genesis has debuted the production version as its new electric flagship, the GV90. And based on the photos, at least, the process of turning that concept into reality has been a success.
The GV90 uses the same 800 V E-GMP platform as other Korean electric three-row SUVs, the Hyundai Ioniq 9 and Kia EV9. A three-row, seven-seat GV90 will be part of the range, and I would assume the most common variant we’ll encounter on the roads. But for the launch, Genesis is just focusing on the four-seat GV90 and the high-end GV90 Neolum; the latter faithfully translates most of the concept, including the pillarless coach doors (which Genesis is calling the Neolum Arch Gate).
The GV90 Neolum is a variant with no B pillar and coach doors. Genesis Here’s one GV90 Neolum interior. The wood floor from the concept made it, too. Genesis Here’s one GV90 Neolum interior. The wood floor from the concept made it, too. Genesis This is one of the First Edition GV90 Neolum interiors. Genesis This is one of the First Edition GV90 Neolum interiors. Genesis Here’s one GV90 Neolum interior. The wood floor from the concept made it, too. Genesis This is one of the First Edition GV90 Neolum interiors. Genesis Pillarless coach doors certainly add drama to a vehicle, and Genesis has previously told Ars it learned enough to engineer them with all the safety requirements volume production would require. Speaking of safety, all GV90s include the world’s first roof airbag (which deploys in the case of a rollover), one of 12 airbags throughout the interior.
You have no doubt noticed the massive infotainment screen on the dashboard. Thankfully, it’s only that massive when the GV90 is parked; for driving, it retracts 3.5 inches (90 mm) down into the dash. Genesis says the OLED display is 1.7 times larger when popped out, and the big-screen TV certainly works with the “living room on wheels” theme. There’s also a 25-speaker 3D sound system developed with Bang & Olufsen.
Genesis even calls it a “Cinematic Display.” But it retracts down somewhat into the dash so you can see where you’re going when you’re driving. Genesis This is the conventional-door GV90 four-seat interior. This is the conventional-door GV90 four-seat interior. The shape is large, but it’s rather elegant. Genesis The shape is large, but it’s rather elegant. Genesis This is the conventional-door GV90 four-seat interior. The shape is large, but it’s rather elegant. Genesis Other OEMs might highlight that you could use the big screen and sound system to watch movies while you charge. But as we have come to expect from other 800 V E-GMP EVs from Genesis (and Kia and Hyundai), fast charging stops don’t take very long—as little as 22 minutes to charge from 10 to 80 percent using a DC charger capable of 350 kW.
The 123.5 kWh battery pack is good for about 310 miles in the seven-seater, which will use smaller wheels than the 23- and 24-inch wheels that you see in the images. New front and rear drive units give the GV90 a combined 657 hp (490 kW) and 590 lb-ft (800 Nm), split 322 hp (240 kW) and 258 lb-ft (350 Nm) front and 335 hp (250 kW) and 332 lb-ft (450 Nm) rear.
One thing we don’t know is when it might go on sale in the US or how much it will cost.
