Hyundai Motor unveils two Genesis concept cars in New York

Hyundai Motor debuted two new concept cars for its luxury Genesis brand and its Genesis Magma program, the “next step for its new chapter” into the high-performance realm.

Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon speaks during an unveiling event for the Genesis brand's new concept cars held on Monday in New York, with the Genesis Neolun SUV in the background. [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Hyundai Motor debuted two new concept cars for its luxury Genesis brand and its Genesis Magma program, the “next step for its new chapter” into the high-performance realm.

The Genesis Neolun SUV and GV60 Magma concept cars made their first global appearance at Genesis House New York in Manhattan on Monday during a press conference ahead of the New York International Auto Show, set to kick off on Friday.

The Genesis Neolun, a portmanteau of the Greek word “neo,” meaning new, and the Latin “luna,” meaning moon, is the brand’s first full-size electric SUV concept car with a length of over 5 meters (16.4 feet).

“The Neolun Concept was inspired by Korea’s iconic moon-shaped porcelain jars,” according to Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, with its exterior characterized by refined simplicity.

The Genesis Neolun does not have pillars connecting the vehicle’s body and roof, which allows for a more expansive interior space.

“The Neolun concept holds a symbolic significance in Genesis’s journey,” said Lee Sang-yup, head of Hyundai and Genesis Global Design Center, during the event.

Lee defined Genesis’ ultimate design objective as “permanence,” aiming for timeless gracefulness with an interior that enhances the EV experience through all five senses.

Genesis GV60 Magma concept car [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Meanwhile, the Genesis Magma program marks the Genesis brand’s foray into high-performance vehicle production. The Magma option will be a high-performance trim for existing Genesis models, though the actual name of the trim has yet to be decided.

The Genesis GV60 Magma concept car features a bright orange exterior, a flagship color for the broader Magma program. Hyundai Motor aims to begin mass-producing high-performance GV60 Magma vehicles next year and expand the option into other Genesis model line-ups.

During the latest event, Hyundai Motor CEO Chang Jae-hoon addressed the recent demand slump in EVs, saying that while the electrification trend has been slowing down worldwide, "we still believe that it is the ultimate path we need to take.”

Chang added, “We are now considering many options regarding powertrains, as in how we could execute the transition in powertrains in line with the market environment and how flexible we could achieve that.”

BY SHIN HA-NEE [shin.hanee@joongang.co.kr]