Genesis 70-Series – First Impressions

THE GENESIS 70-SERIES ARRIVES IN THE UK.

Robin Roberts (and Miles Better News Agency) looks at this new brand and drives its latest models…

The arrival of the Genesis brand marks a new beginning for the motor trade but with the old fashioned value of personal service behind it.

Head of Genesis UK sales Jonny Miller said the brand’s philosophy is built around the customer and giving them a buying experience which exceeds expectations and creating a long term relationship.

Genesis is the luxury division of Hyundai and after being born in Korea in the early years of this century it really took off in America where established independent assessors ranked it top for quality in 2018. The Genesis board is sprinkled with highly experienced and European motor industry names from the likes of Bentley, Lamborghini, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and BMW.

Speaking at the UK launch of the G70 saloon and GV70 compact SUV, Mr Miller said their entire business is centred on the customer and making the purchase and service as easy as possible and to this end the vehicle prices will be fixed without possible negotiation.

There will not be a dealership network in the traditional sense, instead, Genesis will initially have a Westfield, London “Studio” with cars on display in the heart of the massive shopping complex which has 32 Million visitors annually and 12 personal assistants covering the Home Counties and South East England will individually look after prospective buyers and owners.

In the UK, walk-in and on-line enquiries will be picked up and handled by Genesis and the assistants closest to the customer will then liaise with people who want to test drive a particular model which will be taken to them and if they purchase a structured handover will then be made by the assistant.

When it comes to a scheduled service, the assistant will deliver a replacement car to the customer while theirs goes to a central technical centre and in the longer term Genesis will also be offering used models.

The concept of a regional Studio will be rolled out as necessary but only large conurbations will get them and personal assistants will be located around them to look after customers.

The public reaction to the brand has been very good and endorses what Genesis believed would happen, said Mr Miller.

“We have started with a nucleus network and personal assistants in the South East because that’s where we believe we can do particularly well but we are already interviewing and employing more personal assistants while we look at opening other Studios around the country in high footfall retail environments.”

The Genesis Studio will typically have 20 people working in 12hr shifts and be open every day of the week. Precise locations for the next Studios have not been revealed but our conversation was dotted with references to the South West, and Cribbs Causeway with its existing motor hub must be in the running and ideal to pull in wealthy customers from South Wales business community.

Initially, the launch models of the 70 and larger 80 series will be petrol or diesel and they will be followed before the end of the year by a G70 semi-estate or shooting brake. Next year will see the introduction of an electrified range beginning with the G80 saloon, which, unusually, can recharge another electric device. Further down the line expect to see a sleek all-electric sports coupé in the line up.

Mr Miller explained why Genesis UK has launched with petrol and diesel powered models and not the electric car, “We wanted to launch the brand to raise awareness of Genesis being different and did not want to confuse that with the electric message which could have overtaken our intentions and not allowed us to emphasise our approach to putting the customer first.”

There is still a medium-term future for internal combustion engined cars as the recharging grid is expanded and next generation traction batteries are developed with longer ranges and faster charging so Genesis wants to be established by then.

Ironically there are theological similarities between the Book of Genesis and the car-maker’s development in two phases with the second enduring and lasting.

So what is the UK market expected to buy?  Simon Branney, head of PR at Genesis UK, said, “We are going to sell more petrol than diesel, about 55/ 45 split for both G70 and GV70 but maybe slightly more in the saloon.

“Our research suggests we will sell more GV sales as that’s what people are buying in Britain but the arrival of the Shooting Brake may affect that balance to some extent. We also expect to sell more 70-series cars than the bigger 80-series in line with market trends.”

The G70 saloon series costs between £33,400 and £40,480 while the GV70 SUV retails between £39,450 and £43,350. They use 241 bhp 2.0 petrol or 197 PS 2.2 diesel in the saloon with 300 PS 2.5 petrol and 206 PS 2.2 diesel offered in the SUV with eight-speed auto boxes and rear wheel drive only.

Our day with Genesis allowed us a first drive in the G70 petrol saloon, which will compete with the best petrol models from premium UK and German brands. But it will also be up against the more powerful sole Kia Stinger 361 PS 3.3 V6 and which is similar money to the G70 and upon which it is based.

On the road, the 2.0 G70 saloon with options cost £49,500, more than the standard Stinger, but it was a very agile and lively drive with 241 PS coming easily from the free-revving engine. The G70 saloon will compete against the premium brand compact executive saloons such as the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series and Mercedes-Benz C-Class.

Eight-speed automatic changes were silken and quick, the steering had a lot of feedback although it was heavily weighted and the brakes were progressive and powerful.

It had big comfortable seats to absorb the firm ride and technophobes will love the dynamic and safety features.

Inside the G70 was not in the usual hard riding range of German sporting saloons but felt more aimed at the US market.

Considering Genesis has been on sale in America for a few years and stablemate Kia has been such a success in the UK it is surprising that the newcomers are not more tuned to British buyers and what they are paying for similar cars.

They are also mindful of the mistake of Nissan sub-brand Infiniti, which tried a regional approach to sales from 2008 and then disappeared within ten years, although highly rated if over-priced. Mercedes-Benz Maybach limousines shared a similar fate but Polestar has so far kept out of trouble for Volvo and of course Toyota and its up-market premium brand of Lexus has been a huge and sustained success story.

VERDICT

If you’re in the market for a rarer sporting saloon, the Genesis G70 may be what you want to try before you buy.

For: Agile, responsive, very roomy & comfortable, excellent gearbox, reasonably economical, some scarcity value.

Against: Firm ride, road noise, small boot, no UK dealership network.