2021 Genesis G80 makes online debut, gets a twin-turbo engine

KUALA LUMPUR: As promised, the 2021 Genesis G80 has made its online debut from the company’s headquarter in South Korea. The sedan sports a sharp look, tons of advanced tech, and a trio of new powertrains.

On the outside, the 2021 G80 feature quad headlight fixture, the one seen on the GV80 SUV. It also gets the massive shield-shaped grille that looks stunning. What’s new here is the lower grille piece that runs through the entire front fascia of the car.

The rims on the new G80 resemble the ones found on its SUV sibling; they are silver-finished, 5-spoke, 20-inch units. Even the dual-tone signals and the signature body line connecting the headlight and taillight are the same as seen on the GV80 SUV.

On the inside, the sedan houses a large 14.5-inch central infotainment system that is managed by what’s called a ‘touch and write’ infotainment controller. It also sports a head-up display and a 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument panel. Both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are offered as standard fitments. Instead of the unique two-spoke steering wheel found on GV80, this one here gets a four-spoke wheel. The cabin receives all upscale materials like aluminium, wood, leather, and more.

The car also gets new and advanced safety tech like - blind-spot collision avoidance, ‘Highway Driving Assist II’, automatic emergency braking, and adaptive cruise with ‘Machine Learning’ interface.

Under the hood, the 2021 Genesis G80 now gets a 2.5-litre inline-four turbocharged engine that pushes 300 hp of maximum power and 421 Nm of peak torque. There’s also a 3.5-litre V6 turbo unit that pumps out 375 hp and 530 Nm. For the markets outside the U.S., it is also offered with a 207 hp 2.2-litre inline-four diesel unit.

According to the company, the new G80 is 110 kg lighter than its predecessor. In addition, the new rear-wheel-drive platform calls for a lower centre of gravity, leading to better handling. Also, a wider cabin leads to improved interior space.

The car is now available in Korea. In other markets, it’ll go on sale in the second half of 2020.

Also Read: Six Genesis models teased at GV80’s official debut