The Genesis brand is reportedly set to get its first convertible.
Automotive News reports the Korean luxury brand will introduce a production version Event X Convertible concept, which was revealed at last year’s Los Angeles motor show.
American Genesis dealer Peter Lanzavecchia, also chairman of the Genesis National Dealer Advisory Council, said Genesis chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke confirmed the model at the annual dealer meeting.
“When he said that at a dealer meeting — to say it in front of several hundred Genesis dealers — that was a pretty good sign,” Mr. Lanzavecchia said. Automotive News.
“It will be a real halo flagship for the brand. And while sales numbers may be very limited, I think the production of the convertible will help put an exclamation mark at the end of the sentence that says Genesis is a true luxury brand.
Mr Donckerwolke previously told the media that he was working hard to produce vehicles based on the brand’s three X concepts.
It is not clear when the production model will be launched.
The X Convertible follows the 2021 X Concept and 2022 X Speedium Concept, two different styles of two-door coupes.
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Concept Genesis X, X Speedium and X Convertible
Other than confirming it shares its architecture and electric powertrain with the coupe, Genesis hasn’t revealed any technical specifications of the droptop. It also did not release any specifications for the coupe.
The brand has previously confirmed all new model launches from 2025 onwards will be electric-only, and it will stop selling combustion-powered vehicles from 2030. Genesis has opted to skip hybrids and plug-in hybrids and invest directly in vehicle electric batteries.
The X Convertible Concept features traditional grand tourer proportions: a long bonnet, a large dash-to-axle ratio and a short front overhang.
Genesis’ “anti-wedge” Parabolic Line curves from the front fenders to the rear, while there are muscular blisters above the wheels to give the car some Coke bottle-like contours.
Notably, the X Convertible concept also features a relatively long rear deck for a more imposing appearance. Genesis calls the rear treatment a “concave elliptical ducktail”, with the shape interrupted by a V-shaped indentation that – like the lighting – hints at the crest and wings of the Genesis logo.
Somewhat unusually, the X Convertible concept featured a folding hardtop roof with a transparent moonroof above the front occupants – somewhat reminiscent of the defunct Volkswagen Eos setup.
The line of folding metal hardtop convertibles has thinned dramatically as automakers discontinued their drop tops and the few that remained switched to soft tops.
Like the X Speedium, the X Convertible wears a new version of the Genesis peak grille – or rather, the grille area – instead of the simulated but closed grille of the coupe concept and the production Electrified G80.
The interior closely resembles the previously revealed coupe concept, with a laminated instrument panel – featuring a portrait-oriented touchscreen – that flows into a raised center console for a driver-focused look.
The Korean luxury brand has never sold a coupe or convertible before.
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Hyundai Genesis Coupe
There was a Genesis Coupe produced from 2008 to 2016, but this predates the establishment of Genesis as a separate brand within the Hyundai Motor Group.
Related to the first-generation Hyundai Genesis sedan that isn’t sold here, the Hyundai Genesis Coupe isn’t positioned as a luxury model like its four-door counterpart.
Available with a V6 or turbocharged four-cylinder engine, it’s more of a rival to the Mitsubishi Eclipse rather than the V8 Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro coupe.