Genesis GV90 debuts with coach doors, swivel seats

Genesis has pulled the wraps off the GV90, the luxury marque's largest SUV to date, arriving with a long-rumored coach-door configuration and swiveling seats that rotate a full 180 degrees.

The electric SUV comes in two versions — the high-performance Neolun and a standard model — both measuring 5,285 millimeters (208 inches) in length and 2,030 millimeters in width. After spending five years in development, it enters a field crowded with the BMW iX, the Mercedes-Benz EQS and the Range Rover EV.

Designed as an homage to the moon jar, a hallmark of traditional Korean pottery, a wing-shaped array of headlamps stretches across the front beneath a sweeping clamshell hood. 

The so-called Neolun's arch-gate doors — a coach-door setup that eliminates the B-pillar, allowing the front and rear doors to open toward each other — offer notably wider access than conventional door configurations.

The GV90 Neolun’s swiveling front seats rotate 180 degrees, transforming the cabin into a lounge-like space where occupants face each other for rest or work.

"GV90 opens a new chapter for Genesis, building on our track record of bold innovation, elevated customer experiences, and an unwavering commitment to excellence," said Hyundai Motor CEO José Muñoz during an unveiling event at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Wednesday. "Our new flagship SUV represents our vision for the future while embodying the very best of Genesis, staying true to the distinctly Korean values of hospitality and craftmanship that have shaped our journey."

The huge SUV does away with a start button altogether. Pulling the door handle is enough to wake the vehicle, which unlocks and opens automatically to greet the driver.

Once inside, the rotary shift-by-wire dial swings from the 12 o'clock to the 2 o'clock position, signaling that the car is ready to move. A crystal-sphere control knob turns in tandem, while covers atop the dashboard slide open to reveal the tweeters — a sequence designed to tell the driver that the GV90 is awake and ready to drive.

Genesis says it’s a first-time feature for any Hyundai or Kia car, but not for the EV segment broadly, where brake-activated power-on has been common for years.

Built on a 3,245-millimeter wheelbase, the cabin offers generous space, with a flat floor and slim cockpit design aimed at providing occupants with a more comfortable, spacious ride.

The electric SUV comes equipped with a 123.5-kilowatt-hour battery, developed by Samsung SDI, which can travel at least 500 kilometers (310 miles) per charge, according to the company's internal testing. Official certification is still in process. 

On a 350-kilowatt fast charger, the battery can be charged from 10 to 80 percent in 22 minutes.

The dual-motor setup delivers a combined 490 kilowatts of output and 800 newton-meters (590 pound-feet) of torque — the most powerful configuration in the group's EV lineup to date.

Especially in the GV90’s highest four-seater trim, the smart vision roof uses polymer dispersed liquid crystal film, divided into six zones whose opacity can be adjusted independently, along with roll-down shades for when occupants prefer a fully enclosed feel.

Above all, many safety features are newly installed in the latest Genesis, starting with the body structure that uses a frame 1.5 times thicker than in previous models.

A 23.6-inch wide screen displays driving data, navigation and media while driving. When parked, pressing an expansion button on the center fascia raises the display by 90 millimeters, enlarging it to 24.6 inches for a wider screen.

The GV90 carries 12 airbags, including what Genesis says is the world's first roof airbag, designed to deploy across the entire roof glass in the event of a rollover — a scenario with a particularly high risk of serious injury. 

The airbag is intended to keep occupants from being ejected through the roof glass and to reduce injuries from impact with the roof itself.

An interior monitoring system also detects occupant type and seating position, adjusting airbag and seatbelt response accordingly, and can flag improper belt use or unusual posture.

On the battery side, Genesis has added Thermal Runaway Protection, a system designed to prevent heat transfer between battery cells. It combines a battery system built for efficient heat dissipation with barrier structures between cells that limit the spread of heat to adjacent ones.

The GV90 will be the first mass-production model at Hyundai's EV-dedicated plant in Ulsan, where the company spent roughly 2 trillion won ($1.4 billion) investment.  

BY SARAH CHEA   [[email protected]]