2015 Hyundai Genesis – Driven To Write

And Then There Were Three

Three may be a crowd, but what a mosh pit…

On seeing the three Genesis concept line up, my initial reaction stopped me in my tracks. I saw modernity, striking lines, a confidence so lacking in many a competitor, but also a lineage, a history – well almost. Regardless of the brand’s short lived UK presence, centred upon ‘That London’, these potential people movers embody for this author, on screen at least, desirability above all else.

In Genesis parlance, “A beauty of innovation visualised by design” is a bold enough statement I choose not to argue with. Not wanting to Continue reading “And Then There Were Three”

Grand Horizons

A further lesson in design from Hyundai.

It has been stated with considerably greater authority^[1] than mine that the current automotive design centre of gravity no longer resides in Europe, the US, nor indeed (as yet at least), China. Car design’s True North now points inexorably towards South Korea. Several factors have contributed to this enviable state of affairs, not least an influx of senior European design talent to the Hyundai group over recent decades, but the end results are entirely their own and can now Continue reading “Grand Horizons”

Genesis GV80 Design Notes

Genesis have shown this concept car at the New York Auto show.

Some of the images are too smooth and bland to be anything but CGI so perhaps the car will look more substantial in the metal.

Lately I have been thinking a lot about articulation and ways designers show depth and substance on a form. Mercedes used to insist on big radii to express the thickness of the metal (you can’t bend thick sheet steel as tightly as thin stuff). Flushness suggest flimsiness as do sharp edges. I notice architects often Continue reading “Genesis GV80 Design Notes”

Why Did They Bother?

The Hyundai Genesis is coming to the UK market and Car magazine has phoned in a review in the June edition.

2015 Hyundai Genesis: Hyundaigenesis.com

“It has the handling properties of a marshmallow,” they write. I ask why Car troubled itself with taking up half of page 49 with the test-drive. I can’t fault Car for having its own agenda which these days is focused on performance cars. The Genesis, a 3.8 litre V6 rear-wheel drive saloon is miles away from Car’s core area of interest which is high-revving sports cars so it will fall at every hurdle. On the other hand, the Genesis is a welcome alternative and the question is does it Continue reading “Why Did They Bother?”