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  • Genesis Goes Electric with Electrified G80 Sedan’s Debut in Shanghai

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    Genesis G80 EV front

    Genesis is looking to make up some ground when it comes to electrification with the new Electrified G80.

    The Genesis brand is determined to go from catch-up mode to leaving its competition behind. After an initial delay, it’s rolled out an assortment of new SUVs and its now getting into the battery-car game with the launch of the Electrified G80 at the Shanghai Auto Show.

    The name of the Genesis Electrified G80 sedan might confuse some folks, making it sound like the automaker simply stuffed some batteries inside the conventional, gas-powered G8. However, the new model gets a major makeover to ensure it gets the range and other benefits offered by switching to battery power.

    “Today is very special because it represents a variety of firsts for the Genesis brand, not only because this is Genesis’ very first appearance at Auto Shanghai, but also as the first time we are unveiling a new product outside of Korea,” said Jay Chang, Global head of the Genesis brand. “The Electrified G80, the perfect balance of athleticism and elegance, marks the beginning of our journey into the EV market, representing Genesis in the era of electrification.”

    Filling in gaps in the product line-up

    Genesis G80 EV side charging

    Genesis has been on a product roll in the last year or so, but an EV was a hole in the line-up — until now.

    Genesis has been on a roll this past year, expanding its SUV line-up, updating initial sedans, including the gas-powered G80, and rolling out concepts like the all-electric Genesis X coupe revealed last month.

    The one thing missing has been a production battery-electric vehicle, something the automaker has long signaled was in the works — though it also was known to be considering different options, including a crossover, a city car or, as it now turns out, a relatively conventional sedan.

    There are some questions left to be answered, such as what platform the Electrified G80 rides on. Parent Hybrid Motor Group has developed the E-GMP architecture for use on products including the new Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6.

    It’s not clear whether it also underpins the Genesis Electrified G80. But the luxury member of the family has clearly found a way to squeeze in plenty of batteries, claiming the BEV sedan will deliver as much as 500 km, or 310 miles, range using the global NEDC standard. That likely would drop to something at or under 250 miles using the U.S. EPA test cycle.

    Quicker charging

    Genesis G80 EV interior

    The interior of the new electric G80 sedan features a slew of technology.

    The powertrain also aims to address concerns about charging times. The Electrified G80’s drive system can flip from 400 to 800 volts, allowing it to plug into the latest public quick chargers. Using the newest 350 kilowatt systems it can go from a 10% to 80% state-of-charge in just 22 minutes, Genesis claims.

    The Vehicle-to-Load, or V2L, system also lets a motorist tap energy stored in the battery to power electric tools or, if need be, appliances should a home suffer a power outage.

    Genesis isn’t ready to reveal specifics about the motor drive system, though it does note the all-wheel-drive system has a “Disconnector Actuator” that lets it switch from AWD to just rear-wheel drive. That suggests there is a single motor mounted, most likely, on the rear axle.

    In Sport Mode, the automaker claims, the Electrified G80 will launch from 0 to 60 in 4.9 seconds.

    Lots of unanswered questions

    While the battery model looks much like the conventional G80, it features a sealed version of the familiar Genesis Crest Grille. That reduces aero drag since there’s no need to send air to cool and feed a gas engine under the hood. The charging port is hidden within the grille’s upper right corner.

    Inside, the automaker switched to sustainable materials, including fabrics made of PET from recycled soft drink bottles.

    Calling electrification “one of the key strategies” for the brand, Genesis said the Electrified G80 will be followed by “additional EV models.” It also said it will share more information about the BEV and plans to bring it to North America “later this year.”

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  • MG Returns to its Roots with Electric Cyberster Roadster

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    MG Cyberster concept front

    Not your father’s MG ragtop for certain. The once-British, now-Chinese company developed has a new Roadster concept car.

    It’s a name most American motorists have long forgotten but there was a time when the products of British brand MG were a common sight on U.S. roadways. Once known for its droptop roadsters, MG is today owned by China’s SAIC which has turned it into a relatively mainstream producer of crossovers, sedans and hatchbacks.

    Now, though, MG is returning to its roots — more or less. It has been hinting for some time it was developing a two-seat ragtop and, weeks ahead of its formal debut at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, we’ve gotten a sneak peek at the new MG Cyberster.

    This is no retromobile. As the name suggests, the MG Cyberster adopts a strikingly modern take on roadster design and technology, making use of high-tech features like its distinctive “Magic Eye” headlights which appear to vanish when turned off.

    Golden days gone

    The Cyberster is set to make its debut at the Shanghai Auto Show later this month.

    If anything carries over from the golden days of British sports cars, it’s the low, long and wide dimensions of the MG Cyberster. But, even there, you won’t confuse it for a classic MG TC. The nose is far more aggressively raked, with a very modern-style lower grille and splitter, all critical for aerodynamics.

    The back end goes with a relatively blunt, squared-off shape and the double-bubble rear deck features twin headrests serving dual duty as a built-in rollbar.

    The lighting is all LED and the Magic Eye lamps are perhaps the most distinctive feature. Much as Hyundai has done with the seemingly chromed strips on the latest Sonata that turn into light bars, the Cyberster’s round headlamps vanish entirely when turned off.

    Chinese-British collaboration

    Though MG may be Chinese-owned today, SAIC and its London-based design team paid homage to the brand’s origins by using strip-style taillights that recreate the familiar Union Jack.

    MG Cyberster concept dashboard

    The Cyberster concept features five screens, including one in the yoke-like steering wheel.

    Inside, the high-tech nature of the new roadster becomes even more apparent. There are fully five videoscreens on the instrument panel: one handles gauge cluster duties, another managing the infotainment system. A third has been mounted inside the yoke-style rectangular steering wheel. Two others display images from the small cameras that replace conventional sideview mirrors.

    We expect to learn more about the MG Cyberster during the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. That should include some specifics about its fully electric drivetrain. So far, we only know that the roadster is expected to deliver 500 miles per charge. That’s using the WLTP standard, but even if it were to be cut down a bit by the EPA it would make for an impressive number.

    Performance unlike classis MG roadsters

    The Cyberster also will be able to launch from 0-60 in under 3 seconds, according to MG. Keep in mind that classic British roadsters never made that much power or offered all that great acceleration. The real appeal was in the overall driving experience. The modern-day Mazda MX-5 Miata is the closest we have to that era. Among the questions to be answered: how many motors are used in the Cyberster. These days, it’s becoming commonplace to mount separate motors on each axle. Going the equivalent of all-wheel-drive would be a big change from traditional MG roadster design.

    MG Cyberster concept tail

    British designers found a way to incorporate some Union Jack-style stripes into the taillights.

    For now, at least, the MG Cyberster is a concept vehicle so another subject likely to be dealt with on April 21 in Shanghai is if a production version is in the works.

    Opportunity for a U.S. return?

    Of course, there’s also the question of whether a production MG might be used to open the door to the United States — much like Alfa Romeo turned to the 4C to relaunch itself in the States. MG left the  U.S. market in 1980 after years of declining sales. Its various owners have, throughout the years, repeatedly signaled a desire to make a return.

    Breaking in isn’t easy, as a number of brands have discovered the hard way. Peugeot last month scrapped brands for its own American revival. That said, the emergence of the EV appears to be shaking things up — as Tesla demonstrates. Perhaps, MG might see an opportunity to gain a foothold with the Cyberster alongside other totally new brands like Fisker, Lucid and Lordstown.

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