2022 Genesis G70 Redefined by Refresh
Genesis has predictably brought the G70 onboard with the rest of its lineup’s familial styling. Fortunately, the look the company has gone for has successfully merged disparate concepts by being both spectacular and incredibly tasteful. While your author would have argued that prior Genesis models had aped German exteriors so effectively that they might actually be beating Deutschland at its own game, the new designs only serve extend its advantage. It seems as though everything Hyundai Motor Group touches these days can’t help but have a stunning exterior and it’s true from the sub-$25,000 Kia K5 right on up to the $72,000 Genesis G90.
Quad lamps (front and rear) are now the hallmark of Genesis Motor and have finally been affixed to the G70, giving it a more refined and luxury-focused appearance. It’s also quite unique across the industry and helps distinguish the Korean brand from other nameplates at a distance. While many (including your author) enjoyed the sporting musculature on the current model, 2022 will be a more opulent affair better suited to the frugal fanciness the Genesis has become synonymous with.
By contrast, the interior goes largely unchanged from the 2021 model year. Exceptions to this rule include the new 10.3-inch infotainment screen that has supplanted the old 8-inch model while adding Apple CarPlay (Android Auto was already available) and over-the-air updates. While the latter is wholly unnecessary and perhaps a bit troublesome in some instances, it’s becoming standard issue within the industry and offers a few unique perks.
Remote bug fixes are a blessing and it’s nice to see features added to a vehicle that’s been on the road a year. But these systems also give the manufacturer more control over your vehicle (think obnoxious phone updates), direct access to your personal data, and may expose you to new security risks. Ah well, nobody is perfect and Genesis probably felt the need to do this to keep up with the rest of the vampires running the automotive industry.
At any rate, I’m still sprung on the G70. My only fear is that the quad-lamp design will look super dated by 2030, only to become the thing that makes them “modern classics” just a few years later.
Genesis plans on supplying more information about the model in a few weeks, with a company spokesperson telling us to anticipate details regarding the sedan’s luxury and safety innovations. Presumably, we’ll be hearing about what’s lurking beneath the sheet metal too. It’s a refresh year, so we shouldn’t assume a wholly new list of powertrain options. But there may be a surprise or two when the car launch in South Korea next month. North America and Europe will have to wait until 2021 before they can purchase the G70, however.
[Images: Genesis]
A staunch consumer advocate tracking industry trends and regulation. Before joining TTAC, Matt spent a decade working for marketing and research firms based in NYC. Clients included several of the world’s largest automakers, global tire brands, and aftermarket part suppliers. Dissatisfied with the corporate world and resentful of having to wear suits everyday, he pivoted to writing about cars. Since then, that man has become an ardent supporter of the right-to-repair movement, been interviewed on the auto industry by national radio broadcasts, driven more rental cars than anyone ever should, participated in amateur rallying events, and received the requisite minimum training as sanctioned by the SCCA. Handy with a wrench, Matt grew up surrounded by Detroit auto workers and managed to get a pizza delivery job before he was legally eligible. He later found himself driving box trucks through Manhattan, guaranteeing future sympathy for actual truckers. He continues to conduct research pertaining to the automotive sector as an independent contractor and has since moved back to his native Michigan, closer to where the cars are born. A contrarian, Matt claims to prefer understeer — stating that front and all-wheel drive vehicles cater best to his driving style.
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Looks good. If you're going to go "big grille" this is far better than Lexus' gaping maw, and even Audi's rather stale approach.
Based on the spy shots, may not translate as well in the flesh as these CGI renderings (to be fair, the spy shots were taken at weird angles). But one can note that there were compromises in adding the elements of the new design language to the existing sheet-metal, such as the new rear lights having to fit within the shape/outline of the old design and the rear being flat and not having the signature curvature. Based on the 1st drives of the KDM 2.5T, seems like a marked improvement over the old 2.0T and a nice balance of having enough power/thrust while being less nose heavy and more maneuverable than the 3.3TT. Still, the cramped interior will continue to limit sales.