Following an exterior teaser pic of Genesis’ new G90 two weeks ago, the wraps have finally been fully taken off and what’s underneath seems to befit a flagship model nicely.
People have been eager to take a peek inside, and the brand says, “the interior of G90 is designed to satisfy both customers who take the wheel themselves and those who are driven by chauffeurs.” First at the front, there’s an attention-grabbing slim one-piece air vent unit shaped like a wing shrouded in leather. Above is the next-generation connected car Integrated Cockpit infotainment hardware that integrates the cluster and centre screen into one cohesive panoramic display.
The entire cabin has a minimalistic aesthetic to it, dubbed the “Beauty of White Space”, balancing just the right amount of digital and analog. The elegant centre console, housing the transmission select knob and rotary navigator dial, is produced via a blend of glass and aluminum. The two panoramic sunroof panels overhead can be manipulated separately, and the adjacent ambient lighting provides a soft glow at nighttime.
Those in the second row enjoy arguably the most premium experience the G90 has to offer. The quilted massage-enabled seats individually recline so passengers can stretch out and grab a magazine or book to read from the C-pillar area storage trays. Pleasing scents waft about, emitted by the Genesis-first fragrance system. Introducing a concept dubbed “sustainable luxury”, the materials covering the seatbacks, door trim and elsewhere are made using reprocessed paper.
A testament to the high level of attention paid to detail, garnishes found on places like the rear armrest utilize a traditional Korean crafting technique called “sanggam.” Meaning “inlay,” the Two Lines and G-Matrix pattern — components of the Genesis styling language, which echo the exterior 3-D mesh Crest Grille 3-D constructed with the same method — are inlayed onto real metal, ash wood and forged carbon surfaces.
For the Korean market, no less than five interior colour combinations are available: Obsidian Black/Mono-Tone, Bordeaux Brown/Obsidian Black Two-Tone, Glacier White/Urban Brown Two-Tone, Modern Gray/Galaxy Black Two-Tone, and Dune Beige/Velvet Burgundy Two-Tone.
Specifications of the powertrain for the North America-bound version of the vehicle are still hush hush, though a 3.5-litre turbocharged engine mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission is confirmed to be one of the options. If similarly spec’d to what’s currently found in the lineup, output should be in the neighbourhood 375 horsepower and 390 lb-ft of torque. And what about the addition of a V8? Or a hybrid? Time will tell.
The executive sedan sits on multi-chamber air suspension that can lower the height to reduce wind resistance and improve fuel economy at highway speeds, or raise it to protect the undercarriage and maintain ride comfort over rough terrain. Or, just the front section may be elevated, useful when, say, driving down a steep slope to avoid damage to the bumper. And rear wheel steering capability allows a higher level of agility than expected, for example while manoeuvering in tight spaces, changing lanes or avoiding obstacles.
Being the flagship, there are a number of cutting edge technologies being implemented. EasyClose doors shut themselves with the press of an easily-accessible button or the remote fob. Drivers can start the engine by touching the fingerprint authentication reader, or the door handle thanks to the Digital Key 2 smartphone functionality.
Deliveries of the 2023 Genesis G90 begin next year.