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2020 Genesis G80 will not come with a V8

The 2019 Genesis G80 offers three engines, those being a 3.8-liter V6, a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, and a 5.0-liter V8. When the 2020 model arrives later this year, it will not be bringing a V8 with it. Genesis brand CEO Manfred Fitzgerald told Car and Driver, "The G80 range will be topped off by the V6." That is almost certain to mean a decline in horsepower for the next G80 - not an unusual step among the Hyundai Group - as the 3.3-liter is currently down by 55 hp and seven pound-feet of torque on the 5.0-liter. The usual culprit takes the blame, Fitzgerald saying, "We really have to pay close attention to markets and legislation and hedge our bets. Don't expect another evolution of the V8." The note on evolution is taken to mean that the coming G80 signals the beginning of the end for the 5.0-liter Tau V8 in the entire Genesis lineup. That means the recently revealed G90 could be the last V8 man standing for the South Korean luxury brand. We don't know what will lead the way under the G80 SUV's hood, but in a world where V8-powered performance SUVs are burning gas and grabbing cash, the lack of a V8 - even if not the Tau unit - would come as a bit of a surprise. Fuel economy requirements have certainly played a part, even though the V8 only loses one mile-per-gallon in city, highway, and combined driving to the 3.3-liter. We've read rumors that the brand has two four-cylinder engines in development, one of them a turbocharged 2.5-liter with up to 300 hp. Another rumor figures the V8 could be replaced by a plug-in hybrid powertrain. The sedan ushers in the next step in Genesis' design language, and the unique selling propositions Car and Driver describes as "futuristic details and proportions." Based on spy shots, what we've seen is a great deal of detailing that points to a substantial evolution of the current car. There's a shield-shaped grille cutting through reworked intakes, the door handles have been moved below a pair of wider shoulders and stronger shoulder lines, the side mirrors get new door-mounting locations, the trunk follows the slope of the rear window, and the rear fascia presents one flush surface. The G80 makes its public entrance in September in South Korea, and it should reach American shores before the end of the year. Related Video:

Genesis 'very, very serious' about getting Essentia EV coupe on the market

The hopes for a production version of the 2018 Genesis Essentia electric coupe concept won't go away, not even within Genesis. The South Korean luxury brand has said it will soon announce plans for its first luxury EV that will come to market in 2021. When Motoring spoke to the brand overlord Manfred Fitzgerald at the New York Auto Show, Fitzgerald said the 2021 vehicle won't be the Mint concept just shown at the show. Motoring figures that marks the Essentia as the go-to EV, with Fitzgerald telling the outlet, "We're still pursuing the one [concept] that you saw last year in a very, very serious manner and hopefully we'll make an announcement in due time." Another reason for Motoring to deduce the Essentia as the "mystery battery-powered vehicle" is that whatever's coming in 2021 will ride on a dedicated EV platform. A production Essentia would do just that, perhaps also carrying over into production a three-motor setup powerful enough to get the car from zero to 60 in three seconds. All three brands in the Hyundai-Kia Group have stated before, and did so again at the N.Y. show, that they tend to create concepts with production intent. Fitzgerald said, "We're serious about everything we do," and that he was working to get the Mint to make production as well. "I will fight to the very end to have this car into production and have it as you're seeing it right now on the road," he told Motoring. "I think this is an invention of a new typology of vehicle, and I think that's something that will resonate with people out there." This isn't the first time an outlet has taken vague statements to mean production certainty for the Essentia concept. We were in this same place last September after Genesis North American boss Erwin Raphael spoke conditionally about what the Essentia concept would be if it were adapted for production. His hypothesizing turned into reports that Raphael gave "the first full confirmation that the Genesis Essentia is headed for production," which Genesis shot down. We can't see we're any closer now to a confirmation now. All we know is the brand plans to have an EV on the market by 2021 or 2022, and that EV will ride on a dedicated architecture. Since Genesis doesn't have any EV out right now, any EV it creates — Essentia or not — would ride on a new platform. But when it comes to the Essentia, dreaming is a popular thing to do. Genesis Mint Concept View 19 Photos

Genesis Mint is a minty-fresh luxury electric city coupe

NEW YORK — Genesis wowed us at the last New York Auto Show with a slinky sports car concept in the Essentia, so expectations were high for its new concept. What Genesis gave us is the Mint concept car, a two-seat electric city coupe. It's not what we were expecting, but it is pretty nifty. The car wears its electric powertrain on its sleeve with no visible grille up front. But the pentagonal grille design introduced on the Essentia and refreshed G90 is visible in the creases and lower lighting. The whole car is very organic, and the cockpit is jet fighter-esque with its large rounded windows. Interestingly, the greenhouse stops well short of the rear. The thick rear pillar also is reminiscent of the Toyota C-HR. Inside, the cabin is minimalist. Surfaces are covered in tan leather and metal accents. The rectangular steering wheel is surrounded by small circular screens with info and functions the driver can use. In the middle of the wheel is an instrument screen. The only seating is a two-person bench seat, and it can apparently swivel toward an open door for easier access. This is a feature previously seen on 1970s General Motors products. Behind the seats is the cargo area, which is accessed by wild scissor-style doors. Genesis didn't say much about the powertrain except that it is electric. The company claims it should go 200 miles on a charge and supports fast charging up to 350 kW. Confusingly, the cockpit features three pedals, suggesting a manual transmission. But there doesn't appear to be a shifter, and there isn't much need for a manual in an electric. There are no signs of the Mint coming to production. And with the market constantly demanding crossovers, we can't think of much reason to introduce a two-door coupe. Still, it would likely be a neat, sporty little thing if it did reach production.

Genesis teases small New York Auto Show concept

Here's a curve ball. Hyundai-Kia Group design honcho Luc Donckerwolke already confirmed Genesis will bring an electric concept to the New York Auto Show. On top of that, Genesis overseer Manfred Fitzgerald told Roadshow that said concept "will push the envelope definitely further. ... A lot of people will be surprised." We are one of those people. According to four teasers on Genesis' Instagram page, what we could be looking at is a compact electric hatchback or compact crossover thingamabob. We combined two of the images into the photo above, and all we know for certain is that the show car is small and has a pointy front end. The first teaser was merely the phrase, "Small is the next big thing." The rear-end teaser photo — which reminds us of a Nissan Juke stretching its back legs — was captioned, "Compact will soon get a whole lot more captivating." The front shot in profile was labeled, "Design that will soon defy the eyes," the front fascia picture, "Sometimes the biggest surprises come in the smallest packages." We've had three years of grand Genesis concepts in New York, from the New York Concept luxury sports sedan in 2016, the GV80 SUV concept in 2017, and last year's languorous Essentia electric coupe. This year we're expecting some grand reality, being the production version of the U.S.-market G90 sedan. This little guy is, however, could end up being the biggest thing on the Genesis stand. Rumor says we'll see the whole thing at 7 tonight EST. Stay tuned.

Chevy Blazer and Easter Jeeps | Autoblog Podcast #576

In this week's Autoblog Podcast, Editor-in-Chief Greg Migliore is joined by Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder and Assistant Editor Zac Palmer. They do a rundown of the latest news, including rumors of the Toyota Tundra and Tacoma sharing a platform, Jeep's insane Easter Safari concepts and an upcoming "entry level" performance Ford Mustang. Then they talk about driving the new Chevrolet Blazer and Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk, and compare driving the Genesis G70 to the Kia Stinger. Finally, they take to Reddit to spend someone's money on a new crossover. Autoblog Podcast #576 Get The Podcast iTunes – Subscribe to the Autoblog Podcast in iTunes RSS – Add the Autoblog Podcast feed to your RSS aggregator MP3 – Download the MP3 directly Rundown Toyota Tacoma and Tundra to share a platform? Jeep Easter Safari concepts "Entry level" performance Mustang? Cars we're driving: 2019 Chevy Blazer 2019 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 2019 Genesis G70 Spend My Money Feedback Email – Podcast@Autoblog.com Review the show on iTunes Related Video:

Auto sales in March and first quarter down nearly across the board

Nearly every major automaker reported weak U.S. sales for March and the first quarter of 2019, citing a rough start to the year, but said a robust economy and strong labor market should encourage consumers to buy more vehicles as 2019 rolls on. GM, which no longer releases monthly sales figures, saw first-quarter sales fall 7 percent, with declines across all brands. Sales of Silverado pickup trucks fell nearly 16 percent and the high-margin Chevy Suburban large SUV dropped 25 percent. Ford also no longer releases monthly sales numbers, but is due to release its first-quarter sales figures on Thursday. According to industry data, Ford's sales fell 2 percent in the quarter and 5 percent in March. Ford representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment. FCA reported a 7 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and a 3 percent drop for the first quarter. All of FCA's brands dropped in March, except for Ram, which saw a 15 percent increase in pickup truck sales. "The industry had a tough first quarter, but with spring finally starting to show its face and continued strong economic indicators ... we are confident that new vehicle sales demand will strengthen going forward," FCA's U.S. head of sales, Reid Bigland, said in a statement. Toyota reported a 3.5 percent fall in U.S. sales in March and 5 percent for the first quarter, hurt by declining demand for its Corolla sedans and Camry vehicles. "While some of our competitors are abandoning sedans, we remain optimistic about the future of the segment," Toyota said in a statement. Nissan posted a 5.3 percent drop in sales in March, and its first-quarter sales were down 11.6 percent. Honda and Hyundai bucked the trend. Honda's U.S. sales rose 4.3 percent in March and 2 percent in the quarter, while Hyundai's were up 1.7 percent and 2.1 percent, respectively. Passenger-car sales suffered throughout the January-March quarter compared with the same period in 2018 as Americans continued to abandon them in favor of larger, more comfortable pickup trucks and SUVs, which are far more profitable for automakers. The battle for market share in the particularly lucrative large-pickup truck market intensified in the quarter, as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles' Ram brand outsold the U.S.' No. 1 automaker General Motors' Chevrolet-brand trucks. The two automakers have both launched redesigned pickup trucks.

Hyundai’s N division will tune electrics, steer clear of Genesis

At Hyundai's Namyang proving ground in a small garage emblazoned with a giant "N," Albert Biermann, the ex-BMW engineer who now heads up vehicle development for the Korean brand, recently provided a few hints about what to expect from Hyundai's nascent performance sub-brand — and that includes EVs. "We are looking for the right ideas of how to transfer the craziness of N into electrification," he said. That could be "a full EV [and] also could be a hybrid." To date, we've seen the Veloster N introduced last fall in the United States, followed by the recently announced Elantra GT N Line. Europe has the i30 N in hatchback and fastback body styles. Biermann says, "We will expand also into segments we are not in now," including "something a little bit smaller," as well as into "a different type of vehicle." Biermann also said we can expect a more powerful version of the new 2020 Hyundai Sonata — which we've just reviewed, and which will launch in the United States with a 180-hp 1.6-liter turbo and a 191-hp 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four. But he stopped short of saying whether it would be an N or an N Line model. And it appears that the N expansion will not extend to Genesis. "There are no plans yet to make a sub-label for Genesis like we did with N for Hyundai," Biermann said. This despite the fact that nearly all of its rivals have branched out in that direction. For now, it seems, the G70 Sport is as sporty as it will get over at Genesis.

Genesis bringing an EV concept and G90 to New York Auto Show

It's official, the entire Hyundai Group has plans for the New York Auto Show. During the Hyundai Sonata press launch in South Korea, design head Luc Donckerwolke told Roadshow "You'll have an electric show car for Genesis." This year will be the charm for Genesis and EVs, after showing the GV80 SUV concept and its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain in 2017, and the electric Essentia coupe concept last year. We will also see the production version of the U.S. market Genesis G90 and its mongo grille. The premium brand's debuts will join the new Sonata sedan and Venue crossover, and an as-yet-unnamed Kia show car expected to be our version of the SP Signature concept potentially called Tusker. Hyundai-Kia isn't getting its electric razzle dazzle ready for New York alone. Auto Express reports the group is working on a new electric car platform to serve the carmaker the same way Volkswagen's MEB architecture serves the German group's brands. At the moment, the only four EVs in the South Korean automaker's range are the Hyundai Kona and Ioniq, and the Kia e-Niro and Soul. They are all built on ICE platforms, the Kona and e-Niro still proving popular enough for this year's planned UK-market production to sell out already. According to a "company insider," the dedicated EV platform is around two years away and will focus on B- and C-segment cars. That's the same year that Genesis is expected to have its EV ready, but unless the luxury arm has plans to dip its grille into C-segment waters, Genesis likely has other EV platform plans. By 2025, Hyundai and Kia have said they'll have 14 EVs in the combined lineup as part of 38 electrified offerings. Whatever's on the way could prove far more radical than today's offerings. Donckerwolke told Auto Express that in order to attract the future EV buyers that aren't necessarily car people, "[You] have to ask whether you want science fiction or whether you want to conform. We can create something that doesn't appeal to someone in the traditional sense." If the head designer gets his way, 3D-printing will help whip up those attractions. Last year's Essentia concept showed off 3D-printed carbon fiber ornament, but the potential goes much further.

2019 Genesis G70 2.0T Drivers' Notes Review | Snow day

Over the past few months, we've spent a lot of time behind the wheel of the Genesis G70. We first drove the car in New England last fall. We also spent some time on the West Coast in pair of G70s, one fitted with the turbo 2.0-liter and the other fitted with the twin-turbo 3.3-liter — the latter being the same engine that's in our long-term Kia Stinger GT. When the car finally arrived at our home office in Detroit, we were right in the middle of the polar vortex. Winter might not be the best time to test sport sedans, but rear-wheel drive can be quite fun in the snow. Our test car was the G70 Sport with the 2.0-liter turbo and a manual transmission. The last element is key, not just for a car enthusiast perspective, but because the manual is only available in one trim that basically blends the Elite trim (second from the bottom) with the various handling and brake upgrades included with the V6. Reasonably priced at $38,895, you get heated and ventilated seating, leatherette upholstery, a power-adjustable wheel, a digital instrument cluster, an 8-inch infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a 15-speaker audio system. It's actually better equipped than our long-term Stinger GT, a car that costs roughly $10,000 more. Senior Editor, Green, John Beltz Snyder: I drove the G70 in Maine and New Hampshire for our First Drive review, and loved it. I only drove the 2.0T with a manual transmission, however, for a couple of autocross laps on Club Motorsports' converted karting track. I probably shifted the car a half-dozen times, and while I found the engine to be plucky and fun, I suspected the manual transmission left a lot to be desired. I was super excited to hear we were getting one in the office to try again. The car is just as good as I remember it, and the manual transmission is about as lackluster, but I found the latter to matter less in real-world driving. There's not a lot of feel to the shifter. It falls into place softly, but I found myself quickly forgetting about it after a few miles as the act of rowing the gears blended quietly into the rest of the driving experience. The clutch is easy to use, too, feeling very natural in its easy heft and clutch take-up. My only complaint was that revs felt a little high when traveling on the highway in sixth gear. It sounds cliche at this point, but having a manual transmission did, of course, mean I got to better appreciate this 2.0-liter turbo engine.

Watch these Super Bowl car commercials [UPDATE]

On Sunday, February 3, the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl 53 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. Some will watch because of the storyline of the old-school dynasty facing off against the new-school wunderkinds, but a large chunk of people will solely be watching for the commercials. Lucky for those who slot into the latter category, many of the manufacturers release their super bowl ads ahead of time, or have simply opted to release the commercials only online. Scroll down to see what car companies have already shown their cards. Audi Audi goes the comedic route in its clip for the Big Game. It starts with a grandpa showing his grandson a gorgeous Audi e-tron GT tucked away in a garage before he's shaken awake. Turns out he was just choking on a cashew in his cubicle at his boring job. Dodge Dodge does what it knows: create enough smoke to punch more holes in the ozone layer. Set to "The Devil Went Down to Georgia (the Super Bowl is in Atlanta, get it!?), a Challenger SRT Hellcat widebody, Charger SRT Hellcat, and Durango SRT are seen ripping through a city, leaving a trail of rubber crumbs in their wakes. Genesis Genesis has not yet released a commercial prior to the Super Bowl, but it is the official luxury vehicle of the NFL. Because of this, Genesis is hosting a fan experience for 10 days before the game. It will showcase the brand's cars, offer games, and have photos opportunities and autograph days. Hyundai Jason Bateman alert! Hyundai is one of the few companies to hook a major celebrity for its advertisement, and the casting is perfect. Bateman plays a doorman who takes people to various terrible events in life, including root canals, the middle seat, and shopping for a car. The ad centers around Hyundai's Shopper Assurance, which is Hyundai's new method for car shopping. Jeep An old 1963 Jeep Gladiator finds its strength in the crusher and transforms into a a new 2020 Gladiator, with a firm declaration that the nameplate is officially back. Kia Through Kia's commercial, a young boy wonders out loud what it'd be like if the millions spent on Super Bowl commercials were used to help others.