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Wheels:
All-electric Genesis design concept wows NY Auto Show

If your interest is piqued by the cool factor when it comes to auto design, Genesis, the luxury division of Hyundai, rolled out a winner for you at the New York International Auto Show. The company's first all-electric, high-performance concept -- called Essentia -- aims to redefine "athletic elegance" while providing a vision of future Genesis technology, performance, and style cues.

Sometimes, a picture is not enough. You look at this car and think, "Have I seen this before -- or parts of this before? The butterfly (gull-wing) doors ... a bubble roof ... that low-slung shape. What kind of mash-up is this?"

But as whole -- and when you really dig into some of the details -- the design holds its own. [Editor's note: Please see the video at the end. The car really takes on a whole new dimension in person.]

Essentia is the brand's first battery electric vehicle and features a lightweight carbon-fiber monocoque, a robust, multi-motor electric powertrain, and a custom-tailored interior. Essentia is the brand's initial concept for a true GT car and challenges the status quo as the state-of-the-art in Genesis design and engineering.

"The Genesis Essentia concept defines our vision for an electric Gran Turismo that integrates Athletic Elegance and Genesis DNA as defining parameters," said Executive Vice President Luc Donckerwolke, head of Genesis Design. "A Gran Turismo typology highlights our ambition as a luxurious car brand for the connoisseurs, and it is the perfect base to project our DNA in the future."

Because it is an inspirational show concept, a lot of details were not released. Here's what we know. Underneath the carbon-fiber monocoque of Essentia is a state-of-the-art, high-density battery pack and multiple electric motors that enable a powerful, confident driving experience. The electric powertrain allowed Genesis Design to redefine classic GT proportions with an extremely low, transparent hood that flows seamlessly into the windshield and the "bubble" roof.

The battery pack is housed in the center tunnel in an I-shape structure, as opposed to underneath the passenger compartment. This allows Essentia to achieve the super-low, 50-in. roofline and spacious, GT-style cabin. With an estimated 0-to-60 time of 3.0 sec, Essentia brings sportscar-level performance to the realm of electric luxury coupes.

The concept car takes its inspiration from iconic Gran Turismo proportions, with a long bonnet and a swept-back cabin. Finished in Stardust Gray Metallic, the carbon fiber-bodied Essentia is positioned low to the ground intentionally, to give it a graceful silhouette.

"The search for dynamic proportions was contrasted with advanced aerodynamic flows to highlight the bionic combination of performance and aesthetics," Donckerwolke said. "Essentia embodies the genetic elements of the Genesis design."

Its front fascia introduces an evolution of the Genesis Crest Grille. Visible through the transparent hood is the advanced carbon fiber chassis, pronounced formula car-style nose cone, as well as the exposed, pushrod suspension. Intakes positioned left and right of the Crest Grille function as air curtains, streamlining airflow around the front corners.

Flanking the Crest Grille are signature Genesis Quad Lights, first introduced on the GV80 Concept. Made possible by laser optical technology, the extremely thin, flush headlights are integrated into the body of Essentia. Extending onto a side blade aft of the front wheels, the lights create a unique light signature for Essentia. Functional air outlets located just behind the front wheels reduce pressure buildup and contribute to reduced drag.

The side profile of Essentia is dominated by the iconic parabolic line that provides visual structure to the body while also emphasizing its overall length. The anti-wedge parabolic line gracefully runs along the shoulder line until it meets the muscular rear wheel arches. Butterfly doors enable effortless and elegant ingress and egress. A sensor mounted in the B-pillar integrates fingerprint controls and biometric facial recognition for opening and closing the doors.

The rear of Essentia is defined by an aerodynamic cut-off surface that houses the flush rear Quad Lights and emphasizes the muscles of the rear haunch. An elegant rear diffuser surrounded by carbon fiber acts as a clever, integrated venting solution for the rear wheel arch. Midas metal copper, which is also used as detail trim on the bespoke wheels inspired by the Genesis G-Matrix philosophy, surrounds the entirety of the daylight opening.

The underlying design theory behind the cabin of Essentia was to maximize the connection between car and driver. Reducing clutter and focusing on beautifully executed details, while displaying the elegant, transparent cockpit cell, was critical.

"On the interior, purism has also dominated the creative process for the interior skin, the layer in contact with the occupants, but less traditionalist the connection between the outside skin and the internal structure. We connected both with our flowing G-Matrix that uses a dynamic web allowing lightness and internal air flow. This highlights the exciting opportunities being explored in 3D printing which transcends the lengthy, inflexible, and costly tooling process," said Donckerwolke. In other words, some interior parts use 3D printing to create unique, lightweight structures -- including pieces with their internal lattice structure exposed. Different textures are built in everywhere throughout the interior and are a hallmark of the design.

The interior of Essentia utilizes a mixed-material approach influenced by high fashion and classic color combinations. Cognac leather seats with chevron quilting envelop the driver and passengers in true cockpit fashion. A slim center console covered in Oxford Blue leather bisects the cabin. The front and rear seat belt slots are out of the ordinary, as well, composed of glass pearl finished/treated aluminum and polished aluminum. Layered carbon fiber décor adds a sporty and technical element to the interior details, with a 3D optical effect achieved through the latest technology of layering individual pieces of carbon.

Ahead of the driver is an 8-in. widescreen display with piano black surround. The information in the cluster includes only what is necessary for driving. The widescreen display is operated by a jewel-like central controller, providing a fulfilling user experience for both driver and front passenger.

The rear seats, which are accessed through Essentia's butterfly doors, are covered in contrasting, Oxford Blue velvet. In line with Essentia's purpose as a true grand tourer, a luggage compartment behind the rear seats affords plenty of cargo room.

On the connectivity front, Essentia features advanced vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle technology. It can inform the driver of up-to-the-minute road conditions and help avoid accidents and traffic jams. And instead of simply providing the quickest or most efficient route, Essentia uses machine learning intelligence to recommend routes based on driver inclination.

And when the route is chosen, Essentia automatically tailors the driving character to its owner's preference, from seat position to powertrain performance and audiophile system to chassis settings.

Essentia also integrates with smart homes and devices, offering situation-based, personalized recommendations. Entirely customizable, the system also allows Essentia to connect seamlessly with the driver's smart home systems to preprogram HVAC settings, turn on lights, allow for package deliveries -- all in a bid to automatically take the stress out of mundane tasks.

VIDEO: Roadshow editors give a walkaround tour of the Genesis Essentia Concept at the NY Auto Show 2018.

AI also plays a critical role in the technological capabilities of Essentia. Voice recognition and the next-generation Genesis Intelligent Assistant allow for two-way dialogue and full vehicle control through voice command, as well as individual driving behavior analysis and something called "driver mood determination." Essentia can transact mobile payments through its center screen, making electronic payments possible for all kinds of situations.

Source: Genesis

Published April 2018

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