Australia’s famed Mount Panorama Circuit has played host to the public debut of the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta, a sleek concept from its red-hot Magma sub-brand.
At the Bathurst 12 Hour, the X Gran Berlinetta hit the race track for the first time, with Genesis brand ambassador and racing legend Jacky Ickx behind the wheel.
It marks the first time Mr Ickx has driven around Mount Panorama since 1978, the year after he won the Bathurst 1000 alongside Allan Moffat aboard a Ford Falcon XC Hardtop in one of the most iconic finishes to the Great Race.
The 80-year-old Belgian – who won the 24 Hours of Le Mans six times and scored eight Formula 1 Grand Prix victories – completed a number of demonstration laps aboard the X Gran Berlinetta, though he didn’t push the concept to ten-tenths.
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Genesis has previously claimed the car’s V6 engine can rev to 10,000rpm, and produce up to 799kW and 1337Nm with assistance from an electric motor.
While Genesis is yet to announce production plans for the X Gran Berlinetta – or its X, X Convertible and X Speedium two-door concepts – it has locked in the GV60 Magma electric SUV as the first model from its performance sub-brand to go on sale.
Expected to share similar or even identical outputs to the related Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and Kia EV6 GT, the Genesis GV60 Magma is tipped to produce at least 478kW and 770Nm.
Mr Ickx also piloted the GV60 Magma around Mount Panorama, detailing his experience behind the wheel of the two hot Genesis models.
“It’s been a while but what I felt and noticed was that, like all the world’s greatest motor racing circuits – Monaco, Nürburgring or Spa – it has barely changed over the years,” Mr Ickx said.
“They’ve put a kink in that giant Conrod Straight to slow people down, but it’s still a fantastically challenging track with plenty of rise and fall.
“I was blown away by the X Gran Berlinetta Concept, which was a wildly powerful and loud machine to drive. I could tell the crowd really enjoyed both the sight and the sound as I went by.
“Being an EV, my laps in the Genesis GV60 Magma Concept were quite different, and a lot quieter, but the torque and the thrust you get from a modern electric vehicle like that… truly, it’s quite something. The GV60 Magma Concept feels a long way from the Ford Falcon I drove here last time, and quite a lot faster.
“It was a real honour and pleasure to show off these two very special vehicles for the public. And I loved the opportunity to tackle The Mountain again.”
In the lead-up to this weekend’s Bathurst 12 Hour, Mr Ickx presented the Bathurst Regional Council with the winner’s trophy from the 1977 Bathurst 1000, on behalf of co-driver Allan Moffat’s family.
The trophy will remain in the National Motor Racing Museum, where it will be displayed alongside the race-winning car.
Mr Moffat, who has been diagnosed with dementia, was unable to attend the race.
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