Premium auto brand Genesis is famous for its smooth luxury models, it’s about to launch high-performance Magma vehicles, and now it’s shown off something different altogether: a rugged off-roader.
The Genesis X Gran Equator concept revealed in New York today casts quite a different silhouette from the Korean luxury brand’s other SUVs.
But while the 24-inch bead-lock wheels suggest a level of rugged off-road performance, the X Gran Equator isn’t a boxy SUV resembling the Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen or Land Rover Defender, like so many carmakers seem to be doing at the moment.
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For starters, there’s a long bonnet and a bluff front end, though the corners have been smoothed off both front and rear.
The sides are devoid of extraneous creases, and there are bulging haunches which lead to a split-opening tailgate.
Genesis’ distinctive two-line lighting signatures feature here, though there are also small circular auxiliary lights in the bumper.
Inside, Genesis designers went for a mixture of analogue and digital design elements.
There’s no touchscreen, but there are four discrete digital dials – said to be inspired by the dials of vintage cameras – above a centre stack that appears to have traditional buttons.
There’s a crystal-look rotary dial similar to that in the GV60, while some of the switchgear on and around the steering wheel is reminiscent of that in current Genesis models.
The front seats swivel, while the cabin is bathed with light via four separate sunroofs – an unusual design element that appears to harken back to the third-generation Nissan Quest people mover or, more obliquely, to the glass roof panels in old Land Rover Defenders.
The centre stack has chunky grab handles, a design element that continues in the rear with a pair sprouting out of the centre console.
The cabin has a two-tone colourway, while the upholstery has a diamond pattern – another example of Genesis’ G-Matrix patterning.
The brand says its concept “marries on-road sophistication with off-road resilience”, though it hasn’t shared any technical specifications of the vehicle like dimensions or powertrain type.
“While not confirmed for production, its design language and innovative features – such as the integrated roof rack and split-opening tailgate – showcase the brand’s future design potential,” the company said in a press release.
It’s unclear what production vehicle, if any, it previews as Genesis already has small, medium and large SUVs, with an even larger GV90 flagship SUV expected.
Genesis concepts usually lead to production vehicles, with the exception of its various two-door coupe and convertible concepts – none of which have entered production.
By the way, the concept isn’t named after the line dividing the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, but rather an Arabian horse.
Click an image to view the full gallery, including shots taken at its reveal at Genesis House in New York City.
