Genesis’ stunning New York Concept may give Mercedes and BMW a reason to worry

By Andrew Hard March 24, 2016

The newly crowned Genesis brand revealed its first concept at the 2016 New York Auto Show, and the ultramodern (and aptly-named) New York Concept left the crowd speechless. The brand’s first foray into show car territory, the vehicle’s design is the company’s most progressive yet, but it has real implications for the future of Genesis.

The New York Concept reportedly previews the upcoming G70 luxury sports sedan, one that will eventually lock horns with the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Powering the car is a 2.0-liter hybrid setup with a total output of 242 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, all of which is shuttled to the ground through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration and weight figures have not been disclosed by Genesis, but the vehicle’s size, looks, and hybrid grunt could make it a real competitor for executive sedans from across the pond.

The exterior of the car is fantastic to be sure, but the star of the show is the New York Concept’s futuristic interior. The dashboard and overall curvature looks like something out of I, Robot, and the floating 21-inch touchscreen blends the instrument cluster and center stack together into one modern package. Despite its innovative flair, Genesis says the Concept retains analog instrument dials.

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“The New York Concept is a progressive concept car that showcases the design quality of the brand,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, head of Genesis. “With its expressive volumes and refined design, the New York Concept truly embodies the ‘Athletic Elegance,’ that characterizes Genesis products and will continue to do so for future models that come from our luxury brand. Revealing the concept in New York is a fitting opportunity for Genesis.”

As with most show cars, many of the elements showcased on the New York Concept are unlikely to make it to production, specifically the four-seat setup and dynamic interior styling. Even so, the Genesis brand just gave us one more reason to be excited about the compact luxury space.

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