Skip to main content

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

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.

“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.

Editors' Recommendations

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?
The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.

Read more
Cybertruck production reportedly halted over pedal issue
Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk behind the wheel of a Cybertruck. Tesla

Tesla’s Cybertruck has been hit by a production delay caused by an issue with a part of the vehicle, a number of media reports have claimed.

Read more
Don’t let the gimmicks fool you. The Ioniq 5 N is a serious track car
2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N drifting.

We’re finally getting to the fun part of automakers’ methodical quest to replicate their lineups with electric cars.

Performance versions of ordinary cars have been a staple of the auto industry for decades. But while we’ve already seen some variants of EVs boasting more power and more impressive stats — think Tesla Model S Plaid or Lucid Air Sapphire — the 2025 Hyundai Ioniq 5 N is the first to truly apply that format to an EV.

Read more