The stunner you see here was just revealed at the 2018 New York International Auto Show as the latest concept from Hyundai’s standalone luxury sub-brand, Genesis. It’s called the Essentia, and it’s framed as an all-electric, two-door, Gran Touring model packed with the very latest convenience features. It’s also one helluva looker, in case that wasn’t already completely obvious, and it’s pretty quick as well.

Continue reading to learn more about the Genesis Essentia Concept.

What Makes The Genesis Essentia Concept Special

The first thing to grab you when checking out the Genesis Essentia is the way it looks. This thing is a jaw-dropper, no doubt about it, and Genesis should be quite proud of it. And while we realize that as a concept car it’s unlikely we’ll see it put into production completely unchanged; it sure is comforting to know that this “ideal” design exists at all. If this is where Genesis is headed in terms of aesthetics, then we say “full steam ahead.”

Indeed, the Essentia gets the very latest design language from Hyundai’s luxury division, something the brand is calling “Athletic Elegance,” and the look will undoubtedly inform future Genesis model designs, as confirmed by Genesis Head of Design, Executive Vice President Luc Donckerwolke: “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.”

Highlights for the concept include classic GT proportions, with the front end dominated by a long hood line, and a rear occupied by an aft-leaning cabin and upturned flick of a tail. The stance is also incredibly low and wide - just how we like it.

The body is made entirely from carbon fiber, while the paint finish is an attractive shade dubbed Stardust Gray Metallic. Viewed head on, the Genesis Essentia is equipped with a brand-centric Crest Grille design, while the windshield sweeps down into the front end in a seemingly seamless and graceful arc. Just behind the elongated glass section you’ll find carbon fiber chassis and suspension components in their full glory, mating form and function into a single cohesive aesthetic. It’s hard not to feel something just by looking at it.

The nose cone takes its inspiration from formula race cars, and includes svelte intakes placed on either side of the grille that act as air curtains, directing airflow around to the corners and through the body. The corners of the front end also utilize Genesis’ branded Quad Light structure, a feature we first saw on the GV80 SUV concept. These units utilize laser optics technology to offer a thin headlight housing that’s mounted flush with the body, enhancing the car’s streamlined appearance.

Moving to the sides, we find functional air vents mounted just behind the front wheels, which help to reduce overall aerodynamic drag by alleviating pressure inside the wheel wells. The lines here curve elegantly and with purpose, with parabolic lines in the sides leading to flared-out wheel arches in the rear. Did we mention we really like how this thing looks?

Adding even more drama to the curb-side arrival of the Essentia is a pair of butterfly doors, which open up, rather than out, much like you’d get on a modern supercar. To get into the thing, there are sensors in the B-pillars that offer biometric facial recognition and fingerprint recognition, as clearly, no simple key or button will do.

The sharp rear end is decked out with another set of Quad Lights, once again sitting flush with the bodywork. Below the deck-lid spoiler is a diffuser element complete with carbon fiber accents. Further Midas metal copper material was added as trim to the wheels and as window surround, offsetting the gray paint with a splash of color.

Take a gander at the interior, and you’ll find a rather simple design that’s streamlined to do away with as many hard buttons and “clutter” as possible. Breaking up the horizontal shapes is a variety of textured materials and looks that add a handsome bit of premium aesthetic to the cabin.

You’ll also notice a ribbed interior structure, something that Genesis is calling “G-Matrix.” Apparently , the structure “uses a dynamic web allowing lightness and internal air flow.” The structure was also 3D printed, which cuts costs compared to traditional production methods.

The various interior bits include a mix of different materials, such as Cognac leather with a chevron quilting for the seats. The center console gets Oxford Blue leather as a cover, and even the seat belt slots are unique, utilizing a glass pearl finish with treated aluminum and polished aluminum. There’s loads of carbon fiber as well.

There’s an 8.0-inch display behind the steering wheel, complete with a piano black surround, while the rest of the dash gets a stretched-out digital display mounted high. Inputs for the infotainment gear are made via the jewel-like central controller.

The 2+2 rear bench seats stand out in contrast to the front thanks to Oxford Blue velvet upholstery, while Genesis says there’s also a decent amount of space in the trunk to pack in the bags for long trips.

The powertrain consists of a high-density battery pack mounted under the floor, which sends juice to multiple electric motors. The low battery pack also gives the Essentia a very low 50-inch roofline without sacrificing too much space inside.

The various tech bits include onboard vehicle-to-infrastructure and vehicle-to-vehicle communication equipment, which help to keep the driver informed about upcoming traffic situations and road conditions.

There’s also machine learning that’s used to find the best routes from A to B. The tech will even set up the driving experience to match the route, adjusting the seating position, powertrain settings, chassis settings, and audio system to match, whether it’s a curving mountain road, or a straight shot on the highway.

The onboard systems can also connect to your various devices and smart home features, simultaneously offering a high degree of customization. For example, you can turn on lights at home, open up the gate for deliveries, and more, all from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

The Essentia’s AI capabilities encompass voice recognition, as well as next-gen Genesis Intelligent Assistant, and the ability to determine individual driver moods via driving behavior analysis.

As for motivation, the Essentia is the first-ever battery electric vehicle from Genesis, and rather than focusing on eco friendliness, the electrons are put to use for high-performance aspirations. The multi-motor electric powertrain should be able to create tons of speed thanks to a low-weight carbon fiber monocoque chassis, while handling chops come courtesy of a push rod suspension, just like in a race car. You can even see the push rods in the front end through the long glass, which we think is one very cool feature.

All told, Genesis says the Essentia can do the 0-to-60 mph shimmy in just 3 seconds flat. No word on range per charge, though.

“Essentia is the brand’s initial concept for a true GT car and challenges the status quo as the ultimate manifestation of Genesis design and engineering,” Genesis states in a press release.

All told, we’re very excited to see this thing. It looks amazing, it comes packing with the latest technology, and it promises tons of performance potential. We can’t wait to see what Genesis ends up doing with it in terms of production.

References

Read our full review on the 2017 Genesis GV80 Concept.

Read more Genesis news.

Read more New York Auto Show news.