The Genesis brand has come a long way in a short while, and the G80 embodies that perfectly. It was the G80 that made the transition to the Genesis brand, as it actually started life as the Hyundai Genesis. In 2020, came the second generation and a year later the first Genesis EV – the G80e. Now that the mid-size luxury sedan has made a full circle, Genesis wants to make the G80 a bit more exciting. The next evolution of the Genesis G80 will be the Sport version, which brings a few exciting features.

2022 Genesis G80 Sport

Specifications
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  • Model: 2022 Genesis G80 Sport
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Exterior

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Several design features set the G80 Sport from the pack. Redesigned bumpers give the sedan a more aggressive look. In the front, we get bigger air vents and a new grille with a dark glossy chrome finish. The headlights now feature black bezels for a more menacing look.

The new rear bumper benefits from the addition of vertical vents, creating a sort of frame above the rear diffuser.

On the side, the G80 Sport gets exclusive 20-inch alloy wheels with the G-matrix pattern. You can also choose between two caliper colors – black or red. If we go by the press images, it seems you can have both caliper colors. On the side, you also get the same dark gloss motives as the front grille.

One of the main exterior features is the new Cavendish Red color, exclusive to the G80 Sport. The color (and name) is inspired by the red cliffs on the north coast of Prince Edward Island in Canada.

Interior

The red theme continues on the inside where we find a highly executed leather interior finished in Sevilla red. The other available interior color is black and you can also choose between black, gray, or red stitching.

In addition, the G80 Sport allows you to choose between three bespoke trims, which are real carbon fiber, real aluminum, and a special diamond-patterned weave. Optionally, you can have a special seat quilting in either diamond or V-pattern. Other than that it’s the same well-executed interior familiar from other G80 versions, featuring a 14.5-inch touchscreen.

Performance & Drivetrain

The images show a 4WD logo, so we know that the G80 Sport will send its power to all four wheels.


Engine

3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6

Power

375 HP

Torque

391 LB-FT


More importantly, the Genesis G80 Sport will bring rear-wheel steering on board, which will improve the stability and maneuverability of the mid-size luxury sedan. More details regarding the G80 Sport specifications will come out as the car’s premiere comes nearer. It will be interesting to see how much the addition of rear-wheel steering will improve the car's dynamics. Right now, the Mercedes S-Class has the best system in the industry, allowing the rear wheels to turn up to 10 degrees.

Price

Genesis has not disclosed the G80 Sport's MSRP yet. We expect to get more info as the official unveiling gets near. That said, we know that the standard G80 starts from $47,700. For the V-6 Premium, you'll have to prepare at least $61,500. The EV version of the G80 is expected to command a premium at around $69,000, so the G80 Sport should be priced between the Premium and the Electric versions.

Competition

BMW 5-Series

If we are talking about mid-size luxury sedans, we have to mention the BMW 5-Series. The current G30 generation just underwent a facelift last year, which brought new aesthetics, more standard equipment, and more personalization options through BMW's Individual treatment.

In terms of performance, the 540i is the closest analog to the G80 Sport, given that we'll still be getting the 3.5-liter twin-turbo V-6 unit. The 540i's power comes from a 3.0-liter single-turbo inline-six that puts out 333 horsepower and 332 pound-feet (450 Nm) and is aided by a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This allows for a 4.7-second sprint to 60 mph (97 km/h), while returning up to 35.6 mpg (6.6L/100 km) combined.

The gearbox is a tried and tested ZF eight-speed automatic. All-wheel-drive is optional. At a $59,450 starting price, the 540i seems like a bargain, but wait till you spec it to your liking.

Read our full review on the BMW 5-Series

Mercedes E-Class

If the G80 Sport is taking on the BMW 5-Series, this automatically pits it against the Mercedes E-Class too. Like the 5-Series, the E-Class underwent a facelift last year. The E450 in particular would be a perfect match for the G80 Sport. The Stuttgart representative features a 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six, working with a 48-volt mild hybrid system. The result is 367 horsepower and 369 pound-feet (500 Nm).

Power is sent to all four wheels through the 9G-Tronic gearbox. The result is a 0 to 60 mph time of 4.8 seconds. At the same time, the E450 can return up to 38.6 mpg (6.1L/100 km) combined.

Read our full review on the Mercedes E-Class

Conclusion

With the Genesis G80 Sport joining the ranks of the normal and EV version of the car, the mid-size luxury sedan will finally have something for everybody. Well, almost. We are yet to see a proper M5 competitor, but from what we know so far, Genesis doesn’t much care for high-performance sedans. At least not at this point.

That said, the G80 Sport brings enough bespoke elements to rival the BMW Individual treatment, which is definitely a step up in terms of exclusivity. Although prices are yet to be announced, we still expect the G80 Sport to offer unrivaled levels of comfort and luxury for its price.