It’s an easy car to forget about, the Genesis GV60, partly because not that many have sold. But it’s also a very good car, another take on the E-GMP underpinnings used by the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 with its own flourishes and appeal. Now, also like the cars it’s related to, the Genesis gets its performance flagship: this is the 650hp GV60 Magma.
It arrives as part of a mini relaunch, effectively; Genesis is now 10 years old as a brand, and the next decade will focus on ‘Luxury High Performance’. So there’s the GMR-001 racing car coming, plus the promise of ‘refined elegance and superior performance’ in what’s coming, and now the first production Magma model.
Luc Donckerwolke, President and Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, said, “Magma reveals a new facet of Genesis, one that elevates the brand towards true luxury through performance. It shows how emotion and precision can coexist in perfect harmony, defining a more confident and mature expression of Genesis. Through Magma, we’re injecting adrenaline into the Genesis DNA while preserving the elegance and balance that define true luxury.” To the layman that means it’s really, really orange, 20mm lower, a little bit wider and and features a slightly strange spoiler that’s said to generate meaningful downforce. A standard GV60 will always turn your head; imagine the first time seeing this one.
A lot of the bits that made both Ioniq 5N and EV6 GT stand out are here in the Magma, which is encouraging. There’s 609hp from the twin motor setup, or 650hp on overboost, which means 0-124mph in 10.9 seconds and 164mph flat out. The Electronic Control Suspension, electronic limited-slip diff and Virtual Gear Shift that’s worked so well in the other cars is here. Genesis also adds Active Noise Control, sound insulating glass and reinforced door sealing for refinement, alongside ‘Hydro-G’ bushings for less vibration and suspension with an ‘End-of-Travel control system’, which sounds a lot like a clever bump stop. Let’s see; but hopes are high given the standard set by the Hyundai and Kia. Uprated brakes sit behind the 21-inch wheels.
As has been established by the other two cars, there’s a lot of configurability in a GV60 Magma. There are Sprint, GT and MY modes, the latter serving as an individual setting to adjust the ESC, e-LSD and ‘other performance parameters.’ There’s also (told you) a Magma mode for the dash, bringing up vital temperatures, G-force and speed to be prominent. The rest of interior features orange accents, Chamude (it’s like suede) for the seats and console, plus dark metal switches. There’ll be no mistaking it for a standard one…
José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai & Genesis, said: “Genesis achieved one million global sales faster than any luxury marque in history. Magma represents our declaration that the next ten years will be even more significant. We're not just building high-performance vehicles; we're redefining what a luxury high performance brand can be when Korean innovation meets global ambition." So that mean Magmas being sold everywhere, too; following a launch in its home market early next year, the 650hp GV60 will be coming to Euope and North America later in 2026. Presumably in other colours, too, but who knows. Just maybe don’t commit to an Ioniq 5N right now, to be sure…
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