2018 Genesis G70 Spied: The Koreans Take Aim at the 3-series

What It Is: The Genesis brand’s third and smallest model yet, an entry-level rear-drive luxury sedan expected to be as close to a BMW 3-series as has ever come out of Korea.

Why It Matters: With the stately G90 flagship joining the mid-size G80 as the second model launched under the freshly launched Genesis nameplate, Hyundai’s new luxury brand is still in its infancy. Come next year, however, Genesis will experience its first major growth spurt as this car, the G70, arrives. Indeed, despite lacking the luxurious capaciousness of larger models, the more-popularly priced compact sedans tend to be the volume sellers at most luxury brands, and we expect that to be the case here, too. Considering public regard of parent company Hyundai as the purveyor of automobiles that are nothing if not affordable, this car’s size and price point may represent the intersection of Genesis’s ambitions as a brand and the public’s willingness to support it.

The G70 also will prove whether a Genesis can remain convincingly upscale as it goes down in size, and we’ll also be watching to see if Genesis will infuse the model with a truly sporty character, à la BMW 3-series, or if it will prioritize comfort, as do its larger siblings. For its part, Genesis has described the G70 as a “near-luxury sedan,” but has said little else.

Platform: The G70 was ostensibly previewed by the Genesis Hybrid Sport Sedan concept car earlier this year at the New York auto show, but anyone hoping that car would translate to production intact will be sorely disappointed—unless Genesis has plans to build a second, four-door coupe G70 model in the future. (Fingers crossed!) The concept’s aggressive, fastback profile has bowed to a far more traditional, three-box shape. The fenders have been brought in considerably, and the side-window graphic could have come from a half-dozen other cars. At least the concept’s contrived little flap along the lower window edge appears to have been dropped.

That said, what we can see beneath the camouflage suggests that all was not lost. The front end appears to have the concept’s wide jowls and mesh grille, although the headlamps have been normalized and a lower intake has appeared on the chin. Less is clear out back due to the heavy camouflage, but it appears that some of the concept’s cool elements—namely the skinny taillamps and ducktail decklid, have also been replaced by staider designs. This one’s fat dual tailpipes and its serious wheels and tires imply that more interesting things are under the skin.

Exactly what those things are is uncertain. Reliable information about this G70’s underpinnings is scarce, but we’re pretty confident that its basic, rear-wheel-drive platform will be shared with two more Genesis models: a sport coupe and a “near-luxury” crossover, due in 2019 and 2020. It also will be the basis for Kia’s upcoming rear-drive GT sports sedan, also due next year. All-wheel drive certainly will be part of the G70 mix—if not at launch, then soon afterward.

Powertrain: The Genesis Hybrid Sport Sedan concept was shown with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor, which together produced a modest 242 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque—about on par with base turbocharged four-cylinders in this car’s competitive set without any electric motor assist. Mated to an eight-speed automatic, this powertrain probably would suffice for a base model but likely would be too expensive. Hyundai knows that to be taken seriously in this segment, it will need another, stronger offering, so watch for an even more powerful turbocharged four-cylinder nonhybrid G70 and/or a G70 brandishing a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V-6 under the hood with horsepower output well into the mid-300s.

Competition: Audi A4, BMW 3-series, Cadillac ATS, Infiniti Q50, Jaguar XE, Lexus IS, Mercedes-Benz C-class, Volvo S60.

Estimated Arrival and Price: The 2018 Genesis G70 will arrive sometime in early to mid-2017, though the timing and the venue for its public debut are not known. Pricing almost certainly will be at the affordable end of the competitive set—figure the low-to-mid-$30,000 range—in keeping with the core values of the Genesis and Hyundai brands.