Interior looks alot like the Lexus concepts. Are they using the same designers?

Cast your minds back to this year’s New York Motor Show; Hyundai’s newly-born luxury division Genesis revealed a rather tasty vehicle aptly named the Genesis New York Concept.

The Peter Schreyer-led design, introduced a new styling direction for the brand and more interestingly, an abstract interpretation of what their future products and in particular, their BMW 3-Series competitor may look like.

That vehicle will eventually come to fruition as the Genesis G70; a four door saloon with sleek rear-wheel-drive proportions. So how will it eventually look? Well, we’ve taken the liberty to ponder into the crystal ball and render it into production.

Speaking of design

One of the most notable aspects of the Genesis concept was the long hood and short deck; our interpretation embodies this to emphasize a powerful stance. The front-end styling is dominated by a large G80-like chrome grille, angular air intakes and intersecting headlight cutouts.

Whilst the Concept had interesting fender vent patterns, this study employs a subtle fender crease which almost has a reverse-Z appearance when coupled to the strong shoulder lines. The cabin silhouette gently tapers towards the rear for coupe-like look, with slim horizontal tail lamps accentuating width.

What about inside?

Cabin styling is expected to be toned down significantly from the concept, yet will showcase some of the more general design themes and subtle detailing. The four-seater arrangement of the show-car will morph into five, with ample space and tech goodies to play toe to toe with its rivals.

Speculating on the hardware

Yet it’s under the bodywork where it intrigues the most; the New York preview showcased a hybrid setup with a 2.0-litre four mated to an electric motor, making a combined total of 242 Hp and 260 lb-ft of torque - not exactly potent. However with an eight-speed automatic channeling power to the rear wheels, it could make for quite an involving drivers car, taking the fight right up to 3-Series and Jaguar XE in the handling stakes.

Interestingly, there has been conjecture about the G70 sharing its platform (code-named CK) with the upcoming Kia GT sedan. If so, this could also open up the possibility of a 3.3-liter turbocharged V-6 being used, which would pump out close to 350 horsepower.

It’s entering a highly contested segment

Battling against the established luxury players like Audi’s A4, BMW 3-Series, Mercedes-Benz C Class, and Jaguar XE will be no easy feat for the G70 - it’s still early days for the Genesis brand and will take some time to command a loyal following. Where it will stand out amongst its rivals is with unique styling and a lower price point.

So when can we expect the real thing to arrive? If speculation is correct, the G70 could appear in production trim as early the 4th quarter of this year or early 2017. Later down the road, a G70 Coupe variant is also anticipated and would serve as a rival to Audi’s A5 coupe, BMW 4-Series and MB C Class coupe.

Finally, what are your thoughts on this Genesis study, and its chances when the real thing does arrive?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

The upcoming 2018 Genesis G70 has been spied testing for the very first time, giving the world its first look at the brand's BMW 3-Series rival.

While Hyundai's luxury-oriented sub-brand is still new, Genesis has already launched its G90 flagship and mid-side G80 sedans to tackle the German trio of BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The G70 is likely to prove to be the company's most important model as it taps into a market it hasn't previously fettled in and one where it will have to tackle some of the finest sedans currently on the market.

To give the car the best chance of doing that, Genesis is expected to underpin the G70 with a rear-wheel drive platform which will be borrowed by a sport coupe and luxury crossover later in the decade. While the G70 will come standard with rear-wheel drive, an all-wheel drive option will be made available following its launch.

Given that the G70 will be heavily inspired by the Genesis Hybrid Sports Sedan concept, it is reported that it could bring the show car's powertrain into production. That means a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine coupled to an electric motor could come standard. Delivering 242 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, it will be mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission.

More expensive and powerful G70 variants can be expected to feed off a more potent turbocharged four-cylinder as well as a 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6.

Unsurprisingly, the road-going G70 will adopt a far more restrained look than the Hybrid Sports Sedan concept. At the front, these spy shots reveal that the car has adopted a wide mesh grille and a subtle yet eye-catching lower chin spoiler. The rear of this prototype meanwhile includes two square tailpipes, pointed lights and a 3-Series inspired shark fin antenna.

According to reports, the 2018 Genesis G70 will celebrate its world debut in early to mid-2017.