Excitement is building in the automotive world as Genesis gears up to unveil its thrilling new creation: the GV60 Magma! Once again, we’ve caught a glimpse of it undergoing testing, this time mere moments away from the legendary Nurburgring – a location that’s perfectly suited for this electrifying iteration of the all-electric GV60. As a refined yet more potent sibling to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, the GV60 Magma promises to elevate performance and luxury to new heights. With much less camouflage cloaking this prototype than we’ve seen before, we anticipate a grand reveal before the year draws to a close. The latest iteration of this sensational vehicle provides fascinating insight into how the production GV60 Magma will come to life. While it will likely maintain the striking features of the wild GV60 Magma Concept we witnessed last year, we can expect some unique enhancements that will leave onlookers in awe.
Let’s begin at the front, where an eye-catching bespoke bumper and grille arrangement take center stage, featuring larger air ducts designed to cool the front brakes. And it doesn’t stop there! This beauty will possess a sensational set of sharp headlights equipped with the groundbreaking ‘Micro Lens Array’ technology, previously showcased on the revamped GV60. Wheels? We’re betting on a stunning set of 20-inch alloys similar to those seen on the Ioniq 5 N, though it’s yet to be confirmed whether this prototype will see them in production or if the aerodynamic disc wheels from the concept will prevail. No matter the choice, the wider track will necessitate extended wheel arches fitted with additional air vents, emphasizing the vehicle’s aggressive stance.
Looking upwards, the GV60 Magma boasts strategically placed fins on the roof, carefully designed to maintain stability at exhilarating speeds. And around the back, you’ll find an active spoiler and a reimagined bumper that both promise to enhance performance. Under its sleek camouflage, we caught a glimpse of a silver finish, but a vibrant orange aerial shroud hints that the launch color may very well echo the concept’s striking orange brilliance. While we have yet to peek inside the production version of the GV60 Magma, early signs suggest a stunning 27-inch display will dominate the dashboard, complemented by a stylish three-spoke steering wheel, sporty seats, and plenty of ‘Magma’ design elements with exclusive stitching and accents that will set this model apart.
Performance enthusiasts can hardly wait! If our experiences with the Ioniq 5 N serve as a benchmark, the GV60 Magma is set to redefine what an electric vehicle can achieve. During the dynamic reveal of the Magma concept at the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, it recorded the fastest time for a four-seat production car up the hill, blitzing past the previous year’s record set by the Ioniq 5 N by a staggering 1.5 seconds. While exact technical details remain tightly sealed, speculations point to an impressive powertrain akin to the 641 hp all-wheel-drive system featured in the Ioniq 5 N and the newly refined Kia EV6 GT. As Genesis aims for the premium market, the Magma is expected to dominate, potentially clocking a jaw-dropping 0-100 km/h time closer to three seconds than its competitors.
But more power alone won’t set the GV60 Magma apart! As Tyrone Johnson, Genesis’s head of vehicle development, emphasized, “We have a completely different brief, and what we’re trying to achieve is categorically distinct from the Ioniq 5 N or EV6 GT.” He elaborated on the inherent differences in character and tuning, suggesting further hardware changes specific to the GV60 Magma’s build. While we await details on these enhancements, there’s speculation about a refined set of springs designed to complement its electronically controlled suspension or possibly even an upgraded braking system, similar to what Hyundai has developed for a more performance-focused version of the Ioniq 5 N.
The GV60 Magma will also likely incorporate notable features from its counterparts, including the innovative virtual gearbox technology. This exciting advancement transforms the driving experience by allowing drivers to shift gears with paddles on the steering wheel as they would in a traditional hot hatch or sports SUV, delivering an exhilarating jolt akin to a genuine gear change! Furthermore, the Ioniq 5 N tantalizes with various synthesized sound effects, including one inspired by the iconic i30 N’s turbocharged exhaust note. It’s expected that the GV60 Magma will introduce its own distinctive audio signature. Genesis's ambition is to unveil a high-performance Magma variant across its entire lineup, beginning with the GV60, aimed at fusing Korean luxury with captivating European driving dynamics.