An All-New Luxury Sports Sedan is Coming—And it isn’t from Germany
Updated: Oct. 04, 2018
South Korea’s Genesis G80 Sport is now available for online pre-order. Here’s your first look at the all-new luxury sports sedan.
Genesis G80 Sport: South Korea’s Take on the Luxury Sports Sedan
The term “luxury sports sedan” might conjure up images of an Audi or BMW, but there’s a new breed of car—from a brand-new automaker, no less—with a mission to change that. This one aims to deliver luxury and driving dynamics that will rival the legendary incumbents–and isn’t German, either.
Hailing from South Korea, all-new automaker Genesis Motors quietly entered the Canadian marketplace this past November. In the months since the launch, the brand has made its mark with sales of its flagship G90 executive sedan outpacing legacy competitors such as the Audi A8, Lexus LS and Volvo S90. While only two Genesis models are on the roads today—the G90 and G80—the automaker intends to rollout a full lineup of luxury sedans, coupes and SUVs in the years to come.
This starts with the launch of the G80 Sport, a more driver-focused and engaging variation of the brand’s popular midsize luxury sedan. Unveiled for the first time in Canada at the Montreal Auto Show earlier this year, the G80 Sport marries luxury features found in existing versions of the G80 sedan with distinctive sporty features that align with the brand’s self-described aesthetic of “Athletic Elegance.”
Beginning the week of March 20, 2017, the Genesis G80 Sport will be available for pre-order exclusively via the brand’s Genesis at Home online portal. Potential customers can reserve their places in line and begin customizing their G80 Sport for a $1,000 refundable deposit. The vehicle is expected to arrive in Canada by late spring 2017 and has a provisional price tag between $64,000 and $65,000.
Genesis G80 Sport: Design & Aesthetics
Features exclusive to the G80 Sport include: more aggressive front and rear bumpers with a sculpted body kit, a diamond-mesh grille and 19-inch wheels with large, staggered-width tires. Additional distinguishing features of the G80 Sport include copper-accented wheel caps and headlight housing, black-coloured door mirrors and quad-exhaust outlets. On the inside, G80 Sport drivers will be greeted with carbon fibre dashboard trim, sport seats with copper-hued stitching, aluminum pedals and a black micro-fibre suede headliner. The G80 Sport will also be available in an exclusive colour, Sevilla Red (as depicted).
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Genesis G80 Sport: Driving Performance
Genesis’ commitment to driver engagement is more than skin deep. The G80 Sport gets a performance upgrade when compared to the standard G80 sedan and borrows the larger G90’s 3.3-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine which puts out 365 horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque (as compared to the entry level G80’s 311 horsepower engine). Performance ventilated brakes to provide commensurate stopping power are standard, as is a sport-tuned Genesis Adaptive Control Suspension that can vary the vehicle’s damping rate in real time based on road conditions or driver input.
Genesis G80 Sport: Purchase & Ownership Experience
Genesis’ strategy to differentiate itself from others in the luxury segment extends beyond performance and aesthetics. “We recognize that most every vehicle competing in the luxury segment is a well-designed product. It has to be; an excellent car is what all luxury customers expect from the outset. Genesis is different and goes beyond exceptional cars by providing a human-centred purchase and ownership experience,” says Michael Ricciuto, director of Genesis Motors Canada.
This is seen in Genesis’ all-in, transparent approach to pricing where there are no extra fees, charges for optional features or negotiations necessary. The prices shown on Genesis.ca are the real final prices and all features comes standard, including complimentary scheduled maintenance and courtesy vehicle service where Genesis picks your car up from you for maintenance. Genesis’ radical approach to the vehicle purchase process also includes test drives delivered to your home or office and the ability to complete the entire process online—including credit application and trade-in appraisal.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and Genesis is still in the early chapters of its story. However, the G80 Sport is a competitor that definitely earns its status as a “luxury sports sedan” and Genesis as a brand should not ignored.
Looking for a new ride? Check out the new Reader’s Digest Build & Save Auto Program to see the latest incentives and exclusive discount opportunities on new cars, trucks and SUVs.
