Skip to main content

Genesis’ stunning New York Concept may give Mercedes and BMW a reason to worry

The newly crowned Genesis brand revealed its first concept at the 2016 New York Auto Show, and the ultramodern (and aptly-named) New York Concept left the crowd speechless. The brand’s first foray into show car territory, the vehicle’s design is the company’s most progressive yet, but it has real implications for the future of Genesis.

The New York Concept reportedly previews the upcoming G70 luxury sports sedan, one that will eventually lock horns with the likes of the Audi A4, BMW 3 Series, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. Powering the car is a 2.0-liter hybrid setup with a total output of 242 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque, all of which is shuttled to the ground through an eight-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration and weight figures have not been disclosed by Genesis, but the vehicle’s size, looks, and hybrid grunt could make it a real competitor for executive sedans from across the pond.

The exterior of the car is fantastic to be sure, but the star of the show is the New York Concept’s futuristic interior. The dashboard and overall curvature looks like something out of I, Robot, and the floating 21-inch touchscreen blends the instrument cluster and center stack together into one modern package. Despite its innovative flair, Genesis says the Concept retains analog instrument dials.

“The New York Concept is a progressive concept car that showcases the design quality of the brand,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, head of Genesis. “With its expressive volumes and refined design, the New York Concept truly embodies the ‘Athletic Elegance,’ that characterizes Genesis products and will continue to do so for future models that come from our luxury brand. Revealing the concept in New York is a fitting opportunity for Genesis.”

As with most show cars, many of the elements showcased on the New York Concept are unlikely to make it to production, specifically the four-seat setup and dynamic interior styling. Even so, the Genesis brand just gave us one more reason to be excited about the compact luxury space.

Andrew Hard
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Andrew first started writing in middle school and hasn't put the pen down since. Whether it's technology, music, sports, or…
Tesla and Elon Musk sued over use of AI image at Cybercab event
tesla and spacex CEO elon musk stylized image

Tesla’s recent We, Robot presentation has run into trouble, with one of the production companies behind Blade Runner 2049 suing Tesla and its CEO, Elon Musk, for alleged copyright infringement.

Tesla used the glitzy October 10 event to unveil its Cybercab and Robovan, and also to showcase the latest version of its Optimus humanoid robot.

Read more
Qualcomm wants to power your next car with the Snapdragon Cockpit and Ride Elite platforms
Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Ride Elite automotive platforms

It’s been a big year for Qualcomm. Alongside its massive launch into laptop chips through the Snapdragon X Elite series, Qualcomm is now entering the automotive space. The company has announced the new Qualcomm Snapdragon Cockpit Elite and Snapdragon Ride Elite platforms at its annual Snapdragon Summit, which it flew me out to attend.

The two platforms are designed for different purposes, and can be used togetheror separately. The Snapdragon Cockpit Elite is built for in-vehicle infotainment systems and services, while the Snapdragon Ride Elite is built to power autonomous vehicle systems, including all the cameras and sensors that go into those systems.

Read more
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra forge a new path for EVs
Scout Traveler and Scout Terra.

Electric vehicles are inseparable from newness, whether it’s new tech, new designs, or new companies like Rivian, Lucid, and Tesla. But the Volkswagen Group’s new EV-only brand also relies heavily on the past.

Unveiled Thursday, the Scout Traveler electric SUV and Scout Terra electric pickup truck are modern interpretations of the classic International Harvester Scout. Manufactured from 1961 to 1980, the original Scout helped popularize the idea of the rugged, off-road-capable utility vehicle, setting the stage for modern SUVs.

Read more