Genesis has unveiled the Essentia Concept at the ongoing New York International Auto Show. It’s an all-electric, high-performance concept that embodies the “Athletic Elegance” design language, and the company says it sets the pace for its future models’ performance and technology.
Essentia is the brand’s first full-electric vehicle (EV), and it features a lightweight carbon-fibre monocoque, underneath which rests a state-of-the-art, high-density battery pack and multiple electric motors. No details have been revealed, but Genesis said it has an estimated 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) sprint time of three seconds.
The battery will be built into the centre tunnel and not under the passenger seat, allowing for a low roofline design and a spacious, grand tourer-style cabin. This low-slung styling allows Genesis Design to “redefine” classic GT proportions with an extremely low, transparent hood that flows seamlessly into the windshield and the “bubble” roof.
“The search for dynamic proportions was contrasted with advanced aerodynamic flows to highlight the bionic combination of performance and aesthetics,” Donckerwolke said. “Essentia embodies the genetic elements of the Genesis design,” said Executive Vice President and company design boss Luc Donckerwolke.
From the front, the Essentia features an evolutionary Genesis Crest Grille and formula car-style nose cone that supposedly emphasise efficiency and aerodynamics. Peek through the transparent bonnet and you’ll see the carbon-fibre chassis and pushrod suspension. Next to the grille are Genesis Quad Lights, first introduced on the GV80 Concept. It uses laser optical technology, allowing it to be as thin as regular LED daytime running lights.
Round the side, there are air outlets just behind the front wheels to reduce pressure build-up, thereby reducing drag. The Essentia also gets butterfly doors for effortless ingress and egress, while the B-pillars feature integrated fingerprint controls and biometric facial recognition for opening and closing the doors. The rump gets the same Quad Lights motif that emphasises width, and the car sits on huge bespoke wheels made out of Midas metal copper.
Inside, it’s clear what the message is – minimalism. Genesis reduced clutter, focusing instead on the details such as the transparent cockpit cell. Donckerwolke said purism has dominated the creative process when designing the interior, and the process in which it was done created “exciting opportunities to be explored in 3D printing”. The process transcends the “lengthy, inflexible and costly tooling process,” he said.
For the materials, the Essentia gets cognac leather seats with chevron quilting, and the seat belt slots are made of polished aluminium with glass pearl finish. A slim centre console wrapped in Oxford Blue leather bisects the front passengers, and the rest of the cabin gets layered CF trims to add a sporty and technical element.
The driver gets a sleek, thin-bezeled eight-inch instrument cluster, displaying information that is only necessary for driving. The adjoining display that spans the width of the dash is operated through a jewel-like central controller. The rear seats (also accessed via butterfly doors) are covered in contrasting, Oxford Blue velvet. As a grand tourer, the Essentia comes with plenty of cargo room for a weekend road trip.
Lastly, the toys. As a concept car in this era, the Essentia is a connected car, fitted with communicative technologies that allow it to interact with its surroundings. It can inform the driver of up-to-the-minute road conditions and help avoid accidents and traffic jams. Through machine learning, the car can even provide the quickest or most efficient route to your destination.
Once a route is selected, the car automatically tailors the driver’s preference for the specified route. This means it will self-adjust the seating position, powertrain performance, audiophile system and chassis settings.
There’s also integration for smart homes and devices that’s entirely customisable. This gives owners access to pre-programme HVAC settings, turn on lights or even allow for package deliveries. These systems will be aided by artificial intelligence – voice recognition and the next-gen Genesis Intelligent Assistant allow for two-way dialogue and full vehicle control through voice command. Payment transactions can also be done in-car.
“A Gran Turismo typology highlights our ambition as a luxurious car brand for the connoisseurs and it is the perfect base to project our DNA in the future,” said Donckerwolke. What’s your take on this wild concept, guys? Leave your thoughts below!
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