Genesis has fully unveiled its new flagship model, the G90, which will be available in a choice of a sedan or a long wheelbase version in select markets. The G90 brings the first full model change in three years following its facelift in 2018, and introduces a bold new direction with advanced assistance features and a variety of new technologies.
The front of the Genesis G90 includes a new Crest Grille and sleek Two-Line headlamps, which are designed to resemble the brand’s emblem. The Crest Grille at the sports a Layered Architecture design, comprised of two G-Matrix patterns layered on top of one another to create a three-dimensional effect.
The Two-Line headlamps, located on both sides of the grille, are the thinnest on a Genesis model yet. The headlamps’ slim design was made possible by intercrossing the lens of the DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) with the turn signal, the high beams and the MLA (Micro Lens Array) technology-powered low beams. The low beams in particular combine roughly 200 micro optic lenses per module with ultraprecise technology. The resulting lenses are smaller than those of legacy projection lamps, but provide the same level of light intensity.
The Genesis G90 also sports a Clamshell bonnet that consists of a single panel that combines it to the fenders to eliminate panel gaps. In addition, the Guilloché patterned emblem, which is nearly 80 per cent thinner than the previous version, adds a finishing touch.
When viewed from the side, the Parabolic Line design starts from the bonnet and flows along the bottom of the window to the trunk. The DLOs bordering the first and second rows of the vehicle are harmonised by thick C-pillars.
At the vehicle’s rear, as key elements of the Genesis design language, the Two-Line rear combination lamps are elongated with the boot with the Genesis lettering emblem positioned between them.
Functional elements like the license plate, various sensors, and the reverse lights have been lowered to complete the image of the G90’s rear design.
The interior of the Genesis G90 is designed to satisfy both customers who take the wheel themselves and those who are driven by chauffeurs. The driver’s seat brings to life Genesis’ interior design ethos of the Beauty of White Space, harmoniously combining the feeling of a high-tech device with new technologies together with the luxurious details that come with analog sensitivities.
Drawing attention at the front of the vehicle’s interior are slim air vents that, combined with the wing-like shapes and the next-generation infotainment system – the connected car Integrated Cockpit (ccIC) – integrate the cluster and navigation into a panoramic display.
The center console carefully utilises glass and aluminium materials to express luxurious analog sensitivities. In addition, the electronic dial-type Shift-By-Wire (SBW) component and a dial-type Central Control Panel (CCP) are differentiated to enable drivers to intuitively distinguish between them while driving. In particular, the SBW prevents maloperation by vibrating when the driver shifts into reverse.
Furthermore, the two panoramic sunroofs located above the first and second rows can be controlled separately. In addition, the mood lamps installed on the left and right ends of the sunroofs are linked with other mood lamps in the vehicle.
The rear seats of the Genesis G90 feature high quality materials to ensure that the flagship sedan offers passengers comfort and convenience. The left and right seats in the second row can be reclined separately for passengers’ comfort. It also provides a new experience to customers with storage spaces such as independent tray for magazines and books in the C-pillar area of the second row.
New garnishes made possible thanks to new processing methods have been applied to the G90’s center fascia, to the backs of the front-row seats, and to each seat’s door trimming. Genesis’ philosophy of sustainable luxury is well reflected in the G90’s use of Newspaper Crown Wood and Newspaper Stripe Wood. The material is made utilising a new method that minimizes its impact on the environment by reprocessing wastepaper from daily life, including newspapers.
Used here for the first time in a Genesis vehicle, the metal inlay garnish is a detail that is rooted in the traditional Korean ‘sanggam’ (or ‘inlay’) crafting technique. The garnish inlays the Two Lines and the G-matrix pattern onto real metal, ash wood, and forged carbon surfaces.
The Genesis G90 comes in a choice of 12 colour options. Brand new colors such as Hallasan Green, Capri Blue, Bariloche Brown, Valencia Gold, and Maui Black are exclusive to the G90. The model will also be available in Makalu Gray, Vik Black, Tasman Blue, Seville Silver, Uyuni White, Makalu Gray Matte, and Verbier White. The Hallasan Green color in particular is named after Hallasan, a shield volcano on Korea’s Jeju Island, a decision that reflects the brand’s pride in its distinctive Korean identity.
The vehicle also offers a selection of interior colorways, with a total of five combination choices: Obsidian Black/Mono-Tone, Bordeaux Brown/Obsidian Black Two-Tone, Glacier White/Urban Brown Two-Tone, Modern Gray/Galaxy Black Two-Tone, and Dune Beige/Velvet Burgundy Two-Tone.
The G90 is equipped with a turbopetrol 3,5 V6 engine and an eight-speed automatic transmission, which features a maximum output of 280 kW and 530 N.m of torque. The engine achieves a claimed combined fuel efficiency of 9,3 km/L thanks to a Dual Fuel Injection system injecting the optimal amount of fuel to meet driving conditions, and a Water Cooled Type Intercooler improving acceleration responsiveness by quickly lowering the temperature of air inflow in the engine (figures based on five seater model in 2WD with 19-inch tires).
To support its strong engine power and torque while ensuring efficient cooling of the brake discs, the G90 utilises multiple cooling mechanisms, including undercover guide hole, dust cover hole, and wheel guard cooling vanes.
It also features a new Brake Mode, “Chauffeur,” allowing drivers to control braking force. It’s one of three built-in brake modes that drivers can utilise to suit their preferences and driving conditions.
Genesis has outfitted the G90 with new suspension technology that offers a smoother ride and better handling performance. It also includes Preview-Electronic Control Suspension (Preview-ECS) as a basic feature, which optimises control of the suspension by employing a front camera and data from the navigation system to recognise road conditions and provide a smooth riding experience in any driving environment.
For added driving stability, the G90 also features Multi Chamber air suspension, which alters air pressure in the air springs. Three settings are available depending on driving conditions. When driving at high speeds, the air suspension system lowers the height of the vehicle to reduce wind resistance. When driving on rough or uneven surfaces, the feature heightens the car to protect its undercarriage and cut down on vibrations from the road. Also, the vehicle’s height can stay at a certain level regardless of changes in weight from passengers or luggage.
The Genesis G90 also includes a feature that manages the air suspension according to road conditions, helping drivers navigate speed bumps, ramps, and rough roads. This technology controls the damping and height of the suspension by identifying the environment in front of the vehicle with information gathered from a front camera and from the navigation system, providing customers with a comfortable ride.
If it detects a bump ahead in the road, 100 metres before contact the vehicle elevates the front wheels 10 mm and optimises the Preview-Electronic Control Suspension (Preview-ECS). This reduces the shock so that passengers are not jolted as much.
In addition, using sensors, the car can elevate the front wheels when it’s going down a steep slope. This provides stronger suspension to prevent damage from contact between the flat road and the undercarriage after the slope. When driving on rough roads, the feature heightens the car by 25 mm at both ends, the front wheels and the rear wheels, to protect its undercarriage from touching the surface of the road and ensure a stable driving experience.
Rear Wheel Steering (RWS) on the Genesis G90 steers the rear wheels to a maximum of four degrees in a low-speed counter-phase (moving them in the opposite direction of the front wheels) and to a maximum of two degrees in high-speed in-phase (moving them in the same direction as the front wheels).
It is also outfitted with the brand’s noise canceling ANC-R (Active Noise Control-Road) system as a basic feature, which detects noise from the surface of the road and then sends opposite phase sounds through the speakers to cancel it out.
To ensure that same quiet and luxury for every seat in the vehicle, Genesis has measured and analysed the sound sensitivity of each seat and tailored its sound cancelling accordingly. Some parts of the system are reinforced with special materials to strengthen the car’s body, while various sound-absorbing materials were used throughout key sections of the car. Meanwhile, laminated glass was used throughout the car, including the second-row doors’ quarter glass.
Genesis has given the G90 a suite of various convenience technologies to provide an all-new automated experience from the moment customers board the vehicle until the moment they exit the car at their destination.
When a driver approaches the G90 with their smart key, Auto Flush Door Handles pop up to greet the driver. Once the driver enters the vehicle, the EasyClose system closes the door without passengers needing to reach out and grab it. This feature is activated with a press of a button that is located in a number of easily accessible places, including the first row’s center console, the second row’s armrests, and the door trims in both rows.
Additionally, the first-row driver’s seat doors can be set up to automatically close when the brake pedal is used. When passengers exit the vehicle, they can touch the outside door handle switch or press the lock button on the remote control to close the door.
The G90’s Fingerprint Authentication System in the center console enables keyless starting and driving. Moreover, it automatically loads a driver’s personal settings and can be used as an identity verification method for in-car payments and Valet Mode.
The G90 comes with Digital Key 2 as a basic feature, letting customers access and turn on the vehicle simply by touching the door handle when their smartphone is nearby. It also features a hands-free smart trunk system, which automatically opens the trunk when a driver or passenger stands near the sensor located on the rear part of the trunk for three seconds. (A list of smartphone models with this feature can be found on the Genesis homepage and on smartphone manufacturers’ websites). Updates for the Genesis Digital Key 2 will be available wirelessly through an Over the Air (OTA) update later.
Over the Air (OTA) software updates are also available for major electronic systems inside the G90, such as the navigation system, digital cluster, Head-Up-display (HUD), brakes, steering wheel, suspension, airbags, and ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems). This allows drivers to update their vehicle’s software without visiting a service center, so their vehicle will always remain up to date with the latest features.
Customers can experience the advanced technology and convenience of the G90 even when driving and parking. The G90 is the first model to feature Hands On Detection (HOD), allowing the vehicle to accurately detect when the driver is holding the steering wheel. When driver assistance systems such as Highway Driving Assist are activated, HOD precisely determines whether or not the driver is holding the steering wheel, issuing warnings when necessary.
Parking Collision-Avoidance Assists (PCA) analyzes the vehicle’s surroundings, including the rear, front and the sides, warning the driver when there’s a risk of collision with a pedestrian or object while parking, and activating the brakes if necessary.
The wide-angle camera-based Remote Smart Parking Assist (RSPA) supports perpendicular parking, parallel parking, and diagonal parking by recognizing parking lines.
Genesis has equipped the vehicle with a host of features, including Virtual Venue, Mood Curator, and an Armrest Touch System. ‘Virtual Venue’ is a virtual, 3D-surround sound function. It recreates the sound characteristics of various spaces that are optimized for certain types of music using settings such as ‘Boston Symphony Hall’ or ‘Bang & Olufsen Home’, and delivers on that sound with an impressive Bang & Olufsen 23-speaker system. Virtual Venue monitors the interior through an in-car microphone and simultaneously creates signals that reproduce the sound field characteristics of the selected space. Then, the system minimizes and stabilizes in-car noise according to the speed of the vehicle while delivering audio through its 23 speakers.
The Genesis G90 also comes with Acoustic Lens Technology (ALT), which optimizes sound quality through an electric pop-up tweeter located on the left and right side of the crash pad and headlining speakers placed in the middle of the ceiling between the first and second row, creating a 3D sound experience.
Mood Curator enables integrated control of features like mood lamps, the sound system, the fragrance system (olfactory), massage seats, and electric curtains, lifting passengers’ moods. The car offers four different mood modes, each of which can be customized for a high level of personalisation.
The Genesis G90 is also the first model from the firm has equipped with a fragrance system, which disperses pleasing scents throughout the car’s interior. It offers three different aromas. These include the Driver’s Awakening, The Great Outdoors, and My Favorite Place, which are all provided in replaceable cartridges. A maximum of two cartridges can be mounted to the upper part of the glove box. The type and intensity of the fragrance can be controlled through the infotainment system, rear seat touch control, and ventilation panel. Scents are automatically preselected for different Mood Curator modes, but can also be adjusted manually.
To enhance the comfort of both drivers and passengers, Genesis has equipped the G90 with ‘ergo-relaxing’ seats. Each seat features 10 air cells on the seatback and two air cells on the cushion, supporting four modes of body massage, including full body, waist, pelvis, and upper body, with three options for massage duration and strength.
Furthermore, for smooth transitions when passengers are boarding and exiting the vehicle, the G90 removes air from the side bolsters (waist supporters), and returns to its original position after boarding. When the drive mode is set to Sport Mode or when driving at high speed (130 km/h), the side bolsters are automatically inflated.
For VIP passengers in the second-row seats, the Genesis G90 offers a variety of special features to ensure a comfortable journey. A speaker is installed in the driver’s seat headrest to send out guide/warning sounds that only the driver can hear, shielding the passengers in the rear seats from hearing unnecessary noise. The VIP seat, located on the right side of the second row, features newly added leg supports and footrests that support heating/ventilation (air intake system) functions.
The 10,2-inch electric rear-seat touch screen monitors located in the back of the first-row seats in the Genesis G90 can automatically adjust their angles depending on the seat mode. They also allow passengers to use media independently by connecting Bluetooth headsets to the left and the right monitors, respectively.
An 8,0-inch Armrest Touch Screen (ATS) located in the center armrest in the second row offers touch-type integrated operation. Passengers can set climate control modes, seat position, massage settings, curtain position, and adjust the lighting. The touch-screen display provides clear guidance and explanations with graphics and animations that are suitable for each function related to the buttons.
The manufacturer has used antibacterial materials throughout the Genesis G90, with a UV light-sterilised armrest box in the second row and an air purifier mode that includes an antibacterial filter and photocatalyst module to offer passengers a safer and cleaner interior.
Genesis coated the G90’s interior with an antibacterial Silver Zinc Zeolite material, which prevents the growth of bacteria and microorganisms on areas with artificial leather and car mats, such as the G90’s crash pads, door trim, and armrests. UV-C LED lamps are installed in the box of the second row’s armrests to sterilize items for passengers when driving. (based on the internal test result verified by the international certification Intertek. Result may differ depending on the actual use environment)
Air purifiers in the Genesis G90 are equipped with an antibacterial filter that blocks harmful substances in the air, while a photocatalyst module sterilises the air to provide a better indoor atmosphere.
