Genesis Essentia Concept Steals the 2018 NY Auto Show

The Genesis Essentia represents the Korean luxury automaker’s hypothetical vision for an electric luxury grand tourer. The low-slung, two-door coupe features carbon fiber body panels and a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, ensuring an ultra-stiff construction that’s also extremely light. Genesis didn’t share many details on the fully electric powertrain – only saying it has multiple electric motors and a large battery pack that is housed in the vehicle’s central tunnel. It estimates the Essentia would be able to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3 seconds, so it has the performance to backup its stop-you-in-your-tracks looks.

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Potentially even crazier than the exterior styling is the interior. Opening the scissor doors reveals the unique “G-Matrix” web, which connects the vehicle’s outside “skin” if you will, to the inner monocoque construction. Genesis says this wild-looking feature is just one example of how 3D printing can enable new styling cues that simply weren’t possible before. There’s also a widescreen digital display spanning nearly the entire dash, along with a smaller eight-inch driver’s display. Despite its relatively compact shape, the Essentia is a 2+2 with seating for four and “plenty” of luggage space.

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Genesis says AI was a focus for the team that worked on Essentia. As such, it features Voice recognition and the next-generation Genesis Intelligent Assistant, which is capable of two-way dialogue and enables control through voice command. Essentia can also transact mobile payments through its center screen, making electronic payments in a variety of situations. These features may not sound very exciting, but don’t be surprised if they appear on Genesis vehicles in the not too distant future.

While Genesis has no plans to put something like the Essentia into production, company Vice President Luc Donckerwolke said it highlights Genesis’ future styling language. “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,” the executive said.

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