Genesis has really been on a roll lately. The excellent G70, the bold redesigned G90 and the elegant GV80 SUV have developed real brand DNA for a marque that simply didn’t exist five years ago. With such quantum leaps in growth, it’s no surprise that the all-new 2021 Genesis G80 promises be the strongest Genesis product to date.

In a word, the styling of the 2021 Genesis G80 is gorgeous. Its front end is dominated by a large shield-shaped grill sporting plenty of diamond mesh brightwork. Forward lighting comes courtesy of four horizontal headlight elements that flow into the side vents, briefly being pierced by the front arches. The main character line is swooping and bold, working in tandem with the plunging roofline to create a dramatic silhouette that tapers to a kammback tail. Despite appearances, the 2021 G80 remains a traditional sedan with a standard trunklid.
If the outside the 2021 Genesis G80 is gorgeous, the inside is stunning. Sumptuous stitched, metal and open-pore wood surfaces abound while technology is at the forefront of the cabin experience. A 14.5-inch touchscreen with redundant physical controls sits atop the dashboard while a 12.3-inch screen takes its place in the instrument cluster. Audio comes courtesy of Lexicon, while other trick bits of tech including augmented reality navigation and remote-controlled parking are sure to wow G80 shoppers.

The 5.0-litre V8 will be missed, but the new top-shelf 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 should prove sufficient by offering 375 horsepower and 391 lb.-ft. of torque. For those more interested in saving money, a new 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-four with 311 horsepower and 311 lb.-ft. of torque comes fitted as standard equipment. Both engines are mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission and Canadian models send that power to all four wheels. Genesis claims that the 2021 G80 is 125 kilograms (275 pounds) lighter than the outgoing model thanks to the increased use of aluminum, although they remain tight-lipped on which components benefit from these weight-saving measures. A new electronic adaptive suspension system that reads the road ahead through a camera is also available and we’re interested in seeing what sort of ride and handling blend it affords.

In terms of safety, the 2021 Genesis G80 features a suite of collision avoidance assists as well as a more evolved set of semi-autonomous features. The second-generation highway driving assist is clearly gunning for Tesla with lane-change capability while the active cruise control now features machine learning to mimic the driver’s habits. In the event that something does go terribly wrong, Genesis includes a suite of ten airbags to keep occupants protected.
If the driving experience is as good as the styling, we expect the 2021 Genesis G80 to be a thoroughly enjoyable car. Expect more detailed pricing to be available closer to the new G80’s on-sale date later this year.