Can't wait for the Range Rover EV? Maybe this striking new Genesis takes your fancy...
Genesis is ramping up to launch a new electric luxury SUV to rival the electric Range Rover EV and Volvo EX90.
The GV90 is effectively Genesis's take on the Kia EV9 and Hyundai Ioniq 9, sharing its fundamental platform and innards with those family-focused seven-seaters, but applying a premium sheen.
As prototypes hit the Nürburgring in preparation for a 2026 launch, it is clear just how loyal the GV90 remains to the design of the imposing Neon concept Genesis revealed last year.
Naturally, the reverse-opening rear doors are unlikely to make it to showrooms – as are the hardwood floor, rotating front seats and enormous pop-out infotainment screen – but the Neolun's imposing, monolithic silhouette is headed to showrooms unaltered, along with the distinctive twin wraparound LED light bars at each end - a Genesis hallmark.
Given it will be closely related to the EV9 and Ioniq 9, the GV90 is highly likely to also be offered with three rows of seats, though in keeping with Genesis's premium billing, it's likely to come exclusively with the roomier six-seat arrangement, with a rotating middle row to facilitate a more social layout.
Genesis has yet to confirm any details about the GV90, but the fact that it's testing at the 'Ring suggests it is planning to launch the flagship in Europe, where it will be one of the largest electric cars on sale, broadly matching its platform-mates at just over five metres long and nearly two metres wide.
It will effectively serve as an electric replacement for the short-lived, ICE-powered GV80, which was only sold in the UK for three years before being pulled from showrooms, having sold around 200 examples.
Allowing for slight variations in power output and efficiency figures, the GV90's specification is expected to roughly match the Kia and Hyundai. The Kia has a 95kWh battery that's good for a maximum of 349 miles of range in the most efficient variant, while the Hyundai's larger 110kWh pack bumps that up to 385 miles.
Both of those cars offer the choice between rear- and all-wheel-drive powertrains, topping out at 501bhp in the recently revealed Kia EV9 GT - which could provide the basis for a performance-focused version of the GV90 under Genesis's new sporting brand Magma.
Irrespective of battery capacity and power, the GV90 will be officially capable of charging at speeds of up to 350kW.
Further details of Genesis's plans for the GV90 will be revealed as the market launch approaches, but naturally it will command a premium over its more mainstream-focused cousins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
What Merz wants from Trump showdown meeting
New German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is making a high-stakes trip to meet US President Donald Trump - his first time in Washington DC as the leader of the European Union's largest economy. Tariffs, defence spending and the war in Ukraine will be high on the agenda when Merz meets Donald Trump on Thursday at the White House. There's also speculation that Trump's team - which repeatedly has weighed in on Germany's domestic politics - could subject him to an Oval Office "ambush". It would not be the first time. Both South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky found themselves in awkward, tense or even fiery exchanges as the world's cameras rolled, capturing every moment. Those moments have turned once cosy, diplomatic moments in the Oval Office into potentially fraught, tight-rope walks for visiting leaders. Ahead of the visit, Berlin expressed confidence that the German side is ready. "I think he's well prepared for this meeting," Friedrich Merz's spokesman told reporters this week. Merz - from the centre-right CDU party - is not just prepared, but on friendly terms with the US President, according to German media. The pair are even said to have exchanged text messages and be on a first name basis, Germany's ARD news outlet has reported. It's always important to not talk for too long," Merz recently opined on German TV. "But to keep it short and also let him talk." Merz's forthright, "shoot-from-the-hip" style of politics could add an interesting dimension to the meeting. His remarks can be surprising and make headlines - a stark contrast to those of his more cautious predecessors, Olaf Scholz and Angela Merkel. Though a traditional supporter of transatlantic relations, Merz raised eyebrows in February by declaring the current US administration is "indifferent to the fate of Europe". So far, the White House has been uncharacteristically quiet about Merz's visit. It was only briefly mentioned by Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt in a gaggle with reporters on Monday, and not at all during briefings at the White House and State Department on Tuesday. Tariffs, Ukraine and defence spending Sources familiar with the visit suggested several topics that could dominate the conversation. Of these, tariffs would be among the most pressing, particularly after Trump doubled import taxes on steel and aluminium this week, prompting warnings of EU countermeasures. The US President also repeatedly expressed dismay with the speed of tariff negotiations with the EU. In May, he threatened to levy a 50% tariff on European goods, saying that it was "time that we play the game the way I know how to play the game". Trump later backtracked and delayed the tariffs until 9 July, a move that his US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer characterised as having a "fire lit" under the EU. Germany is the EU's largest exporter to the US, leaving the country's businesses are extremely agitated about any trade obstacles. Merz, a 69-year-old reputed millionaire with a corporate background, may feel confident about going toe-to-toe with Trump, who often hails himself as the consummate "dealmaker". Whether the Chancellor will be able to smooth the path for EU negotiators, however, remains to be seen. Constanze Stelzenmüller, an expert on German-US relations at the Brookings Institute, believes Merz's ability to push the negotiations along is limited, given that the EU as an institution has taken the lead on those talks. "Whatever Merz says is mood music, rather than being able to say that XYZ will happen, even if major nation states aren't without influence on the European Commission," she explained. "He has to tread a delicate line." When it comes to Ukraine, Merz is vocal in his support of Kyiv and in his criticism of Moscow - recently warning that the fighting could drag on, despite repeated talk of a ceasefire from the White House. Justin Logan, director of defence and foreign policy studies at the Washington DC-based Cato Institute, told the BBC he believes Ukraine will present a "dilemma" for the German side in the meeting. "They'll make a real effort to sell what frankly are the same arguments that have so far failed to persuade the White House," he said. Merz also has called for stiffer EU sanctions on Vladimir Putin and Russia - something Trump has so far not committed to, even as some lawmakers from within his own party have escalated calls to do this week, Leavitt said only that Trump has "kept this as a tool in his toolbox if necessary". "The strange thing for me is, that we haven't heard President Trump say yet, is that Europe has lots of cards it can play on its own," Mr Logan said, pointing to $228bn in frozen Russian assets held primarily in Belgium. "That's money that's just sitting there," he said. From the White House's point of view, the issue of Ukraine's defence is also inextricably linked to Trump's demands that NATO allies raise defence spending to 5% of their GDP. Germany's is 2% - well short of Trump's target, although German officials have signalled a willingness to move in that direction. "I don't think they've done enough," Mr Logan added. "And I suspect they can't do enough. The White House has to know that 5% is not a goal that any of the major European countries are going to reach." "The question then becomes: What's next?" A potential showdown over Germany's AfD Among the potential pitfalls the German delegation faces are the deep disdain that some members of Trump's cabinet - particularly Vice President JD Vance - have for the so-called "firewall" that keeps Germany's Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party out of power."If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing American can do for you," Vance told the Munich Security Conference in February. Vance also broke diplomatic norms by meeting the AfD's leader, Alice Weidel, ahead of Germany's snap election that saw the party storm into second place. Since then, AfD has been classified as extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence service - although the public designation was paused pending a legal confronted, Merz is unlikely to concede, having previously called on the US government to "stay out" of Berlin's domestic politics. While she believes a "Zelensky-style" Oval Office is unlikely, Stelzenmüller said a "worst case scenario" would be something more akin to the visit of Irish Prime Minister Micheál to the White House - an occasion promptly followed by a visit from his political foe, former UFC fighter Conor McGregor. Subsequent contact with the AfD or Alice Weidel, she added, would be seen as a provocation by Germany. "That would be DEFCON 1 for the bilateral," she said.
Auto Express
an hour ago
- Auto Express
Vauxhall Astra Griffin jumps in price but still costs just £26k
The Vauxhall Astra Griffin launched last year, providing a better-equipped trim for less money in Vauxhall's family hatchback line-up, and now it's been revised for 2025 with a new hybrid powertrain to go with the petrol and pure-electric versions. Not only does it now come in Astra Hybrid Griffin specification, there's also new cosmetic tweaks. There's a bit of a price bump, however, while it still comes in £2,775 cheaper than the outgoing Design trim, the Astra Griffin starts at £26,090 - making it £1,275 more expensive than before. The Astra Electric Griffin is only £10 more now, at £35,005, and the new Astra Hybrid Griffin splits the two, at £28,540. You can also have the Griffin model as a 'Sports Tourer' estate, commanding premiums of £2,800 over the hatchback version for the petrol and hybrid, or £1,200 for the EV. Instead of the still relatively fresh Hybrid 136 system that's used across the Stellantis group, the Astra Hybrid Griffin gets the newer and more powerful Hybrid 145. It's still a mild-hybrid set-up employing an electrified six-speed automatic gearbox with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder petrol engine, but there's 143bhp for a nine-second 0-62mph time and a fuel efficiency of 58.9mpg. The other powertrains remain unchanged, with the Astra Electric Griffin still managing 260 miles on a charge and the 128bhp turbocharged 1.2-litre model offered in manual or automatic guises. There's quite a lot of kit included, considering the Griffin is the cheapest Astra you can get. On the outside there's a new contrasting black roof, rear tinted windows and diamond-cut 17-inch alloy wheels, with the Astra Electric model getting 18-inch rims. Heated front seats remain, along with wireless smartphone charging – both of which weren't offered on the old Astra Design trim. There's also a heated leather steering wheel, an armrest (for petrol models), a frameless rear-view mirror, keyless go and a 180-degree rear-view camera. The Astra's dual-screen set-up of two 10-inch displays still sit on the dash, and have wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity. Advertisement - Article continues below The all-electric model is also offered with Vauxhall's 'Electric All In' package, which includes eight years of roadside assistance and a £500 credit that can be used towards an Ohme home charger installation. There's also the equivalent of 10,000 miles of free home charging if you switch to the Octopus GO energy tariff. Click here for our list of the best hatchbacks ... BUY A NEW VAUXHALL ASTRA NOW Find a car with the experts Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Car Deal of the Day: Super sci-fi Kia EV6 for an exceptional £260 per month Our Deal of the Day for 31 May is an extremely attractive price for this extremely capable electric family car Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month Car Deal of the Day: new Omoda 5, with all the kit you might need, for less than £200 per month The Omoda 5 is one of the newest arrivals to the family SUV market, and now it's our Deal of the Day for 1 June Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Car Deal of the Day: Get the Range Rover look for (a lot) less with the Jaecoo 7 for £244 a month Jaecoo is another Chinese brand that has recently arrived in the UK, and its 7 SUV has made a bit of a splash. It's our Deal of the Day for 3 June.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
How Britain's 'tourist tax' is keeping visitors away: Experts say No11's 'layer on layer of costs' is making holidaymakers swerve the UK
High taxes and travel fees are putting tourists off visiting Britain, an industry expert has warned. The UK is 'taking travel and tourism for granted' but will miss out on visitors due to the extra levies being charged, according to Julia Simpson. The chief executive of the World Travel & Tourism Council added that the abolition of duty-free shopping for visitors – the so-called tourist tax – means travellers are flocking to rival destinations. An increase in air passenger duty, new visa fees and the National Insurance hike for employers also threatened to undermine the sector, Ms Simpson warned. She said: 'The UK is absolutely taking travel and tourism for granted. The Treasury is imposing layer upon layer of taxes on a sector that is bringing money into the UK and is not at all a burden. 'We're definitely going to miss out. It's not just about money, it's about sending a signal that the UK is really a great place to visit. 'If the Chancellor is looking for growth, and growth that isn't in the public sector and is outside London, you've got to sell the UK.' Britain axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors following Brexit – hammering demand for expensive goods among affluent tourists. Britain axed VAT-free shopping for overseas visitors following Brexit - and Chancellor Rachel Reeves has upheld the decision Chancellor Rachel Reeves has upheld the decision and argued that reinstating duty-free shopping would cost £2billion. But analysis by the Centre for Economics and Business Research found that it could be costing the public finances £11billion a year as it deters two million tourists a year from choosing to visit the UK. Marks & Spencer, Harrods and Heathrow are among more than 400 businesses to back the Mail's campaign calling for the Government to Scrap The Tourist Tax. According to The Daily Telegraph, Ms Simpson told a tourism event in New Delhi: 'If it is so bad, why does France, which receives more visitors than anywhere else, have tax-free shopping?'
