Genesis could tackle Defender with luxury off-roader
After launching only with sedans, Korean luxury brand Genesis has been busily rolling out SUVs – and its latest concept car could be among its upcoming new models.
'The X Gran Equator is a new potential addition to a lineup which is already quite big,' Genesis chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke told Australian media at this month's New York motor show.
'In a couple of years we have reached a family of SUVs… We have shown last year there's another one coming, a flagship SUV, very soon,' he added, referring to the upcoming GV90 previewed by last year's Neolun concept.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'Now the question is: how do we position the Gran Equator within this lineup? How do we ensure there's not going to be an overlap or cannibalisation between those vehicles?
'I do believe there's room for that.'
Once the GV90 is launched, Genesis will have four SUVs: the small, electric-only GV60; the mid-size GV70, available with combustion or electric power; and the large, combustion-powered GV80, which is expected to be among the first Genesis models to get the brand's upcoming 2.5-litre hybrid powertrain.
These SUVs complement the mid-size G70 sedan and wagon, the large G80 sedan, and the flagship G90 limousine offered overseas – the latter of which could spawn coupe and/or convertible variants. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Genesis hasn't released powertrain details for the X Gran Equator concept, nor has it released dimensions.
However, it's clearly on the larger side, particularly with that lengthy bonnet.
While its chunky Ridge Grappler LT315/45R24 tyres wrapped around huge 24-inch wheels point to a level of off-road ability, the X Gran Equator's long bonnet and two-row seating configuration – if not its squared-off lines – call to mind sleek, more coupe-like SUVs like the defunct Infiniti QX70.
Mr Donckerwolke said the X Gran Equator concept isn't a flight of fantasy, and is technically feasible. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'Basically, the Gran Equator was designed by my team in a very short time. Like all the other projects, I make sure that because of my engineering team being involved in the project that all those projects are feasible, that we don't have to face any big hurdles if we have to realise that would basically make the project unsuitable,' he said.
'From the technical point of view, the platform works, the technical side works, now it's obviously the demand.'
Mr Donckerwolke told media in New York that between the show and the concept's unveiling at the Genesis House retail location the night before, it had already received a positive reception internally.
'Everybody has called and asked, 'When can I have it?'. All the regions have been. I think this is a big progress,' he said. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
'It's plugging into the SUV emotion, it's going back to the off-road capability that actually makes those SUVs genuine and authentic.'
While it has key Genesis design cues like its Twin Lamp split-level lighting, it doesn't simply look like a smaller or larger version of any existing SUV from Hyundai's premium brand.
'It has its own character… We don't want to do the Russian dolls. All the cars have their own characters, their own specific tailored design,' said Mr Donckerwolke.
Unique details on the concept's exterior include a split-opening tailgate, and four individual sunroofs. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert
Inside, Genesis designers went for a mixture of analogue and digital design elements.
There's no touchscreen – an omission that would surely be rectified with a production version – but there are four discrete digital dials said to be inspired by the dials of vintage cameras.
There's a crystal-look rotary controller similar to that in the GV60, while some of the switchgear on and around the steering wheel is reminiscent of that in current Genesis models. Supplied Credit: CarExpert
The swivelling front seats are unique to the X Gran Equator, however, as are the chunky grab handles on either side of the centre stack and rear centre console.
The cabin has a two-tone colourway, while the upholstery has a diamond pattern – another example of Genesis' G-Matrix patterning.
Genesis says its concept 'marries on-road sophistication with off-road resilience', though it hasn't shared any technical specifications of the vehicle, such as dimensions or powertrain type.
The luxury brand's concepts usually lead to production vehicles, with the exception of its various two-door coupe and convertible concepts – none of which, thus far, have entered production.
MORE: Genesis X Gran Equator is a rugged off-roader, but will you be able to buy it?
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Content originally sourced from: Australian transport costs are the most affordable in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and the most expensive in Launceston, Tasmania, a new report published by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has revealed. And while it may not be apparent to many, according to the AAA's Transport Affordability Index, the nationwide affordability of transport has fallen again in the first quarter of this year (January to March 2025). The Transport Affordability Index (TFI) monitors changes in the total price of household transport, and uses economic modelling to determine changes to transport costs relative to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and household incomes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The study shows Australians are now spending less on transport costs after the third consecutive quarter of reductions – but there are big variations in spending across different parts of the country. According to the latest TFI stats released this week, the average Australian household spends 15.8 per cent of its income on transport costs. Capital city households averaged 15.9 per cent, while people in regional cities were marginally better off at 15.6 per cent. It's the best affordability since 2020 but means Australians are still spending a higher proportion of their household income on transport than they did before COVID in 2019, when the figure was 13.9 per cent. "Transport costs are significantly higher than they were before the pandemic," said AAA managing director Michael Bradley in a statement. "Costs have risen across the economy and transport expenditure is one of the key drivers of inflation. Transport is a significant and unavoidable expense, and governments at all levels must consider these cost pressures when formulating policy." There are also significant variations in affordability across the country. In Tasmania, households in Hobart and Launceston were found to spend 18.2 per cent and 19.9 per cent of their incomes respectively on transport, the highest in Australia. In Brisbane – where a flat 50-cent public transport fee was introduced in 2024 as the city's car parking rates become the most expensive in Australia – the rate is 14.6 per cent. The Queensland capital fell short of bragging rights for the most affordable transport in the country, however. It was beaten by the NSW regional city of Wagga Wagga. While the raw spending figure was actually up for the March quarter, the AAA says increases in household income have more than offset that, which is how transport 'affordability' has still improved. According to the report, the increase came from higher fuel prices, with hikes of $129 a year per household in capital cities, and $194 per year for regional city households. Of course, new vehicle prices increased too, which the AAA says were offset by a fall in interest rates. Content originally sourced from: Australian transport costs are the most affordable in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and the most expensive in Launceston, Tasmania, a new report published by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has revealed. And while it may not be apparent to many, according to the AAA's Transport Affordability Index, the nationwide affordability of transport has fallen again in the first quarter of this year (January to March 2025). The Transport Affordability Index (TFI) monitors changes in the total price of household transport, and uses economic modelling to determine changes to transport costs relative to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and household incomes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The study shows Australians are now spending less on transport costs after the third consecutive quarter of reductions – but there are big variations in spending across different parts of the country. According to the latest TFI stats released this week, the average Australian household spends 15.8 per cent of its income on transport costs. Capital city households averaged 15.9 per cent, while people in regional cities were marginally better off at 15.6 per cent. It's the best affordability since 2020 but means Australians are still spending a higher proportion of their household income on transport than they did before COVID in 2019, when the figure was 13.9 per cent. "Transport costs are significantly higher than they were before the pandemic," said AAA managing director Michael Bradley in a statement. "Costs have risen across the economy and transport expenditure is one of the key drivers of inflation. Transport is a significant and unavoidable expense, and governments at all levels must consider these cost pressures when formulating policy." There are also significant variations in affordability across the country. In Tasmania, households in Hobart and Launceston were found to spend 18.2 per cent and 19.9 per cent of their incomes respectively on transport, the highest in Australia. In Brisbane – where a flat 50-cent public transport fee was introduced in 2024 as the city's car parking rates become the most expensive in Australia – the rate is 14.6 per cent. The Queensland capital fell short of bragging rights for the most affordable transport in the country, however. It was beaten by the NSW regional city of Wagga Wagga. While the raw spending figure was actually up for the March quarter, the AAA says increases in household income have more than offset that, which is how transport 'affordability' has still improved. According to the report, the increase came from higher fuel prices, with hikes of $129 a year per household in capital cities, and $194 per year for regional city households. Of course, new vehicle prices increased too, which the AAA says were offset by a fall in interest rates. Content originally sourced from: Australian transport costs are the most affordable in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, and the most expensive in Launceston, Tasmania, a new report published by the Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has revealed. And while it may not be apparent to many, according to the AAA's Transport Affordability Index, the nationwide affordability of transport has fallen again in the first quarter of this year (January to March 2025). The Transport Affordability Index (TFI) monitors changes in the total price of household transport, and uses economic modelling to determine changes to transport costs relative to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and household incomes. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The study shows Australians are now spending less on transport costs after the third consecutive quarter of reductions – but there are big variations in spending across different parts of the country. According to the latest TFI stats released this week, the average Australian household spends 15.8 per cent of its income on transport costs. Capital city households averaged 15.9 per cent, while people in regional cities were marginally better off at 15.6 per cent. It's the best affordability since 2020 but means Australians are still spending a higher proportion of their household income on transport than they did before COVID in 2019, when the figure was 13.9 per cent. "Transport costs are significantly higher than they were before the pandemic," said AAA managing director Michael Bradley in a statement. "Costs have risen across the economy and transport expenditure is one of the key drivers of inflation. Transport is a significant and unavoidable expense, and governments at all levels must consider these cost pressures when formulating policy." There are also significant variations in affordability across the country. In Tasmania, households in Hobart and Launceston were found to spend 18.2 per cent and 19.9 per cent of their incomes respectively on transport, the highest in Australia. In Brisbane – where a flat 50-cent public transport fee was introduced in 2024 as the city's car parking rates become the most expensive in Australia – the rate is 14.6 per cent. The Queensland capital fell short of bragging rights for the most affordable transport in the country, however. It was beaten by the NSW regional city of Wagga Wagga. While the raw spending figure was actually up for the March quarter, the AAA says increases in household income have more than offset that, which is how transport 'affordability' has still improved. According to the report, the increase came from higher fuel prices, with hikes of $129 a year per household in capital cities, and $194 per year for regional city households. Of course, new vehicle prices increased too, which the AAA says were offset by a fall in interest rates. Content originally sourced from:
