Latest news with #XGranEquator
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Why this major carmaker thinks in-car screens have reached their peak
In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. "We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations," Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. "Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens." He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. "You will see less dependence on these screens." Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. "Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone," said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. "We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before," he said. "If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety." Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. "I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry," said Mr Donckerwolke. "There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents." Content originally sourced from: In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. "We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations," Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. "Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens." He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. "You will see less dependence on these screens." Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. "Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone," said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. "We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before," he said. "If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety." Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. "I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry," said Mr Donckerwolke. "There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents." Content originally sourced from: In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. "We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations," Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. "Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens." He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. "You will see less dependence on these screens." Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. "Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone," said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. "We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before," he said. "If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety." Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. "I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry," said Mr Donckerwolke. "There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents." Content originally sourced from: In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. "We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations," Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. "Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens." He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. "Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. "You will see less dependence on these screens." Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. "Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone," said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. "We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before," he said. "If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety." Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. "I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry," said Mr Donckerwolke. "There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents." Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Why this major carmaker thinks in-car screens have reached their peak
In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. 'We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations,' Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. 'Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens.' He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. 'Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. 'You will see less dependence on these screens.' Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. 'Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone,' said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. 'We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before,' he said. 'If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety.' Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. 'I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry,' said Mr Donckerwolke. 'There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents.'
West Australian
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Why this major carmaker thinks in-car screens have reached their peak
In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. 'We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations,' Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. 'Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens.' He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . 'Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. 'You will see less dependence on these screens.' Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept , a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. 'Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone,' said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. 'We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before,' he said. 'If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety.' Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. 'I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry,' said Mr Donckerwolke. 'There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents.'
Perth Now
09-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Why this major carmaker thinks in-car screens have reached their peak
In this era of wall-to-wall screens, you'd be forgiven for thinking in-car displays are taking over automotive interiors, and that buttons and switches are going the way of the dodo. Hyundai reckons that's not the case. 'We will see a return of the analogue, and the reduction of screens. It's going to take one or two generations,' Hyundai Motor Group chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke recently told media including CarExpert. 'Depending on the type of vehicle, you will see less screens.' He explained this will be different depending on the type of the vehicle. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Suzuki Jimny Lite Credit: CarExpert 'Mainstream vehicles will utilise screens mainly for a couple of generations. Basic cars will have the bring-your-own-device parameter, and the luxury cars will certainly have screens but they will be seconded by voice control. 'You will see less dependence on these screens.' Genesis last month revealed its X Gran Equator concept, a luxury off-roader that has four small screens looking more like gauges, but no traditional touchscreen. In an age when even the cheapest Kia Picanto has a touchscreen, vehicles without one are rare – at least in Australia. You can buy a Suzuki Jimny Lite here featureing a more 2000s-style bank of buttons and knobs, while in the Japanese market various entry-level vehicles like the Toyota GR86 RC simply have a blank where a touchscreen would be. Slate Credit: CarExpert Some recently revealed vehicles such as Amazon's Slate electric ute feature a smartphone mount located where you might expect a touchscreen to be. Citroen's C3 comes standard with a smartphone dock, which the company says uses an app and the car's NFC wireless capabilities to quickly connect the phone to the car. 'Simply, people have their phone and normally they have everything that they need in terms of applications and utilities in their phone,' said Mr Donckerwolke. Genesis' design chief isn't just seeing the future of in-car displays through the prism of a designer, and he raised safety concerns about a trend that has become increasingly prolific among, in particular, Chinese brands. 'We have to make sure that screens are not forcing you to go into sub-menus for operations that we required only one touch of a button for before,' he said. Leapmotor C10 Credit: CarExpert 'If you rely only on screens, you are tending to go away from the fact to have the hands on the steering wheel and the eyes on the road which is for me the most important factor of safety.' Many brands like Tesla, Xpeng and Leapmotor utilise virtually no physical switchgear, with almost every function accessible via the touchscreen or by using the voice assistant. Digital instrument clusters and infotainment touchscreens have also been joined by separate climate control screens (see: Audi, Land Rover) and passenger displays (see: Jeep, Ram, Porsche). You'll find rear climate displays in some brands' vehicles (eg: Tesla) as well as rear displays for viewing media (see Genesis, GMC, Lexus). Lincoln Nautilus Credit: CarExpert As screens have permeated through interiors, some brands have introduced enormous screen assemblies. Mercedes-Benz's MBUX Superscreen incorporates a digital instrument cluster, infotainment touchscreen and passenger display under one piece of glass. Cadillac and Lincoln have gone even further, having not only one continuous pillar-to-pillar screen in some of their luxury vehicles but also a separate touchscreen underneath for controlling key functions like the climate control. Even Hyundai's own Genesis brand has an expansive – if not quite pillar-to-pillar – 27-inch display incorporating the instruments and infotainment. The risk here is what looks fabulous on the showroom floor could look out-of-date just a few years later. That's arguably more so with luxury cars, where all the wood and leather and craftsmanship can be undermined by outdated user interfaces – something premium brands didn't have to worry about in decades past. 'I think that the main issue with big screens as well is you have to always update the contents, and other industries do that much better than the automotive industry,' said Mr Donckerwolke. 'There is a danger to have big screens and not the right quality of contents.'
Perth Now
24-04-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
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?
