Genesis Essentia - Electrifying NY Auto Show
The Genesis Essentia concept car made its global debut at the 2018 New York International Auto Show, marking the brand's first EV-based high-performance GT. Built on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis with an all-electric multi-motor powertrain driving all four wheels, the Essentia reaches 60 mph in under three seconds and represents Genesis pushing well beyond the luxury sedan market where it made its name.
Why Genesis Built an Electric GT Concept
Genesis built its reputation on high-specification luxury saloons and SUVs at competitive prices, but the Essentia was designed to demonstrate something different: that the brand could credibly enter the performance and design conversation alongside Porsche, Aston Martin, and BMW. The "athletic elegance" design language Genesis had established on its production cars is pushed to an extreme here, producing a true GT silhouette with a long hood, a tapered rear, and a curved glasshouse that sits low to the road.
Carbon Fiber Chassis and Electric Powertrain
The Essentia uses a race-specification carbon fiber monocoque chassis, with the high-density battery pack housed in a central tunnel rather than beneath the floor. That layout lowers the car's centre of gravity and improves interior room simultaneously. Multiple electric motors drive all four wheels. Genesis declared a 0-60 mph time of 3.0 seconds, placing it firmly in the performance GT bracket. A transparent hood panel gives a view of the race-spec pushrod suspension beneath, a detail normally reserved for hypercars.
Butterfly Doors, Biometrics, and the Interior
Entry to the Essentia is through biometric-operated butterfly doors that open upward. Inside, the cabin uses two contrasting leathers throughout: cognac leather on the seats, quilted in a chevron pattern that references the weave of the carbon fiber bodywork, and Oxford Blue on the steering wheel, dashboard, and footwell. The rear seats use velvet in the same Oxford Blue shade. An 8-inch instrument panel sits at the centre of the dashboard, displaying only essential driving information. Voice control and AI-assisted routing are built into the system, with the car able to learn preferred commute paths and suggest alternatives.
Design Details: Laser Headlights and Carbon Diffuser
The super-thin headlights are flush with the body and use laser optical technology. The rear bodywork is carved back to expose a carbon fiber diffuser. Super-thin laser headlights run flush with the bodywork at the front. Full details from the Genesis reveal are available at the Genesis official newsroom. New Atlas published a comprehensive analysis of the Essentia at its reveal, covering the electric powertrain layout and design intentions.
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