Hot, Polished, and Dangerous – The New GV60 Magma Signals a New Genesis

Genesisis finally injecting some heat into its buttoned-down lineup with theGV60 Magma, the opening salvo from its newly minted performance arm. Think of Magma asHyundai NHis well-dressed cousin with the same DNA, but sharper tailoring and a taste for top-shelf bourbon.

Performance Without the Paddock Tantrum

That distinction is key.Magma isn't chasing Nürburgring lap timesor turning premium EVs into apex-devouring maniacs. It's designed to live in the space between fast enough to thrill and refined enough to wear a tuxedo. Where Hyundai's N models howl and snap like caffeinated track rats, Magma aims for something subtler. It's a performance EV you can flog on the backroads, then roll into a black-tie gala without smelling like brake dust.

For Genesis, this first Magma model ismore than just a hotter GV60. It's a litmus test. Their way of finding out if the brand can carve a niche betweenHyundai's hooligan hot hatchesand the polished but predictable Germans. And if the formula works, expect a G80 Magma and GV80 Magma around 2027, giving luxury buyers something spicier than a trim-package tease.

Familiar And Finessed Hardware

Under the GV60 Magma's sculpted sheet metal lies a familiar toolkit. The dual motors are good for around600 horsepower, the battery pack is large enough to power a small principality, and the AWD system is tuned for both launch-lurching sprints and elegant composure.Low-three-second 0–62 MPHRuns are on the menu, but this isn't a spec-sheet arms race.

Tyrone Johnson, the man who once gave the Ford Focus RS its rabid character, now oversees Magma development from Genesis' European skunkworks near Frankfurt. His mission is clear and simple. Use theGV60 makes speed feel sophisticated.

And here's where Magma really diverges. Its soul is in the code. Forget swapping cams and cranks. This is a battleground of algorithms and torque maps. For decades, carmakers separated models with pure mechanical engineering.Today, it's all software, and it is now possible to fundamentally change a car's character with a few lines of code.

That means the GV60 Magma, along with future Magma models, will run software that sets them apart from Hyundai's N division, giving each car a unique driving personality. Apparently, Magma wants to whisper in code and punch with torque.