Genesis Won’t Build A Fast G70 To Rival The BMW M3

Genesis says that it has no plans to launch a high-performance G70 to directly rival the BMW M3 and Mercedes-AMG C63.

During a recent interview with Car and Driver, Genesis president Manfred Fitzgerald hosed down speculation that the G70 could receive a more potent version similar in philosophy to Hyundai’s N models. For now, Genesis is focused on differentiating itself from Hyundai and increasing sales across its family of models.

“We’re trying to set our base. We have to get the basics,” Fitzgerald said.

Immediate goals from Genesis include expanding its range with a selection of new SUVs, such as the GV80 tipped to arrive in 2020 and a smaller SUV for 2021.

Before these new models hit the market, Genesis is planning an aggressive expansion of its dealership network across the United States, eventually including between 300 and 350 locations. Most of these showrooms will be standalone facilities that are owned by Hyundai franchises.

“The brand is evolving day by day. We’re looking for partners who believe in this brand. This should not be a sprint to the finish line.”

While those hoping for a BMW M3-rival from Genesis may be disappointed by Fitzgerald’s latest statements, they should rest easy knowing that if the company ever changes it mind, Fitzgerald is the perfect man to make such a sports sedan a reality. Prior to heading up Genesis, Fitzgerald was the design director for Lamborghini.

Curiously, Fitzgerald’s statements are contrary to those from Hyundai Motor America vice president of product planning Mike O’Brien, who indicated a few days ago that a high-performance G70 could become a reality.