The Genesis Essentia concept wowed attendees at the 2018 New York Auto Show and, from the looks of it, it is getting closer to hitting the assembly line.
In an interview with Motor Trend, Genesis boss Manfred Fitzgerald revealed the company is already working on a production variant as they’re currently validating its chassis. The executive went on to say they’re trying to get the “powertrain equation right and defining which way we want to go with it.”
That statement is a little open ended, but Fitzgerald did say that “different configurations and different options are on the table.” The concept was an electric vehicle with multiple motors and a carbon fiber monocoque chassis and while we don’t see the latter being a feasible option, for cost reasons, an electrified powertrain can’t be ruled out, especially when everyone is moving towards this direction.
Also Read: Genesis Essentia Concept Is The Reason Why We Go To Auto Shows
Interestingly, the Essentia isn’t the only concept that is being eyed for production. Fitzgerald said this year’s Mint concept “hits all the marks” and this is important for the future.
That being said, it’s hard to imagine how a small hatchback-like vehicle would fit into Genesis’ lineup. However, the concept was rather interesting as it was a compact two-seater that was billed as an evolution of the city car. It also had a high-density battery pack which enabled the model to travel approximately 200 miles (322 km) on a single charge.
In the meantime, Genesis is gearing up to launch the production version of the GV80 concept in the United States early next year, and a smaller crossover, dubbed the GV70, in 2021.
