Luxury sedan owners might not have the same need for bragging rights as hypercar owners do but Genesis gives them something to talk about anyway. According to the Korean brand, the G90’s clamshell hood is the single biggest panel currently in global mass automotive production.
We should note that Genesis’ unofficial record stands among the current production models, as past models like the original Dodge Viper probably had a larger clamshell that was also notoriously expensive to replace. In any case, the aluminum hood of the Genesis G90 covers an area of 2.6 square meters (4,030 square inches), which is the equivalent of 45 pieces of A4 paper or 450 post-its, in case you want to bore someone to death with a “fun fact”.
The clamshell hood stretches from the grille all the way to the base of the windshield and the front doors as it incorporates the upper portion of the front fenders (hence the clamshell definition). The designers’ goal was to eliminate panel gaps, creating a cleaner look for the front end of their flagship.
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Genesis admits that the size of this aluminum component brought many challenges in the development process. Engineers found out that the hood dimensions could alter after the oven painting process due to thermal deformation, which could lead to larger panel gaps. In order to avoid that, they reinforced the hinges and added an outer C-shaped hood rail to improve structural rigidity. All these changes required a “significant investment in high-level hood moulding and forming technology” but Genesis officials were convinced it was justified for the cause.
Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, said: “In a world of uninspired sedans, the design of the G90 resets the standards. Genesis Design has created the most attractive attire by giving it the proportions of an elegant and athletic Gran Turismo. It is complemented by technological differentiators like the aluminum clamshell bonnet and the thinnest quad lamps sporting Micro Lens Array technology.”
Besides North America and its home market in Korea, the Genesis G90 is currently available in Germany and Switzerland.
