Genesis’ first dedicated EV, the GV60, gets 'Boost Mode' for 0 to 62 mph in 4 seconds

The Genesis GV60, the first dedicated electric vehicle from the South Korean premium player, will get one battery for all configurations, but optional rear- and all-wheel-drive layouts along with a “Boost Mode” that takes the new entry from 0 to 62 mph in just 4 seconds.

In unveiling the specifications for the GV60 compact crossover on Thursday, Genesis said the standard rear-wheel-drive version will get a single 168-kilowatt motor.

The awd variant, meanwhile, gets two motors. The rear-wheel motor will deliver 160 kW while the front achieves 74 kW, for a total system output of 234 kW.

Finally, a third variant called the Performance Model will be all-wheel drive and achieve output of 320 kW in Sports Mode and top out at 360 kW in Boost Mode.

A Boost Mode button on the steering wheel injects oomph in 10-second spurts, powering the GV60 from 0 to 62 mph in 4 seconds, the company said in a statement.

Engineers also gave the GV60 a Drift Mode for more spirited driving performance.

All versions of the GV60 will get a 77.4-kilowatt-hour battery, Genesis said.

The specifications apply only to the South Korean market version of the GV60. The setup for overseas markets, including the U.S., may be different.

In the GV60, drivers can select the sound to accompany the normally quiet electric drivetrain.

There is a “Futuristic” sound that tries to channel the ambience of the future world of new mobility. There is a “G-Engine” setting that is soft, sporty and based on an engine rumble. Then there is an “E-Motor” sound tuned to the electron-driven technology powering the vehicle.

To improve battery charging, Genesis said the GV60 will be the first model to use a “battery conditioning” function that preheats the battery in low temperatures and shortens the amount of time needed for charging. It also gets a 400/800-volt rapid charging system that boosts a 400-volt supply of electricity to 800 volts, also speeding the recharging time.

The GV60 is a key step in Genesis’ plan to go electric-only by 2030 as it phases out internal combustion. This month, the brand said all new vehicles will be electric from 2025 under a dual-pronged approach that focuses on full-electric vehicles and hydrogen fuel cells.

The company will drop internal combustion technology from new models beginning that year, meaning Genesis will also bypass hybrids and plug-in hybrids. By 2030, the global lineup will consist of eight EV and fuel cell models. Around that time, Genesis wants worldwide sales of 400,000 vehicles a year. In 2020, Genesis notched record sales of 128,365 worldwide.

Genesis said in April that its first EV would be the Electrified G80 sedan. Since then, it announced the GV60. Both models are due in the first half of 2022.