We don’t want to overstate it, but this could just be the best 1,500-plus-horsepower orange supercar we’ve seen all year.
The latest from Genesis is the X Gran Racer Vision Gran Turismo concept, a car whose name is as long as its story is short. Making its debut in Korea at the Busan International Mobility Show, the X Gran Racer VGT concept is a meaner version of the X Gran Berlinetta concept coupe that swooped into our hearts late last year. Like that model, this new one will soon be available as a drivable model in the Gran Turismo 7 video game. Here’s why we’re (mostly) fans of the new variant.
Why We Like It
First, the catch: Sadly, these concepts aren’t real. Which is a shame because, in case you haven’t noticed, Genesis is building some outstanding vehicles. The current-generation G70 sedan was our 2019 Car of the Year, while the GV70 earned accolades as our 2022 SUV of the Year. Moreover, the larger G90 sedan took the Car of the Year honors for 2023. Recently, Genesis announced a new Magma performance sub-brand—and this concept car is distinctly slathered in the same liquid hot magma paint.
That’s OK, though, as we appreciate any automaker spicing up an auto show (in this case, Korea’s Busan event) with a fun concept. Yes, some concepts get us accustomed to upcoming vehicles with production-ready designs, but why not add some whimsy back to an auto show?
Surprisingly, the X Gran Racer VGT concept still beats with the heart of a Genesis V-6 engine, not one of the brand’s newer all-electric powerhouses. After all, we tested the fully electric Genesis GV60, which reached 60 mph in just 3.7 seconds, and that was with only 483 hp. Imagine what the company could do with even more power, which surely it could find in a larger battery pack than that crossover offers.
Horsepower and Torque (Plenty of Both)
As it stands, the concept likely doesn’t need all-electric power because it is said to produce a combined 1,540 hp and 1,051 lb-ft of torque—quite a significant leap from the outputs of the V-6s that Genesis sells to the general public. The most powerful is a twin-turbocharged and electrically supercharged, mild-hybrid 3.5-liter V-6 making 409 hp and 405 lb-ft in the G90 and upcoming GV80 Coupe. That boost comes from a hybrid system added to the front mid-mounted V-6. The engine itself is good for 870 hp and 790 lb-ft at 10,000 rpm, while a front electric motor contributes an additional 670 hp and 225 lb-ft. That’s way up from the earlier X Gran Berlinetta concept’s 1,071 imaginary hp and 986 make-believe lb-ft of torque.
Of course, we’re joking, but we’re not when we say the rest of the changes are more a matter of taste than better versus worse. The newer Genesis concept is unmistakable from its less-hardcore sibling, thanks to a race-car look featuring ground effects and abundant carbon fiber. A carbon fiber wing with integrated lights is as unmissable as the new wheels, front and rear. Like the X Gran Berlinetta, the X Gran Racer VGT not only boasts a light-up grille, but also that dual-line design theme we’ve seen in all of Genesis brand’s cars. Here, it’s applied on the side of the car, just behind the front wheels to draw attention to the deeply concave forms on the profile view. In person, that pulled-in sheet metal vaguely recalls the Ford GT, but is arguably more attractive in this case.
A racing yoke distinguishes the Genesis X Gran Racer VGT concept, too, in an interior characterized by “perfectly balanced minimalism and performance.” Testing it out in Gran Turismo 7 is something we’re looking forward to.
What We Think
We love the continuation of the GT concept car series, as it inspires automakers to let go of restraint for a moment. In this case, despite more power sounding enticing, the racing additions tend to distract from the X Gran Berlinetta’s already aggressive and beautiful design. However, it may just be a matter of personal preference—much like a dilemma of choosing chocolate or vanilla ice cream. Which Genesis concept flavor will you choose in GT7?
