Genesis building sports sedan to rival the BMW M5 – report

A new sportier version of the Genesis G80 large luxury sedan has been unveiled in Dubai which is reportedly planned to preview a production model with sharper styling and handling than regular G80s.

Unveiled at a Genesis customer event in Dubai, The Korean Car Blog claims the ‘Magma’ orange G80 Performance edition is planned to enter limited production for the Middle East only, restricted to 20 vehicles.

There are no details on any potential engine upgrades for the vehicle, but visually it takes a step beyond the optional Sport package offered with the 2024 Genesis G80 update announced earlier this week.

As reported by US website Carscoops, there is no official information online about the vehicle, fitted with 21-inch alloy wheels with wider wheel arches, black slashes in the bonnet, and a lightweight boot lid made of carbon-fibre.

The rear also had an aggressive lower bumper area – referred to as a ‘diffuser’, as it breaks up air flow at the back of the vehicle – and details such as black exhaust tips instead of the usual chrome finish.

The cabin was in clear view, though, and saw the standard front seats replaced by Recaro-brand sports seats finished with quilted leather.

The motorsport influence is also shown with the red stripe on the steering wheel, which is used to show drivers the straight-ahead position during flurries of steering wheel use.

Genesis would not comment on the vehicle, reports Carscoops, so any engine changes cannot be confirmed.

Drive contacted Genesis Australia, which declined to offer any official comment on the vehicle.