AN OPEN INVITATION TO EXPERIENCE THE GENESIS GV60 MAGMA
CHEONGJU, Korea, April 21, 2026 — The first production model of the luxury high-performance Magma lineup, the Genesis GV60 Magma, has been available for purchase in Korea since January and will be available in other markets soon. To gain a new appreciation for the essence of this new expression of Genesis performance, the Genesis Newsroom traveled to Genesis Cheongju to experience a unique Magma-exclusive test drive. This test drive course has been crafted to provide a closer look at the true character of the GV60 Magma. For those who wish to experience the essence of Genesis, this is an exciting possibility that awaits you.
The Genesis Welcome
Genesis Cheongju is a groundbreaking cultural space that redefines the traditional automotive showroom experience. Two hours’ drive south of Seoul, it serves as a dynamic hub where visitors can delve into the Genesis brand through a diverse range of immersive and interactive offerings.
It's designed to be much more than just a place to see cars. Genesis Cheongju integrates the vehicle lineup with lifestyle elements, showcasing how Genesis vehicles fit into a refined and active way of living.
The facility also emphasizes community and local culture. It includes a community lounge for classes and events, and an exclusive owners' lounge, a unique feature among Genesis showrooms.
A guest arriving for a test drive will immediately feel like an honored visitor as their car is guided to the valet area by the formal and welcoming gestures of several staff members. This is the first taste of the Genesis “Son-nim” philosophy, where every individual is treated with the utmost care and respect.
Inside, a dedicated curator personally greets the guest and confirms with them the vehicle and test drive route that they have reserved. Then the test driver is guided to an elegant waiting area where a signature Genesis tea is served while the test drive curator guides them in signing the necessary liability forms.
Luxurious First Impressions
Sliding into the driver’s seat, the cabin of the GV60 Magma immediately envelops the test driver in luxury. The most noticeable thing is the suede bucket seat; it’s ergonomically designed to hold the driver perfectly in place, yet the Nappa and suede leather feels incredibly soft and luxurious to the touch. One's eyes are drawn to the stitching that traces the intricate, double-diamond quilting on the seats and continues throughout the dark gray interior, giving it a subtle but clear hint of the performance that lies ahead.
The driver's hands naturally find the steering wheel, which feels unique and sporty, and can't help but notice the Magma Orange boost button, almost like a promise of power on tap. The dark, brushed aluminum trim on the console and doors absorbs the light, creating a focused, glare-free environment that feels like a true racing cockpit. The driver's feet find their place on solid metal pedals, reinforcing the car's performance-oriented character. The experience is a masterful blend of premium comfort and track-inspired design that makes one feel completely connected to the car before the start button is even pressed.
Crafting the perfect driving environment is an intuitive exercise. The driving curator guides the test driver through the process of customizing the controls for driving. The GV60 Magma features a Head-Up Display (HUD), which projects a stream of essential driving data onto the lower part of the windshield. The curator walks them through adjusting its angle, ensuring the virtual information floats perfectly within the driver’s line of sight.
Effortless Acceleration
Pressing the start button awakens the GV60 Magma. The long, black, connected display that forms both the instrument cluster and infotainment screen comes to life instantly, accompanied by a pleasing startup sound and welcome animation. A simple twist of the drive selector in the center console puts the car in drive. And then they’re off.
On the road, the vehicle’s character reveals itself in its profound silence. Accelerating on the highway, the driver is not immediately aware that they have reached the speed limit of 120 kilometers per hour in just seconds. In the GV60 Magma, the experience of speed is different, because the telltale signs of road and wind noise are almost nonexistent. The car moves with an effortless grace that belies the immense, readily available power simmering just beneath the surface.
This grand touring capability is enhanced by Smart Cruise Control and Lane Keeping Assist. The curator points out the correct buttons on the steering wheel to engage the two complementary features, which allow the car to maintain a set distance from the vehicle ahead and remain perfectly centered in its lane. But it doesn’t just keep things centered. The car can also execute a flawless lane change on its own, after the driver flicks the turn signal and the car automatically identifies that the destination lane is empty. The systems work in such harmony that the driver feels a new level of safety and security, as their own vigilance has backup.
On the highway, the Genesis curator points out additional features of the car such as the regenerative braking system. Using the steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, the driver can adjust the intensity of the system, feeling a tangible drag on the car’s momentum at higher levels that feeds energy back into the battery. It is interesting to see the car’s estimated range increase while it is travelling at 120 kilometers per hour.
Activating Magma
The true test of the Magma nameplate begins as the highway gives way to winding country roads towards Maltijae, a scenic mountain pass in Boeun County, Korea. With the curator’s prompting, the driver presses the Magma button on the steering wheel. Just one move transforms the entire vehicle’s character. The brightly colored driver console display instantly shifts to a dark, performance-focused, Magma-exclusive three-circle interface. The rightmost dial displays a G-force meter. It is a clear signal that the car is no longer just cruising — it is ready to perform.
The final ascent to Maltijae concludes with twelve severe hairpin turns. While this would normally be a challenge for a driver of any other car, especially at high speed, the GV60 Magma handles each turn with grace and ease. All the performance features built into the car work together to help the test driver take each corner like a seasoned pro. The car dives into each corner with unshakeable firmness, the chassis remaining flat and composed. There is no hint of tire slip, only decisive, confident grip that encourages the driver to push further. The G-force meter comes into play, tracking the lateral forces as the car carves a perfect line through each successive turn.
Convenience and a Keepsake
At the top of the mountain pass, beyond the serpentine length of road, is Maltijae. Here, an observatory stands tall, and the curator guides the driver to the nearby parking area, where another of the car’s thoughtful technologies is demonstrated. The curator shows the test driver how to use the Remote Smart Parking Assist feature. Using just the buttons on the key fob, the driver, now standing outside the vehicle, can command the GV60 Magma to slowly and safely move itself straight forward or backward into a tight parking space. It is an unexpectedly convenient feature.
After the drive, standing at the scenic observatory at Maltijae, the experience has time to crystallize. The curator offers to take a photo as a souvenir — a small but deeply meaningful gesture that, again, perfectly encapsulates the Son-nim philosophy. It is a reminder that the Genesis experience is built on a foundation of human-centric hospitality. Upon returning to Genesis Cheongju, the photo will be printed by the staff and presented as a memento.
The Return and Genesis’ Promise
The return journey offers a new dimension of engagement as the Genesis curator shows how to use the Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) system. With VGS active, the GV60 Magma brilliantly simulates the experience of driving a high-performance combustion vehicle. The paddle shifters now control virtual gears, and each upshift, when timed perfectly, is accompanied by a satisfying, tactile “surge” of power and a corresponding change in the synthesized engine note. Downshifts produce a convincing drag, an effect reminiscent of the feel of the regenerative braking system. The driver can even choose to have the rich engine sounds play exclusively inside the cabin, preserving the thrilling auditory feedback without disturbing the outside world.
This whole experience — the thrilling ascent, the commanding power and the thoughtful service — are not part of an exclusive club. This exact test drive, from the seamless booking on the Genesis website to the final, exhilarating moments on the road, is an open invitation.
Those interested can sign up here to experience the drive.