POV: RIDING SHOTGUN IN THE GV60 MAGMA
This content was originally published on HMG Journal on Dec. 9.
After much anticipation, Genesis’ first Magma production model, the GV60 Magma, was unveiled last month at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France — the home base of the Genesis Magma Racing team. The move heralds the marque’s evolution from a young luxury brand to a luxury high-performance brand as it celebrates its 10th anniversary.
Although similar in appearance to its sibling, the GV60, at first glance, the striking GV60 Magma hints at its capabilities with its vibrant Magma Orange exterior and functional sporty design elements that embody Genesis’ “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy — much like its namesake, the hidden molten energy beneath the earth’s surface waiting to erupt.
But the only way to truly understand this unseen side of the GV60 Magma is to experience it. Korean automotive columnist Donghee Lee shares his firsthand experience riding shotgun in the GV60 Magma.
Riding shotgun on a hot lap in the GV60 Magma is nothing short of extraordinary. From the moment you settle into the bucket seat, you’re greeted with just the right balance of support and comfort. As the driver presses the start button, the dashboard comes to life with the Magma-exclusive welcome animation. Its clear, refined graphics create a captivating visual experience from the very first encounter.
While driving in Range or Comfort mode, the car’s character reveals itself the moment you step on the accelerator. The combination of a highly rigid chassis, finely tuned suspension and seamless motor response work together to deliver power exactly when it’s needed. Rotating the drive mode dial, located on the lower left side of the steering wheel, allows the driver to conveniently toggle between Range and Comfort modes. Essential information is displayed on the intuitively designed instrument cluster, enhancing the overall driving experience.
The GV60 Magma has a maximum output of 650 ps (478 kilowatts), a top speed of 264 kilometers per hour and the ability to rocket from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.4 seconds using Launch Control. Keep the pedal down and you’ll reach 200 kilometers per hour in only 10.9 seconds — delivering performance that places the GV60 Magma in luxury sports car territory. It’s high-performance motor, capable of spinning up to an astonishing 20,920 rotations per minute, channels 175 kilowatts and 370 Newton-meters of torque to the front wheels, and 303 kilowatts and 420 Newton-meters to the rear wheels when in Boost Mode.
According to the spec sheet, the rear wheels provide a significantly higher output, giving drivers the unmistakable jolt of adrenaline thrill that comes with a rear-wheel-drive sports car. While the front wheels, responsible for steering, receive just enough power to maintain stable handling, it’s the rear wheels that deliver more traction for acceleration. This setup significantly enhances the car’s overall control and maneuverability.
The GV60 Magma uses a two-stage system to manage its AC-DC inverter, carefully regulating the flow of electricity to the motors based on driver input and driving conditions. The rear motor, equipped with a dual-stage inverter, generates a maximum output of 303 kilowatts during Boost Mode and is engineered to sustain its peak power all the way to a high-rev range of 15,000 rotations per minute. This enables the car to deliver consistent thrust even at high speeds, allowing drivers to fully experience its relentless power.
The GV60 Magma’s powertrain propels it from a standstill to 200 kilometers per hour in a blistering 10.9 seconds. Even as air resistance ramps up at high speed, Genesis has masterfully engineered the vehicle to enhance the thrill of driving. On a straight, flooring the accelerator unleashes a steady, powerful surge of thrust, with the speedometer racing past 200 kilometers per hour in no time. With Boost Mode staying active for up to 15 seconds, fully harnessing its potential on the track (unless you’re somewhere like the Nürburgring) becomes a challenge in itself.
The driver presses the Magma button at the center of the drive mode dial, and the GV60 Magma transforms into a predator. But Magma isn’t aiming for untamed aggression. Instead, GT Mode (activated by the Magma button) is named aptly for its purpose: fast and elegant cruising for long-distance driving. Comfort Mode on the other hand (which we began our lap with) engages both the front and rear motors for all-wheel drive as the car gains speed. While this improves responsiveness during acceleration, it makes energy consumption less efficient.
In GT Mode, the GV60 Magma shifts its focus to the impressive power of its rear motor, reducing the driving load and enhancing efficiency at higher speeds. The result is acceleration that feels lighter and more responsive than Comfort Mode, yet it offers a more refined and elegant driving experience compared to the Sport and Sprint modes. This boosts energy efficiency by keeping the front motor disengaged.
Striking the Perfect Balance between High Performance and Comfort
The GV60 Magma’s signature ride and handling concept is where its dual nature truly shines, especially when pushed to its limits on the track. It’s not only quick and stable, but also predictable and responsive, despite being maxed out at 650 ps and lugging 2.2 tons of EV. This is largely thanks to significant changes made to the steering system, linkages and the front suspension — elements that greatly influence the car’s driving characteristics.
Unlike the standard GV60, which is equipped with a variable gear ratio rack-and-pinion system, the GV60 Magma adopts a fixed gear ratio. The single higher gear ratio enables consistent wheel movement in response to steering input while sharpening reaction times. This quick steering response is an advantage in sports cars, boosting both agility and precision on the track. However, the heightened sensitivity might feel a bit draining for relaxed everyday driving where such responsiveness can also be a bit jarring.
To combat this, the caster trail — the distance between where the steering axis intersects with the ground and the tire contact patch — has been pushed 16 millimeters towards the front compared to the standard model, enhancing steering stability and providing cleaner feedback at high speed. Additionally, the length of the effective arm — which translates steering inputs into wheel movement — has been extended from 144 to 146 millimeters, which further improves steering stability by absorbing external impact from uneven surfaces and road joints, offering a smoother and more controlled experience at high speeds.
The GV60 Magma has notably had its suspension hard points re-engineered, including its front wheel knuckles and rear wheel carriers, which connect the wheels to the chassis. These updates have reshaped the suspension geometry, significantly lowering the roll center. This substantially improves handling, allowing the tires to maintain better contact with the road surface during abrupt lateral weight shifts usually experienced on the track. Tire contact points remain incredibly consistent even under significant vertical movement, greatly improving the car’s dynamic stability and handling precision.
To balance high-performance handling and a comfortable ride in a heavy EV, the GV60 Magma employs Hydro G-Bushings in the front wheels, while the rear suspension subframe utilizes a combination of hydro and dual-layer bushings. Additionally, high-strength components and urethane insulators effectively absorb road impact, ensuring the refined driving experience we have now come to associate with the Genesis brand.
One of the most surprising aspects of the GV60 Magma on the track was its remarkably flexible suspension. The key to this is the stroke-sensing electronically controlled dampers. Despite its 2.2-ton weight, the car’s heft is just a number on paper. When accelerating, braking or cornering at the limit, you’ll likely experience some strong G-forces. But the car itself stays composed and stable for a calm and controlled drive.
These newly implemented dampers integrate an End-of-Travel (EOT) control function which manages damper behavior at the extreme limits of their stroke range. Height sensors installed on all four wheels monitor them individually in real time, adjusting damping force as roll angles occur during handling. This not only prevents the dampers from physically impacting other metal components when they are fully compressed or extended but also mitigates abrupt movements when riding over track curbs, speed bumps or potholes.
The EOT-enabled stroke-sensing dampers, combined with reinforced springs and a lowered roll center optimized for the GV60 Magma, allows its behavior to remain predictable when going all out on track. This sense of control inspires confidence in the driver and naturally extends to the passengers. As the car jumps raised curbs or speeds through the track’s bumpy run-off areas, the suspension and robust chassis work seamlessly to absorb shock and minimize uncomfortable jolts.
An Immersive Experience that Only Genesis Can Provide
The roar of an engine is undeniably part of the sports car thrill. On the other hand, one of the biggest advantages of EVs is their quietness. As a luxury high-performance EV, the GV60 Magma strikes a perfect balance between the two.
To maintain a quiet cabin as one would expect in an EV, the vehicle's floor and door trims have been reinforced with additional sound-absorbing materials. Weatherstripping around the doors has been fortified, and a thicker film was used on the laminated glass to block wind noise more effectively. The GV60 Magma also comes with Genesis’ Active Noise Control-Road — first debuted in the GV80 — as standard.
The GV60 Magma also addresses the distinctive sixth harmonic noise generated by EV motors by controlling it with a reverse-phase current. Additionally, the excitation force from the input and reduction gears that connect the motor to the gearbox has been minimized. Excitation force creates vibrations in gears or housings due to transmission errors, motor torque ripples or cogging torque. By mitigating this force, vibrations caused by resonance (including whining, rattling and high-frequency gear noises emanating from the gearbox) are all significantly reduced.
One of the best parts of driving a quiet EV without a doubt is enjoying the music, especially on a luxe Bang & Olufsen sound system. But on days like today when you need to focus on the track, you’ve just got to have that high-performance car sound. The GV60 Magma delivers an exhilarating auditory experience with its E-Active Sound Design Plus system, offering a thrill unmatched by other EVs.
For over a century, humans have delighted in the rising pitch of engine noises when shifting gears in internal combustion cars. This auditory feedback is especially critical during track driving, where glancing at the speedometer isn’t always feasible. The engine sounds correspond to virtual gear ratios and shift sounds — indicating cornering speed and allowing the driver to gauge when to accelerate or slow down.
The GV60 Magma’s Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) excites you in a way other EVs can’t by replicating the engine sound of a high-performance ICE sports car and the uncanny shifting sensation of an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. The paddle shifts lock the car into each gear and even allow the driver to experience a simulated fuel cut so you can change gears at the optimal RPMs at every corner. The immersive experience isn’t limited to the cabin either — additional external speakers, one at the front and one at the rear, project these sounds outward, making driving more exciting and providing an unforgettable experience for spectators watching the GV60 Magma in action.
The GV60 Magma bares its true nature in Sprint Mode. In Sprint, all major functions like the motor, steering, electronically controlled suspension and the electronic limited-slip differential for distributing torque between the rear wheels, are adjusted to their most aggressive Sport+ setting. The throttle response becomes razor sharp, allowing you to fully appreciate the 650 ps output.
Sprint Mode also keeps the car primed for maximum acceleration by automatically activating Launch Control. As if that wasn’t enough, flooring the accelerator pedal over 90% of the way triggers Boost Mode, unleashing the GV60 Magma’s full potential on a straight and very conveniently shaving precious seconds off your lap time.
Adding to the excitement of tackling the racetrack is the consistent braking feel achieved through balanced regenerative braking control in the front and rear motors during deceleration. When combined with VGS, track driving is an absolute delight. My ride just kept becoming more exhilarating and more immersive with every pull of the paddle shifters.
While my time with the GV60 Magma was limited to a track taxi ride along, it was more than enough to see why this car was brought to life — achieving harmony and balance in duality. The GV60 Magma masterfully combines high performance and sportiness complimented by fast cornering and high-speed stability. Experiencing the GV60 Magma on the track allows you to experience the pinnacle of the Genesis brand — a car that is fast, dynamic and elegant all at once, leaving no doubt about its place as a halo within the Genesis lineup.
About Donghee Lee
Lee began his career as a motoring journalist at Car Life magazine. He gained recognition with popular articles like Tiburon Diary and The Restoration of a 1969 Land Rover. Lee went on to work in sales training and product planning for Chrysler Korea and Jaguar Land Rover Korea, eventually becoming a dealership manager. Today, he combines hands-on industry experience and analytical expertise as a columnist and consultant.