Austin, TEXAS, Sep. 7, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing scored its best FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) result so far at Lone Star Le Mans, with the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar of Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert and André Lotterer finishing seventh. On a day which demanded that the drivers cope with changing conditions and high temperatures, the team reached new heights in its debut season.

Strong Pace and Reliability Rewarded With Result

The strong pace and excellent reliability that the team was aiming for were apparent from the very start of the weekend at Circuit of the Americas. Both GMR-001 Hypercars ran without mechanical issues during every session, and in Qualifying, both cars secured a place in Hyperpole for the first time in sessions using the WEC’s regular qualifying format.

Lotterer looked to improve further on Jaubert’s eighth-place qualifying results. He moved from eighth to fifth over the first racing lap, following two extra formation laps after rain fell during the pre-race ceremonies. His progress continued until an abortive move for third at the end of the back straight, which resulted in contact and a spin that dropped the German to the rear of the Hypercar field and drew an additional five-second penalty. As a result, the #17 team turned their focus to recovering the lost positions while managing energy and tires.

A Safety Car in the middle of Pipo Derani’s double stint helped bring the team back into contention and following a second single stint for Lotterer, a Virtual Safety Car with just over an hour remaining, delivered the chance to gain further ground by changing only left-side tires as Jaubert climbed back aboard for the final stint of the six-hour race.

For the final hour, the youngest driver in the Hypercar class went wheel-to-wheel with his more experienced rivals — some of whom had four new tires to his two. A move in traffic moved the #17 car to eighth, which became seventh due to a penalty for the #12 Cadillac — improving on the eighth place scored at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May.

The strong weekend for the team was completed by the #19 entry of Paul-Loup Chatin, Mathieu Jaminet and Dani Juncadella. Though the final Safety Car fell outside of their pitstop window and forced them to make a final stop after the restart, Jaminet made sure to keep the car on the lead lap during the frantic final hour to tick off a major pre-season goal for the team to begin the second half of the season.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director said: “Overall, I’m very pleased with the performance the GMR-001 Hypercar showed both in qualifying and the race. It’s our best finish of the year so obviously we are happy. We will continue to work on the details to take another step forward in the next races. Of course, I’m a little disappointed because we had the potential to have both cars in the top 10 and scoring points. From a race management point of view, it wasn’t easy because the weather conditions changed throughout the race, and the drivers had to adapt, especially during the first part. Today, the difference between all the cars in the race was just a few tenths of a second, which shows just how tight the competition is. It makes the result even more encouraging and gives us confidence that we can achieve even better results in the upcoming races.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer said: “We have to look at the positives from this weekend. We got both cars to finish on the lead lap. That was a big goal for us. We got one of the cars in the top 10. Neither car saw the garage with a technical issue, not only in the race, but in any of the practice sessions. I think we can be really proud of that. We've made some big steps, but we've got a long way to go and this race is gonna give us some motivation for that. On the flip side, we made several mistakes in several different areas, so it was a bit of a wake-up call. We need to polish up our procedures and be a bit smarter next time we come to the track to battle these guys.”

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

André Lotterer said: “It’s more points, and our best result so far this year in seventh, so we managed to recover well from the early race mishaps and after I started super well. I had a great start and we started to move forward, but then I went for the move on the Ferrari. We had a good car and a good setup all weekend. From my side, I had fun in the car — it was great to drive, and we were able to achieve some of our goals. Unfortunately, the sister car couldn’t make it into the points, so we need to see what happened. We still need to improve some aspects, but we're here to grow, to become stronger. We've come to Austin and learned more about what we can do for the rest of the year.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “It was not the easiest final stint. I was fighting with very experienced guys and I was struggling because it was very, very warm in the cockpit. It was tricky because we know our car. We are still developing it and in terms of braking, traction, everything, so fighting with them was even harder. Some cars behind me had four new tires, so I knew it was impossible to fight with them. But I knew that the BMW, the Peugeot, the Cadillac were on the same strategy, so I tried my best to fight with them and I think I did a good job. We had the pace for the points and I think we deserve this position. I pushed a lot, trying my best to overtake them. I’m very happy about this result. We would still like to have two cars in the points. There are still three races to go, so in terms of strategy, development, pit stop, everything, we still have a lot to learn and to progress.”

Pipo Derani said: “We'll obviously take this result. It was a very eventful race with lots of Safety Car and Full Course Yellow interventions. It was so crazy. We were at the top, we were at the bottom, and then here we are, finishing P7, taking our best result home and some other big positive points as well. Considering that it's our first year, I think we should be proud of what we achieved today. I couldn't be any happier. We could have done a couple of positions better, but that's almost about it. And I'm proud of how we evolved through the weekend, how we got this car to the checkered flag, and how we continue to develop as a team. It’s been a great weekend for us and there’s still a few more to go, so hopefully we can continue to improve a bit.

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Dani Juncadella said: “Overall, it’s a nice result for Genesis Magma Racing, with the sister car finishing seventh and achieving our best result so far. Unfortunately, we couldn’t get both cars into the points, we just missed out. We need to take the positives from this weekend and analyze what we can do better in the future. There is still plenty to learn, but we can be happy with the progress we’ve made. We’re looking forward to the next round, and I think we’ll keep getting better and better. I think we can improve on our restarts and how we can manage in traffic. In endurance racing, that’s obviously a way that you can gain some time and positions, but you can also lose a lot. We’ve shown again what the team and GMR-001 Hypercar can do.”

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “I’m very happy for our sister car to finish seventh, which is a great result for the team and for Genesis. I think we showed some positive things with the work we did throughout the week, with good pace in practice and qualifying and excellent reliability on both sides of the garage. We were running together with the sister car until, unfortunately, towards the end of the race we made a mistake with the strategy on our side. These things can happen, but we need to learn from it, because we had the potential to bring both cars home inside the top ten. We’ll take the lessons from this weekend and come back stronger for the rest of the year.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “Unfortunately, P15 is not the result we wanted, but it was positive to see our sister car finish P7. However, for the first time, we brought both cars home on the lead lap without any technical issues, so that is an important target achieved. On the other hand, today we had the pace and the cars to have both GMR-001 Hypercars in the points, so it is disappointing not to have converted the potential that we showed in qualifying into a race result. There are clearly areas we need to review, as we did not operate at the level we want to as a team. We will keep learning, keep progressing and make sure we take those lessons into the next race.”

2026 Lone Star Le Mans – Hypercar class

For Genesis Magma Racing, the race marks a landmark milestone as the factory program makes its official U.S. racing debut with the GMR-001 Hypercar. At the technical center of this endeavor is Chief Engineer Justin Taylor, an American race engineer returning to lead a Korean luxury brand’s high-performance motorsport effort on home soil after years of experience with European factory programs.

Back on Familiar Ground

"I guess it’s no surprise that I feel at home when racing in Austin. Most of my family was born and raised in Texas and I still have a lot of family spread around the state. It will certainly be nice to have some of them there in person to support Genesis Magma Racing’s first race in the USA," says Taylor.

Having spent much of his career working in Europe with elite programs including Ferrari, Audi, and Cadillac, racing on American soil offers a unique mix of pride and perspective.

"The WEC races in the U.S. always are more special for me personally. I’ve spent most of my career being the only American in mostly European teams, so it’s always nice to have a chance to show off where I come from and get to share the excitement of the colleagues who are experiencing the USA for the first time.

“Professionally, I’m returning with more responsibility than ever before which adds some pressure but I’m excited to see how we’ve done with our homework over the summer break," he explains.

That connection to home is made even stronger by the presence of his family trackside during the Austin race weekend. His father played a fundamental role in introducing him to the sport, making his attendance at COTA particularly meaningful.

"My father was the one who ignited my interest in motorsport when I was younger and he comes to see as many races as he can. This race is no exception and it’s really comforting to know I’ll have his support and advice close by on race day," Taylor notes.

GMR-001 Hypercar Development Progress

The 2026 FIA WEC season has already tested Genesis Magma Racing through an intense debut. From the GMR-001 Hypercar’s competitive first outing at Imola in April through subsequent rounds at Spa-Francorchamps, the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and São Paulo, the team has navigated a steep learning curve in real-world race conditions.

Transitioning from private testing to dense multi-class WEC traffic presented immediate engineering hurdles.

"Through our development, we didn’t get to drive with race traffic or other Hypercars. So, when we first followed other cars in Imola, the car was behaving differently and we’ve had to learn how to adapt," Taylor shares.

Each race weekend in the first half of the season provided essential data and operational growth. While finishing the 24 Hours of Le Mans demonstrated vehicle endurance, the team’s biggest leap forward occurred in Brazil.

"Of course finishing Le Mans with one of the cars felt like a partial validation of the hard work. But the #17 failure left a lingering feeling of disappointment. So, I’d say it’s São Paolo where we made the biggest step with the car. We saw good performance in qualifying, decent race pace and most importantly — both cars stayed clear of the garage," Taylor reflects.

Refining Performance

As the GMR-001 Hypercar continues to evolve, its baseline strengths and developmental focus areas have become clearly defined on track.

"The GMR-001 Hypercar is good at high-speed cornering but it’s the low-speed areas where we are looking for improvements," says Taylor.

During the mid-season summer shutdown, the engineering team focused on refining systems rather than introducing major physical bodywork changes.

"We’ve been able to put more work into our software robustness to electrical problems and refine our energy saving methods to be more efficient. There are no specific part upgrades being brought to COTA," he explains.

Mastering the Circuit of the Americas

Navigating the 5.514-kilometer Circuit of the Americas requires balancing distinct physical and thermal demands. The track’s character places intense stress on mechanical components, tires, and human performance alike.

"The COTA track is quite bumpy, and the weather is normally somewhere between hot and hotter. The bumps are not completely unfamiliar, thanks to Imola, but the heat is on another level compared to what we’ve experienced so far. Because of this we’ll need to manage everything carefully — from the brakes and engine temps, to the condition of the drivers, engineers and mechanics," Taylor emphasizes.

COTA’s complex layout tests every aspect of the GMR-001’s performance envelope, particularly in the lower-speed sectors and high-wear turn sequences.

"Sector 3 is tough due to the low-speed corners where we can’t use our strong aerodynamic characteristics. The triple right is also in Sector 3 and though it’s a medium speed corner, it’s a tire killer so we’ll need to consider our pace here if we want the rubber to last," Taylor details.

The intense heat of Texas also alters tire strategy significantly.

"The heat is a huge factor and it affects the tires in a big way. Due to this heat, it will be the first WEC race of 2026 where the Hard tire is in the allocation, so learning how and when to use them will be critical," he adds.

Turning Issues into Opportunities

As Chief Engineer, Taylor balances wide-ranging technical and organizational responsibilities across both race cars.

"My main responsibility is to ensure that all the engineers have the tools, information, resources and support to do their jobs. I’m also ensuring that both cars and crews are working as a team to extract the maximum information from the practice sessions so we can use it to optimize our performance in qualifying and race," Taylor says.

He also emphasizes leveraging the diverse background of the driver lineup.

"The Genesis drivers bring a wide array of experience to the team which is a big advantage for us. I try to never miss an opportunity to use their experience to help us through a situation we’ve not faced together," he shares.

Building Genesis Magma Racing from the ground up required establishing a supportive, problem-solving mindset early in the program.

"The first months — and even a few after — were very difficult and not everything worked as we hoped. Through this period, we stuck together and now we’ve evolved into a culture that views problems and issues as opportunities," Taylor explains.

Maintaining high morale over a grueling debut demands a structured approach to adversity.

"If you try to do anything that’s difficult, you’ll encounter failures on some level. Nobody joined the team thinking it would be easy, that’s first. Accompanying this fact, we have a strict ‘no finger pointing’ rule. We actively choose to view failures as chances to improve and we make sure to highlight successes big and small," he adds.

COTA Success and Beyond

Heading into the race weekend, Taylor’s target for the team is straightforward: "Both cars finishing inside the top 10."

Beyond immediate race results, competing on American soil offers Genesis a vital opportunity to highlight its high-performance aspirations in a key market.

"If you spend a few minutes driving in the U.S. you’ll see quite a few Genesis cars so it’s clear Americans are familiar with the brand’s quality, luxury and value. We hope to show there is also a strong performance side that’s only getting stronger," says Taylor.

As Justin Taylor takes his place on the COTA pit wall surrounded by family, colleagues, and American fans, his leadership within Genesis Magma Racing stands as a compelling testament to passion and dedication in modern motorsport.

"Motorsport is for everyone and if you look in our team or around the paddock, you’ll see people with various backgrounds, countries and ethnicities. It doesn’t matter where you’re from. The only things needed to succeed in motorsport are passion and a willingness to work hard," Taylor concludes.

SEOUL, Sept. 3, 2026 — Genesis has been recognized for its exceptional design and innovation at the 2026 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA). Highlighting the brand's achievements is a Silver Award for the Genesis Magma GT Concept in the Automotive & Transportation category, alongside finalist recognitions for the G90 Wingback Concept and the Magma User Interface (UI) Design in Automotive & Transportation and Digital Interaction categories, respectively.

Genesis Magma GT Concept (Silver, Automotive & Transportation)

The Genesis Magma GT Concept boldly reinterprets the brand’s “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy through the proportions and aerodynamics of a high-performance sports car. Featuring a low, wide body, a flowing roofline, and a distinctive boat-tail cabin, the concept expresses a commanding stance and latent power. By prioritizing restrained surfaces and sophisticated details over aggressive styling, the Magma GT Concept encapsulates Genesis' vision for luxury high performance, where athletic tension and refined composure coexist in harmony.

“The Magma GT Concept represents the pinnacle of our performance vision and stands as a symbol of our commitment to true motorsport capability,” said Genesis Chief Creative Officer, Luc Donckerwolke.

In addition to the Magma GT Concept, Genesis earned two finalist nods that further showcase the brand's expansive design vision and tech innovations.

Genesis G90 Wingback Concept (Finalist, Automotive & Transportation)

Reinterpreting the marque’s flagship G90 sedan as a grand tourer wagon, this concept explores the luxury high-performance potential of Genesis’ Magma program. It combines the G90 Long Wheel Base with an extended roofline and an elegant parabolic profile. Aerodynamic elements inspired by GT endurance race cars — including wide wheel arches, large air intakes, a rear wing, and a diffuser — are exquisitely integrated to embody both high-performance dynamism and the brand's characteristic restrained elegance.

Genesis Magma UI Design (Finalist, Digital Interaction)

Debuting as the digital interface for the first Magma production vehicle, the GV60 Magma, this UI enhances both information visibility and driver engagement during track and high-performance driving. It combines sophisticated chronograph-inspired graphics, the deep blacks of OLED displays, and a restrained Magma orange color palette. In the Magma-exclusive mode, the interface expresses a sense of speed and intense energy through angled typography and dynamic motion graphics.

The 2026 IDEA Award recognitions underscore Genesis’ ongoing commitment to pushing the boundaries of automotive design, solidifying its reputation as a global innovator in both luxury high-performance aesthetics and digital user experiences.

Presented annually by the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), the IDEA Awards are among the longest-running and most prestigious design awards programs in the world. Originally founded to recognize exceptional achievement in industrial design, the program has since expanded to highlight groundbreaking design across numerous disciplines, including automotive and transportation, digital interaction, strategy, and branding.

SEOUL, Sep. 2, 2026 — Genesis’ flagship all-electric SUV, the GV90, made its domestic debut at the Genesis Exclusive Preview event held in Genesis Suji. From the philosophy behind its creation to the innovations that define it, the event offered an early look at the GV90 and Genesis’ vision for the future of luxury.

From Aug. 18-29, a special event took place at Genesis Suji in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The event offered domestic media and VIP guests an exclusive preview of the GV90, the flagship of Genesis’ SUV lineup. The experience combined the Genesis brand story with the thinking behind the GV90’s development, allowing guests to explore the vehicle alongside product specialists.

In honor of the occasion, the first through third floors of Genesis Suji were transformed entirely and dedicated to the GV90. Guided through each level, guests experienced the marque’s distinct vision of luxury firsthand. Docent tours offered deeper insights into the brand's development journey and key features of the vehicle.

Untethered: Redefining Luxury on Genesis’ Own Terms

Upon arriving at Genesis Suji, attendees were directed to the third floor, where Genesis’ hospitality began. Guests were welcomed into a private lounge inspired by the GV90, where soft ambient lighting echoed the warmth of the vehicle’s new interior color, Quince Brown. Every element of the venue, from its curved walls to its carefully selected materials, was thoughtfully designed to reflect the vehicle's interior and exterior design language.

The event began with a retrospective video tracing the journey of Genesis. Launched in 2015 as Hyundai Motor Group's dedicated luxury brand, Genesis established "Athletic Elegance" as its foundational design identity and later expanded on its defining "Two Lines" motif, transforming it into the brand’s signature. With 12 models introduced to date, Genesis has completed a comprehensive lineup and achieved a landmark milestone this past March by surpassing 1 million cumulative units sold in Korea. Today, Genesis continues to expand its presence across more than 20 markets worldwide.

After over a decade of growth, Genesis stands at another critical inflection point, seeking to step outside conventional boundaries towards fresh innovation. The concept of "Untethered" became the central pillar of this evolution. Could a vehicle become a place where people genuinely want to spend time, rather than simply a way to get from one destination to another? Could technology enhance comfort without demanding attention? Could innovation move forward without compromising safety? These questions became the foundation of the GV90.

Journey to Less: Reduction to Amplify the Essence

The second floor explored the inspiration and development philosophy behind the GV90. The model was never intended to follow the established conventions of the luxury SUV segment. Rather than adding more, we focused on identifying what truly matters to the customer experience and elevating those essentials with authentic intention and refinement.

Guests first encountered four traditional Korean “dalhangari,” or moon jars, from “Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter,” a series by artist Jiman Choi that inspired the exterior design of the GV90. Celebrated for the beauty of its simple, unadorned form, the moon jar is widely regarded as one of the most iconic expressions of Korean aesthetics.

This design process was showcased by four clay models of the GV90 placed alongside the moon jars. As represented by the fundamental spherical form, the GV90 was designed by stripping away the unnecessary and focusing on what is essential. The model’s designers began with the purity of form, refining the vehicle’s volume, proportions and stance to create the distinctive presence expected of a flagship SUV. The rear section was sculpted with particular care, sloping downward with the graceful subtlety of a moon jar’s shoulder line. The final phase focused on refining the details, striking a balance between timeless elegance and the unmistakable Genesis identity.

Artist Jiman Choi said, "While moon jars may appear similar at first glance, each possesses its own distinctive character. Viewing the completed rear profile of the vehicle from various angles, I believe it beautifully captures the aesthetics of the moon jar."

The final space embodied the GV90’s interior space philosophy. Within an overall setting defined by the beauty of white space, a cozy retreat for private relaxation coexisted with a lounge. Divided into two areas with distinct purposes, the space illustrated how the GV90 expands the in-cabin experience. Every visible and tactile element — from the wall objects and chairs to the cushions and flooring — was composed of materials applied to the GV90’s interior. Meanwhile, the monitor and speakers placed in front of the sofa, along with the dial installed on the wall, echoed the sense of hospitality designed into the vehicle experience.

A New Phase: The Arrival of Genesis’ New Flagship

The highlight of the event — the official unveiling — followed on the first floor. As guests arrived on the first floor, three GV90 models were revealed accompanied by custom music inspired by the Genesis Sound 2.0. Displayed from left to right were the standard GV90, the GV90 Neolun featuring the world’s first independently opening hidden B-pillar coach doors, and at center stage, the GV90 Neolun First Edition, limited to just 222 units worldwide.

The GV90 immediately commands attention with Genesis’ first Wing Face Micro Lens Array (MLA) headlamps. These were crafted using a laser-precision "cutless” technique to minimize the seam between the lighting elements and the bodywork. Beneath, the lower bumper features a double-layered, chrome-plated G-Matrix pattern.

The rear design further reflects the GV90’s design philosophy. Embracing the full curvature of the moon jar, the rear profile deliberately eliminates a traditional rear spoiler, highlighting the marque’s identity with surface-emitting taillamps crafted using the same cutless technique and embellished with refined Genesis badging.

The side profile exemplifies the brand’s dynamic yet elegant aesthetic. The GV90’s overall length of 5,285 millimeters, sculpted fenders, and striking 24-inch wheels underscore its stature befitting a luxury flagship SUV.

A murmur of excitement spread through the crowd as the Neolun Arch Gate of the GV90 Neolun First Edition swung open, revealing a spacious interior without a B-pillar. The coach door mechanism was engineered with the same elegance: newly developed dual-motion hinges extend the rear doors outward before smoothly rotating them open. This design delivers a welcoming entry while allowing the front and rear doors to operate completely independently without interference.

The primary focus when styling the interior of the GV90 was not just about incorporating premium features, but to craft a luxury lounge that engages the five senses. Grounded in the Korean aesthetic philosophy of the "Beauty of White Space," the layout was conceived as an ensemble of finely crafted furniture nestled harmoniously within a room. This guiding vision dictated the placement of each core element, from the seats and center console to the displays and steering wheel. Material selection played an equally critical role: high-tech authentic glass and aluminum are paired with organic, tactile elements such as genuine wood, supple leather, and wool cashmere. Subtle ambient lighting adds depth to the cabin without distracting the driver.

Next, the in-cabin innovations were demonstrated by a presenter. Stepping into the driver’s seat and closing the door signaled the Motion Column Shifter to move from the 12 o’clock to 2 o’clock position, the Crystal Sphere Controller to rotate into place and the tweeter covers on the dashboard to gracefully part indicating readiness to drive. The 23.6-inch center OLED Cinematic Display features an active pop-up mechanism. Pressing a switch on the dashboard raises the screen by 90 mm, expanding the usable viewing area by approximately 1.7 times into a 24.6-inch wide interface.

The exclusive amenities on the GV90 Neolun also received significant attention. Activating the power-swiveling front seats rotates the first row 180 degrees, transforming the cabin into a social space for occupants to interact face-to-face. This creates a true mobile lounge capable of accommodating everything from business discussions with partners to relaxed downtime with family.

The media and VIP guests were then invited to explore the vehicle at their leisure — testing the doors, interacting with displays, and experiencing its advanced features directly. Attendees were particularly interested in the 25-speaker Bang & Olufsen sound system, therapeutic massage seating equipped with 15 air cells and pulsing modules, and the Smart Vision Roof with six independently adjustable roof sections.

A Lifestyle Inspired by the GV90

To provide a tangible illustration of the vehicle's aesthetic palette, Genesis created a dedicated Color, Material, Finish (CMF) zone. The display featured actual material swatches for the GV90’s 16 exterior finishes (including eight new colors), seven new two-tone interior combinations and three bespoke colorway pairings reserved exclusively for the First Edition. Interactive tablets detailed the emotional stories behind each hue. Guests were also able to experience samples of interior garnishes and unique leather grains sourced from genuine natural materials, allowing them to envision their own personalized GV90.

Directly opposite the CMF section stood the Genesis Brand Collection zone. Highlights included lifestyle pieces inspired by the moon jar — such as a porcelain diffuser and a traditional tea set — as well as bespoke Korean folding fans created in collaboration with artist Hyunjoo Kim.

The Genesis Collection also showcased exclusive luggage created to mark the launch of the GV90. The collection also displayed its golfing gear and die-cast scale models designed to enhance customers’ daily lives. The lifestyle collection reflects Genesis' vision of extending its refined design, artisanal materials, and understated aesthetic into life beyond its vehicles.

The Genesis Exclusive Preview centered around the GV90 offered guests a closer look at the craftsmanship, technology and design philosophy that define Genesis’ new flagship EV. Instead of a conventional new vehicle unveiling, Genesis crafted a storytelling-driven experience to give prospective owners a richer, more intimate understanding of the vehicle and the vision behind it.

Blending future-focused innovation with Korean craftsmanship and hospitality, the GV90 represents Genesis’ most ambitious expression of luxury to date. The Genesis Exclusive Preview offered guests an early glimpse of that future.

FRANKFURT, Germany, Sep. 1, 2026 — Genesis Motor Europe announced that the high-performance Genesis GV60 Magma has been shortlisted for the Golden Steering Wheel 2026 (Goldenes Lenkrad), one of Europe's most respected automotive awards. This adds to a growing list of recognition for Genesis among customers, fans, media and industry experts across the region.

"Being shortlisted for such a prestigious award, where the journey begins with the votes of readers, is a strong sign of the growing connection Genesis is building with European customers," said Peter Kronschnabl, managing director of Genesis Motor Europe. "In less than five years, we have evolved from a newcomer into an increasingly recognized premium brand, driven by the quality of our products, distinctive design, and an exceptional customer experience."

Since entering the European market in 2021, Genesis has established itself as a distinctive premium automotive brand, earning recognition for its design, innovation and advanced technology. Today, the brand is present in Germany, the U.K., Switzerland, Italy, France and the Netherlands, with Spain set to follow soon. As Genesis continues to expand its footprint across Europe, it remains committed to delivering products and customer experiences that challenge conventions and redefine expectations in the premium automotive sector.

Among the brand's recent achievements are prestigious international design recognitions, such as Red Dot and iF Design awards. All Genesis models have been awarded maximum 5-star credentials on the Euro NCAP safety tests, contributing to a European product lineup that has consistently achieved the highest levels of safety recognition.

These achievements reflect Genesis' long-term commitment to delivering products tailored to the expectations of European customers, benefiting from the advanced engineering expertise and technological capabilities developed within Hyundai Motor Group R&D centers in Europe and South Korea.

At the heart of Genesis lies the Korean principle of hospitality, "Son-nim", a philosophy that regards every customer as an honored guest. This approach shapes the Genesis experience, across product development, retail and aftersales.

GV60 Magma: The New Challenger

As the first production model from the Magma program, the GV60 Magma represents a bold new chapter for Genesis. Combining the brand's distinctive "Athletic Elegance" design philosophy with enhanced driving dynamics and performance-focused engineering, the model expands Genesis' reach into one of the most competitive and emotionally engaging segments of the premium automotive market.

The GV60 Magma reflects Genesis' ambition to deliver vehicles that inspire not only through innovation, quality and comfort, but also through genuine driving excitement and emotional appeal. European customer deliveries will commence later this year.

List of Awards

Austin, TEXAS, Aug. 28, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing will make its racing debut in North America for the fifth round of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) — Lone Star Le Mans at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA). The event comes after the series’ summer break, which gave the team the opportunity to reflect on the progress made during the first half of the season and lessons learned from the 6 Hours of São Paulo.

Gaining Experience on Top of History in North America

At Lone Star Le Mans, which follows the familiar 6-hour format of the WEC, Genesis Magma Racing will be aiming to once again show the strong performance of the GMR-001 Hypercar, proven by the team’s Hyperpole appearances at both the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the latest round in Brazil.

However, the team also hopes to optimize its operations to take advantage of the reliability of the car after bringing both GMR-001 Hypercars to the finish without issues for the first time in Interlagos. To do so, both team and drivers will need to avoid the type of small errors that limited the team’s results in Brazil, as they seek to add to the lone points-scoring finish this season (eighth for the #17 Hypercar of Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert and André Lotterer at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in May). 

A test at COTA in late July was crucial in helping the team and drivers prepare for the event. The two days of running helped the team build a baseline setup for the car and an understanding of the track conditions, mindful of the challenges presented by the high ambient and track temperatures. This knowledge will be crucial to the team, making up for their relative lack of experience at the venue — which has hosted an FIA WEC round on eight previous occasions — compared to their rivals in the Hypercar class.

The test was even more important as many of the team have limited experience at the circuit. Lotterer is a past Lone Star Le Mans winner in the LMP1 era of WEC competition and finished sixth in the 2024 edition, while Paul-Loup Chatin and Mathieu Jaminet have Hypercar experience at the circuit from the most recent WEC visits there. On the other hand, for Derani, Jaubert and Dani Juncadella, the test gave them their first Hypercar laps of the circuit. The test was Jaubert’s first-ever visit to the track. Derani, though he has not raced at the circuit since 2016, has enjoyed plenty of success in the U.S. as a two-time IMSA SportsCar champion, while for Jaminet, a return to the circuit where he had previous success, and to the U.S. as the 2025 IMSA champion, is cause for a special one-off helmet design.

The GMR-001 Hypercar’s history in the U.S. goes back even further. In April 2025, the New York International Auto Show hosted the first showing of the full-scale model of the design, sporting a red and orange livery that would eventually be realized as the race livery for the car at the 24 Hours of Le Mans earlier this year.

The U.S. is a key market for Genesis, especially for the brand’s SUV and EV models. This position as one of the leading markets was underlined in recent weeks, when the brand hosted the global launch of the new GV90 model in San Francisco.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “Through the first part of the FIA WEC season we have shown great progress as a team and have achieved many of the goals we set for ourselves at the start of the year. We are still a very new team compared to those we are racing against, but we have shown we are capable of competing with them, which is a great step forward to make in just four races. However, while we have shown great reliability and strong performance, we need to be able to put them together into the complete package more consistently. Our performance at the 6 Hours of São Paulo showed the importance of performing in not just one area, but as a whole team. The WEC is incredibly competitive — maybe more this year than ever — any mistake is very costly, so we need to make eliminating these mistakes the next step in our progress this year.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director said: “From a driver’s perspective, COTA is a very challenging circuit. It is very bumpy in some areas and has a bit of everything, with high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and technical sections where you need a good balance between the car and the driver. It was important that we were able to test there. It gave us the opportunity to understand the circuit and car better before the race weekend, so we can arrive better prepared with a clearer direction. The key thing for us is to continue the progress we have made. In Brazil, we had small mistakes that cost us time and positions. These are the kind of things we need to avoid, especially when the competition is so close. We had some discussions with the drivers to analyze what happened, what we could have done differently and how we can improve. It is important that we learn from these situations and not repeat the same mistakes.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer said: “We were able to get some good data from the test in very high ambient and track temperatures, which gave us a preview of how the car behaves and responds in the extreme conditions we might face during the race weekend. COTA demands a lot of different things simultaneously, but undoubtedly it is a circuit with high sensitivity to grip. To go fast we need to keep the rubber underneath us, so if it is hot we will need to actively manage the temps to be sure they last a complete stint or even a double. Choosing how to manage qualifying and finding the best way to minimize tire wear in the race will be key. We’ve also used the summer break to work on some weaknesses we’ve identified through the first half of the season, so we can continue to move forward.”

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

Pipo Derani said: “Racing in the United States always feels like coming home. I have incredible memories and milestones from my seasons competing in IMSA, and the American fans bring an authentic energy and passion to the paddock that is unmatched. Returning to compete on U.S. soil on a world championship stage is special, and I want nothing more than to put on a great show for the crowd there. COTA is notoriously demanding on tire degradation and ride compliance over the bumps, but beyond the driving, COTA holds a very special place for me personally. One of my best memories here was back in 2015 during my debut WEC season, having my father by my side at this race. Coming back here always brings those moments to mind. Behind the wheel, it’s a track that demands complete commitment — attacking the uphill climb into Turn 1 and flowing through the Esses on fresh tires is still one of the most rewarding feelings.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “COTA is very demanding, quite different from the tracks we have driven before, and the extreme heat was also an important factor. The circuit is not easy to understand at first. There are a lot of bumps, which make the car quite difficult to drive. That’s why the test was very important for me, to get more comfortable with the track and understand how to approach it. I really like Sector 1, with the sequence of fast corners. It’s very challenging because you need to commit a lot, and it’s probably my favorite part of the circuit. We mainly focused on working on the setup and continuing to develop the different systems on the car. Every day in the car is important, and we were able to work on many different areas, not only the performance of the car, but also our pit stops, our efficiency during operations and our overall organization as a team.”

André Lotterer said: “The test at COTA was really valuable for us. Having the opportunity to run there before the race weekend allowed us to understand the track better with the GMR-001 and work through a number of different setup directions. COTA is quite a demanding circuit, with a great mix of high-speed sections, technical corners and some big braking zones, so there is a lot to get right. After São Paulo, we know there are still areas where we need to improve, and the test gave us some useful information that we can hopefully turn into performance when we come back. The summer break has also given everyone a chance to reset, so I’m looking forward to seeing how we can respond in Austin. It’s a challenging track where you need confidence in the car, especially through the fast first sector. I really like that section when the car is working well; it has a great flow. Hopefully, we can put everything we’ve learned together and have a strong weekend.”

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “COTA is a really nice track. The first sector is probably the biggest challenge because of the combination of fast corners and changes of direction. The lap there has a bit of everything: high-speed corners, heavy braking zones and technical sections. It is a track where you really need to be precise, but at the same time you have to attack. The summer break gave everyone the opportunity to reset, analyze the first part of the season and come back with fresh energy. Interlagos was not the result we wanted, but it also highlighted areas where we can improve. The important thing is that we keep pushing together, stay focused on the details and use every opportunity to make the car and the team stronger. We had the opportunity to test some different setup directions last month. We improved our understanding of the car and tires, and validated some of the developments we have been working on. It was an important test to make sure we arrive at the race weekend with a clear direction.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “I’m super happy to get back to COTA. In the past, it’s been a track that I found suits me really well. It’s a track where I’ve been really successful in GTs — some really good performances and a lot of poles, wins and podiums, so it’s definitely a track I enjoy. Going back to America obviously brings me good memories from my seasons in the IMSA series. I really enjoyed being back at the track at the test and I know I’ll enjoy the race weekend. It’s definitely one of my highlights. I’m actually bringing a special helmet for the event as I really love the US and love Austin. One of the key things we learned from the test was about the tires – obviously with a new spec this year. We had the opportunity to test with the hard compound, which we haven’t driven much this season. There’s a lot of data to analyze and make sure we work in the right direction going into the race.”

Dani Juncadella said: “I’ve only raced at COTA for the last two years in WEC. Last year was a bit of disaster with the changing conditions in the race, which didn’t help us in the GT3 — it was one to forget. But it’s a track I really enjoy. It’s great when you can test directly at the track where you are going to race next and be able to tweak a couple of things, and the team is always coming up with updates for the systems and things to try with the setup for the GMR-001 Hypercar. I think we learned a lot in terms of tire pressures, and how to manage the tires in the heat with a couple of different compounds. The ambient temperature for the race should be similar to what we had for the test, so having this knowledge always helps to see what works and what doesn’t, and I got to know the track behind the wheel of a Hypercar for the first time.”

SEOUL, Aug. 26, 2026 — Genesis announced today that it is the lead supporter of “Do Ho Suh,” a new major exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) in Seoul, running from Aug. 27 to Feb. 9, 2027.

This expansive exhibition presented by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA) offers a comprehensive look at the 30-year practice of globally acclaimed artist Do Ho Suh. Featuring approximately 500 artworks, including drawings, sculptures, videos and installations, the exhibition closely examines Suh’s artistic perspective evolved across time and space.


Bringing together works ranging from previously unseen early pieces to ongoing recent projects, the exhibition delves deeply into the artist’s enduring investigations: the concepts of home and migration, the interplay of memory and identity, and the relationship between the individual and the collective.

Notable works include his iconic “Rubbing/Loving” series, in which the artist traced the memory of places he once inhabited by covering them with traditional Korean paper, “hanji,” and rubbing their surfaces with graphite and colored pencil. The exhibition also features the “Bridge Project” — which scales the concept of building a bridge that connects three homes Suh has lived, blurring the spatial, temporal, psychological, and cultural boundaries between Seoul, New York, and London — alongside early works like “Who Am We?” (2000) and “Floor” (1997–2000), which explore the relationship between the individual and collective society.

Several newly created or repurposed works supported by Genesis for “The Genesis Exhibition: Do Ho Suh: Walk the House” at Tate Modern, London last year, will be presented to audiences in Korea for the first time. Among them are “Nest/s” (2024) and “Perfect Home: London, Horsham, New York, Berlin, Providence, Seoul” (2024). These life-sized installations recreate the artist's past and present residences using layers of translucent fabric. Visitors are invited to walk through these immersive structures, reflecting on the relationship between migration and settlement, place and memory.

Marking the most extensive presentation of Suh’s work to date, the exhibition features unseen early works as well as newly unveiled projects. A large structure titled “Seed Bank” houses the artist’s foundational works, including childhood drawings and his university projects. Elsewhere in the exhibition, the newly unveiled “Memory of Love” (2026) poignantly explores the deep connections between the body, clothing and the home, extending the artist's personal memories to the lived experiences of the audience.

From Dec. 18, the artist's renowned large-scale installation, “Apartment A, Unit 2, Corridor and Staircase, 348 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10011, USA” (2012), will be added to complete the expansive exhibition. Presented within the soaring open space of MMCA Seoul Box, the installation offers visitors a rare opportunity to fully experience the breathtaking architectural scale of the piece.


“We are honored to support the ‘Do Ho Suh’ exhibition, which invites nuanced reflection on the fundamentals of human existence through the interwoven relationships between memory and space, and the individual and collective," said DooEun Choi, Art Director of Hyundai Motor. "We hope the exhibition offers the audience an artistic experience that opens new perspectives on the self and the world, while illuminating values that transcend time and space."


Reflecting its commitment to cultivating authentic experiences, Genesis will continue expanding its collaborations with leading art institutions and visionaries to inspire profound cultural dialogue with broader audiences, building on initiatives such as The Genesis Facade Commission at The Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Genesis Talks at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA).

STAVELOT, Belgium, Aug. 23, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing’s trio of Trajectory Program drivers, Jamie Chadwick, Laurents Hörr and Valerio Rinicella, continued their consistent season in the European Le Mans Series (ELMS), finishing the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps in third place after a post-race penalty for the #10 Vector Sport entry promoted them from fourth.

Single Lap Performance Shows Team’s Potential Pace

A superb qualifying lap by Rinicella delivered on the potential single lap pace the team had shown throughout the two Free Practice sessions. The result was the first ELMS pole position for Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers and also earned the Italian the Marc van der Straten Pole Position Trophy, awarded in honor of the Belgian racing legend.

Jamie Chadwick returned to her normal role of starting the #18 IDEC Sport-run Oreca 07. A strong start saw her reach turn one at La Source unchallenged, but a Safety Car before the end of the opening lap neutralized the race for the first of five times during her stint. Though she would lose the lead after the first restart, she held second position until handing over the car 12 minutes before the half-way point.

The team would lose time and positions in the pitstop, dropping to fifth in the LMP2 class after having to push the car back to allow Hörr to exit around a GT competitor in the neighboring garage. The longer than normal opening stint also limited the team’s strategy options to make up the lost time, with the pattern remainder for the race largely dictated by the minimum drive times for both Hörr and Rinicella.

The two drivers kept themselves in podium contention, with Hörr able to temporarily move back into a podium position in the middle of his stint. It was a position that Rinicella was unable to retake over the final hour of racing, leaving the team once more the first off the podium, but still taking the positives from the weekend.

However, following a post-race penalty for the #10 Vector Sport entry, the Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers — Jamie Chadwick, Laurents Hörr and Valerio Rinicella — have been promoted to third position overall in the 4 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The decision gives the trio their first podium of the 2026 European Le Mans Series season and caps a strong weekend in which the team also claimed a first pole position. The team and drivers lie third in the championship standings, 18 points behind, with two rounds remaining — Silverstone (Sep. 11-13) and Portimão (Oct. 8-10).

Post Race Quotes - #18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07

Jamie Chadwick said: “It was crazy how many Safety Cars there ended up being, especially in the second part of my stint. All in all, it was fairly good. The car ahead was flying. I didn't have really the pace to keep with them, but I think second place was pretty good to come in with. The problem is, when you're fighting up at the front, it's very hard to take risks and be aggressive on strategy decisions. Unfortunately, I think this ended up hurting with all the Safety Cars in the end. It didn't fall our way strategy-wise, so I think fourth was the best we could do for today. There's a lot to be happy with, including the first pole position for the team and my first time starting on pole in ELMS, which was really cool. We can take a lot of positives, but equally a lot that we can work on.”

Laurents Hörr said: “It was really hard fighting on track, but quite clean, to be honest. We were up and down today – I lost a position, won a position. We struggled a little bit with pace. We were just missing a tiny bit, which kept us from going further. During Jamie’s stint, I was on standby for about one hour with the helmet ready in the pit lane, but it was the same for all the cars. We didn't lose in this situation, and it gave us a bit of flexibility, which maybe we could have explored further. We've been so close to the podium and we saw that here and there at this pit stop or that pit stop, we could have gained five or eight seconds or tried a different strategy. We have to be happy with the overall performance and the result, and we will see where our pace is in Silverstone.”

Valerio Rinicella said: “I would say I'm happy with the result, but at the same time, I'm a bit disappointed because I expected to be a bit faster in the second part of my stint. I think maybe the fuel load had too much effect on the car. Already in the first laps, I felt that the tires were not giving me everything, so I just tried to manage. The beginning was okay – just a lot of traffic, but it’s still more points in the pocket. So we are happy for that, but we expected more pace overall. You know, it's hard to predict what you can do or where you can improve. We showed that we had a fast car. We just need to work maybe now on long runs and to see how to manage tire degradation and the traffic a bit more. But overall we can be proud of what we've done so far. The team is happy, we are happy, and let's fight for Silverstone now.“

Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini said: “The big positive from the weekend is the pace our Trajectory Program drivers showed in the practice sessions and qualifying. Valerio’s performance in qualifying showed how much experience he has gained over the course of the season, and how fast he is on a single lap, despite his very short experience in the category, and the strength of the team in Qualifying this weekend. Unfortunately, the race didn’t fall the way we would have liked, even though there were good individual performances from all three drivers. The slow pitstop lost some time and positions, which were very difficult to make up while the second half of the event was much cleaner than the first, without the same number of Safety Cars. Fourth is still a very good result, especially while we can see the progress the drivers are making, and we know they and the team will keep pushing for the next round.”

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 19, 2026 — Genesis is redefining the luxury flagship vehicle in the era of electrification, unveiling its first full-size flagship SUV, the GV90 (available in GV90 Neolun and GV90 variants), at the Palace of Fine Arts in San Francisco on Aug. 19.

The GV90 is a production model based on the NEOLUN concept revealed in 2024. It symbolizes the culmination of Genesis’ elevated hospitality ethos and expertise in thoughtfully applying technology.

“GV90 is not simply a new vehicle, but a new vision for luxury mobility that brings together inspiring design, AI-powered software and connectivity, and industry-leading safety,” said Euisun Chung, Executive Chair of Hyundai Motor Group. “Technology alone does not create luxury, and design alone does not define luxury. The value of innovation lies in transforming the customer experience in intelligent and intuitive ways to improve people's lives.

“True luxury is human freedom, and true luxury is beauty, expressed through craftsmanship, authenticity and commitment to excellence. Genesis will embrace these innovations to provide customers with differentiated value and experiences of distinction.”

The GV90 aims to make every journey more elegant and elevated, embodying Genesis’ unique “Son-nim” hospitality philosophy — to treat each customer as an honored guest — at the highest level.

Built on the eMP platform exclusive for the Genesis flagship, the GV90 sets a new direction for luxury electric flagship vehicles. It combines the highest level of safety, elegant driving dynamics and ride comfort, as well as a plethora of innovative technologies that offer an unprecedented in-vehicle experience — dressed in an exterior that commands attention.

The GV90 will be available in two variants: the GV90 Neolun, featuring the Neolun Arch Gate, the world’s first independently opening and closing hidden B-pillar coach doors, and the standard GV90 with conventional swing doors. It will also be equipped with an array of advanced technologies including the world’s first Roof Airbag, a 123.5 kilowatt-hour large-capacity high-voltage battery, Dual Electronic Limited Slip Differential (E-LSD), multi-chamber air suspension, a New Power Control System, a pop-up center OLED Cinematic Display, Pleos Connect, Remote Smart Parking Assist 3, Bang & Olufsen’s Premier 3D sound system with 25 speakers and Dolby Atmos, Ambient Glow mood lighting, Smart Vision Roof and a heated windshield.

“Today marks a landmark arrival for Genesis and for the future of luxury mobility. GV90 opens a new chapter for Genesis, building on our track record of bold innovation, elevated customer experiences, and an unwavering commitment to excellence,” said José Muñoz, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company. “In less than eight years, Genesis became the fastest luxury brand ever to reach one million sales, built on distinctive design, class-leading innovation, and a relentless focus on our customers. Our new flagship SUV represents our vision for the future while embodying the very best of Genesis, staying true to the distinctly Korean values of hospitality and craftmanship that have shaped our journey.”

Neolun Arch Gate: A Symbol of Genesis’ Unique Hospitality Philosophy

The GV90 Neolun is fitted with the Neolun Arch Gate, the world’s first independently opening and closing hidden B-pillar coach doors, delivering a unique experience that embodies the brand’s hospitality philosophy when entering the vehicle. The hidden pillar design allows the front and rear doors to open in unison facing the other, providing an unparalleled sense of openness and a remarkably spacious area for entry and exit compared to conventional vehicles.

Genesis utilized a newly developed dual-motion hinge mechanism for the rear doors, optimized for the vehicle’s hidden B-pillar body structure which enables the rear doors to open and close independently without impeding the front doors. This mechanism works by first sliding the rear door slightly outward, then smoothly rotating it open. This enhances the convenience of entering and exiting the vehicle, allowing rear-seat passengers to get in and out with greater space and comfort.

Safety remains paramount in the GV90 Neolun, despite the absence of a B-pillar. Genesis engineered a new structure that seamlessly marries the doors to the vehicle body while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Additionally, replacing the conventional B-pillar, high-strength dual steel beams have been integrated for rigidity. This architecture that joins the doors and body effectively disperses collision forces.

A concealed yet robust roll cage is created by reinforcing the passenger cabin with a frame 1.5 times thicker than conventional vehicles and fortifying it with integrated high-strength steel tubes and structural foam. This hidden roll cage structure protects occupants while achieving crash safety performance equivalent to vehicles with conventional B-pillars.

Uncompromising Occupant Safety

The GV90 is equipped with a total of 12 airbags — including the world's first Roof Airbag, an in-cabin Monitoring System, a reinforced body structure, and an enhanced safety battery.

The Roof Airbag is designed to provide effective protection in severe rollover events. In case of a rollover, it deploys rapidly to cover the entire roof glass, preventing occupant ejection and mitigating injuries caused by contact with the roof.

Passenger seats feature a dual-depth airbag that deploys in two stages according to the occupants' posture. Airbags are also incorporated into the seat cushions to prevent occupants from sliding beneath the seatbelt during a collision. In addition, the curtain airbags have been extended to cover the third row, while the side airbags for the first and second rows as well as the driver's knee airbag have been enlarged to provide more effective protection for all occupants.

The vehicle is also equipped with an in-cabin monitoring system that identifies occupant type and seating status to optimize airbag and seatbelt control during collisions. It also detects and alerts occupants to improper seat belt usage or sitting posture.

Genesis has increased overall body rigidity while reducing weight, employing a skeletal structure of cast and extruded aluminum for the GV90's underbody and extensively using aluminum for the exterior panels. At the front of the body structure, a deflector guides vehicle behavior laterally during a small frontal overlap crash, reducing A-pillar deformation and maximizing occupant protection.

The application of ultra-high-strength steel to the sides of the car body further enhances safety and improves battery protection. The design also incorporates a slider structure in front of the battery, engineered to redirect components like the motor and subframe underneath the vehicle in a frontal collision, preventing direct impact to the battery.

Battery safety has been significantly enhanced with Thermal Runaway Protection (TRP) technology to prevent thermal propagation between cells. The battery system is engineered for effective heat dissipation, separating each battery cell to suppress the spread of heat to adjacent cells.

Additionally, a cloud-based Battery Management System (BMS) pre-diagnostic function provides not only real-time diagnostics but also preemptively identifies potential anomalies, promptly notifying the driver if any battery abnormality is detected.

Elegant and Serene Dynamics Befitting a Luxury Flagship

The GV90 delivers an elegant and serene driving experience befitting a luxury flagship model. Genesis developed the GV90 based on the eMP platform exclusive for the Genesis flagship, focusing on creating a spacious cabin layout, superior driving performance, and refined ride comfort suitable for a flagship SUV. The GV90 was developed by combining the unique specifications needed to create the definitive Genesis flagship.

With a 3,245mm wheelbase, the spacious interior features a flat floor and slim cockpit design, delivering passengers a more comfortable and relaxed mobility experience.

In yet another Hyundai Motor Group first, the GV90 Neolun introduces motorized swiveling front seats that elevate the interior experience to an entirely new level. While parked, a simple press of the button on the door trim rotates the front seats a full 180 degrees. Occupants can now engage in a face-to-face lounge-like configuration, ideal for socializing or conducting business.

Genesis has equipped the GV90 with a 123.5 kilowatt-hour high-voltage battery, the largest capacity among Hyundai Motor Group's electric vehicles. The GV90's high-voltage battery features cells with a high-density, high-output design which enhances energy density while simultaneously improving power and fast-charging performance. A Wireless Battery Management System (WBMS) maximizes the battery system's packaging efficiency, providing battery capacity fit for a vehicle of this scale.

On a single charge, the GV90 (7-seater) achieves an estimated range of approximately 500km (based on internal R&D tests). When using a 350-kilowatt fast charger, the battery charges from 10% to 80% in just 22 minutes.

Featuring a new motor system that delivers the most powerful performance among Hyundai Motor Group EVs, the GV90 comes with a combined maximum output of 490 kilowatts and 800 Newton-meters of torque from the front and rear motors, providing a relaxed and effortless flagship driving experience.

The GV90 is the first Hyundai Motor Group vehicle to be equipped with a Dual E-LSD, which precisely distributes the motors’ powerful output according to driving conditions. With E-LSDs mounted on both the front and rear motors, power is efficiently supplied to all four wheels during high-speed cornering for agile handling. It also suppresses wheel slip on snowy, rainy or uneven roads, ensuring more control when driving.

The Multi-Chamber Air Suspension effectively absorbs road impact and enhances driving stability by using air springs with adjustable stiffness, allowing ride height to adapt accordingly to road conditions. Mono-tube Dual Valve Electronic Control Suspension (ECS) absorbers create an optimal ride by dynamically adjusting the damping force, providing a softer response to absorb impact and stiffening to control significant body movement.

The vehicle also features active Rear Wheel Steering (RWS) which allows the rear wheels to turn up to five degrees, reducing the turning radius to that of a mid-size car. This makes U-turns and parking more convenient while also improving cornering stability at medium and high speeds.

In addition, Genesis equipped the GV90 with a 4-piston monobloc caliper with large-diameter pistons (front wheels) and a high-capacity brake disc system, delivering the stable braking performance required for a flagship electric SUV.

Genesis significantly enhanced cabin tranquility using world-leading acoustic glass exceeding 5 millimeters in thickness on all windows, from the windshield and Vision Roof to the tailgate. Noise and vibration transmitted through the vehicle's body have also been reduced by injecting high-expansion soundproofing fillers into cavities within the main structural frame. Cabin isolation is further improved through extensive application of reinforced sound-absorbing materials and modifications to the sealing structures of the hood and tailgate.

A Differentiated Vehicle Experience Through Interactive Technology

Genesis has outfitted the GV90 with a wealth of innovative technologies to provide a new dimension to the user experience for every moment spent with the vehicle.

The GV90 is the first Hyundai Motor Group vehicle to adopt New Power Control System, which eliminates the start button, ensuring a seamless transition from entry to driving.

As a passenger pulls the door handle, the vehicle powers on and the door closes automatically. Once the door closes, the Motion Column Shifter moves from the 12 o'clock to the 2 o'clock position, ready for gear selection. Simultaneously, the Crystal Sphere Controller rotates to reveal an integrated controller and the tweeter covers on the dashboard part gracefully to the sides, intuitively communicating to the driver that the car is ready to drive.

The vehicle is started by pressing the brake pedal, eliminating the need for a separate ignition button.

The GV90 features a pop-up center OLED Cinematic Display, offering a new user experience on the expansive screen. In normal driving situations, the wide 23.6-inch screen seamlessly integrates the instrument cluster, navigation, and media. When the vehicle is parked, pressing the display extension button on the center fascia raises the screen by 90mm, transforming it into a 24.6-inch display — approximately 1.7 times larger than when retracted — for occupants to enjoy a wide variety of multimedia content.

In place of a separate instrument cluster, the GV90 offers a 25-inch Head-Up Display (HUD), allowing the driver to check their speed, navigation prompts, and ADAS function at a glance over a much wider projection surface without taking their eyes off the road.

The GV90 also comes with Pleos Connect, Hyundai Motor Group’s next-generation infotainment platform, providing an interface fit for a Software-Defined Vehicle (SDV). Pleos Connect is based on the Android Automotive Operating System (AAOS) and can freely download third-party vehicle apps via the Pleos App Market.

Occupants can also intuitively view and operate various functions on the display and seamlessly access controls and search for information through natural conversations with the onboard next-generation generative AI agent, Gleo AI.

Additionally, Remote Smart Parking Assist 3 (RSPA 3) helps with automatic parking and exiting maneuvers with a single touch. The complementing Memory Reversing Assist (MRA) remembers the vehicle’s path to easily guide it backward out of narrow alleys or parking spaces, providing a highly convenient mobility experience.

Sensory Features that Elevate the Cabin Experience

Genesis has developed a rich array of sensory features for GV90, each designed to engage every sense and add a profound layer of depth to the occupant experience.

Within the tranquil cabin, a Bang & Olufsen Premier 3D sound system with 25 speakers delivers auditory satisfaction rivaling a concert hall. Acoustic Lens Technology (ALT) tweeters at both ends of the dashboard, four headliner speakers, mid-range speakers, and subwoofers create a 7.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos sound that maximizes spatial presence and immersion.

Advanced audio capabilities elevate the listening experience. Virtual Venue recreates the signature acoustics of iconic venues including Boston Symphony Hall and Wembley Stadium, while Beosonic allows passengers to personalize sound atmosphere and tone. The result is a listening environment custom calibrated to each occupant's preferences.

The Ambient Glow mood lighting elevates the cabin atmosphere, enveloping passengers in a visually stunning experience. Expansive indirect lighting flows seamlessly from the dashboard to the doors, casting a gentle glow on garnishes crafted from leather, wool cashmere, stone and wood, optimizing the elevated cabin experience. With additional mood lighting integrated into the headliner and console, the cabin evokes the feeling of a private art gallery. The system also serves an intuitive function, interacting with the occupants by sequentially illuminating the door mood lamps upon entry or changing brightness during voice recognition to convey vehicle status and driving conditions.

The GV90's thoughtful consideration for its occupants extends beyond sight and sound, encompassing every surface and touchpoint with meticulous care. Upholstered in premium leather, the seats are crafted to maximize softness and comfort. Each one is equipped with 15 individual air cells and a pulse vibration function, offering an elevated massage experience beyond what Genesis has offered before.

A metal-coated heated windshield, a first for Hyundai Motor Group, enables the glass to generate its own heat to quickly remove winter frost and condensation while maintaining a pleasant cabin without relying on climate control. For added warmth and comfort, radiant heat warmers are integrated into the first- and second-row console armrests, side panels, and door trims.

The GV90 Neolun Executive Suite (4-seat configuration) delivers the ultimate VIP experience through a collection of exclusive, specialized features. The second row is furnished with a real wood veneer floor that greatly elevates the cabin's ambiance. Inspired by traditional Korean “ondol” underfloor heating, it incorporates a radiant heating system to provide further warmth to the interior.

A Comfort Partition separates the second-row seating from the trunk area, effectively insulating the cabin from noise in the luggage compartment to create a serene interior ambiance for occupants.

Roll blinds provide complete privacy from the outside when desired. The GV90 Neolun Executive Suite features a Smart Vision Roof which utilizes a Polymer Dispersed Liquid Crystal (PDLC) film to allow the roof's transparency to be independently controlled across six distinct zones, maximizing visual openness.

Seats upholstered in the finest, soft semi-aniline leather come standard, alongside VIP-exclusive amenities such as a second-row tower console, a refrigerator and integrated tables to make travel time more meaningful.

Exterior: Restrained Elegance and a Commanding Presence

The exterior of the GV90 draws inspiration from the iconic moon jar — a symbol of traditional Korean aesthetics — exuding a majestic presence achieved through the porcelain vessel’s philosophy of restrained elegance.

By minimizing superfluous elements to emphasize the beauty of the essential, every aspect of the GV90’s design reflects the core tenets of the moon jar — its fundamental form of proportion and curve, the beauty of white space, and the spirit of exquisite craftsmanship.

Beneath the clamshell hood, the Wing Face Micro Lens Array (MLA) headlamps span the front fascia, projecting a distinctive and imposing presence apt for a flagship model. Genesis utilized an advanced laser-engraving process to seamlessly integrate the lighting element with the vehicle's bodywork. The jewel-like Two-Line design imparts a futuristic yet elegant flourish.

The lower bumper is accented with a three-dimensional, dual-layered G-matrix patterned chrome grille to deliver a sophisticated and elevated aesthetic.

GV90 embodies a timeless design through understated elegant proportions. The 5,285-millimeter-long body, bold yet gracefully sculpted fenders and prominent 24-inch forged wheels exude the authoritative stance of a luxury flagship.

The GV90 Neolun showcases its distinct identity through anodized aluminum accents applied between the first and second row windows, while the standard GV90 features frame-flush door glass for a seamless, clean look.

The rear design is the most emblematic expression of the GV90's design philosophy. By eschewing decorative elements, Genesis achieved a pure rear design reminiscent of the flowing curves from the elegant silhouette of a Korean moon jar.

This minimalist approach extends to avoiding unnecessary lines and omitting the rear spoiler entirely, while incorporating flush-mounted surface-emitting taillights and Genesis lettering to create a smooth, harmonious rear composition.

Offering unprecedented personalization for a Genesis model, the GV90 features 16 distinctive exterior color selections. 13 glossy finishes each tell a visual story: Seychelles Beige captures the radiant beauty of sun-kissed beaches and waves on sand, while Baena Green evokes the serene moment when light penetrates an olive forest. The gloss options continue with Sonoran Navy, Taupo Gray, Jaipur Rose, Vela Burgundy, Como Blue, Uyuni White, Saville Silver, Makalu Gray, Vik Black, Capri Blue, and Cardiff Green. Three elegant matte finishes — Monashee Silver, Matterhorn White, and Makalu Gray Matte — provide understated alternatives.

“GV90 is the embodiment of The Ultimate Majestic Presence, Genesis’ belief that true luxury is revealed not through addition, but through reduction, until only the essential remains,” said Luc Donckerwolke, President and Chief Creative Officer of Hyundai Motor Group. “Inspired by the Korean moon jar, we pursued a purity shaped by restraint, balance and an elegance that never fades. By removing unnecessary elements, we allowed timeless beauty to speak for itself. The Neolun Concept, unveiled in 2024, was not simply a vision, but a promise for the future. GV90 brings that promise to life, opening a new chapter for Genesis design, one shaped by extraordinary patience, care and dedication.”

An Elevated, Bespoke Living Space

Genesis has reimagined the GV90’s interior as a bespoke living space thoughtfully reflecting the personal tastes of its occupants.

The dashboard and door trims feature a sophisticated dual-layer structure with a recessed center section, allowing contrasting materials to define the inner and outer planes. The seats, console, and display are positioned intentionally like luxury furniture, evoking the refined atmosphere of a sophisticated lounge.

The futuristic centerpiece is a massive cinematic display that harmonizes with the cabin through crystal buttons using real glass. Complementing this forward-thinking design, motorized air vents eliminate traditional control knobs, contributing to an exceptionally clean and uncluttered interior.

Slim mood lamps concealed in the dashboard's chrome bezel work in concert with Ambient Glow to envelop the cabin in indirect light, intensifying the interior's premium character.

Athletic Elegance is added to the static cabin upon boarding the vehicle through the Motion Column Shifter, the rotating Crystal Sphere Controller, and sliding tweeter covers. Media, temperature and airflow are managed using the Center Knob Display.

Genesis has employed a thoughtfully curated selection of authentic material options for the GV90, each selected to maximize its inherent charm and deliver the attention to detail expected of a flagship. Customers can choose from trim materials that harmonize with their chosen interior palette such as natural wood for classic luxury, genuine stone for modern sophistication or wool cashmere warmth and coziness.

The GV90 is available in five interior color combinations: Veiled Indigo / Puglia Green, Folio Brown / Batiste Blue, Vault Black / Shadow Gray, Tyrian Purple / Travertine Beige, and Saddle Brown / Shadow Gray.

The GV90 Neolun on the other hand offers five exclusive interior color schemes: Regal Navy / Majestic Purple, Quince Brown, Vault Black / Shadow Gray, Tyrian Purple / Travertine Beige, and Saddle Brown / Shadow Gray.

GV90 First Edition: Exclusive Luxury for the Discerning Few

The same day, Genesis also unveiled the GV90 Neolun First Edition, an ultra-exclusive limited release for the marque’s elite customers.

The GV90 Neolun First Edition represents the pinnacle of the Executive Suite (4-seat configuration) lineup. Its two-tone exterior palette and body-color 24-inch forged wheels elevate the visual impact, delivering an exclusive, unparalleled appeal.

Inside, wool cashmere garnishes come standard, and First Edition-exclusive logo engraving on the Crystal Sphere Controller, headrests, and doorsteps add a subtle touch of prestige.

The GV90 Neolun First Edition debuts in three color combinations: two-toned Jaipur Rose / Seychelles Beige exterior paired with a Quince Brown interior, two-toned Vik Black / Baena Green exterior matched with a Veiled Indigo / Puglia Green interior, two-toned Vik Black / Sonoran Navy exterior blended with a Majestic Purple / Regal Navy interior.

GV90 & Marilyn Monroe: Icons’ Arrival

Genesis aligned Marilyn Monroe's ethos of challenge and innovation, establishing a new direction for luxury that defines Genesis' brand philosophy.

Driven by passionate ambition and visionary boldness, Monroe took control of her career trajectory and shattered conventional limitations. By building a life on her own terms, she transcended her time to become an eternal cultural icon — a symbol whose influence persists even a century later.

Genesis has embraced an equally audacious mission: to establish itself as a global Korean luxury mobility brand. In just ten short years, the brand has defied expectations, emerging as a global leader that fundamentally redefined luxury automotive standards.

Like Monroe, Genesis has forged a path uniquely its own. As a luxury brand deeply rooted in Korean cultural traditions, its journey reflects Monroe's own legacy, both rebelling against norms and achieving lasting impact.

To express this connection while exploring the untold narratives of Monroe’s legacy, Genesis launched “Manifesting Marilyn” at Genesis House New York in June and is supporting the production of the Maggie Gyllenhaal-directed short film “Flesh Impact”, which will debut at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival.

Genesis is poised for its next decade of growth, anchored by the GV90 flagship. Building on this momentum, the brand will strengthen its positioning and philosophical foundation while setting distinctive industry standards across design, engineering, technology, and customer experiences.

GV90 Specifications

The team’s goals for their debut season were simple and modest — finish each race, improve the cars, improve the drivers, improve the team.

In endurance racing, distance covered matters more than speed, so every second a Hypercar spends off the track and stationary in the pit lane matters. Genesis Magma Racing made it to Hyperpole for the second race in a row and showed serious pace during the race at Interlagos. Both #17 and #19 GMR-001 Hypercars showed strong reliability to complete a race without technical issues for the first time, but penalties and small mistakes limited the results the team could achieve.

For a team determined to prove itself, there is no room for error — no margin for the mistakes that cost races. A pit stop at any race is controlled chaos where timing, precision and trust are the only things standing between finishing the race, or not.

Box, Box!

“Box, box!” These two words signal the driver to enter the pit lane for a pit stop. As the car enters the pit lane, the driver activates the pit lane speed limiter, slowing to the pit lane speed limit of 60 kilometers per hour.

The car screams into the pit box, stopping where the car controller holds his marker, or lollipop. The car controller holds complete responsibility for the safety of the entire pit stop operation.

Nothing else happens until the engine is shut off and the car is electrically grounded.

Only then does the refueler move — the only person authorized to operate the fuel line. The refueler connects the fuel hose to the Hypercar. For the next 40 seconds, 80 liters will flow into the GMR-001 Hypercar's tank.

Strict safety rules prohibit almost every other action while the refueler completes their task. Only one other person is permitted to touch the car — the pit crew member assigned to clean the windshield. The front wheel gunner launches onto the front of the Hypercar, wiping away dirt and debris. The driver's vision must be unobstructed as there is no margin for error at up to 330 kilometers per hour.

The rest of the crew is on standby, ready for their turn.

Fuel In, Wheels Off

The moment the fuel hose disconnects, everything accelerates.

A wheel carrier thrusts a lance into the side of the Hypercar to activate the integrated pneumatic jacks. All four wheels are off the ground in just a second.

The front wheel gunner is already moving, pneumatic gun in hand, executing a motion refined through thousands of repetitions. He squeezes the trigger once, the single nut securing the front left wheel now unfastened. The wheel is then removed in just two-tenths of a second.

The wheel carrier is right behind the gunner with a fresh tire at the ready. The wheel gunner and carrier work in perfect synchronization to swap out the wheels — time and experience perfect this sequence to an art form.

Without pausing for a moment, they sprint to the right side of the Hypercar, with two other pit crew members performing identical moves on the rear wheels.

The car controller stands still, lollipop in front of the Hypercar, overseeing every moment of the stop.

The tire team removes the lance. The car drops to the ground.

All that happens in just two minutes.

The car controller raises the lollipop, and the driver sends the Hypercar back out onto the track.

See it all happen in slow motion and incredible detail in the video below:

Deciding When to Pit

The strategic timing of a pit stop in endurance racing is far more complex than simply waiting for the fuel light to come on. In the WEC, pit stops are mathematically and tactically timed to maintain position or even leapfrog competitors.

Undercut

The undercut is an aggressive, proactive strategy used when a car is stuck closely behind a rival but cannot find a clean way to pass on track.

The strategist calls the GMR-001 Hypercar into the pits one to two laps earlier than the target window. The Hypercar is fitted with fresh tires, giving it an edge over its competitors. While the rival ahead continues driving on worn tires, the driver unleashes the maximum pace of their fresh tires on their out-lap (the first lap after leaving the pit lane).

When the rival finally pits another lap or two later, their pit stop is normal, but their out-lap is slow. By the time they merge back onto the track, the GMR-001 Hypercar that pitted early — having already warmed up its fresh tires by running two blazing-fast laps — streaks past them.

Overcut

The overcut is the opposite of the undercut, used when the track is highly abrasive or when warming up cold tires is notoriously difficult, such as during cold night stints at Le Mans.

The rival car pits first. Instead of reacting immediately, the strategist instructs the GMR-001 driver to stay out for two to three more laps while they observe the competitor.

The rival exits the pits on cold tires, struggling for grip and pace. Meanwhile, the GMR-001 driver, running on fully warmed (though worn) tires, flies through clear air, clocking in faster times.

Because the GMR-001 Hypercar maintained a blistering pace while the rival was slower on cold rubber, the GMR-001 Hypercar car builds enough of a gap to pit, change tires and exit the pit lane safely ahead of the rival.

Exploiting Safety Periods

The ultimate timing coup in WEC is pitting during a Full Course Yellow (FCY) or a Virtual Safety Car (VSC). Under green flag conditions, a pit stop at a track like Spa-Francorchamps costs roughly 50 to 60 seconds of "lost time" relative to cars speeding down the straight at 300 kilometers per hour.

Under an FCY, the entire field is speed-limited to 80 kilometers per hour. Because the cars on track are moving much slower, the relative time lost by stopping in the pits drops dramatically — often saving 20 to 30 seconds.

A riskier version of the stop can be done the moment an incident occurs on track. The strategist has seconds to calculate if the pit entry is open and if they can dive in before the FCY is officially declared, or exactly as it drops. Timing this perfectly can instantly vault a car up multiple spots because the entire field is speed-limited and the cars begin to bunch up and the gaps between them get reduced.

Stay tuned for the next installment of Genesis Magma Racing's 2026 WEC Season Guide.

SEOUL, Aug. 13, 2026 — Genesis has unveiled its next-generation hybrid system, engineered to deliver an electric vehicle (EV)-like driving experience.

Developed to provide customers with a refined electrified driving experience befitting the Genesis brand, the next-generation hybrid system will debut in the GV80 Hybrid, which is scheduled to launch next month.

The Genesis 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System adopts a parallel hybrid configuration consisting of a starter-generator motor (P1), which handles engine starting and power generation, and a drive motor (P2), which provides propulsion and regenerative braking.

The 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System featured in the Genesis GV80 Hybrid delivers a combined maximum output of 352 Pferdestärke and maximum torque of 54.0 kilogram-force meters, representing increases of approximately 16% and 26%, respectively, over the GV80 2.5 Turbo model.

With these advancements, the GV80 Hybrid delivers a 0–100 kilometers per hour acceleration time of approximately 7.1 seconds from a standstill, based on internal testing standards.

Based on internal testing of the five-seat GV80 equipped with 19-inch wheels and two-wheel drive, combined fuel efficiency improved by approximately 25% or more compared to the 2.5 Turbo powertrain, enabling more efficient driving. *

The Genesis 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System is also the first hybrid system from Hyundai Motor Group to feature a liquid-cooled hybrid battery system.

Compared to an air-cooled system, the liquid-cooled battery system enables more efficient temperature management, allowing for higher maximum discharge output and more extensive use of the battery’s available power.

By expanding electric motor engagement across a broader range of driving conditions, the Genesis 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System delivers quieter operation and smooth, linear acceleration, creating a driving experience closer to that of an EV.

To minimize vibration and noise caused by engine operation during a cold start after the vehicle has been parked, Genesis developed the system to make active use of its EV Mode from initial departure until the vehicle reaches approximately 30 kilometers per hour.

This enables the vehicle to move in EV Mode in noise-sensitive environments such as underground parking garages. Once the vehicle enters regular road traffic and exceeds a certain speed, the engine engages, allowing occupants to begin their journey in a quieter and more comfortable environment.

Genesis has also optimized the system to maximize the use of EV Mode on urban roads with frequent traffic lights and during stop-and-go traffic, further enhancing the overall driving experience.

In addition, Genesis lowered the Final Drive Gear Ratio (FGR) — the reduction ratio between the transmission and the wheels — compared to the 2.5 Turbo model to reduce drivetrain noise.

The luxury marque also introduced a new engine crankshaft damper pulley technology designed to reduce both torsional and bending vibrations, helping to minimize engine noise transmitted into the cabin. A Centrifugal Pendulum Absorber (CPA) damper has also been applied to the new seven-speed rear-wheel-drive transmission to counteract engine rotational vibrations with opposing-phase forces, further enhancing cabin comfort.

Another key feature of the Genesis 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System is its immediate acceleration response, which is similar to that of an EV.

When the driver depresses the accelerator firmly while driving in EV Mode, the system simultaneously performs a downshift and engine clutch engagement, allowing the engine to provide immediate, additional acceleration.

According to internal testing, when the accelerator is depressed while traveling 100 kilometers per hour, the system can resume acceleration approximately 18% faster than the 2.5 gasoline turbo model — delivering responsive performance in situations such as overtaking.

Genesis has also optimized the transmission architecture by enabling the vehicle to reverse using the P2 motor rotating in the opposite direction. This eliminates the need for components associated with a dedicated reverse gear in the transmission. The first-gear ratio has also been set higher to efficiently transmit power from the P2 motor to the wheels while reversing.

The resulting reduction in transmission weight and frictional components improves power transmission efficiency. At the same time, the higher first-gear ratio enhances acceleration performance when pulling away from a standstill.

The Genesis 2.5 Turbo Hybrid System also incorporates a range of hybrid-specific features, including Stay Mode, Hierarchical Predictive Control (HPC) and Smart Regenerative Braking.

Stay Mode uses the high-voltage battery to operate all in-vehicle comfort and convenience functions, including climate control and multimedia systems without starting the engine. This allows occupants to remain comfortable inside the stationary vehicle before and after a journey.

Hybrid HPC predicts the driving route and road conditions to the destination and optimally manages the battery’s state of charge. This allows the system to select and operate the most efficient driving mode, including EV Mode, Hybrid Mode and Regenerative Braking Mode.

Smart Regenerative Braking uses navigation data (including speed-camera information) and the distance to vehicles ahead to automatically determine and apply the optimal level of regenerative braking. By reducing the need for brake pedal input, the system helps reduce driver fatigue while increasing the amount of energy recovered through regenerative braking — contributing to improved fuel efficiency.

Genesis also unveiled the design of the upcoming GV80 Hybrid. The GV80 Hybrid features a newly designed exterior grille and wheels, giving the model an even more premium appearance.

Inside, four new two-tone color combinations have been introduced, including Obsidian Black with Taiga Green, and Ultramarine Blue with Travertine Beige. Two new real wood trim options are also available, together with new quilting patterns, offering customers a wider range of interior choices.

“We expect the new powertrain to deliver a differentiated driving experience by achieving a finely tuned balance of efficiency, refinement and performance,” said Sean Lee, global head of Genesis. “Beginning with the GV80 Hybrid, Genesis will continue to respond proactively to evolving market conditions and customer needs while introducing innovative technologies that embody the brand’s distinctive character and philosophy.”

* Official fuel economy figures will be announced following certification by the relevant Korean government authorities.

SEOUL, Aug. 7, 2026 — Genesis has been honored with two prestigious awards at the 2026 Red Dot Design Award for Genesis Cheongju, its innovative flagship showroom that seamlessly blends regional heritage with contemporary luxury design. The luxury marque secured two accolades in the Brands & Communication Design discipline, including the prestigious “Best of the Best” award — a distinction reserved for exceptional design breakthroughs — in the Retail Design category and a win in the Spatial Communication category.

The recognition demonstrates Genesis' global design competitiveness and its unwavering commitment to delivering a differentiated brand experience that connects its design philosophy with the guest experience.

Opened in April 2025, Genesis Cheongju is the brand's fifth dedicated showroom in Korea — following locations in Hanam, Gangnam, Suji and Anseong — and serves as its first presence in the Chungcheong region. The space was completed in collaboration with ONE O ONE Architects, the esteemed architectural firm behind key brand spaces such as Genesis Lounge and Hyundai Motorstudio Busan.

Layering Heritage and Innovation

The overall design concept of Genesis Cheongju is “Layers Woven with Empathy”. The concept draws on the Korean notion of layering, symbolizing the accumulation of shared experiences and relationships with guests, while also evoking the idea of igniting a new cultural chapter. Cheongju's rich regional heritage, represented by craft cultures such as “Jikji”[1] and “hanji,”[2] is delicately woven throughout the spatial design to connect with Genesis' own design philosophy of craftsmanship.

Through a modern reinterpretation of traditional Korean architectural concepts, the showroom expresses a sense of understated authenticity. The first-floor canopy is a modern take on “cheoma,”[3] while the upper structure draws inspiration from Gyeonghoeru, the royal pavilion at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul. Inside, the third and fourth-floor Brand Cubes capture the essence of “jeongja,”[4] and the sensory feel of hanji.

Beyond Retail: A Community-Centered Experience

Genesis Cheongju transcends conventional showroom design by cultivating a vibrant cultural community. The space hosts collaborative exhibitions with local artists, curated test-drive experiences and exclusive community programs for Genesis owners, positioning the venue as a gathering space for shared experiences and cultural exchange.

Created in 1955, the Red Dot Award is considered one of the top three design distinctions in the world. Each year, it announces winners in three distinct disciplines: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design, and Design Concept, rigorously evaluating entries for design excellence and innovation. 

[1] The oldest surviving book printed using the world’s first-known movable metal type
[2] Traditional Korean paper handmade from the inner bark of the mulberry tree
[3] Traditional Korean roof eaves
[4] Traditional Korean pavilions

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK, July 29, 2026 — Academy Award®-nominated writer and director Maggie Gyllenhaal and Genesis unveiled the First Look images for their new film “Flesh Impact” created in honor of Marilyn Monroe’s centennial. The film stars Oscar® winner Ellen Burstyn and Dakota Johnson as two versions of Monroe, alongside Emmy® nominees Peter Sarsgaard and Sepideh Moafi (The Pitt), and will have its World Premiere at the 2026 Venice International Film Festival, where Burstyn will receive the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The film is produced by William Green for The Cut, Michelle Ross for Superprime, Nicolette Spencer and Melissa Moore for INNOCEAN, and is presented by Genesis. Maddi Carlton, Brandon Boerner, Rebecca Skinner, David Webb and Courtney Kivowitz serve as executive producers.

A love letter to one of cinema’s most enduring icons, the film honors Marilyn Monroe’s singular power to challenge convention and captivate the world across generations. Dakota Johnson portrays Monroe at the height of her fame, while Ellen Burstyn stars as a version of Marilyn the world never had a chance to see. The film takes its title from a phrase used to describe Marilyn Monroe's aura — that she looked so real and luminous on camera that viewers felt they could touch her through the screen. The film was created with the blessings of the Marilyn Monroe estate holders, Authentic Brands Group, and presents Marilyn as audiences know her best: defying boundaries.

“I’ve always been fascinated by Marilyn Monroe. So, when Genesis first came to me with the idea of a celebratory project for her centennial, I knew I wanted to work together on bringing this story to life,” says Gyllenhaal. “With ‘Flesh Impact,’ we showcase the timeless icon we know and love through a modern lens that reclaims her story.”

“At Genesis, we believe the arts have a unique ability to inspire reflection, spark meaningful conversation, and connect people through stories that endure across generations,” said Amy Marentic, chief marketing officer of Genesis Motor America. “Our support of this film honoring Marilyn Monroe reflects our commitment to celebrating cultural icons whose influence extends far beyond their time. With Maggie’s strong vision as writer and director and our valued creative and producing partners at INNOCEAN, Superprime and The Cut, ‘Flesh Impact’ offers an opportunity to reconsider Marilyn’s narrative the way she would have wanted: in control and charting her own course.”

Gyllenhaal brought a remarkable group of artisans to the film including Academy Award®-nominated Production Designer Karen Murphy (Elvis), Emmy®-nominated Casting Director Mary Vernieu (The Last of Us, Euphoria), BAFTA Award®-nominated Costume Designer Jennifer Johnson (I, Tonya, Bugonia), Editor Affonso Gonçalves (Hamnet), and Director of Photography Lawrence Sher (The Bride).

On Scotland's east coast, the world's best golfers gathered at The Renaissance Club for the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, navigating shifting coastal winds and demanding fairways in the relentless pursuit of perfection. 10,000 kilometers away in Brazil, the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) kicked off at the 6 Hours of São Paulo in Interlagos, where drivers pushed themselves and their machines to the limit over a grueling six-hour race.

These two arenas could not appear more different. One is defined by silence, patience and precision. The other by speed, the roaring of engines and split-second decisions. Yet both demand the same qualities, with victory often decided by the smallest of margins. Preparation, trust, teamwork and the ability to perform under pressure become key.

For Genesis Magma Racing drivers and avid golf players, Jamie Chadwick and Dani Juncadella, the similarities transcending these sports are a lived reality. Despite competing in one of the world's most demanding motorsport categories, both recognize aspects of their profession in the game of golf.

The Art of Performing Under Pressure

Chadwick feels the mental challenge is where the sports align most closely. Beyond physical stamina, the ultimate battleground in elite sports is often fought in the mind. Success in endurance racing and a multi-day golf tournament rely on the exact same psychological edge.

“Both golf and motorsport test composure under pressure like few other disciplines,” says Chadwick. “At the highest level, it’s about how you respond in those moments. Both in golf and racing, you don’t have time to dwell on mistakes, so maintaining a strong, strategic mindset is everything.”

She explains, “[For both sports], the margin for error is miniscule. A fraction too much force, a slightly misjudged line or a lapse in concentration can change the outcome completely.”

Genesis Magma Racing team member Juncadella agrees. “It is easy to underestimate how similar the mental demands are. In racing, everything happens at speed, but the discipline is the same as golf: you’re constantly refining your technique to achieve control under pressure.

“In endurance racing, physical conditioning and mental stability are critical to performing at the highest level, much like golf, particularly across a four-day tournament such as the Genesis Scottish Open.”

It Takes a Village

The foundation of high performance is a shared culture of trust. While the spotlight often shines on the driver behind the wheel or the golfer on the green, the road to the podium is paved by a collective effort.

Juncadella is quick to share a perspective shaped by personal experience. “While both motorsport and golf often highlight individual performance, success in each relies heavily on the team behind it,” he says. “In motorsport, drivers are part of a much larger ecosystem with engineers, strategists, mechanics all working together towards success. Even though you’re alone in the car, it’s a team effort. You rely on engineers for feedback, strategy decisions and setup. It’s a constant dialogue.”

Chadwick shares this view, saying, “Golf is similar. The trust you have in your caddie plays a big part in success. Together, you discuss the best strategy and the next move to give yourself the best chance of succeeding. That relationship with the caddie is very similar to the one I have with the Genesis Magma Racing colleagues, analyzing everything in the garage.”

“Great performances are remembered for the moments that captivate us, but they are always built on countless moments and people that go unseen,” adds Juncadella. “Every achievement begins with a shared belief in doing things the right way, driven by common, strong values.”

Chief among these guiding principles is a steadfast commitment to character over convenience. “Integrity is the courage to stay true to your principles, especially when the pressure is greatest,” says Juncadella. “Respect is recognizing that every competitor raises the standard, and every teammate plays a vital role in the journey. Excellence is never a destination, but the relentless pursuit of becoming better, together.”

“Although golf and motorsport demand different skills, they are united by the same truth: no one succeeds alone,” says Chadwick. “Behind every precise swing and every perfectly executed lap stands a team driven by trust, dedication and a common purpose.”

Unlocking Potential Through Tech

In the modern sporting landscape, athletic intuition and raw data have become entirely inseparable. Today’s competitors no longer just train their bodies — they analyze their metrics, relying on technology to unlock margins of performance that were once invisible. As Chadwick explains, this digital evolution is reshaping how athletes prepare, compete and win.

“The role that technology plays in sport continues to grow, helping athletes refine performance. In racing, technology is part of everything we do,” she says. “From the data we analyze after every lap to the simulators we use to prepare, it helps us to refine every detail before we get to the circuit. Golf is evolving in a similar way, with players using data to better understand and improve their game.”

“In both cases, it’s about making better-informed decisions,” Juncadella elaborates. “Technology has become an essential part of performance in both sports. In motorsport, it helps us understand the car, the tires and our driving. In golf, it helps players analyze their swing and adapt to changing conditions.”

Chadwick distills the value that technology creates into two fundamental functions: “First, by providing the insights that help us to decide the next step, transforming data into knowledge, revealing opportunities for improvement and enabling smarter decisions.” This provides Genesis Magma Racing with the ability to analyze, learn and adapt — which can make the difference between a good performance and an exceptional one.

The second dimension is how technology physically enhances the user. “The most advanced solutions are created to empower individuals, to make the most of their capabilities and allow them to perform with greater confidence and precision. Technology becomes an extension of the person, helping them unlock their full potential,” says Chadwick.

“The greatest results emerge when these two dimensions come together: when knowledge gained through data is combined with technology designed to enhance human performance. By bringing together experience, talent and innovation, we create the conditions where people can achieve more than they could alone," Juncadella concludes.

When we talk about getting to the pinnacle of performance, Juncadella is clear: “We are really talking about those moments when everything comes together, the preparation, the teamwork, the technology and the ability to perform under the greatest pressure.”

Chadwick and Juncadella’s words leave a clear message: golf and motorsport require drivers, players, teams and caddies to be audacious and willing to embrace complexity in order to take on the most demanding challenges and to continuously redefine what is possible.

Whether on the fairway or the racetrack, true performance comes from the confidence to move forward, the curiosity to innovate and the determination to create new benchmarks. This is the mindset that drives Genesis — a commitment to challenge traditional conventions, inspire progress and pursue excellence in the smallest of details.

SEOUL, July 27, 2026 — Hyundai Motor Company announced today that it will provide official protocol vehicles to heads of state and delegations attending the First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026, scheduled for September 16, 2026.

The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the vehicle cooperation with the Preparatory Office for the Korea-Central Asia Summit at the Seo-hee Hall of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Seoul.

The ceremony was attended by Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Chung Eui-hae and Dong Jo Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Policy Office at Hyundai Motor Group, along with key government and company officials.

“We are honored to provide official protocol vehicles for the First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026, which marks the first-ever multilateral leaders' summit of this kind to be hosted in Korea. Based on our extensive experience in supporting major international events both domestically and abroad, we are committed to actively ensuring that this summit proceeds successfully.” – Dong Jo Kim, Senior Vice President and Head of Global Policy Office at Hyundai Motor Group

The First Korea-Central Asia Summit 2026, taking place in Seoul this year, represents the only multilateral leaders' summit to be held in Korea in 2026. The gathering will convene heads of state and senior ministerial officials from Korea and five Central Asian nations — Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan — to discuss cooperation across economic, diplomatic and trade sectors.

Hyundai Motor will provide a total of 33 Genesis G90 and G80 sedans for the duration of the Summit to transport Central Asian leaders, ministers and senior dignitaries.

The company will support the successful execution of this key diplomatic event with the Genesis luxury brand while showcasing the sophistication and quality recognized globally by markets.

What Major International Events Has Hyundai Motor Supported?

Hyundai Motor has consistently supported major international events with operational vehicles. The company's portfolio includes:

• APEC 2025 KOREA in Gyeongju, Korea

• 2025 G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa

• 2026 ASEAN Summit in the Philippines in November 2026 (Upcoming)

This extensive experience in managing vehicle logistics for world-class diplomatic events positions Hyundai Motor as a trusted partner for ensuring seamless operations.

LONDON, July 20, 2026 — Genesis Motor UK has officially opened its first dedicated dealership in the U.K. marking a key chapter in the implementation of its retail network and the brand’s regional expansion. The new dealership, operated in partnership with leading automotive retailer Arnold Clark, represents a major step forward in bringing the Genesis experience to a wider customer base.

The opening further strengthens Genesis’ commitment to building an experienced and reputable sales and service network across Europe. The new dealership complements the existing network of Genesis Studios within the U.K. — including Edinburgh — and the carefully curated brand space offers customers a firsthand, immersive experience of the latest Genesis model range including the brands latest high-performance icon, GV60 Magma.

Located at Alexandra Parade, Glasgow, the new Genesis retailer offers a high-end brand experience within an established automotive setting. The facility spans over 238 square meters and showcases the full Genesis lineup, set within an expansive glass-fronted facility that fully depicts the essence of Genesis brand.

The space has been thoughtfully designed to prioritize customer comfort and personalization and features a dedicated customer lounge area that reflects Genesis’ commitment to hospitality, “Son-nim”. The attention to detail and material choice sits in perfect harmony with the Genesis lineup on show, where craftmanship and pioneering technologies can be explored.

As a highly respected automotive retail group, Arnold Clark is recognized for offering a customer-centric approach that aligns with Genesis. Their track record has been proven through multiple domestic and European awards recognitions, and combines a strong existing partnership with Hyundai, making Arnold Clark a natural choice for Genesis’ first dealership in the UK.

Ben Sargeant, Director of Genesis and Customer Strategy at Genesis Motor UK, said: “We are proud to open our first dealership in the U.K. and this milestone marks a concrete step in the rollout of our dealer business model. It lays the foundation of a robust network in the region, providing enhanced brand visibility and customer touchpoints with Genesis brand and our exemplary range”.

Russell Borrie, Chief Executive Officer at Arnold Clark, said: "We're delighted to open Scotland's Genesis Glasgow showroom and bring this exciting luxury brand to customers across the country.

“The new showroom has been designed to reflect Genesis' premium customer experience, giving visitors the opportunity to explore the range in a relaxed and welcoming environment while receiving expert guidance from our dedicated Genesis team. We look forward to introducing even more customers to everything Genesis has to offer.”

By combining a premium retail environment with trusted local expertise, Genesis continues to redefine the premium automotive experience and elevate its expanding brand presence across the U.K., with more retailers set to open shortly.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, July 18, 2026 — Genesis Middle East & Africa today announced the signing of a strategic partnership agreement with Alpha Hyundai Motor, establishing the company as the official Genesis distributor in Tunisia and paving the way for the brand’s market launch in Tunisia in Q3 2026. The agreement marks a significant milestone in Genesis' continued expansion across the Middle East and Africa region and lays the foundation for introducing Genesis' distinctive vision of modern luxury, design excellence and customer-centric experiences to Tunisian customers.

The introduction of Genesis to Tunisia represents an significant step in the marque's regional growth strategy. Inspired by the brand's Korean philosophy of “Son-nim,” meaning honored guest, Genesis combines design, innovation and hospitality to deliver a distinctive approach to modern luxury.

Through Alpha Hyundai Motor, Genesis will open a dedicated showroom in Tunis and introduce an initial lineup comprising the Electrified G80, Electrified GV70, GV80 and GV80 Coupe. Reflecting Genesis' customer-first philosophy, the showroom will provide an elevated ownership experience through personalized consultations, immersive brand experiences and premium customer care. Additional electrified models are expected to follow as part of the brand's phased market introduction.

Commenting on Genesis' entry into Tunisia and the partnership with Alpha Hyundai Motor, Omar Al Zubaidi, CEO of Genesis Middle East & Africa, said: "Tunisia represents an important market for Genesis and a natural step in our continued growth across the MEA region. Through our partnership with Alpha Hyundai Motor, we look forward to introducing Tunisian customers to Genesis' distinctive vision of modern luxury and delivering the exceptional products, services and ownership experiences that define our brand."

Mehdi Mahjoub, CEO of Alpha Hyundai Motor, said: "Today marks a significant milestone for Alpha Hyundai Motor in Tunisia. We are proud to introduce Genesis vehicles that redefine modern luxury through a unique blend of innovative technology, refined craftsmanship and exceptional customer experiences. With the opening of our dedicated Genesis showroom, we look forward to welcoming Tunisian customers into the Genesis universe and setting new benchmarks in the premium automotive segment."

Delivering a Customer-Centric Experience

Through Alpha Hyundai Motor, Genesis will offer customers a premium ownership journey supported by personalized consultations, dedicated aftersales care and immersive brand experiences. Future initiatives will include curated customer events and additional touchpoints designed to strengthen the brand’s connection with customers in Tunisia.

The partnership between Genesis and Alpha Hyundai Motor lays the foundation for a long-term presence in Tunisia and reflects both organizations’ confidence in the country's evolving luxury automotive landscape. Together, they aim to build strong customer relationships, establish trust in the market and create a unique ownership experience that supports sustainable growth for years to come.

As Genesis continues to expand its footprint across the region, the brand remains focused on delivering exceptional products, elevated experiences and meaningful customer relationships. The introduction of Genesis to Tunisia represents the beginning of an exciting journey that will further strengthen the brand's position as a modern luxury automotive leader across the MEA region.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 16, 2026 — From course to screen, Genesis serves as the official U.S. auto partner for Netflix’s “The Hawk,” streaming July 16 only on Netflix and starring Will Ferrell as Lonnie Hawkins, who is making his journey back to the PGA TOUR. As part of the partnership, Genesis vehicles are featured in the series and custom pieces of content highlight the 2027 Genesis GV80, a vehicle that welcomes Lonnie Hawkins’ son, Lance, played by Jimmy Tatro, to "Serenity On Wheels."

“At Genesis, our passion for golf runs deep — it’s a game that reflects many of the values we hold as a brand, including precision and the relentless pursuit of excellence,” said Amy Marentic, chief marketing officer of Genesis Motor America. “Through our sponsorship of world-class tournaments like the Genesis Invitational and Presidents Cup, we connect with fans in a meaningful way by celebrating a shared love for the game. Our partnership with ‘The Hawk’ represents a further opportunity to connect with fans and grow brand awareness while building lasting emotional connections with golf audiences around the world.”

Building on its established presence in the golf community, including title sponsor of The Genesis Invitational and official automotive and mobility partner of the PGA TOUR, the brand’s inclusion in “The Hawk” reflects a consistent connection to the sport and the type of deeper brand integrations it continues to build.

Episode 6 features a dedicated storyline centered on The Genesis Invitational tournament with scenes that include branded set elements and tournament signage, along with verbal mentions during the broadcast. Genesis vehicles are also integrated throughout the episode, appearing on display across key tournament moments.

“My character in The Hawk, Lance, is sponsored by Genesis, and I genuinely love the GV80,” said Jimmy Tatro. “So, the whole partnership felt very natural, almost like an extension of the show.”

“Working with Genesis to unlock a new creative point of view for the brand was a really fun project to partner on. We even got Will Ferrell and his team involved in the creative process,” said Magno Herran, Vice President of Global Brand and Partner Marketing, Netflix. “At the end of the day, I love seeing a brand push beyond its usual comfort levels to play in the world of entertainment, and Genesis saw value in partnering with Netflix to attract new brand fans.”

Genesis’ involvement in “The Hawk” underscores a shift toward holistic marketing that blends entertainment, sport and culture through layered content and strategic integrations, creating more immersive brand experiences that extend beyond the screen and into ongoing cultural engagement.

About Netflix’s “The Hawk”

Lonnie Hawkins, (Will Ferrell) 2004’s number one golfer, struggles on the back nine of his career to recapture his magic. His body says retire, but his heart says he’s not done yet. His ex-wife and his son Lance, golf’s new golden boy, know he’s through. But with one more major to win to complete golf’s Grand Slam, Lonnie refuses to believe he’s anything other than one stroke away from the greatest comeback in golf history.

“The Hawk” premieres on July 16, only on Netflix.

The comprehensive partnership was in coordination between Genesis' media agency Canvas Worldwide, Netflix's in-house Brand Creative Studio and INNOCEAN USA.

For more information on Genesis and its entire lineup of vehicles, visit www.genesis.com.

FRANKFURT, Germany, July 16, 2026 —Genesis’ first all-electric high-performance car, GV60 Magma, has joined the enhanced Genesis G70 sporty saloon, expanding the brand’s successful Nordschleife Track Taxi program.

The public will be able to experience the thrilling performance of the new Genesis GV60 Magma before it officially arrives on the road in Europe later this year.

Launched in 2024, the Track Taxi program offers passenger rides around one of the world’s most famous and technically demanding racetracks. Germany’s Nürburgring is 20.832 kilometers long, with 73 complex corners and a constantly changing road surface.

Peter Kronschnabl, Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe, said, “The launch of Track Taxi Nordschleife in 2024 was an important milestone in our brand journey. Introducing GV60 Magma to the program is the next chapter in our growth strategy as we continue to invest across Europe. Now, fans and customers can experience the emotion and precision of Genesis’ exceptional all-electric performance on one of the world’s most demanding racetracks.”

Since the program’s inception, nearly 3,000 Genesis guests have been driven around the Nürburgring in one of two modified G70 cars; the saloon was chosen as the first Track Taxi for its dynamic drivability and performance personality. With a professional Genesis driver at the wheel, passengers experienced the sporty saloon’s 272-kilowatt, 510-newton-meter 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6 and thrilling 5.4-second 0–100 kilometer-per-hour acceleration.

In total, the two G70 cars — which will continue to be used alongside GV60 Magma — have completed 1,300 laps of the racetrack, equivalent to 27,081.6 kilometers, using more than 180 sets of tires. The duo, chosen for the program due to their dynamic drivability and performance personality combined with excellent track composure and passenger comfort, are a compelling demonstration of robust engineering, outstanding build quality and long-term reliability.

Now, guests can also enjoy a new all-electric Track Taxi Nordschleife experience in the GV60 Magma. Featuring two enhanced electric motors – one per axle – that each spin to over 20,000 rotations per minute, and an all-wheel drive configuration, the performance SUV has a powerful output of 478 kilowatts and 790 newton-meters. 

With Boost Mode activated, the GV60 Magma can accelerate from 0-100 kilometers per hour in just 3.4 seconds, reaching 200 kilometers per hour in only 10.9 seconds. Top speed is achieved at 265 kilometers per hour. 

To manage this impressive performance, the GV60 Magma is equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport S 5 tires and a unique braking system that is equal to the demands of its high-output powertrain. It combines performance-optimized regenerative braking control with large 400-millimeter disc brakes, monoblock calipers and an Anti-lock Brake System to produce enough stopping power to bring the car to a halt from 100 kilometers per hour in just 33.8 meters. 

Key to the GV60 Magma’s dynamic character is a state-of-the-art torque vectoring system, which has been designed to ensure the car’s movements remain predictable and intuitively controllable, even under the extreme driving conditions of the Nordschleife.

Additionally, an electronic Limited-Slip Differential will work alongside the torque vectoring system to actively distribute torque between the front and rear motors to reduce understeer and oversteer, important when tackling the Green Hell.

To add to the experience, the GV60 Magma has a specifically developed electric Active Sound Design system that delivers a lifelike and authentic engine tone. Front-seat passengers will also experience Genesis’ new 10-way bucket seat, unique to GV60 Magma, which has been designed for improved support and comfort during high-performance driving.

Online bookings for the Genesis Track Taxi Nordschleife with GV60 Magma are now open at tracktaxi-nordschleife.genesis.com. Register your interest in the GV60 Magma here.

SEOUL, July 14, 2026— Genesis has taken home two wins for its X Skorpio Concept and Magma GT Concept in the Cars and Motorcycles category in the Design Concept discipline at the 2026 Red Dot Awards. The double recognition once again proves the innovative luxury marque’s world-class design competitiveness against globally established legacy luxury brands.

This marks Genesis’ third Red Dot Award this year, after securing an earlier win in the same category with its first luxury high performance vehicle, the GV60 Magma.

Genesis X Skorpio Concept: Fearless Exploration Meets Extreme Off-Roading

Revealed globally earlier this year in the Rub’ al Khali “Empty Quarter” desert in the UAE, the X Skorpio Concept is Genesis' first extreme off-road vehicle. Inspired by the poised stance of a black scorpion, the concept is purpose-built to conquer demanding terrains without sacrificing the brand's luxurious identity.

The vehicle pushes the boundaries of off-road capability, featuring an integrated tubular frame with a full roll cage, and a body constructed from a lightweight, durable mix of fiberglass, carbon-fiber, and Kevlar. It is powered by a high-performance V8 engine delivering 1,115 PS (1,100 horsepower) and 117.6 kilogram-force meters (850 pound-feet of torque), grounded by 40-inch custom off-road tires on 18-inch beadlock wheels. The exterior pairs defensive, armor-like panels inspired by its namesake with Genesis’ signature Two-Line design, while the cabin redefines off-road luxury with ergonomic performance seating and a unique sliding cockpit display that adapts to both solo and co-pilot off-road navigation.

Genesis Magma GT Concept: A New Era of Luxury High Performance

Unveiled in its evolved form at the 2026 24 Hours of Le Mans, the Genesis Magma GT Concept represents the pinnacle of the brand’s high-performance ambitions and a clear vision for its next decade of motorsport-inspired luxury. Conceived as a two-passenger luxury grand tourer, the concept blends athleticism and elegance through a low-slung, race-ready silhouette, wide muscular fenders, and dynamic mid-engine proportions that optimize aerodynamic efficiency.

Acting as a bridge between open-road luxury and closed-track capability, the Magma GT prioritizes a tactile, driver-centric experience over purely digital interfaces. This philosophy comes to life in the twin-cockpit interior, which celebrates analogue drama through an exposed mechanical shift gate, premium materials, and an instrument cluster inspired by motorsport timekeeping. It stands as a true halo model for the brand, perfectly translating Genesis' "Athletic Elegance" design philosophy into its high-performance Magma program.

“We feel a tremendous sense of honor to receive acknowledgment from the 2026 Red Dot Awards for these significant vehicles and innovations,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Genesis Global Design. “This recognition serves as a testament to the exceptional dedication exhibited by our team of visionary designers, who poured their unwavering passion and commitment into this project, alongside our collaborative engineers at the R&D center. It highlights the remarkable competitiveness of Genesis’ design identity within the global market.”

As one of the world's most distinguished design competitions, the Red Dot Design Award is acclaimed as a hallmark of design excellence. The Design Concept discipline honors cutting-edge and innovative design concepts and varying stages of product development each year. This year, the bold and forward-looking designs of two distinct Genesis concept cars stood out in the highly competitive Cars and Motorcycles category to take home the win.

PARIS, July 13, 2026 — Hyundai Motor Group continued its support for global arts and culture by officially sponsoring the second Sumi Jo International Singing Competition. The event, aimed at discovering the next generation of opera stars, took place from July 6–11 at the historic Château de La Ferté-Imbault in the Loire Valley, France.

Founded by world-renowned soprano Sumi Jo in 2024, the competition aims to discover and nurture emerging vocal artists aged 18-32. This year’s edition attracted greater global interest in the classical music world, drawing over 500 aspiring singers from 55 countries.

The Group participated as official sponsor for the second edition, continuing its support from the inaugural competition. As 2026 marks the 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations, its sponsorship contributed to nurturing artistic talent and promoting classical music culture while advancing cultural exchange between the two nations.

"We hosted this international competition to discover and support artists with a global vision to make the world a better place through music. I am proud and grateful to join hands with Hyundai Motor Group. We hope this collaborative relationship will continue for many years to come," said Sumi Jo, soprano and founder of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition.

Who Judged the Competition?

The jury for this year’s edition was composed of leading figures from the classical music world, providing a vital link between the next generation of vocalists and the established music community. Esteemed judges included Sumi Jo; Olivier O. Medinger, jury president and owner of Château de La Ferté-Imbault; Jonathan Friend, artistic advisor to the Houston Grand Opera; Paolo Gavazzeni, casting manager for La Scala; Alain Lanceron, honorary chairman of Warner Classics and Erato; Melanie Allmendinger, artistic administrator at the Royal Opera House; and tenor Marcelo Álvarez.

How Did the Group Create Premium Brand Engagement?

To provide a premium brand experience, the Group offered on-site programs that connected Genesis with the global arts and culture community.

• Vehicle Exhibition: The Group established a dedicated exhibition space at Château de La Ferté-Imbault, showcasing Genesis Electrified GV70 and Electrified G80 models. This allowed prominent international arts and culture figures attending galas and related events to experience the Genesis brand firsthand.
  

• VIP Transportation: Genesis G90 served as the official vehicle for judges and key participants, with a dedicated chauffeur service ensuring convenience and seamless logistics throughout the competition.
  

• Customer Engagement: Hyundai Motor France, Kia France and Genesis Motor Europe invited key local customers in France to attend the event, connecting with them through the unique medium of cultural arts.

“It is particularly meaningful to continue our sponsorship of this competition in France during the significant 140th anniversary of Korea-France diplomatic relations. We will continue our sincere commitment to supporting arts and culture, contributing to the expansion of the arts and fostering cultural exchange while strengthening communication with our customers,” said Charles Fuster, Brand director of Genesis France.

How Is Genesis Expanding in Europe?

Genesis recently announced its plan to expand into Austria, Denmark, Portugal and Poland by 2027, bringing its total European footprint to 11 markets. The premium automotive brand aims to have more than 50 locations operational across Europe by 2027.

Present in France since February 2026, Genesis has opened its first two dedicated retail locations in Paris and Lille. The brand also relies on a network of 20 authorized repairers across the country to provide convenient after-sales support. In France, the Genesis electric lineup is available from €519 per month with no initial deposit for the GV60.

In France, every Genesis vehicle benefits from the Genesis Prestige program, which includes a five-year manufacturer's warranty, five years of 24/7 roadside assistance across Europe and five years of scheduled maintenance with unlimited mileage. In the event of vehicle immobilization, Genesis also provides dedicated mobility solutions and personalized customer support to deliver a premium ownership experience.

Genesis also continues to strengthen its motorsport ambitions through Genesis Magma Racing, with European operations based at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, southern France. In June, the team reached a major milestone by successfully completing the 24 Hours of Le Mans on its Hypercar debut, making Genesis the first South Korean automotive brand to both start and finish the legendary endurance race.

SAO PAULO, July 12, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing can take valuable lessons and experience from the 6 Hours of São Paulo, the first fly-away event in its debut season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Both GMR-001 Hypercars showed strong reliability to complete a race without technical issues for the first time, but penalties and small mistakes limited the results the team could achieve.

Strategy Showed Potential; Cut Short by Penalties

In a busy first stint, the difficulty of racing through traffic on the WEC calendar’s shortest track was clear. Both Genesis Magma Racing entries, started by André Lotterer and Daniel Juncadella, lost ground navigating around the GT-class runners. More costly, however, were the early penalties collected by both cars, including a drive-through for the #19, that dropped them down the order.

In response, the team chose to extend the stints of both cars. The energy advantage gained saw both cars rise up the order as they were among the last cars to pit. Lotterer briefly assumed the lead in a fleeting GMR-001 Hypercar 1-2 before pitting to complete the opening drivers’ double stints after just over two hours.

As the race ran without the interruption of anything more disruptive than a short Full Course Yellow, however, the team was never able to make the most of the good strategy despite the flawless reliability of both cars. The potential for rain, as clouds lowered around the circuit in the final two hours of the race, largely held off — even as the GMR-001 Hypercar’s Two-Line design headlights cast an increasingly prominent beam.

The #17 crew was unable to make up for the time lost in the first half of the race, despite the choice to shorten Mathys Jaubert’s second stint to install home hero Pipo Derani. Derani — the only Brazilian driver in the top class — pushed all the way to the checkered flag on his home track, though could only be rewarded with a 15th place finish.

After a strong middle stint from Mathieu Jaminet, where the #19 car again climbed as high as second, Paul-Loup Chatin took the final double stint for the trio still waiting for their first WEC points. The team’s strategy brought him to the pits for the final time with 45 minutes remaining, and though some of the teams running ahead were forced into an extra, late, stop, it was not enough to allow Chatin to gain any places from 13th.

Though the team was always aware of the challenge of the unique Interlagos track, to leave Brazil without a second haul of points is a frustrating end to the weekend. Both GMR-001 Hypercars showed strong pace during the Free Practice and Qualifying sessions, including when Mathieu Jaminet topped Friday afternoon’s FP2 before he qualified the #19 entry seventh on Saturday.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “The 6 Hours of São Paulo was quite a different race from the previous ones for us. The biggest positive was clearly the level of reliability. Getting both cars through the race without any technical issues was a main target coming here after all the data accumulated in Le Mans. It's great to see that in a limited amount of time, we've been able to react and address issues from the first part of the season. On the other side, this good reliability exposes more directly our overall performance and, unfortunately, we've seen clearly our current limitations in different aspects of our operations and package. The positive is that we accumulated more data on a very specific track, with lots of opportunities to learn and build upon for what's coming next. If we can carry this reliability, then the next focus will be on cleaner race execution so that we can start climbing up into the classification.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “We cannot be happy about the race result. There were small mistakes that came from the team and drivers cost us some penalties during the race. But there are some big positives. The car was reliable from the first corner until the end. No problem coming from chassis, engine or systems. That's very good. It's the first time that we haven’t faced a problem with reliability. This track is unique and we don't have any data from previous years, and we never tested on this track. That has probably cost us some performance, because our pace was a little bit up and down. To finish out of the point is a shame after a very good Qualifying and Free Practice, but we need to learn from mistakes and keep improving race by race, session by session.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “It was a difficult race. Interlagos is a tight circuit, and we saw a lot of contact and penalties throughout the field, and we weren't immune to that. Despite the result, it was another important step forward for us. For the first time, both cars completed the race without going into the garage, and that's a significant milestone for the team. Everything we focused on worked as expected, particularly in terms of reliability and reacting better to changing conditions. We still have work to do, but we're continuing to move in the right direction. Of course, we wanted to finish in the top 10 and add to the points we scored earlier this season, but that will have to wait until Austin.”

Anouck Abadie, Genesis Magma Racing Team Manager, said: "This is the first time that both cars have finished without any major issues, so that's a big first step. We can be happy about that. Weekend after weekend, we keep taking positives away. We learn a lot every race, and that's really important for the future. I think we've shown that both the team and the car are capable of delivering. We've improved the reliability of the car, which is a very good step forward, and as a team we've proved that we can do it while continuing to learn. Of course, it's not the result we were hoping for, but from our own perspective it's already a positive outcome. We'll use the summer break to train, come back stronger in Austin, and see if we can improve again."

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

André Lotterer said: “It was a tough day because we were actually doing well. We were in the mix, but it was just one of those races with too many little issues. It was one of those days where we could have achieved more. The car felt good, but there are still a few things we need to understand. I also got a penalty after racing aggressively with the Toyota, but that was just one of several issues. Some of them were self-inflicted, but the potential of the GMR-001 Hypercar was good. The positive is that both cars finished reliably. Now we just need to look at the issues, learn from them, and come back stronger. Still, I had fun in the car. It’s all part of our journey. Sometimes you don’t have a perfect day, but we keep learning and moving forward.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “So, the race is done here at the 6 Hours of São Paulo. Overall, it was another weekend where we learned a lot as a team. Once again, it showed that the car is very strong over one lap, but we still have a lot of work to do over long stints and in race conditions. Overall, we expected to score points, and that was the target. We didn’t achieve that, but we still finished the race without any issues with both cars, which was another big target for the weekend. We had a few penalties and an issue with one tire, but overall it was a productive weekend. Now the focus shifts to the next step, with the test in Austin followed by the race there.”

Pipo Derani said: “It was nice to be back at home driving at Interlagos. It’s a privilege to drive in front of my home crowd. And the whole energy that the Brazilian people bring, it's amazing. Unfortunately, we couldn't give them a better result. We were a bit out of the race for my stints with everything that had happened up until then. Nevertheless, we were trying to bring the car home with no issues, which is a big step for the team, and I got to have fun in the last two stints. It was a good team effort. I'm looking forward to coming back here next year. We learned a lot this weekend. We showed some promise, but we have things to learn still. That's part of the game. And the positive is that I got to drive at home.”

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Dani Juncadella said: “Obviously, it was a disappointing result. My stint was probably about the wildest two hours I’ve ever had in a race car. I had a really good start and made a few positions, but we kept finding ourselves in the wrong place at the beginning of the race in traffic, and then we received a penalty for a Full Course Yellow infringement, which dropped us even further back. I also had contact with an amateur Ferrari that was completely lost, and that really killed our chances today. Unfortunately, all of that put us a lap down, and we stayed there for pretty much the rest of the race. From then onwards, the final four hours were actually quite okay, but we had simply lost too much time earlier in the race to recover.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “Finishing P13 is not ideal when you’re starting from P7, but it’s only our fourth race, so I’m not too disappointed. It was one of those days. We had a few issues here and there, and there are a lot of things to improve. We made a few mistakes as a team, and it shows just how competitive this championship is. I feel this is a race where we have a lot to learn. There’s plenty to analyze and a lot of data to go through. It’s only our fourth race, so at the end of the day I’m not too disappointed. There are a lot of lessons to take away from both cars, in the way we approached the race and how we operated throughout the weekend. It’s all part of the process. We keep learning, we keep growing, and we’ll come back fighting stronger next time.”

Paul-Loup Chatin said: "It was a difficult race, honestly. We decided to double-stint the tires to try and gain track position, but the grip was really poor and I was never able to switch the tires on. The conditions were tricky. There was a lot of drizzle, but the track remained dry, which made it difficult to find the right balance. I tried a lot of different things, but in the end we learned a lot today. Now we need to understand what happened and come back stronger. There are still plenty of positives to take away. Overall, we've shown that the car has strong reliability and performance, but we were missing some pace in the race. We'll analyze why, learn from it and come back stronger in Austin."

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland, July 12, 2026 — Tom Kim claimed victory at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open after finishing 17 under-par at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland. The South Korean finished 2 shots ahead of his nearest challengers, Min Woo Lee and Robert MacIntyre, earning the winner’s prize of $1,575,000 and a GV60 Magma. During the prize giving ceremony Global Head of Genesis, Sean Lee, and President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Xavier Martinet handed over the trophy and the GV60 Magma key to Tom Kim.

Tom Kim delivered a spectacular bogey-free final round of 64 (-6) to claim the Genesis Scottish Open title and return to the winner’s circle. His remarkable comeback showcased resilience, determination, and the ability to overcome challenges at the highest level of the game.

"This is where it all started for me," said Tom Kim. "(…) To come back and finally win here, and not only that, to win on a Genesis [-sponsored] event is so cool for me."
The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open featured an impressive prize purse of $9 million USD and a field of world-class golfers – with 15 of the world’s top 20 ranked players taking part. This year also introduced expanded hole-in-one prizes across the 15th and 17th holes for players, caddies and fans.

As the leading Scottish golfer, Robert MacIntyre was awarded the Jock MacVicar Association of Golf Writers Memorial Award with a score of 13 under par.


This year’s Genesis Scottish Open featured an immersive Fan Zone with a new Genesis Public Lounge, a new Driving Range Gallery and a dedicated Family Zone overlooking the 15th ‘Thistle’ hole, enriching the experience for all ages. The tournament welcomed a record 91,128 visitors, demonstrating the growing interest in golf and the sport’s increasing popularity.

A fleet of 135 Genesis cars provided a seamless chauffeuring service for players, officials and partners throughout the week. Spectators also had the opportunity to explore 14 Genesis models displayed around the course, showcasing the brand’s distinctive “Athletic-Elegance” design, advanced technology features and taking the “Son-nim” experience to spectators and players closer than ever before.

Box Buggy Concept on the Green

The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open also saw the arrival of the Genesis Box Buggy Concept, a high-tech mobility solution designed for short distance journeys within closed environments, bringing together advanced technology, premium design, and the brand’s signature approach to hospitality.


First seen during this year’s 24 Hours of Le Mans, the concept has been developed alongside Hyundai Mobis, Hyundai Motor Group’s parts and technology arm, to create a design that seamlessly blends innovation, usability, and emotional appeal. Serving as a technology demonstrator that bridges the automotive and robotics expertise of the Hyundai Motor Group, the Box Buggy Concept showcases next-generation mobility technologies in a premium leisure setting.

The concept presents a distinctive and contemporary aesthetic, combining a robust, integrated safety-frame with large wheels, which is complemented by its Atlantic Blue Matte exterior. Optional lateral sun and wind screens integrated into the A- and B-pillars enhance passenger comfort in varying weather conditions. A continuous horizontal light signature at the front adds a modern, technological expression, contrasting with the warmth of the interior textiles.


The Genesis Box Buggy Concept is powered by independent drive motors on all four wheels, combined with advanced four-wheel steering and steer-, brake-, and drive-by-wire technologies to offer extraordinary maneuverability.

Genesis’ Continued Commitment to Golf

Genesis has a multi-year agreement with DP World Tour and PGA TOUR to continue as title partner of the Genesis Scottish Open through 2030, demonstrating the brand’s commitment to Scotland’s historic national open alongside other leading tournament such as the Genesis Invitational and TGL.


Genesis extensive golf partnerships in Europe will continue with the Deutsche Golf Liga Final Four from 1 to 2 August at Golfclub München-Riedhof. Also, the amateur league Genesis European Golf Cup will return with even more fixtures across Europe in Spring next year, ahead of the 2027 Genesis Scottish Open.


For more information about Genesis, please visit: www.genesis.com

The race in Interlagos is the next crucial step for Korean manufacturer Genesis in developing its Hypercar program. For Brazilian GMR driver Luis “Pipo” Derani, it means something a bit more personal — bringing his new team to his own backyard and fulfilling a very delayed dream. After all, this is where a young Derani won the São Paulo Junior Menor Championship in 2005, when he was just 12 years old. But an unexpected career trajectory kept him from his home turf for most of his racing life.

A Detour Through America

Already a strong driver from his previous experience in other European series, Derani was picked up to drive in the LMP2 class at the tail end of the European Le Mans Series (ELMS) in 2014. He was later recruited for the FIA WEC 2015 season, taking home a win and seven podium finishes in the LMP2 class that year.

“I raced in the WEC in 2015-2016. 2015 was the first year that Interlagos was off the calendar, so it was a shame. Then my career took me to the United States and I spent most of my racing days there,” said Derani.

Derani did well in the U.S., racking up experience in the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA) SportsCar Championship. He won the 24 Hours of Daytona, coming first in the Prototype Class, in 2017 when he was just 24. After a few years of consistent podium finishes, he won the 2021 IMSA SportsCar Championship DPi Class with four wins and eight podiums. He switched classes and won again in 2023 in the IMSA SportsCar Championship GTP Class, securing a win and three podiums. Most recently in 2025 he replicated his 2023 IMSA win and also won the 12 Hours of Sebring GTP class.

“I spent many years in the United States racing in the Hypercar category, which is called GTP there,” said Derani. “I felt that I had successfully achieved everything I wanted to accomplish in the United States, like the wins in Daytona and Sebring.”

The Grand Touring Prototype (GTP) was introduced to IMSA in 2023, while Hypercar officially replaced the older LMP1 category at FIA WEC in 2021 as the top-tier prototype class.

The Genesis of a New Era

“Then I decided to take a new turn for my career, to return to Europe to compete in WEC with Genesis, which is a new team,” Derani said. “I wanted to go back to WEC and build a career at least for a few years to try to win another world championship. I felt that was my next objective.”

Derani made this decision in 2024, the same year Interlagos returned to the FIA WEC rotation.

“We started the project at the end of 2024, where I was announced alongside André Lotterer,” Derani said. “At that moment we had no engineers on the team, so we really started from scratch. Today we are here at Interlagos in our fourth race after a year and a half of development, seeing the team grow from two members to over 100."

Derani has already made his mark on Genesis Magma Racing’s debut WEC season. He brought the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar over the finish line at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, scoring the team’s first points. The team made the decision to pit and switch drivers during a Virtual Safety Car period near the end of the race. He was able to move up to eighth and defend his position through the closing stages against drivers with newer tires, holding on till the checkered flag.

Establishing the Groundwork

Interlagos presents a distinct set of demands. As one of the few counterclockwise circuits on the WEC calendar, its layout is notoriously taxing on drivers' neck muscles, while its significant elevation changes require a highly versatile car setup. Additionally, São Paulo's intense heat adds a layer of physical and mechanical endurance that cannot be overlooked. Even though it is technically a home race for Derani, the track's unique characteristics present a very different environment than what he and the team typically encounter.

“Interlagos will be the first race of what we call the second half of the championship, and has been a great learning process for us,” explained Derani. “In the second half of the year we’ll try to apply everything we’ve learned into practice and improve. I think we have a chance to show a good performance here at home. But we’re still learning. There will still be many things that we’ll look back on someday and say we could have done it better. There will be other areas where we’ll be surprised by what we’ll show. I hope to be more surprised than disappointed this weekend.”

As Genesis Magma Racing makes its debut at Interlagos, the absence of historical track data transforms this race weekend into an invaluable learning opportunity. Every lap will yield fresh insights that will help build the team’s technical foundation and provide a performance benchmark for future races.

“Being able to race at home again, at Interlagos, which I’ve only done before in Formula 3, the winter championship, will be very cool,” Derani said. “To be able to race in front of our public, in a world championship in the main category, will be extraordinary.”

A Paulista’s Homecoming

Coming off the intense, monthlong buildup to Le Mans, the São Paulo round arrives at the perfect time. The transition from the 13.626-kilometer, 24-hour, clockwise track in France to the much shorter and hotter 4.309-kilometer counterclockwise Interlagos offers a refreshing strategy reset.

For Derani, this means that he can share the thrill of motorsport and the progress of the Genesis Magma Racing program at the doorstep of long-time friends, family and local supporters who have followed his career since his karting days.

“It is a great pleasure for me to return to Brazil. Finally being able to return to WEC and race at home is a dream come true,” said Derani, sharing his excitement.

“I’ve had the great privilege of being part of this team from the beginning. Joining a team that is already running is one thing; you have to integrate yourself into it. But being part of and shaping a team from the beginning is a whole other thing. It is a large, long-term project that we hope will bear much fruit in the near future.”

NORTH BERWICK, Scotland, July 9, 2026 — The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open begins today at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick, Scotland, running until July 12. Now in its fifth year with Genesis, the tournament brings together world-class golfers in a prestigious competition with the brand’s distinctive “Son-nim” philosophy of treating visitors and fans as honored guests. As a key fixture in the PGA TOUR and DP World Tour, Genesis has renewed its title partnership through to 2030, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the sport.

A 156-strong player field will compete at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open, led by defending champion Chris Gotterup, world number one Scottie Scheffler and 2023 winner Rory McIlroy. This year’s competition sees 15 of the top 20 ranked players in the world taking on the challenging links course. Other leading players include 2024 Genesis Scottish Open hometown winner Robert MacIntyre, Xander Schauffele, Tommy Fleetwood, Ludvig Åberg, Matt Fitzpatrick, Jon Rahm and Wyndham Clark.

Alongside a share of the $9 million prize pool, this year’s tournament champion will also drive away in a Genesis GV60 Magma, the luxury high-performance SUV that marks the debut production vehicle of Genesis’ Magma Program performance lineup.

Sean Lee, Global Head of Genesis, commented:

“This year’s Genesis Scottish Open has been elevated across every aspect of the tournament experience, ensuring that players and fans from around the world can enjoy Genesis’ distinctive hospitality and premium brand experiences. In particular, the reconfiguration of the hole sequence at The Renaissance Club is expected to heighten the drama and unpredictability of the competition through the final moments while delivering a world-class spectator experience.”

Peter Kronschnabl, Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe, said:

“We are also thrilled to have the regional winners of the Genesis European Golf Cup for customers, prospects and fans of Genesis playing the European Final at The Renaissance Club, and we wish them the very best of luck. As our brand continues its growth journey across Europe, including our planned entry into Austria, Denmark, Poland and Portugal by 2027, we look forward to welcoming even more customers and golf fans. Platforms such as the Genesis Scottish Open play an important role in bringing our brand values to life. The tournament embodies the precision, performance and pursuit of excellence that define both the sport of golf and everything we do at Genesis.”

Elevated Guest Experiences

The 2026 Genesis Scottish Open brings fans closer to the action than ever before through a series of interactive activations designed to complement the tournament’s electric atmosphere.

Returning as one of the event’s signature experiences, the “Thistle” will sit at the heart of the fan experience at the 15th hole as part of the newly rerouted course. This new location will heighten the thrill for spectators and fans alike, with both Genesis’ Hole-in-One competitions now located in the crucial end stages of the course at the 15th and 17th holes.

A hole-in-one on the 17th will see the player awarded an Electrified GV70, with their caddie winning a GV60. On the 15th, the player will win a Genesis GV60 and, if a fan correctly predicts the player who aces it, the fan will win a VIP experience at the Genesis Championship in Korea, including travel and accommodation. Fans watching at home can also take part in the competition by entering online here.

Regional winners of the Genesis European Golf Cup competition from France, Germany, Italy and the U.K. will compete in the European Final during the Am-Am program alongside Genesis customers and guests. This offers an exclusive opportunity to play on the championship course and enjoy a hosted evening at the Genesis Studio in Edinburgh in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Tom Kitchin.

Extending his collaboration with Genesis, Kitchin will also curate a selection of Korean-inspired culinary highlights for guests invited to the Genesis Lounge hospitality area, showcasing the creativity of the local Michelin-starred chef.

Immersive Fan Zone Highlights

The Fan Zone at the 2026 Genesis Scottish Open has been redefined to deliver a truly memorable experience for attendees of all ages, reflecting Genesis’ commitment to engaging activations:

• Genesis Public Lounge: Located this year on the 15th hole, the Lounge offers a welcoming environment for fans to enjoy the premium amenities on offer. Genesis’ full U.K. model lineup, the 1:2 scale GMR-001 Hypercar and exclusive Genesis golf and Magma merchandise will all be on display. Event attendees can also try their hand at the virtual reality TGL golf simulator.

• Driving Range Gallery: New for 2026, the Driving Range Gallery is open for guests as a dedicated spectator viewing area on the practice tee. Guests can watch the action up close while enjoying Genesis’ premium hospitality, food and beverages. 

• Dedicated Family Zone: A family-friendly space with a prime view of the 15th hole, the family zone brings young fans closer to the excitement of live tournament action. This initiative reflects Genesis’ commitment to making golf more inclusive and accessible, fostering a passion for the sport among the next generation of players and fans.

• Postcards from the Green: A unique way for fans to connect with the tournament, guests are invited to write personalized postcards to players, caddies or loved ones. 

At this year’s Genesis Scottish Open, the brand is further enhancing the tournament environment in several ways. It is offering its distinctive Korean hospitality in the Players and Caddies café. It is also offering interesting fan experiences including the new Pro-Am “Family Day” and the Genesis Box Buggy Concept, a high-tech short-distance hospitality and leisure mobility concept that will be present throughout the weekend.

Genesis’ Continued Commitment to Golf

Furthermore, Genesis supports golf at every level — from world-class professional competitions such as The Genesis Invitational and Presidents Cup to grassroots and club golf initiatives, including the Deutsche Golf Liga and the Genesis European Golf Cup. The commitment in the European region continues with the Deutsche Golf Liga Final Four on Aug. 1 at Golfclub München-Riedhof near Munich, Germany, and the return of the Genesis European Golf Cup next spring, bringing together participants from multiple European markets.

The brand’s signature Son-nim approach honors the sport, players and fans across all tournaments and reinforces its role in shaping the future of golf through innovation, hospitality and global partnership.

To the uninitiated, it may seem like a celebration of victory at the world’s most legendary race. The #19 Hypercar had actually finished in 13^th place. But for a debutant team surviving their first brutal 24-hour endurance test, finishing 13^th felt exactly like a win.

The #19 car had to be restarted three times during the 24-hour marathon, nevertheless it survived the demands of the ultimate endurance race. Genesis Magma Racing, a brand-new team in its inaugural year, had done something no other Korean manufacturer had ever done: raced the 24 Hours of Le Mans and finished.

Motorsport’s Most Hallowed Ground

Le Mans is the oldest continuously run motorsport event in the world, with its first race held in 1923. Among all global motorsport events, its legend is comparable only to the Monaco Grand Prix and the Indianapolis 500 in history, prestige and significance.

The race has elevated manufacturers and humbled others into obscurity. In its 100-year history, Le Mans was not held only twice: during a nationwide French labor strike in 1936 and during World War II, from 1940 to 1948. The race has evolved from a proving ground for production cars into the pinnacle of endurance racing, where the latest automotive technology — hybrid engines, direct-injection diesel powerplants and advanced materials — is pushed to its absolute limits.

Unlike modern closed racing tracks with uniform safety barriers and standardized features, the Circuit de la Sarthe is semi-permanent and untamed. It winds through the French countryside, connecting through the small city of Le Mans itself. At 13.626 kilometers, it is nearly three times longer than a standard racing circuit. Each corner of the track, named and famous on its own, demands unique approaches. Arnage is one of the most demanding corners on any track, a high-speed left-hander requiring absolute commitment and nerves of steel. Other turns like Porsche Curves, Indianapolis Turn and Mulsanne Corner each demand different skills, different levels of bravery and different calculations of risk.

The sheer length of the circuit creates unique logistical challenges, requiring three safety cars to be deployed across different sections to manage up to 62 simultaneously competing vehicles. Long periods of each lap are run at full throttle, placing an immense burden on engines and drivetrains that must endure this punishment for 24 consecutive hours.

Le Mans demands everything — physical, mental and mechanical — from the car and the team both. For a full day and night, drivers navigate the 13.626-kilometer circuit at speed through blinding daylight, pitch-black darkness, unpredictable weather, mechanical failures and exhaustion. Seventy percent of each lap is run at full throttle, with drivers making 78 gear shifts per lap on average, placing a load on each component beyond any other automotive environment. Teams must manage fuel consumption, tire degradation, pit stop strategy, mechanical and electrical failure as well as driver fatigue. Driving time is strictly limited: no driver can pilot the car for more than four consecutive hours, and no driver can exceed 14 hours total over the 24-hour period.

The most challenging portion of the race is during the “dead zone,” between 3 a.m. and 6 a.m. Fatigue peaks, temperatures drop and potential fog, frost or sudden rain exponentially increases the risk of accidents. Because the circuit is so large, rain often only falls on some sections of the track, meaning drivers can encounter sudden downpours while running on slick tires at dawn — a situation drivers describe as pure terror. A single mistake, one curb hit at the wrong moment, one sensor malfunction, one pit stop that takes too long, one mechanical defect in an air pipe can erase months of preparation.

Fewer cars finish Le Mans than start it. Even legendary manufacturers have sent multiple cars only to watch them all retire before reaching the checkered flag. Crossing the checkered flag does not necessarily guarantee a finish either; cars must cover at least seventy percent of the winning car's distance to be classified as a finisher. Success at Le Mans is measured in survival, not just podium position.

Monsieur Le Mans

When Genesis decided to enter the world's most elite endurance series — the FIA World Endurance Championship — there was one voice they wanted in the paddock. Six-time Le Mans winner Jacky Ickx joined Genesis as Brand Partner and Racing Advisor, bringing unparalleled endurance experience and a lifetime of racing wisdom directly into the team.

Jacky Ickx is the name most synonymous with Le Mans mastery. The Belgian driver arrived at Le Mans when the race was in its infancy as a proving ground for automotive engineering. He returned again and again, and won — six times between 1969 and 1982, the first driver in history to win Le Mans that many times. He became known as “Monsieur Le Mans.”

The Ultimate Proving Ground

For Genesis, Le Mans was not just about racing — it was an audacious real-time stress test of the luxury marque’s engineering capabilities. Entering the world’s most punishing endurance arena meant going wheel-to-wheel with legacy manufacturers backed by decades of experience and data. Genesis Magma Racing were well aware of the massive operational and technical challenges ahead. Rather than chasing immediate podiums, the team set a pragmatic goal for their debut: to prove the reliability of the GMR-001 Hypercars by taking them across the finish line. At Le Mans, simply finishing is a triumph in itself.

During the qualifying session on June 10, both cars unexpectedly advanced to the Hyperpole shootout the next day. The #19 car, driven by Paul-Loup Chatin, qualified sixth on the grid. The #17 car, driven by André Lotterer, qualified ninth.

"One of the biggest highlights at Le Mans was being able to qualify both cars in the top 10 — #19 started sixth and my car started ninth," Lotterer said. "That was a very remarkable performance from the team at such an early stage of experience, knowing that we are not yet able to extract everything from the car because we are young, we are still growing, we're still learning, we're still improving our resources to develop the car more, to understand it more."

The 24-Hour Trial

The race began Friday afternoon, June 13 at 4:00 p.m., under clear skies. Both Genesis Magma Racing Hypercars started the race with strong openings and settled into steady rhythms. Around them, familiar names battled — Ferrari, BMW, Toyota, Cadillac — manufacturers with decades of Le Mans experience. For the first six hours, Genesis Magma Racing focused on executing their strategy with efficiency and reliability.

The sun set six hours into the race. The Two-Line headlamp design of both GMR-001 Hypercars made them easy to identify in the darkness. “We have very unique and special lights, which is an iconic design feature of Genesis," said Lotterer. "And to achieve that very small, minimalistic line, there was nothing on the market that could replicate that. So, we developed our own light with new manufacturers. They are very powerful and definitely a nice crossover.”

The race entered the dead zone 11 hours in, at 3 a.m. Just 17 minutes later, an LMP2 crash brought out a Full Course Yellow. Moments after that, the #19 car, driven by Chatin, lost engine power and rolled to a stop at the Arnage turn. With help only available from the team through the radio, Chatin had to restart the electronics himself. Thankfully, the car came back to life and Chatin resumed the race.

Exactly two hours later, the #19 car stopped on track again, and was restarted again. An unknown electrical issue had triggered the shutdowns.

When the #19 pitted 18 minutes later, just a half hour before sunrise, the crew plugged in cables to check the car. Not finding anything, they signaled the car to leave. The engine cut out again just then in the pits — a nerve-wracking moment for a team trying to keep their Le Mans debut alive. But the car restarted once more and again rejoined the race safely. The stop cost the team roughly five minutes, dropping the car from 12th to 15th place.

The sun rose at Hour 14. The #17 car was running smoothly. Lotterer, one of the drivers of the #17, later commented on how it feels to drive. "The feeling of the cars is really good," he said. "I am always very happy with the car balance and the feeling of the car, and it always gives us confidence that we have a good tool." The GMR-001 was strong in the corners and steady on pace, running 10th through the middle hours. Real hope emerged that both Genesis cars might make it through to the finish.

But in the final stretch, with only seven and a half hours to go, Jaubert, who had been steadily running the #17, took a curb too aggressively. The impact damaged the right front suspension. The car could not continue. After running cleanly all race, the #17 was forced to retire.

Still, the #19 remained on track. Despite mysterious electrical gremlins that had caused three restarts and a fall far down the order, it was still running, still in contention to finish. Paul-Loup Chatin took the wheel again for the final hours. The car was running 14^th and 15^th — bouncing around the order as other cars ahead suffered mechanical failures or pit stop disasters.

As the final laps approached, the order began to crystallize. The #19 was running 13th. The car had the pace to maybe climb higher, but time was running out.

Checkered Flag

After a troubled run, the #19 car finally approached the checkered flag. By the time it crossed the line, the crew had already climbed to the top of the pit wall, waving, yelling and celebrating, having accomplished what they set out to do.

"At Le Mans, the race always tests you. The only thing you can choose is how you respond. Our team never stopped pushing. Every lap, every challenge and every piece of data helped us learn. And that’s what motorsport is really about," Lotterer said. “For us, this is only the beginning. We’re learning, improving and getting stronger every time we go racing. I hope you're as excited as we are!”

"At Le Mans, we didn't have any issue with the engines themselves," Lotterer said. “On the #19 car, there was a software glitch where during a Full Course Yellow phase the car had to be reset, but there was nothing from the hardware itself, from the internals, from the engine that had any issues. On my car, #17, there were zero issues at all. This is quite remarkable because in the short time we had to prepare, the engine was the longest it had ever run.”

A Historic Moment for Korean Motorsport

For Genesis, a homegrown Korean brand daring to step onto the sacred asphalt of Le Mans, this was the moment a dream became reality. Genesis Magma Racing left the starting grid as newcomers, proving themselves to be serious competitors. After 24 relentless hours, the team emerged on the other side of the gauntlet. In a sport where simply reaching the finish is an achievement in itself, the #19 Hypercar finishing was not just a successful debut — it was a historic arrival. They had carved their name permanently into Le Mans history.

"Our dream is obviously to win, but we are very humble and we respect our opponents," Lotterer said. “We know that in the first year this is something very difficult to achieve, and we've already achieved more than what we hoped for. The more time goes on, the more expectations will be higher because we won't have the excuse of being rookies anymore. There we will have to show our true performance. In the near future, we are definitely aiming to be a winning team and not just participate. So, this is clearly an objective, and this is why it’s important now to establish ourselves correctly for the years to come.”

LE CASTELLET, France, July 5, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing’s trio of Trajectory Program drivers scored their third consecutive fourth place finish in the European Le Mans Series at the 4 Hours of Imola. Sharing the #18 IDEC Sport-run ORECA 07, Jamie Chadwick, Laurents Hörr and Valerio Rinicella were a race-long factor in the battle for the podium places in a race contested in hot conditions.

Late-Race Charge Secures Strong Finish

At his home race, Italian Rinicella was given the responsibility of the first race stint for the first time, taking the rolling start from the seventh on the grid earned by Hörr in qualifying. After the drop of the green flag, he was able to make quick progress, rising to sixth after the opening lap — making up one of the places with an audacious move to the outside at Tamburello. Unfortunately, his stint — which earned him the vote as LMP2 driver of the day — was frequently interrupted by multiple Safety Car and Virtual Safety Car periods, and Full Course Yellows for different incidents on track.

He handed the car over to Jamie Chadwick from third position during one Virtual Safety Car period. Following the restart, the British driver found herself in the middle of a battle for the podium positions. After initially having to resist pressure from those behind, she was able to start making a challenge of her own to retake third position, though she held fourth when the IDEC Sport team made their strategy call to become one of the first LMP2 teams to make their final driver change stop to install Laurents Hörr behind the wheel.

The German renewed Chadwick’s challenge for the podium places. However, in his haste to keep in touch with the top three, he made minor contact with an LMP3 car — damaging the slower car and incurring a five-second penalty.

The news did nothing to dampen Hörr’s efforts to improve his position after returning to the race after a slow final pit stop in sixth. For the final 30 minutes of the race he chased the fourth place car, finally making the move — repeating Rinicella’s outside move from earlier in the race — with seven minutes remaining. Continuing his charge, he was able to open up a ten-second advantage in the final minutes to secure a third consecutive fourth place finish for the Trajectory Program crew.

Post Race Quotes - #18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07

Valerio Rinicella said: “I really enjoyed doing the first stint. There was a lot of traffic. At the start I tried to be on the safe side, to finish at least the first lap. I tried to be careful because it’s a four-hour race and I didn’t want to take any risks but then started to push to gain some positions. I got some bad traffic during Full Course Yellow and Safety Car periods that created some gaps to the cars in front, but overall I think we managed to make up some good places and start to fight for the podium. I’m happy with the work we did. For me, the car was fantastic. I’m just happy to enjoy the hot weather in Imola for my home race. I don’t really like this track, but I changed my mind with the Prototype. With the traffic and the speed, it’s a fantastic track.”

Jamie Chadwick said: “It was quite a challenging stint for me. It was my first time doing the middle stint, but I enjoyed it after Valerio did a great job at the start. Racing at Imola is always about track position, so starting from seventh was always going to be a bit tough. We put Valerio in for the start and he did an amazing job and got us up to P3. I was able to consolidate that, but it’s hot out there and it’s tough managing tires and the constant traffic. We had a couple of issues and Laurents picked up the penalty in his stint, but he did a great job with a tough charge to make up for it and get us back to fourth place again, which seems to be the story of our season so far this year.”

Laurents Hörr said: “The temperatures today were really tough, but the car was probably the best it has been all weekend. The five-second penalty was unfortunate, but I take the blame for it. I saw an opportunity, but I think there was some miscommunication between me and the LMP3, but you have to learn from this. I know I had the pace, but it’s so difficult to overtake around Imola. When I was able to get past him, I pulled away ten seconds in five laps, which showed the potential we had in the car today without some of the other issues, which lost us some time in the pits, which maybe cost a chance of a podium.”

Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini said: “The Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers put in a strong performance to be part of the battle for the podium places for almost all of the 4 Hours of Imola. Valerio Rinicella did very well in his first time starting an ELMS race. He was the fastest driver on track and was able to put the car in contention for the podium, despite having to work through a number of interruptions. Jamie Chadwick was put in a very difficult spot during her stint – having to both defend and attack at the same time – but she kept her composure, including through traffic, to put the team in a position where they felt strategy could make the difference. Unfortunately, the penalty put the podium out of reach, but Laurents reacted well to the news and did what he needed to do to take the best result that was available from the weekend.”

LE CASTELLET, France, July 3, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing faces its first competitive test outside of Europe, with the first fly-away round of the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) taking the team to the 6 Hours of São Paulo at the Autódromo José Carlos Pace.

Pipo Derani Heads for Rare Home Race

The trip to the Brazilian circuit takes the WEC paddock from its longest race of the season at the longest circuit on the calendar back to the more familiar six-hour format on the shortest circuit on the 2026 calendar at just 4.309 kilometers. The relative confines of the circuit present a different challenge to Genesis Magma Racing’s engineers and drivers as they continue to gain experience in the championship.

The short circuit promises a tightly contested qualifying session, where Genesis Magma Racing will aim to show the same pace that placed both GMR-001 Hypercars in the final Hyperpole session at Le Mans. Meanwhile, in the race, the track means that traffic management — especially through the technical infield section of the 15-turn track — will have a major effect on the contest for positions within the Hypercar category.

Pipo Derani, driving the #17 entry, is the only Brazilian driver competing in the Hypercar class this season. Though originally from São Paulo, the weekend is a rare chance to race at home for a driver whose professional career has largely been spent in Europe and North America. His teammate André Lotterer, as well as Paul-Loup Chatin and Dani Juncadella in the #19 car, has more recent experience at the circuit, while for Mathys Jaubert and Mathieu Jaminet, the race will be their first at the circuit.

After a resoundingly positive reaction to the Magma livery that debuted at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, both the #17 and #19 cars will remain clad in the design, which progresses from deep red to the team’s signature Magma hue at the front of the car. Also unchanged from the Le Mans weekend for the visit to Brazil are the driving lineups for the two GMR-001 Hypercar entries, as both cars retain their three-driver crews for the return to the six-hour format.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “The 6 Hours of São Paulo takes Genesis Magma Racing into new territory for us as a team, as a manufacturer and for many of our drivers. We had some time to reflect on what we achieved at Le Mans, as well as to take lessons from the race that we can start to apply immediately. The race in Brazil presents its own challenges, with the technical circuit and the operational challenges that come with any fly-away race that we are facing for the first time. It’s great to be able to greet our fans in South America for the first time with both cars in the Magma livery. The color is central to our identity and Genesis Magma as a whole, so to be able to introduce ourselves in Brazil proudly representing Magma is very important.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “The track in Brazil presents a different challenge compared to Le Mans. The 24 Hours gave us several positives to build on. We had good reliability and continued to build on our understanding of the car and procedures. Although Interlagos is a much shorter race with a completely different approach, our objective is to take the lessons learned at Le Mans and continue our progress. As with every fly-away event, there are additional complexities. From the drivers' side, managing travel, time zones and changing conditions is part of the challenge. The whole team has to be able to adapt quickly. We have decided to maintain three drivers per car because we believe continuity is important. Having all our drivers involved allows us to maximize the contribution of each crew, maintain consistency and ensure everyone stays fully integrated throughout the season.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “The 6 Hours of São Paulo marks our first non-European race and the start of a long trip for the cars and equipment. This puts our logistics team to the test with a lot of extra planning just to ensure we don't forget something. It's not an easy task, but it's all part of the WEC challenge. Le Mans was a valuable step for us in the formation of Genesis Magma Racing. We gathered a wealth of data and new experiences which we have analyzed closely to learn what we can for the next race. Surprisingly, Le Mans taught us a bit about tire performance in hot conditions. While the Interlagos circuit has very different energy density and distribution, we now know a bit how the rubber behaves at the temps we might see there, which could help us make quick decisions during the race if we see the same trends appearing.”

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

Pipo Derani said: “I can’t describe how much I’m looking forward to finally racing in the top class of a high-level championship in my hometown. I'm from São Paulo myself but have barely raced in Interlagos during my entire career, so to be able to go there with Genesis Magma Racing as the only Brazilian driver will be amazing. The Brazilian fans are always great, and I know a lot of them have been following our progress with the GMR-001 Hypercar from the start of the project and this season. The retirement at Le Mans was a bit of a disappointment, especially as you could see we made some good steps forward with the performance. Hopefully we can continue our progress and get back to finishing the race and scoring some points. To do that in my home race would be amazing.” 

Mathys Jaubert said: “The 6 Hours of São Paulo will be a new challenge for me as it will be my first time racing at Interlagos, but it’s an iconic circuit and I’m really looking forward to it. I’ve watched plenty of onboard videos to learn the track and understand its characteristics as much as possible before arriving, and I’ve been able to do some preparation on our simulator. The goal for me and the team for the weekend is to adapt quickly, continue progressing and keep developing the GMR-001 Hypercar package we currently have. We want to maximize every session, learn as much as possible and continue moving in the right direction during the second half of the season.”

André Lotterer said: “I’m very excited and motivated to take Genesis Magma Racing’s debut season to another new race for the team, especially as it is Pipo’s home race in a country that is very enthusiastic about motorsport. Interlagos is a historic racetrack, but it’s also very tricky. The tarmac there is very different from anything we have seen so far this year, so there will be some unknowns for the drivers and engineers. It’s our first time going overseas with our cars and the whole Genesis Magma Racing team, which is another big step in our journey. We don’t know what to expect with performance, so let’s see where we are after Free Practice. As usual, we’ll push and do our best and try to get to the finish line with both cars, and why not score some more points.”

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “I’m very happy to be heading back to Interlagos. It is a unique place with a lot of history that I respect a lot. We’ve completed the opening three races, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, which was an incredibly valuable experience for the whole team. The ten days we spent at Le Mans were extremely positive and gave us a lot to build on. Now our focus is on becoming more competitive and closing the gap to the front. But at the same time, we’re still very much in a development phase, and that’s something we need to keep in mind heading into Interlagos. It’s a unique circuit, with a layout that is predominantly low speed. Our goal is to make the most of the weekend, continue improving, keep learning about the car and gradually raise our expectations as we move forward.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “The 6 Hours of São Paulo is obviously a very different event to our last race at Le Mans. We are back to the six-hour format for our fourth race together. The weekend will be my first-ever time in Brazil, and obviously my first-ever time racing at Interlagos. I’m really looking forward to discovering the track and country. We’ve seen the car performing well on every track we’ve been to so far, so it would be nice if we can continue this with the #19 GMR-001 Hypercar, run a bit closer to the front and maybe score our first points. This would be an amazing result for myself, Paul-Loup and Dani as drivers, and for the whole team. If we keep progressing like we have since the beginning of the year, then the top ten should be a realistic target.”

Dani Juncadella said: “Interlagos is very different to anything else on the WEC calendar. From my experience in LMGT3, there is a lot of tire degradation, so I wonder how that changes in Hypercar with the different tires. It’s a track I really like, in a part of the world where we don’t get to go very often to race. It’s a tight circuit, so traffic can be difficult to manage. In the slow sections — sector two — the GT cars are actually pretty quick, which is something we need to take care with in Hypercar. Already in three races we’ve learned a lot of lessons and made really big steps forward, and after 24 Hours, 6 Hours feels like a sprint now, so I think that we have the confidence to push forward. The expectation is to just keep progressing as we have been — working on having a strong car for the race and continuing to push forward in every area.”

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., July 1, 2026 — Genesis has achieved a No. 2 overall finish in the JD Power 2026 U.S. Initial Quality Study℠, climbing seven positions from ninth place in 2025. This significant improvement reflects continued progress across the Genesis lineup and a strong showing in key vehicle segments.

Genesis delivered exceptional results across multiple categories, including top three finishes for the G70 compact premium car, G80 upper midsize premium car and GV80 upper midsize premium SUV. These recognitions underscore the brand’s ongoing focus on craftsmanship, engineering and owner satisfaction in the first 90 days of ownership.

“Genesis continues to push forward with a strong commitment to excellence in every aspect of the vehicle ownership experience,” said Tedros Mengiste, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “As we continue to expand our product offering, we are pleased to see SUVs and sedans across our lineup receiving top accolades in industry tests. This JD Power rankings further highlights our relentless pursuit for excellence in quality and reinforces the trust our customers place in the Genesis brand.”

Driving the brand’s rise were substantial improvements from the G80 sedan. The model saw meaningful reductions in reported customer issues, with gains concentrated in infotainment systems, features and controls, and overall usability.

Finishing second in its segment, GV80 posted strong, broad-based gains across multiple quality attributes including infotainment, features/controls and exterior and ranked among the top performers in the Upper Midsize Premium SUV segment, continuing to demonstrate the model’s strength.

“Earning the No. 2 overall ranking in the JD Power Initial Quality Study is a meaningful milestone for Genesis and reflects the entire organization’s dedication to delivering vehicles of the highest standards,” said Barry Ratzlaff, chief customer officer, Genesis Motor North America. “The continued momentum on GV70, GV80 and our sedan lineup highlight our ability to listen to customers, act quickly and continuously refine the experience. These rankings are a testament to the collaboration across our organization and our commitment to setting new standards for quality.”

Study Highlights:

• Overall industry initial quality improved significantly year over year, with fewer problems reported across nine of 10 categories evaluated. 

• Initial quality is measured by problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership; a lower score indicates higher quality. 

• JD Power’s 2026 study is based on responses from 78,514 purchasers and lessees of new 2026 model-year vehicles. 

• Infotainment is the only category showing increased challenges, driven primarily by smartphone connectivity issues such as Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration. 
   

LE MANS, France, June 14, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing took a hard-fought finish from the tough challenge of its first start in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, bringing home the #19 GMR-001 Hypercar in 13th place. Completing 372 laps of the 13.626-kilometer Circuit de la Sarthe, the result completed a week where the performance of the car and team had surprised many in the paddock. 

Finish Completes Strong Week for Le Mans Underdogs

Even before beginning the weekend, Genesis Magma Racing recognized the magnitude of the challenge they faced. The first South Korean manufacturer to contest the race faced its first 24-hour race in only its third-ever competitive start, making it a significant underdog against the more experienced teams, and the simple challenge of lasting the 24 hours of one of motorsport’s most famed events.

Sixth and ninth place in qualifying proved the potential pace of the GMR-001 Hypercar, but after the 4 p.m. start on Saturday both the #17 — started by André Lotterer — and the #19 driven by Dani Juncadella, settled into the team’s own rhythm as they focused on executing their strategy with efficiency and reliability in mind, rather than immediate performance.

However, with both cars running without any major incidents, and the team completing each pitstop equally flawlessly, this approach began to pay off as the race progressed from Saturday night to Sunday morning. After opting to stay out during the race’s first Safety Car period both cars regained the lead lap. Through the earliest hours of the morning both Mathieu Jaminet in the #19 and Mathys Jaubert in the #17 completed quadruple stints. Jaminet was able to run as high as fourth at times though Jaubert’s pace was dampened by a rear puncture that demanded an unscheduled pitstop.

Unfortunately, at around 4 a.m. having taken over from Jaminet, Paul-Loup Chatin stopped on track, the #19 needing a power cycle before it could rejoin. Though it initially appeared cured, the issue would repeat shortly after, knocking the car out of contention for a strong finish. Worse still, while challenging for points in the #17 entry, Jaubert suffered a suspension failure, putting the car out of the race on the spot.

Immediately, the team’s focus became ensuring the #19 would see the checkered flag. Though a stop to solve a mechanical issue lost the team a further four laps, it gave Chatin, Juncadella and Jaminet the best possible chance. Better still, as other Hypercar competitors also felt the strain of the pace, they were able to make up positions that, while still missing out on points, added to the many positives that the team could already take away from their Le Mans debut.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “Our first 24 Hours of Le Mans with Genesis Magma Racing ends on a positive note. Getting one car to the finish was our main objective, while the #17 unfortunately retired with suspension failure. We faced a number of reliability challenges which will be our priority moving forward. Despite this, the car showed strong potential throughout the week, especially during the first half of the race, where we were consistently fighting inside the top 10. While we faced challenges, the team showed great resilience, composure and teamwork. Everyone stayed focused, reacted calmly to every situation and worked together to achieve our goal. The drivers were also outstanding, managing both the race and the machinery exceptionally well. We leave Le Mans with the satisfaction of having achieved our main objective, but also with a very clear understanding of the areas we need to improve. Those priorities will help guide and unite us as we continue to build our foundations as a team.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “This is a great achievement for Genesis Magma Racing. In the beginning, especially last year when we started this project, it was impossible to even imagine that we, by our third race we could score points in Spa and finish the race in the 24 Hours of Le Mans. That's great. That's unbelievable. Even in our dreams, the best dreams, we cannot imagine to finish this race. The big race started last year the first time Pipo jumped in the GMR-001 Hypercar in Le Castellet, and it's not finished today and probably it will not finish at the end of the season. It will be a long race and in this race, the target is to fight for the win.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “First 24 Hours of Le Mans and first finish. No one can ever do that again for Genesis, or for South Korea. That was the first time. I can't believe it, honestly. I knew we could do it, but seeing it now in person it's still surreal. I'm just so proud of all the people. We keep making steps forward towards our goals and today we made another one of them possible through teamwork and determination. It shows in our performances in Imola, then Spa and then how we showed up here. We keep improving and we intend to keep that path going. We’ve got 364 days from tomorrow to get going for the 2027 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

Anouck Abadie, Genesis Magma Racing Team Manager, said: “We've done it. We finished our first 24 Hours of Le Mans as Genesis Magma Racing. The whole team was waiting for the #19 GMR-001 Hypercar to cross the line to make sure that it was real. We've done it, but I'm a bit sad for the #17 car because they deserved to cross the finish line as well. For the whole team, I'm super happy, super proud. Now we need to make sure to be back even stronger next year. We still need to improve a bit because we are new and we need to work again and again together. But, the guys did an amazing job because it's the first 24 Hours for the team and to make no mistakes in the pits at all was impressive.“

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

André Lotterer said: “We definitely showed the world who Genesis is. I think we surprised a few people and achieved more than we could hope for with our new team, new car, new brand, everything. It was definitely a great adventure at Le Mans, and we can come back proud because to have done that, in such a short time, it's quite remarkable. Unfortunately, of course, we wanted to finish the race and it ended with a technical problem that we need to understand more. It's a shame for sure. But our engine lasted, everything around it lasted until that point and we didn't have any big problems during the race which was quite remarkable. We need to study and come back stronger but I think for our first Le Mans appearance it was very positive, especially with the sister car reaching the finish to complete the weekend.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “I don't know really what happened. I think the suspension broke on the curb, which was a bit unfortunate, but we need to properly check the parts to find out.  We were having a good race, with no issues on the engine, which was quite important for us in terms of reliability. However, we are here to learn and this is now a point that we have to take a look and understand what broke and why. But it was quite fun, the car was really nice to drive, the balance was great and everything was running perfectly so I enjoyed it a lot. It has been a very long week, working a lot with the team, everybody. We made a lot of progress since day one here in Le Mans. P3 in Hyperpole 1 and then being in the running for points today it was just amazing.”

Pipo Derani said: “Of course we wanted to bring the car to the checkered flag but it was something completely out of our control. I think Genesis Magma Racing did a fantastic job up until that point. The car was running flawlessly. It is what it is sometimes. You have some mechanical failures and that's part of racing, but the good thing is that the car has shown a lot of promise and we will be back stronger. It's part of Le Mans also. You have just got to navigate through the chaos and try to bring the car to the checkered flag in the best possible way. Unfortunately, I wish I could have had a few more stints out there, but it wasn't meant to be this year.

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Dani Juncadella said: “As a team we came here with the goal to finish the race and we did exactly that. So, an absolutely incredible job from the whole team. Great preparation for the future and I'm pretty sure with the current car we have in the GMR-001 Hypercar, we can have a shot at winning one day. That's the best part. It was really hot at the end of the race, but the car was good to drive. Everything was going well. Even in the heat our car was very competitive, so I think that sets a lot of things we can test to prepare ourselves for the future, for any condition. We did a lot of laps, a lot of data gathered, which is great. I‘m looking forward to the next one. My next race and next Le Mans.“

Mathieu Jaminet said: “It's definitely been a roller coaster for us, but that's what you expect in your first 24 Hours, as a new team, a new car. Obviously, I think we showed better pace than maybe we expected. For sure we had a couple of issues, but we fought back. We were lucky to have a safety car and then we started to have some fun actually in the night with me, climbing up the order and having some fights with some quick cars. And when it started to look good to be well established in the top eight, we had the car have an issue. The reality comes back quick at you in endurance racing. Anything can happen from one minute to another. But no one ever gave up. We just made history. The first ever Korean brand to make it the 24 Hours of Le Mans, the first one for Genesis.”

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “Yeah, I'm super proud and super happy for the entire team. I think we deserve this finish. Le Mans is the hardest race in the world to finish, let alone to win of course. To achieve that it's thousands and thousands of hours of work behind to make sure that the car is the best prepared possible and then during the entire week it's all about details, all about management, all about team cohesion, team spirit and I think it's where we succeeded today. We work all together in the same direction and we just have to be super proud of ourselves. We wrote a bit of history today and I think it's just something crazy for the amazing job the team has done since the beginning of the program.”

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2026 — While Genesis Magma Racing’s debut in the 24 Hours of Le Mans is an undoubted milestone for the team in its first-ever year of competition, the squad and Genesis as a manufacturer offered invited media a first glimpse at one potential future project, unveiling the Genesis Magma GT3 Concept at a press conference at the Circuit de la Sarthe.

New Concept Shows One Potential Future

Speaking at a press conference hosted at Genesis’ corporate hospitality unit overlooking the final corners of the circuit, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul introduced the Genesis Magma GT3 Concept alongside Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke.

“The Genesis Magma GT3 Concept is one potential future direction for Genesis Magma Racing, alongside our FIA WEC Hypercar entry, as we grow to support the entire Genesis brand,” said Abiteboul. “Since the very start, we have stated that Genesis Magma Racing is a long-term project, and here we have one possible direction we can take. Like Hypercar, GT3 is another of the recent success stories in motorsport.”

He added: “Having Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing represented there would closely link the road-going and racing sides of the brand and add further to our profile in world motorsport.”

The Genesis Magma GT3 Concept has been developed in alignment with GT3 technical regulations, reflecting a performance-led approach shaped by motorsport requirements. Conceived as an independent study, it explores how race-driven architecture, aerodynamics and engineering principles could inform future Genesis performance vehicles, rather than being derived from an existing road-going model.

During the same press conference, the Magma GT Concept — first revealed in November alongside the GV60 Magma — was presented with an all-new interior, illustrating a parallel exploration of how race-inspired thinking could translate into a refined road-going grand tourer. Together, the two concepts highlight one potential pathway for connecting Genesis’ motorsport ambitions with its evolving performance portfolio, without confirming specific production or racing plans.

“The Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept represent two distinct yet connected expressions of Genesis performance,” explained Donckerwolke. “The Magma GT Concept embodies our vision of luxury and athleticism on the road, while the Magma GT3 Concept translates that philosophy into the race environment, where every element is driven by performance, efficiency and purpose. Together, they demonstrate how Genesis is exploring the full spectrum of high performance — from refined grand touring to uncompromising motorsport.”

Continued Expansion at Le Mans and Across Europe

Alongside its motorsport ambitions, Genesis continues to accelerate its European growth strategy. After announcing last year its expansion into new markets in Italy, France, the Netherlands and Spain, the manufacturer is now preparing for further entry into Poland, Austria, Portugal and Denmark as part of its long-term global vision.

Genesis’ presence at the 24 Hours of Le Mans has also expanded, one year on from the first European showing of the GMR-001 Hypercar design — then only a show car. Now a fully-fledged Hypercar team, a Le Mans debut makes them the first Korean manufacturer to participate in the famous race, as well as providing the toughest examination of the team operations and the reliability of the GMR-001 Hypercar while still at a very early point in the life of the team and car.

Further underscoring its presence at Le Mans, Genesis will showcase two evolved X Gran Convertible Concept models — originally introduced at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show — during the Drivers’ Parade in Le Mans city center later today. Building on the earlier concept, these latest iterations represent a refined and more visually striking evolution, further aligning the model with Genesis’ expanding Magma portfolio. As an architectural study rooted in the G90, the updated concepts embody a more pronounced expression of Magma design, reinforcing Genesis’ commitment to continuous enhancement and progressive luxury.

Both vehicles feature distinctive color and material selections while exploring a more open, emotional and human interpretation of Genesis luxury. One model, finished in Liquid Titanium, expresses the dynamic qualities of the racing environment through its GMR-inspired colorway, while the other — in Midnight Teal — embodies a calmer, more sophisticated palette, complemented by tartan-inspired textiles for a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.

The X Gran Convertible Concepts will be driven by Genesis brand ambassador and race advisor Jacky Ickx, alongside reserve driver and Genesis Magma Racing trajectory driver Jamie Chadwick.

These enhanced concept models further explore an emotional and approachable form of Genesis luxury, where racing energy, hospitality, elegance and quiet refinement coexist through materials, colors and atmosphere. Their appearance highlights the brand’s evolving design identity and its growing connection with global motorsport audiences beyond the circuit.

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2026 — Building on its previous Le Mans participation, Genesis steps up to the Hypercar class at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans, marking a defining new chapter in its global motorsports journey.

At a press conference held within the Genesis Hospitality inside the famed Circuit de la Sarthe, the brand unveiled the Magma GT3 Concept, outlined a potential future vision for Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing, and shared plans to expand its presence into new European markets as part of its broader global growth strategy.

Through their entry with the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar in the Hypercar class at the race, held June 13-14 (local time) in Le Mans, France, Genesis Magma Racing aim to mark a new milestone in Korean motorsports history while demonstrating their brand competitiveness in the global market.

José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company, said, “Genesis has grown faster than any other luxury automotive brand, and we’re thrilled to be competing in the world’s toughest endurance race where we’ll be able to validate our performance under pressure. We’re humble, but we’re hungry, and we know there is hard work ahead. We’re bringing lessons from the track to our Magma performance vehicles and in how we run the business. In a 24-hour race where anything can happen, the team needs to be seamless in how we support each other and find creative solutions to win. It’s a perfect analogy for how we’re managing uncertainty and focused on delivering exceptional vehicles, technology and service for our customers.”

Early Momentum in WEC Debut Season Sets the Stage for Le Mans

Genesis Magma Racing have already demonstrated competitiveness in their debut season in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC).

Notably, the team secured points in Round 2 at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, proving its stable driving performance and operational capability despite being in its inaugural season.

Building on this experience, Genesis will prioritize completing the 24-hour race at Le Mans, while also striving to deliver competitive results.

Magma GT and Magma GT3 Concepts Signal Next Evolution in Performance Vision

At Le Mans, Genesis unveiled the Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept, outlining a clear vision for the brand’s future across luxury performance and motorsport.

While an earlier version of the Magma GT Concept was revealed in November 2025, the model has since been reintroduced at Le Mans with an all-new interior, reflecting the evolution of the Magma program. Conceived as a two-passenger luxury grand tourer, the Magma GT Concept blends athleticism and elegance in a manner distinctive to the brand. Its design is defined by a low-slung front end, wide fenders and dynamic mid-engine proportions, while sculptural surfaces and aerodynamic detailing highlight the brand’s Athletic Elegance philosophy.

Inside, the concept combines a twin-cockpit layout with a driver-centric architecture, centered around an analog instrument cluster inspired by motor racing timekeeping instruments and complemented by tactile controls that emphasize precision and engagement. The result is a refined yet immersive cabin that reinterprets the modern luxury GT experience — balancing performance, comfort and craftsmanship.

Making its global debut at Le Mans, the Genesis Magma GT3 Concept outlines a potential future direction for Genesis Magma Racing as it expands beyond its FIA WEC Hypercar program. Conceived as part of a long-term motorsport strategy, the concept reflects the growing relevance of GT3 competition and its potential to strengthen the connection between Genesis’ road cars and racing activities, positioning both the Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing brands within this category to more closely link road-going and racing portfolios while further elevating their profile in global motorsport.

The Genesis Magma GT3 Concept has been developed in alignment with GT3 technical regulations, reflecting a performance-led approach shaped by motorsport requirements. As an independent study, it explores how race-driven architecture, aerodynamics and engineering principles could inform future Genesis performance vehicles, rather than being derived from an existing road-going model.

Optimized for performance, the GT3 Concept features widened tracks, a prominent front splitter, enlarged ducts and a door-mounted fin to enhance aerodynamic efficiency and cooling. Advanced thermal management strategies, along with a race-focused rear structure incorporating a fixed wing and diffuser, support durability under endurance racing conditions.

Developed in collaboration with Hyundai Motorsport, the GT3 Concept remains under exploration, with architecture, components and potential development pathways yet to be defined. As one of several possible scenarios, it demonstrates how Genesis is exploring opportunities beyond LMDh.

Together, the Magma GT and GT3 Concepts illustrate a cohesive approach, where motorsport serves as both inspiration and testing ground for future Genesis performance and design.

Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis, said, “The Magma GT Concept and Magma GT3 Concept represent two distinct yet connected expressions of Genesis performance. The Magma GT Concept embodies our vision of luxury and athleticism on the road, while the Magma GT3 Concept translates that philosophy into the race environment, where every element is driven by performance, efficiency and purpose. Together, they demonstrate how Genesis is exploring the full spectrum of high performance — from refined grand touring to uncompromising motorsport.”

Motorsport as a Catalyst for Global Expansion

Alongside its motorsport ambitions, Genesis continues to accelerate its European growth strategy, expanding into new markets including Italy, France, the Netherlands and Spain, while preparing for further entry into Poland, Austria, Portugal and Denmark as part of its long-term global vision.

The brand’s presence on the world stage — through both endurance racing and market expansion — reflects a unified strategy to elevate Genesis as a modern, performance-driven luxury brand.

A Presence Beyond the Track

Further underscoring its presence at Le Mans, Genesis will showcase two evolved X Gran Convertible Concept models — originally introduced at the 2025 Seoul Mobility Show — during the Drivers’ Parade in Le Mans city center later today. Building on the earlier concept, these latest iterations represent a refined and more visually striking evolution, further aligning the model with Genesis’ expanding Magma portfolio. As an architectural study rooted in the G90, the updated concepts embody a more pronounced expression of Magma design, reinforcing Genesis’ commitment to continuous enhancement and progressive luxury.

Both vehicles feature distinctive color and material selections while exploring a more open, emotional and human interpretation of Genesis luxury. One model, finished in Liquid Titanium, expresses the dynamic qualities of the racing environment through its GMR-inspired colorway, while the other — in Midnight Teal — embodies a calmer, more sophisticated palette, complemented by tartan-inspired textiles for a relaxed yet elegant atmosphere.

The X Gran Convertible Concepts will be driven by Genesis brand ambassador and race advisor Jacky Ickx, alongside reserve driver and Genesis Magma Racing trajectory driver Jamie Chadwick.

These enhanced concept models further explore an emotional and approachable form of Genesis luxury, where racing energy, hospitality, elegance and quiet refinement coexist through materials, colors and atmosphere. Their appearance highlights the brand’s evolving design identity and its growing connection with global motorsport audiences beyond the circuit.

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2026 — Genesis Motor Europe today announced its expansion plans into four additional European markets: Austria, Denmark, Portugal and Poland — marking a significant step forward in the brand’s long-term European growth strategy. 

Following the brand’s initial launch in Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom in 2021, Genesis has expanded into France, Italy and the Netherlands so far in 2026, with Spain set to follow in Q4. As the brand continues to grow and evolve in Europe, Genesis confirmed its plans to expand into five key European markets by 2027, strengthening its footprint in Northern, Eastern and Southern Europe and building its presence in Western Europe and the Iberian Peninsula. 

The announcement made at the Circuit de la Sarthe during the 24 Hours of Le Mans race weekend increases Genesis’ European presence to 11 markets and comes after significant growth on the continent in the first half of 2026. So far this year, the brand has opened two dedicated European dealerships in the Netherlands and Italy, with new locations to follow in Q3. By 2027 the brand also plans to have more than 50 sales locations operational across Europe. 

Peter Kronschnabl, Managing Director of Genesis Motor Europe, said, “Genesis’ expansion into Austria, Denmark, Poland and Portugal confirms our commitment to Europe and our ambition to redefine the premium automotive segment. We are excited to bring the Genesis line-up to more customers across Europe, supported by strong and committed retail partners. Each new market represents a unique opportunity to connect with customers who value our distinctive Korean vibrancy, ‘Son-Nim’ hospitality ethos and distinctive design.” 

Another Step Forward for the Genesis Brand 

The legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans race provided the backdrop for Genesis’ expansion announcement. The brand also used the opportunity to unveil its new Magma GT3 Concept, reflecting a performance-led approach shaped by motorsport requirements. 

The weekend also marks the official debut of Genesis Magma Racing at the iconic track. As the first Korean team to compete in the World Endurance Championship, the team has already achieved a two-car finish at the 6 Hours of Imola and scored points at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps this season. 

LE MANS, France, June 12, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing scored a shock result in their first 24 Hours of Le Mans, as both GMR-001 Hypercars qualified in the top 10 for the event. Having progressed through both Hyperpole sessions, Paul-Loup Chatin and André Lotterer placed the cars seventh and 10th in the final session to complete a strong team performance.

Focus Remains on Race Despite Qualifying Pace

The team, the first South Korean manufacturer to compete in the famous endurance race, started the event with their focus firmly on working on the reliability and drivability of the car.

Throughout the practice running, the team worked on a number of setup solutions, improving the car at every opportunity, as well as confirming the performance of the Two-Line design headlights in competition for the first time during Wednesday night’s two-hour session, which finished at midnight.

The team’s qualifying campaign began on Wednesday evening, with Pipo Derani and Dani Juncadella at the wheel of the two GMR-001 Hypercars. Juncadella briefly had the #19 entry as high as fourth before those behind found further improvements. The Spaniard ended the 30-minute session 11th, with Derani holding 13th to progress to the Hyperpole 1 session for the fastest 15 in the 18-car Hypercar class.

For the first Hyperpole session, Mathys Jaubert and Mathieu Jaminet took the wheel of the two cars. Both drivers had their starring moments in the 20-minute session, Jaminet second fastest after the opening flying laps. Jaubert — the youngest driver on the Hypercar grid this season — claimed the top time with just a minute left, though he would finish the session third quickest to secure Lotterer a spot in Hyperpole 2 session.

The experienced German lost his first flying lap to track limits, limiting his efforts to ninth place.

Chatin’s first lap placed the #19 on the edge of the top five, and though the French driver improved on his own time, he could not improve his position as others found extra pace in the critical moments of the session.

Despite the promising pace shown throughout the qualifying and practice sessions, Genesis Magma Racing’s focus remains on securing classified finishes for both its cars on the team’s 24 Hours of Le Mans debut. The season’s longest — and also most important — race is a significant challenge for any team, let alone one in only its third race, making the team undoubted underdogs in both reliability and performance. However, the squad remain focused on executing a trouble-free race of their own, knowing that this can bring its own rewards, as seen already this year.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Quote

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “P6 and P9 is obviously an outstanding performance for our first entry in Le Mans. It was already a great feeling yesterday to have both cars make it through to Hyperpole, but it was another level of team effort to achieve what we did today. Even though it's all about the race and what we do on Saturday and Sunday, despite being a new entrant in the sport, we were keen on demonstrating our ambitions. Since the program started, we have said that the GMR-001 Hypercar is a healthy race car, that this team has potential, that the drivers are good — there is nothing better than a good old qualifying session to show it, and that's exactly what we did. But again, the most difficult part is yet to come, so now it's back to the drawing board and full focus on the race weekend."

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

Pipo Derani said: “It was nice to get to see what the car can do. Obviously, we made it with the two cars through to Hyperpole after my session, which was already a mega job. Super happy. Obviously, we still believe there's a couple of things that could be better, but let's take the positives. It was great for the team and continue to improve throughout the weekend, but very positive quality for us today.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “It was something special. It was my first time qualifying in Hypercar. Last year, I really enjoyed doing this in LMP2, but this was my first experience in a Hypercar. I had an issue with the dash and wasn't able to see my lap time or whether I was improving, so I was driving without really knowing where I stood. In a way, though, it simplified things. I just told myself, 'Okay, push as much as possible and let's see what the result is at the end.’ And actually, it wasn't bad. I tried to push as much as possible without making mistakes. We always try to push at 100%, but still leave a little margin here and there, and in the end it was a nice lap.”

André Lotterer said: “An amazing effort from the whole team to come this far with our car. It's a new team and a new car, so hats off to everyone because that's already a hell of an achievement. It was unexpected, you know. We came here with no expectations because we knew performance would be difficult, but in the end, somehow, we were there. On my side, I didn't do any qualifying preparation or anything like that. I hadn't driven the car on low fuel with new tires, so I had to adapt. Then I got a track limit on my first lap, which was deleted, so I had to try again on the second one. After that, the rhythm was gone, and I also had a slow puncture, but it's still a really positive result. We also managed to prepare well for the race, which is important too. Anyway, I'm very happy for the whole team. It's good motivation heading into the race."

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “I'm super proud and happy for the entire team. Having both cars in Hyperpole 2 for our first year at Le Mans is just amazing. Everyone has done an incredible job, and tonight we have to celebrate! Tomorrow, we'll be back and fully focused on the race, of course, but it's part of motorsport. There are milestones in the development of a project that you need to reach and celebrate. I think we can be super proud tonight. Of course, we had never run a set of tires before Hyperpole because we were very focused on the race. It was a bit of a surprise to be in Hyperpole 2, so we were probably not the best prepared for that. But in the end, P7 is an amazing result, and now we can focus on the race.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “Pretty incredible qualifying. Obviously, on car #19, we had a small technical issue. We had to change the engine, and a few things didn't go as well as we wanted. So, you know, we had a lot of uncertainties going into Hyperpole. Everything worked out more or less okay, just enough to make it through. The same goes for car #17. And then, André and Paul-Loup did the job at the end. We will start P6 and P9, for our first Le Mans. If someone had offered that to me 10 days ago, I would have definitely taken it. So yeah, it's an amazing first step. Obviously, what counts is the race, but we can be proud of what we achieved today. Now, we start preparing for the race.”

Dani Juncadella said: “It was an exciting session. It was my first time qualifying the car with low fuel and new tires, which was exciting. We were only nine-tenths from the quickest cars in the first qualifying session. That we very exciting already for our first time at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and my first time personally here in a Hypercar. Then Mathieu and Paul-Loup did a superb job in Hyperpole. A massive congrats to the whole team for a great car.”

Thanks to an aggressive, perfectly executed pit strategy under a Virtual Safety Car, Derani held his ground in the closing stages. He crossed the line in eighth place to secure the marque's first-ever points in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Meanwhile, despite early electrical setbacks, the sister #19 car also brought it home, proving the engineering resilience of the newcomer team.

“In only our second participation in an endurance race, we could not have dreamt of a better place than Spa to score the very first points in the history of Genesis Magma Racing,” said Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul. “We are still a very young team, and this result is an extremely emotional moment for all our members.”

Scoring points in just the team’s second start is a massive achievement. But the true story of Spa is not just what happened on the track; it is the unprecedented, hyperspeed journey that got the cars there in the first place. With just 499 days between its public announcement and its first official race, the marque transformed an ambitious concept into a fully operational force in the WEC. It was a rapid ascent that defied conventional motorsport wisdom, but for the team behind the GMR-001 Hypercar, it represents a lifetime dream fulfilled and a bold new chapter for Korean motorsports.

From Dream to Reality — A Belgian Homecoming

For Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke, this rapid ascent to the starting grid is far more than a corporate milestone. It is a deeply personal homecoming. Growing up in Belgium, Donckerwolke spent his childhood watching his hero, Jacky Ickx, dominate the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Ickx cemented his legendary status as “Monsieur Le Mans” with a historic six victories and became a global icon.

But Ickx wasn't just larger than life on the television screen. He was also immortalized in ink. As a young boy, Donckerwolke avidly read the iconic French motorsport comic book series “Michel Vaillant.” Ickx frequently appeared in the comics alongside the fictional protagonist and was famously one of the few real-world drivers whom creator Jean Graton allowed to beat Michel Vaillant on the page. The combination of Ickx’s real-world dominance and comic-book heroism deeply influenced Donckerwolke, helping to ignite the passion that drove him to become one of the world's leading automotive designers.

Today, childhood fan and childhood hero have united. Ickx joined Genesis as a Brand Partner and Racing Advisor, bringing his unparalleled endurance experience directly into the paddock. For Donckerwolke, it is the realization of a lifelong ambition.

“I grew up watching Jacky winning Le Mans as a kid and basically, I’ve always had this dream of having Genesis Magma Racing since I joined Genesis,” Donckerwolke reflected. “When Cyril joined us, the first thing I did was invite him to the design studio and say my dream is to race Le Mans. And then you know, three years later we are here, 530 days after getting the green light from the Executive Chair to go racing.”

For Ickx, who is not one to rest on his laurels, returning to race at Spa-Francorchamps with a young, ambitious team is an exciting opportunity to look forward to. The legendary driver is famous for keeping his eyes firmly fixed on what’s in front of him in the moment.

“The opportunity to be in action with a nice project surrounded by talented people with a goal, an objective, pah! What a privilege!” Ickx noted. “When I say I’m not nostalgic about my past, I really mean it. I have no trophies at home, because I always think it’s behind me. Indeed, there are some lessons to pick up along the way, but I’m only nostalgic about the people who change your life.”

Hyperspeed Execution

The clock began ticking in September 2024 when the internal decision was made to bring Genesis to the racetrack. Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul was tasked with orchestrating this massive undertaking, relying heavily on his decades of elite motorsport experience.

“It meant more or less a year and a half to build everything from scratch, from the decision that took place in September of 2024 to the first race in 2026,” Abiteboul explained. “That was driving a lot of the choices, from how to find the right powertrain to how to build the team and how to find the right technical partners for the program.”

The timeline forced Abiteboul to make rapid, pragmatic decisions regarding insourcing versus outsourcing.

“Our brand is all about authenticity, so it's not about just being a sponsor, taking third parties’ technologies or just putting our name on an existing car,” Abiteboul emphasized. “There was a genuineness in what we wanted to do. So where do we start? You start at finding how to be very time efficient, which is also cost efficient.”

To meet this aggressive schedule, the team had to be ruthless in its efficiency. Abiteboul, drawing on his extensive Formula One experience, knew that geography would play a critical role in the team’s operational success.

“Endurance is a very French sport,” Abiteboul noted. “We decided also to go very close to [French chassis builder partner ORECA] in order to fast track and optimize collaboration. We are quite close to a track based in the south of France. But it’s also because it’s close to a racetrack. And that’s extremely useful, because we can maximize the number of times that we go testing. In just one evening, we can just go outside of our workshop and we do testing on what is one of the best racetracks.”

Forging the Hypercar

The physical realization of this design philosophy happened at a blistering pace. By February 2025, just months after the initial announcement, the team celebrated a massive technical milestone when the bespoke G8MR 3.2l Turbo V8 engine was successfully fired up at Hyundai Motorsport’s headquarters in Germany. The engine’s rapid development was a masterclass in pragmatic innovation.

“Because we needed an engine in a very short time, Cyril came up with this great idea of using components we had on the shelves by putting two four-cylinder engines together to make a V8, which is incredible,” Donckerwolke said. “Suddenly, you have a 3.2-liter V8 based on components that we know are functioning, and that was the accelerator of the whole process.”

Knowing that track experience is invaluable, Genesis launched the Trajectory Program in March 2025 with partner IDEC Sport. By April, Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers made their race debut in the European Le Mans Series, scoring an immediate LMP2 class victory in Barcelona. In May, they secured an overall win at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet followed by a crucial run at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans in June.

Abiteboul championed this step-by-step approach. “To realize our vision, we put together a plan — not just to show Genesis headquarters, but also to the people of Korea. And for that, you need to show that this is going to be a very serious, stable and long-term project. We are going to give ourselves all the resources not just to participate, but also to do well.”

In July 2025, the first chassis met its engine for a full-car fire-up. By August, the GMR-001 Hypercar took to the track at Circuit Paul Ricard, completing over 500 laps. Autumn was dedicated to grueling endurance testing across Portugal and Spain. By December, the engine had surpassed 8,000 kilometers of rigorous track running and the 2026 driver lineup was finalized with promotions from the Trajectory Program.

Building a Korean Motorsport Culture

While the logistical framework was being laid in France, the aesthetic and emotional story of the hypercar was also in the making. For a Korean luxury marque that prides itself on its “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy, stepping into the brutal arena of the FIA WEC required tapping into a different kind of energy.

“What happened is, we did our homework, and we made cars that were premium. But then, we don’t have a hundred years of heritage or hundred years of motorsport,” Donckerwolke explained. “And if you are in this segment, you have to have different facets to your program. You cannot just say, let’s make great cars to bring the kids to school or to go golfing.”

Donckerwolke’s ambitions extended far beyond simply selling cars globally. He recognized that for Genesis to truly embrace its future, the brand needed to proudly project its Korean DNA onto the international racetrack, while simultaneously igniting a passion for motorsports within its home country.

“I discovered 10 years ago that there was no motorsport culture [in Korea],” Donckerwolke recalled. “So I said, my goal is to bring motorsport to Korea. And by doing this, I wanted to start growing the Korean public’s interest in motorsport and get that to be part of the parameters that you look for when you buy a car.”

This cultural mission became a central pillar of the Genesis Magma Racing project.

“Everything that we've done was also in order for the Korean audience to identify with the Genesis Magma Racing team,” Donckerwolke added. “For instance, having the Korean hangeul characters on the livery of our cars was so that there’s an association with our Korean roots. It’s instantly recognizable by the public.”

The Human Element

Despite the cutting-edge technology, the telemetry data and the carbon fiber aerodynamics, the success of Genesis’ entry into endurance racing ultimately rests on human shoulders. Jacky Ickx is quick to remind anyone who will listen that the drivers who get the glory are merely the final link in a massive chain of human effort.

“You are nobody. If you think you did it alone, you are totally on the wrong path,” Ickx stated emphatically as the roar of racing engines could be heard in the background. “You are the result of those you never see or work in the shadows. And those represent, in my opinion, 90 percent of the guys you have seen in the garage. When they are ready, their engineers and their mechanics give you a tool, or the potential to win.”

Ickx points to the modern pit stop as the ultimate example of this collective human perfection.

“You know in Formula One, when they change the four wheels in three seconds, it's considered a bad pit stop,” Ickx marveled. “The record is 1.9 seconds for the four wheels. It’s impressive. Every detail is important and everyone has a very important role — the driver is only there to finish the job.”

This focus on the collective is a natural fit for a Korean marque. Ickx observed that the cultural efficiency of the Korean business mindset is a massive advantage in the paddock.

“[In Korea] ‘bbali-bbali’ means when you decide something, you’re instantly ready to climb the mountain. You go for it. You have no time to lose, no time to argue or discuss. [As soon as] the decision is taken, you behave like a missile,” Ickx said.

The Reality of Modern Racing

The motorsport world that Genesis Magma Racing has entered is vastly different from the era of straw bales and gentleman drivers that Ickx dominated. Back in 1973, Ickx qualified at Spa on the old 13.9-kilometer road course with an average speed of 263.5 kilometers per hour. Today, the tracks are shorter, the safety is infinitely superior, and the nature of the races has fundamentally shifted.

“Today, there is one thing you must learn about long distance. It’s not an endurance race anymore. It’s a sprint,” Ickx explained. “You look at the first 10 cars. There are only few tenths of a second between every car,” Ickx continued. “And when you win in long distance with 25 or 30 seconds [gap], they say, ‘Oh, they had an easy race.’ So, [that] explains why every single detail of the car [matters] and the performance comes down to milliseconds.”

Abiteboul echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the margins for error have vanished.

“In such a long race, you can make no mistakes,” he said, explaining the strategic nuances between different tracks. “For us, the focus of these first two races, in particular, was always going to be focused on reliability and execution. Right now, we are very low risk in terms of approach for the drivers, the setups, and the strategy.”

More than Just a Finish Line

The culmination of this relentless push arrived in April 2026 at the 6 Hours of Imola, 499 days after the announcement of the formation of the Genesis Magma Racing team. Genesis Magma Racing officially debuted in the FIA WEC, proving the engineering resilience of the brand by getting both cars across the finish line. The momentum grew stronger the very next month in Belgium — on Donckerwolke and Ickx’s home turf.

“The 500 days were just enough for us to be ready, because it takes time to develop all the systems,” Abiteboul admitted. “And that’s what we need to get under control so that we can [ultimately achieve] wins.”

“The most important part of the success remains the humans who are composing the team,” Ickx concluded. “The rest is, how do you say, b-------.”

LE CASTELLET, France, June 4, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing expect a tough challenge as it makes its 24 Hours of Le Mans debut. Despite promising results in the first two rounds of the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), including a first points finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, the team has reset expectations for its first start in the centerpiece of the season.

Team Prepared for Milestone Event

The team, which is entering a pair of GMR-001 Hypercars in the race, will become the first South Korean manufacturer ever to compete in the famous endurance race. To mark the occasion, the team’s two cars will run in a special livery returning to the Magma Orange to red gradient design first shown at Le Mans last year on the GMR-001 Hypercar show car in the manufacturer village.

Recognizing that the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a rigorous test of any team and car, and even more so for a squad in its position — going into just its third-ever competition — Genesis Magma Racing has set humble ambitions for the race. The team’s immediate aim is for both its cars to be recorded as classified finishers, requiring the cars to complete 70% of the total distance completed, as well as be running at the end of the race. This goal requires not only reliability from the cars, but also a mistake-free performance from the pit crew, making the race an all-round test for the team.

For the race weekend, Genesis Magma Racing will also host guests from the growing number of Genesis markets around the world, along with the senior leadership across its global organization. In addition to the Genesis booth in the Manufacturers’ Village, Genesis will also have a strong presence in the paddock this year, bringing to the circuit a taste of its hospitality philosophy of treating every customer as its “Son-nim,” or honored guest, at its global network of studios and showrooms.

To complete its preparations, Genesis Magma Racing completed an endurance test at Le Castellet. The test gave each of the team’s drivers, including Official Reserve driver Jamie Chadwick, time at the wheel of the GMR-001 Hypercar. A night stint gave Paul-Loup Chatin his first laps in the car in darkness, gaining his first experience of the strong pool of light created by the car’s Two-Line headlamps — a signature element of all Genesis designs.

As well as the experience of the 24-hour test, the team continues to learn with each session it completes. Through this process the team has been able to implement many small advances — both technical and operational — based on issues encountered in the first two rounds that will benefit the team at Le Mans. 

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “Our debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a huge moment for Genesis Magma Racing. From the moment we made the announcement of the program, there have been a lot of eyes on this date. Becoming the first South Korean manufacturer to compete at Le Mans is a huge honor, and we will have many guests from Genesis around the world that we can show our work to and bring into the world of motorsport and the unique atmosphere of the 24 Hours of Le Mans specifically. However, we know that the race is going to be a massive challenge for us — for the reliability of the car, for our operations as a team — so we have to be realistic with what we expect, even after a good start to the WEC season. If we can bring both GMR-001 Hypercars to the finish, that will be the biggest positive we can take for the rest of the year.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the race for a driver and an iconic race in motorsport. It is a unique challenge. For Genesis Magma Racing, it is our first Le Mans, and being part of it represents another important step in our story. From a sporting perspective, our target is to have a clean race and maximize every opportunity and keep improving throughout the event. The race is not only about speed, but also about managing energy — the car’s and your own — concentration and avoiding mistakes over the 24 Hours. The most important thing for a driver is to be able to arrive at the start of the race fully prepared and 100% physically and mentally. Le Mans is very demanding from the first day at the track until the checkered flag. Every detail matters to make the weekend as smooth as possible. Clear communication between driver and engineer, traffic management and consistency over the length of a stint are all crucial.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “There is no race on the calendar that stresses a program quite like Le Mans. The combination of high speeds, long hours and inclement weather creates a unique set of technical challenges that you simply cannot fully replicate in testing or other WEC events. Reliability is the fundamental requirement for a race of such nature and it is our focus for now. The first two rounds of the season gave us a clearer picture of where our car and our processes needed to mature. We identified specific areas of sensor failure recognition as well as driver interface usability that were holding us back and we've worked hard to implement solutions ahead of Le Mans. We have set up a test plan for the prologue to validate our efforts and allow for adaptation before the race week begins. In the race, our objective is straightforward: finish with the checkered flag waving.”

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

Pipo Derani said: “I’m very much looking forward to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s such a special race. Of course, there’s the World Endurance Championship, but Le Mans is such a special race, if not the most iconic race in the world. We were not expecting the result we had at Spa. We worked hard for it, but as a team we want to keep our feet on the ground and make sure we tackle Le Mans with humility. It's not going to be an easy task. It’s by far the biggest challenge we’ve had so far. But as we’ve already proved, we are ready for any task. Regardless of how difficult it is, we throw ourselves in. We want to gather as much experience as possible, hopefully get the GMR-001 Hypercar to the end, so that we can use all that knowledge to become a better package for the second half of the season and into next year, and any result we achieve this year is a bonus.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “My Hypercar debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans is obviously something very special for me. It’s a race every driver dreams about, so to be part of it with the #17 team is a proud moment. I’m really looking forward to the atmosphere, the fans and experiencing the race from inside a Hypercar for the first time. The goal is to have a clean race, maximize every opportunity and bring home a strong result for Genesis Magma Racing. After the strong result at Spa, the team has good momentum, but Le Mans is a different race and we need to stay focused and execute everything perfectly over 24 hours. My LMP2 experience from last year will definitely help because I already know how intense the event is, especially with traffic, night driving and the rhythm of the week. But racing the GMR-001 Hypercar at Le Mans will still be a completely new challenge.”

André Lotterer said: “The 24 Hours of Le Mans means a lot, not only to me, but all the drivers competing there. It has so much history. It has created heroes of brands and drivers. It’s a race where everyone wants to shine. It’s even sweeter if you win, which I’ve been lucky to taste three times, so Le Mans has been good to me. I always love going there. It’s a pleasure to drive on that track, and I’m very excited to go there with our new team and drive the GMR-001 Hypercar there for the first time. The special livery is a real success. The design team did really well. The gradient came out nicely and it will be a nice pop of color on track. For the race we’re focusing on ourselves, trying to do the best with what we have learned so far. It’s always also a big task to be able to reduce the amount of problems and avoid penalties for 24 hours, but who knows? There’s always a lot that can happen at Le Mans.”

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “Le Mans is special. It’s the most important and most beautiful race of the year. I come from Chartres, which is only an hour from Le Mans, so it’s completely my home race. A lot of the efforts we make the entire year are for the 24 Hours of Le Mans, so I cannot wait to be there. My first laps in the GMR-001 Hypercar were really good, a super first impression. The team have done a really good job with the lights — the visibility is impressive. We know that Le Mans by night is magic, but if you are capable to see a tiny bit more than the others you have a bit more confidence. The whole car looks great. I think everybody expected an orange livery for us to start the year, but it was nice to start the year with the liquid metal and black, and now we have arrived at the big one to have the full Genesis Magma color on our car.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “I’m really looking forward to the 24 Hours of Le Mans. It’s the highlight of the year for every single team and driver. I always feel that it is a very special event, especially being French and having a lot of fans there, so you get to feel a bit like a rockstar for a few days. It’s only our third race as Genesis Magma Racing, and our first race that’s more than six hours. Looking at the first two races, we know that the GMR-001 Hypercar has great potential, but we’ve still had small issues here and there that the team has been pushing flat out to solve and be as prepared as possible. As a team we’ve been working well since the start of the season, so we want to keep it that way and have a clean race. Seeing the checkered flag without any issues would be a bit of a win, and if we manage that we should also have a bit of pace to challenge some other cars, so let’s see where we end up.”

Dani Juncadella said: “I’m excited for our debut at Le Mans — it’s the biggest race of the year and to be taking part with a Hypercar is something to be proud of. Le Mans is obviously a highlight of the year. It’s a race that I’m super experienced with — I’ve only done it two times before in LMGT3, so it’s a new challenge for me in the Hypercar class. It’s going to be a long week of preparation with the Prologue, which will help us get some laps already and I can see how it compares to the GT car. Physically, Le Mans is not the hardest race because you have a lot of long straights where you can rest, but it’s nevertheless a 24-hour race so it’s always a big test for everybody. We did an endurance test at Le Castellet, so we think we’ve made some steps forwards to move on from the small setbacks we’ve had at Imola and Spa, so the car should be in a good place.”

LE CASTELLET, France, June 3, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing has partnered with Le Mans-based furniture designer and design studio Racing & Emotion, naming them a new Official Licensing Partner. The collaboration between Racing & Emotion and Genesis Magma Racing marks the creation of the team’s first collectible design and lifestyle partnership, with bespoke products from the company incorporated into the team’s hospitality spaces for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Inspired by the Legend of Le Mans 

Racing & Emotion was founded as a tribute to motorsport, based in the city where the 24 Hours of Le Mans has been responsible for creating legends of manufacturers and drivers for more than a century. Racing & Emotion creates motorsport-inspired collectible design pieces and furniture celebrating racing culture, craftsmanship and the heritage of Le Mans. 

Now the Magma livery that will appear on both Genesis GMR-001 Hypercars for their debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans will join some of the most famous liveries in racing as part of the Racing & Emotion collection. The identity and philosophy of Genesis Magma Racing will be translated into several designs from the Racing & Emotion range, including the signature Art Ball Chairs and other limited-edition objects inspired by the GMR-001 Hypercar. 

“Through this multi-year collaboration, our two brands unite around a shared commitment to luxury, craftsmanship and savoir-faire, each within their own field of expertise,” said Benoit Fraylon, Racing & Emotion Founder. “With Genesis Magma Racing, we found a common vision where passion, performance and design naturally converge. Together, our ambition is to transform that racing emotion into collectible design pieces and works of art, extending the experience beyond the track and bringing the spirit of Genesis Magma Racing into living spaces.” 

Four signature Art Ball Chairs — two each carrying the #17 and #19 numbers of the GMR-001 Hypercar in the race — will be part of Genesis’ hospitality setup during the 24 Hours of Le Mans, showcasing the product to the manufacturer’s invited guests and the potential of the new partnership. 

Racing and Design Combine for Genesis Magma Racing 

For Genesis Magma Racing, collaborating with an exciting motorsport-inspired, design-led brand reflects the team’s own values and philosophy and that of the Genesis brand it represents in the FIA WEC competition. 

In contrast with Racing & Emotion’s philosophy of motorsport inspiring design, the GMR-001 Hypercar is inspired by Genesis’ own “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy. In the creation of the team, the manufacturer has been able to take this to the natural extremes allowed within a specially designed race car. The GMR-001 Hypercar features the same simple parabolic lines seen in all Genesis models, as well as the iconic Two-Line headlamps that will be crucial during the hours of darkness on track during the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 

Though only in their first season of racing in the FIA WEC, Genesis Magma Racing have already captured the attention of many fans after its competitive debut at the 6 Hours of Imola and first points-scoring finish at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps last month. However, a first visit to the 24 Hours of Le Mans is a further significant challenge for the team, especially coming so early in the history of the team. 

“Le Mans, and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, is a central point of the FIA WEC season,” said Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke. “Success at Le Mans can create legends of manufacturers, and that is what Racing & Emotion’s designs celebrate with some of the color schemes that have become timeless symbols and transcended motorsport to become icons of their own.” 

He continued, “This is obviously something we aim for with Genesis, Genesis Magma Racing and the Magma livery the GMR-001 Hypercar will carry at Le Mans. We know we have a lot of work to do before we can earn a place to join the rich heritage legacy of endurance racing celebrated through Racing & Emotion’s creations, but to be included alongside them is certainly a small first step.” 

NEW YORK, June 2, 2026 — Timed to Marilyn Monroe’s centennial, Genesis unveils “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon,” an immersive exhibition at its flagship brand space, Genesis House, that reveals a side of one of the world’s most recognizable figures rarely discussed: her intelligence, ambition and intentional self-authorship.

The world knows Marilyn Monroe as an image, glamorous, timeless, mythic. This exhibition uncovers what the headlines often missed. Monroe dared to dream beyond circumstance, studied the world around her, built power within a restrictive system and made her future visible before anyone else could fully see it. She understood that her image was a tool, not her totality, and engineered her own transformation from Norma Jeane into an enduring icon.

“Manifesting Marilyn speaks to the courage required to imagine beyond expectation,” says Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America. “Marilyn’s story reminds us that icons are shaped through vision, discipline, resilience and the willingness to begin again. At Genesis, and through this latest installation at Genesis House, that ethos of becoming informs how we think about design, culture and hospitality, and how we create experiences that look forward with intention.”

While visitors move through reimagined headlines, an intimate office, a dedicated library, a vanity that reframes glamour as craft, a cinematic experience and a reflective new beginnings space, they encounter not a myth, but a woman who dreamed with intention and built a future beyond expectation. From Norma Jeane to Marilyn and beyond, the Cellar Stage brings self-creation to life as an immersive experience of light, reflection and legacy.

As “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon” invites visitors to reconsider Marilyn Monroe through the lens of intention, intellect and self-authorship, the exhibition’s opening night will be attended by Chloë Sevigny, whose career has been defined by a similarly thoughtful and unconventional approach to storytelling. Known for her discerning eye and enduring influence across film, fashion and culture, Sevigny brings a modern sensibility that aligns naturally with the exhibition’s reframing of Marilyn as someone who shaped her own narrative.

“Marilyn has always represented far more than the image people project onto her,” said Chloë Sevigny. “What I find so compelling about Manifesting Marilyn is how it honors her ambition and the agency she claimed in shaping her own story. It feels incredibly resonant today, and Genesis House creates a space that invites you to look closer and reflect on how icons and individuals are truly made.”

The Exhibition

The exhibition unfolds across six distinct spaces, each revealing a different dimension of Marilyn’s mind and method:

• “The Headline Room – The Rewrite:” This space challenges reductive narratives by reimagining headlines about Marilyn and restoring her as the author of her own story rather than a subject of public myth.
• “Marilyn’s Office – Mind of the Strategist:” Set within her working environment, this gallery presents Marilyn as a driven businesswoman through original documents, personal materials and artifacts that highlight her role as a strategic decision-maker.
• “The Library:” Featuring books from her personal collection, this space reveals Marilyn’s intellectual curiosity and engagement with literature, psychology and philosophy.
• “The Vanity:” This environment reframes glamour as an intentional practice, using personal objects and wardrobe to show how Marilyn constructed and controlled her public image.
• “The Screen Experience – The Transformation:” Through immersive visuals and her own voice, this cinematic installation traces her evolution from Norma Jeane to global icon, emphasizing the discipline and determination behind her transformation.
• “The New Beginnings Hall:” The final space invites visitors to reflect on their own next chapter and consider the legacy they will create. 
   

Developed in partnership with Authentic Brands Group (Authentic), owner and steward of the Marilyn Monroe estate, the exhibition reflects a shared commitment to preserving and celebrating the legacy of one of the most important figures in arts and culture on what would have been her 100th birthday.

“Seeing the world of Marilyn Monroe come to life through the vision of Genesis House provides a unique way for fans and new audiences alike to see her through a new and modern lens without being disruptive to her legacy,” said Dana Carpenter, executive vice president, Entertainment at Authentic. “This space reflects who she was beyond the image and allows each visitor to see her as a unique multifaceted individual who continues to make a generational impact.”

As Genesis House celebrates Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday through “Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon,” New York City will also honor her enduring legacy with a special lighting of the Empire State Building. To mark the occasion, Genesis House will livestream the iconic illumination on its showroom LED screen. Together, the exhibition and lighting underscore Marilyn’s lasting impact on culture, creativity and popular imagination, and reflect the continued resonance of her story.

Genesis takes inspiration from Marilyn’s ability to transcend expectations. Her story mirrors the brand’s conviction that icons are not defined by legacy alone. They are shaped through intention, design and the courage to make something new manifest. Her centennial becomes an invitation for every guest to move beyond the narratives written about them and step into the future they will write for themselves.

Visitor Information

“Manifesting Marilyn: The Making of an Icon” is now open to the public through Aug. 2, inviting visitors to experience an immersive exploration of Marilyn Monroe’s life, intellect and self-authorship. The experience continues upstairs with a curated replica of Marilyn’s personal library, offering a tribute to curiosity, learning and the quiet work of becoming. Guests can also enjoy specialty food and beverage offerings at the Genesis House Restaurant throughout the installation.

LE CASTELLET, France, June 1, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing has revealed the special livery that will be carried by the team’s pair of GMR-001 Hypercars for the team’s debut at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The design returns the team’s livery to the Magma-inspired livery shown at the Genesis area of the Manufacturer Village at the 2025 event.

Inspired by Korean Energy and Culture

The livery’s colors take inspiration from the lava at the heart of the Magma name, created in reference to the volcanic origins of the Korean peninsula and the energy that lies below the surface of South Korea. The presence of power below the surface is also present in Korean culture, embodied by the humble confidence shown by the country’s people in the public eye.

Like them, Genesis Magma Racing has high targets and confidence that it can achieve them, but also embodies a humble approach, especially in its debut year in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC). Despite surprising many by scoring points in just its second race in the championship at last month’s 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, Genesis Magma Racing remains focused on the reliability of the GMR-001 Hypercar and the challenge of reaching the finish in its first 24-hour race.

“For the entire Genesis brand, including of course Genesis Magma Racing, design is one of the foundational pillars,” said Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke. “Fans and supporters have been vocal in their love of the Magma Orange concept livery that was unveiled last year, and, as always, Genesis takes our supporters’ feedback into consideration by bringing it to reality with a bold evolution. More than a race livery, it’s an artful statement — where color and form convey the unique performance identity of Genesis.”

The gradual color shift over the length of the GMR-001 Hypercar flows from the signature Magma Orange at the front — a hue symbolizing Korea’s vibrant energy — to deep red at the rear, evoking a sense of speed and rising intensity, mirroring both the temperature of a high-performance engine and the acoustic shift of the Doppler effect as a car passes at full speed. The livery retains the hangeul lettering for “Magma” (마그마) over the length of the car, now in a contrasting gradient, running from red at the front of the car to Magma Orange at the rear.

The team’s two cars – #17 and #19 – will both carry the design for the 24 Hours of Le Mans. The two liveries differ in the #19 sporting white Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing logos and additional highlights compared to the orange and black of the #17 entry.

Working With Technical Partner to Perfect Design

“The 24 Hours of Le Mans is the biggest weekend of our year,” said Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul. “It is the toughest test we face during the FIA WEC season, especially as a team in our first season, but it is also our biggest opportunity to show the identity of Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing to the world through racing.”

He added: “Since we launched the team in December 2024, Magma has been a key part of our name and our identity, so to be able to bring Genesis Magma fully to life on track is very important. The cars look fantastic, and as a team we will be working to make sure our performance matches the level of attention that has gone into creating the designs.”

Donckerwolke explained: “As we do for every production car, we will keep innovating and testing new solutions to always be recognized and unique. Genesis global design has worked hand in hand with the racing team to create a striking yet lightweight livery for the biggest race of the 2026 WEC season, the 24 Hours of Le Mans.”

To bring the design to life, Genesis Magma Racing has worked closely with Technical Partner HEXIS to perfect the gradient design to look its best both standing on the grid and racing at full speed. Drawing on the expertise of HEXIS and its latest generation of wrapping films, these ultra-conformable adhesives have been specially developed to enhance the colors from every angle. The specially engineered films are capable of enduring the harsh conditions of endurance racing, from high-velocity airflow and heat to track debris. To guarantee this, HEXIS’s BODYFENCE steps in as an invisible armor; this advanced paint protection film keeps the livery spotless and fiercely glossy, ensuring that gravel and track grit won't dull the design, all without adding unnecessary weight, while meeting the strict design brief for the livery. From the afternoon sun to the dead of night on the Mulsanne Straight, the GMR-001 Hypercar will catch the light in a unique way, ensuring a spectacular visual impact without compromising the car’s performance.

This second installment of the 2026 WEC Season Guide explores the strategy and tactics used in endurance racing.

What Happens During a Race?

Racing teams typically consist of two cars and three drivers per car who take turns driving over the race’s duration. Each turn is called a stint. Physical and mental stamina are crucial; races are a real test of endurance for both humans and machines.

A lot of planning goes into each race. Race strategy goes far beyond mere speed on the track in WEC. Teams must carefully consider everything including tire regulations, fuel management and pit stop timing to optimize performance. This strategic decision-making can significantly impact lap times and overall race outcomes, as teams aim to balance speed with durability.

Tire Trade-Offs

In endurance racing, tires are a critical strategic resource. The WEC strictly regulates every aspect of their use, from the number of sets available for a race weekend (depending on race duration) to the types of tire compounds allowed. Teams are permitted only two specifications of dry-weather tires, soft and hard, and one specification for wet weather. Soft tires provide maximum grip for faster laps but also degrade quickly, while hard tires are slower but last longer.

This creates some crucial strategic trade-offs. Pushing the car too hard will wear out soft tires quickly, forcing an extra, time-consuming pit stop. Conversely, being too conservative by running harder tires might save the need for a pit stop but cost valuable seconds on every lap. Teams must constantly analyze track temperature, weather conditions and driver feedback to decide the perfect moment to change tires, a call that can ultimately determine the difference between victory and defeat.

Pit Stop Precision

Pit stops in WEC races are intense moments that require precision and coordination. With strict rules governing how these stops are executed, every second counts. Each team is limited to 11 crew members, with each person assigned a specific role: one car controller, one refueller, one fire extinguisher holder, one cut-off valve attendant, one cockpit helper, four mechanics and two tire and brake technicians. This structured approach ensures that each aspect of the pit stop is handled efficiently, but it also adds pressure, as any mistake can lead to costly delays. 

Safety is paramount during pit stops. All personnel must remain behind a designated safety line when the car enters or leaves the pit area, and the engine must be turned off before any team member can approach the vehicle. Additionally, teams are allowed only two tire guns — one for each tire-and-brake technician. In a significant change to previous regulations, tire changes and refueling can now occur simultaneously, allowing teams to minimize pit stop duration and maintain competitive momentum.

Driver Swapping

In the WEC, driver-change strategies focus on rotating up to three drivers per car to manage fatigue and optimize performance across race durations from six to 24 hours, with each stint typically lasting 45 minutes to one hour or until a fuel tank is depleted. While there is no specific limitation on how long a single driver can be in a Hypercar, each driver of a team must complete at least one lap to qualify as a member of a racing team during a race.

Strategic timing of swaps is critical, as teams balance driver freshness, especially during night stints or fatigue-heavy periods, with pit stop efficiency to gain or maintain track position. For instance, double or triple stints allow one driver to push longer before handing off. Synchronizing changes with refueling and tire swaps minimize time loss. Poor timing can drop a car a lap behind, making recovery difficult without safety car periods. Swaps occur in the pit lane with the engine off, executed rapidly by limited crews.

Safety Procedures

• Full Course Yellow: When there is an incident on track and all cars must slow to 80 kilometers per hour. Intended for allowing interventions that will take less than one lap.
   

• Safety Car: All cars bunch into a single line at a maximum of 80 kilometers per hour due to an incident on track.
   

• Virtual Safety Car: Similar to a Full Course Yellow, but in WEC races a Virtual Safety Car period is always followed by a Safety Car period.

Reading the Race: Flag Signals

Flags enable Race Control to communicate with drivers on the track.

Green Flag

Signals the start of the race or the end of a caution period, indicating that drivers can race as normal. 

Checkered Flag

Marks the end of the race.

Yellow Flag

Indicates that there is a hazard on the track, requiring drivers to slow down.

Blue Flag

Indicates that faster cars are approaching, and the driver should let them pass.

Red Flag

Means the race is stopped due to an accident or bad weather resulting in dangerous racing conditions. Cars must either return to the pit road or stop on the track immediately.

Yellow/Red Flag

Signifies that something on the track could cause cars to lose control, such as oil or debris.

Black Flag

Displayed with a car number, indicates that a driver has violated a rule and must return to the pit stop.

Black and White Flag

Displayed with a car number, it signals unsportsmanlike conduct.

Black Flag with Orange Circle

Displayed with a car number, indicates that a vehicle has serious mechanical issues or loose bodywork that poses a risk to others. The car must make a pit stop for inspection.

Penalties

Failure to comply with sporting rules or safety regulations will result in penalties for teams.

• Drive-Through: The driver must enter the pit lane and exit back onto the track without stopping.
   

• Stop-and-Go: The driver must enter the pit lane, come to a complete stop in their pit box, and then exit to rejoin the race.
   

• Pit Stop Time Penalty: The driver must enter the pit lane, stop in their pit box for a specified amount of time, and only then exit and rejoin the race.

Other Useful Terms

• Chicane: A sequence of corners where drivers must go left, then immediately right – or vice-versa. (e.g., Ford Chicanes at Le Mans, Variante Alta at Imola).
   

• Cockpit: The space in the car where the driver sits. 
   

• Energy: A combination of fuel and hybrid power. The maximum amount of energy used defines a stint’s maximum length. 
   

• Free Practice: The first session of any race weekend, where teams set up their cars for the specific needs of each individual circuit. 
   

• Garage: Where each car is worked on between sessions and where teams will complete any major repairs during the race. Also often referred to as the “box.” 
   

• Hairpin: A sharp 180-degree – or near 180-degree – corner, often the slowest point on a circuit (e.g., La Source at Spa).
   

• Hypercar: The premier class of the FIA World Endurance Championship, where Genesis Magma Racing is competing in 2026. Also, the name of one of the technical regulations to which cars can be built. 
   

• Hyperpole: The final part of Qualifying where the fastest 10 (eight at Le Mans) from each class compete for Pole Position. 
   

• LMDh: Another set of technical regulations that cars in the Hypercar class can be built to. The GMR-001 is built to LMDh regulations. 
   

• LMGT3: Alongside Hypercar, the other full-time class in the FIA World Endurance Championship for cars more closely based on road-going sports cars. 
   

• LMP2: A secondary class of Prototype racing that only joins the FIA World Endurance Championship at the 24 Hours of Le Mans but is the top class in the European Le Mans Series where Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers have been competing in since 2025. 
   

• Pass Around: When cars on track between the Safety Car and their class leader may overtake the Safety Car and join the back of the line. 
   

• Out-braking: When one driver overtakes another by braking later than a rival before a corner. 
   

• Paddock: The area of any racetrack where the teams are based, including where hospitality areas are often based. 
   

• Pit Lane: The area away from the main racetrack where teams complete their pit stops or wait before the start of a Free Practice or Qualifying session. 
   

• Pit Wall: The wall between the pitlane and racetrack, where the Race Engineer, Team Strategists and other key figures often work. 
   

• Pole Position: The first position on the grid, awarded to the fastest car in the Qualifying sessions. 
   

• Qualifying: The session where speed really counts and the grid is decided by each car’s fastest lap during the session. 
   

• Race Engineer: The team member who leads the team on track, deciding the strategy for each car – when to pit for fuel, new tires or a driver change. 
   

• Slipstream: When one car follows closely behind another, often to gain time and complete an overtake. 
   

• Stint, Double Stint, Triple Stint: A driver’s turn in the car between pit stops. The minimum and maximum length of a stint are set by the regulations. When a driver drives two or more of these durations it is called a double or triple stint. It can also apply to tires.

Endurance racing is a multifaceted sport where strategy, precision and teamwork are just as important as pure speed. With these fundamental ideas in mind, new fans of the sport can better understand and appreciate the drama and excitement of GMR’s WEC journey.

Stay tuned for part 3.

SEOUL, May 20, 2026 — The Genesis GV60 Magma has received distinction for Product Design at the 2026 Red Dot Award in the “Cars and Motorcycles” category. The coveted accolade recognizes the model’s exceptional and innovative design.

“Magma is always the superhero of Genesis; a bionic cocktail between the values of the original model, the donor vehicle and this extra facet,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis.

The GV60 Magma is the first production model to emerge from Genesis’ luxury high performance Magma program, officially marking the brand’s entry into the high-performance market. The program — named after the unseen energy of molten rock beneath the earth’s surface — aims to create a high-performance version of each vehicle in the Genesis lineup. Embodying the brand’s “Athletic Elegance” philosophy, the GV60 Magma is engineered to provide a sophisticated yet thrilling combination of luxury and high performance and create a deeper emotional connection between the driver and the car.

High-Performance Exterior Design

The exterior design of the GV60 Magma emphasizes the presence of “subtle, untapped power” steering away from overtly ostentatious or aggressive styling. The vehicle features a wider and lower body, which drops the center of gravity to create a planted, confident stance and improve driving stability. Its design incorporates several features to manage airflow and increase downforce for high-speed stability, including a bold front bumper with a widened air intake for improved cooling, canards to reduce lift and a distinctive winglet-type rear spoiler. The GV60 Magma is also equipped with 21-inch forged wheels, designed to be lightweight and help cool the brakes, that are fitted with 275/35R21 tires.

Driver-Focused Interior

The interior blends luxurious and sporty elements, creating an environment that is both comfortable and focused on the driving experience. The racing-inspired cabin features exclusive 10-way power bucket seats upholstered in a premium suede-like material, providing both comfort and firm support during spirited driving. The interior is finished with double-diamond accent stitching — available in Magma Orange or Ash White — along with a steering wheel featuring a dedicated “Magma” button and metal pedals, reinforcing its sporty character.

Switches, bezels and door handles are all finished in black to add a cohesive sophistication, while a 27-inch integrated OLED display serves as both the instrument cluster and navigation screen. When “Magma Mode” is activated, the cluster changes to a three-circle layout to display the most essential driving data.

The GV60 Magma accelerates from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in just 3.4 seconds and from 0 to 200 kilometers per hour in just 10.9 seconds — offering the most powerful performance within the Genesis lineup.

The Red Dot Design Award has been a globally recognized authority on design quality for over six decades. As one of the most prestigious competitions in the world, it honors the best work each year in three categories: Product Design, Brands & Communication Design and Design Concept.

Genesis’ repeated success in these awards is a testament to its profound commitment to design excellence. Each honor reinforces the marque’s status as a luxury automotive brand that not only pioneers unique innovations but is also devoted to creating a truly comprehensive and satisfying customer experience.

STAVELOT, Belgium, May 10, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing scored its first points in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC), as Pipo Derani brought the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar home in eighth place at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. The team took advantage of an aggressive strategy decision in the final hour of the race, with the Brazilian able to defend his position in the final part of the race.

Result Highlights Team’s Early Progress

The two starting drivers, André Lotterer and Dani Juncadella, held their positions at the start of the race. Good pace and a strategy decision to only partially fuel Jaubert for his second stint of the race allowed the #17 car to climb up to tenth before the Frenchman made way for Pipo Derani with just over 2:30 remaining in the race.

Facing an issue that left the car down on power, the team made another aggressive strategy decision at the final stop under a Virtual Safety Car that, though giving the team track position, left Derani at a disadvantage compared to those around him. Taking the restart with 34 minutes remaining in eighth place, he was able to move up as others suffered incidents ahead. After a brief exchange of positions on a final restart ten minutes later, where Derani briefly ran as high as sixth, he settled into eighth place. Defending superbly through the closing stages against drivers with newer tires, he held on to score Genesis Magma Racing’s first points in just the second start for the team.

A fix to an electrical issue lost the #19 entry seven laps after the opening hour of the contest. However, with the problem solved efficiently by the team, they were able to use the remainder of the race to gather crucial data about the balance of the GMR-001 Hypercar in different situations. With this goal in mind, Jaminet took two rear tires at his stop mid-way through his double-stint, reporting the effect on balance back to the garage.

In line with the team’s goals before the race, the focus in the final hours became bringing the car successfully to the end, maximizing the experience gained from the weekend and repeating their achievement from the season opener.

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes

Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul, said: “In only our second participation in an Endurance race, we could not have dreamt of a better place than Spa to score the very first points in the history of Genesis Magma Racing. We are still a very young team and this result is an extremely emotional moment for all its members, and I hope that will make the entire Hyundai Motor Group proud. As we had some issues with power and with energy consumption, we decided to make an aggressive strategic move towards the end of the race with a very short stop with the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar perfectly executed by the pit crew and Pipo, and it played out very nicely. We need to  continue to consolidate our foundation so that we can be here and beyond on a regular basis, but it's great that it's coming now because it also gives us  the momentum to tackle as many of the issues we have been facing before the next major milestone in our program in Le Mans.”

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “This is an amazing result for all of Genesis Magma Racing and the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar team. We were under a lot of pressure at the end. Pipo did a fantastic job because we had some issues. He deserved his position because he protected his position superbly at the end. He did a fantastic job, as did André Lotterer and Mathys Jaubert, who drove before him. Despite improvements since Imola, the #19 car unfortunately had some problems again. Step by step we need to climb the hill.”

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “My heart is still racing from the last two hours. It wasn't easy. We faced some technical difficulties, and we worked through them as a team. This is just going to be a super motivational factor for us moving into the big race next. I am absolutely thrilled with the way that we worked together, the way all the drivers performed. We were really a two-car team with an army of people behind, and we all worked together. We learned a lot of things as well on the operational and technical sides. We learned that we still have some weaknesses. We were able to limp through, but we need to be stronger for the next one.”

Anouck Abadie, Genesis Magma Racing Team manager, said: “Finishing the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps was a challenge. We will have a full season full of challenges, but this one was certainly a tough one. I think we are showing that we are capable of working together to face whatever comes at us. We had some scary moments but in the end the guys did an amazing job and we crossed the finish line with both cars, and the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar in a very good position. So now it's very positive. We still need to work on some procedures to see how we can optimize some issues that we have faced, but we need to learn from that and then get the best out of it.”

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar

Pipo Derani said: “We were battling some issues from the moment I got in the car. From that moment, I was trying to survive, understand what we could do to improve, and get the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar to the checkered flag. I kept pushing Mathieu Leroy for a strategy to get track position in order to try and maybe hold the cars behind, because it was the only way we would get to the points. I was fighting to manage the energy, asking the engineers the numbers, but at the end we did just that, and I was able to hold quite a few cars behind. I just kept my head down. I'm very proud of the team, and to be able to bring the first points home to Genesis Magma Racing. It's been a long time coming, but yet so early days for us.”

Mathys Jaubert said: “The race was amazing. As we did in ELMS last year, Mathieu Leroy [#17  race engineer] did a mega job on the strategy. We might have been a bit lucky with the last full course yellow, but we had to be in the right place to be lucky. What a race. We did a pretty good job. For me, the #17 GMR-001 Hypercar was great, no issues at all. We were able, like in Imola, to keep the other cars behind when we were fighting for top ten positions. So, the first points is a good step. Now the next race is Le Mans. It's going to be a new one for the team and the longest one. It's a bit harder and we need to keep working to improve. We will take many lessons from this one, because now the focus is to take the experience we have and prepare for our 24 Hours race.”

André Lotterer said: “It‘s very emotional for the whole team to have this result. The strategy came towards us, we were a bit aggressive, but we take it. It's a very big day for Genesis Magma Racing and the whole brand to be able to score our first points so early in this journey. Pipo did some amazing defending. It was really a tough job for him, to be longer on the tires and also we had issues with the car that he had to manage, but he kept his cool and really, really did a good job. What we did in Imola was a great achievement for the team. We had similar aims to be at the finish line and establish ourselves in this championship. But secretly, I had hopes for our first points and they came.”

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar

Dani Juncadella said: “It was a difficult race for the #19 GMR-001 Hypercar, of course, because we had the electrical issue. But after that, a bit like in Imola, we drove to the end and we completed a lot of mileage, and we had encouraging pace. It’s amazing for the #17, they get this result. That's a win for everybody in the team. So early in the development phase and the first time racing in Spa with the car, and we score points, that's just incredible. It’s really good for all the team. We drove both cars to the finish line, got a lot of mileage and we were fighting other cars already on a difficult track. I feel every race we're making steps forward.”

Mathieu Jaminet said: “It was a bit of a tough day for us with the issue at the start and another small issue again with me. After that, we ran actually pretty smoothly. We drove to the end, so that was good and we had some good pace at stages. We can take some really good learning from the weekend, which is a good thing. We tried some different tire strategies with me.  I’m happy that we leave Spa with a lot more knowledge than before we arrived. So I take that as a really good positive and on a good note, the sister car scores some points which is very good for the spirit of the team. It's a pretty amazing achievement. Hats off to that, and this should only give us a big push to work even harder for the future.”

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “My stint at the end was good. The car behaved well. We were unfortunately a few laps done with a small issue we had at the beginning, but one more time, I think we confirmed that we have a strong and nice car in the GMR-001 Hypercar with good potential and the best is ahead of us, but shows us what we still need to work on to not lose time with the small issue. It's part of motorsport, but we need to be capable of solving it. But it's a learning curve. I'm super happy for our sister car to score the first point for Genesis Magma Racing. They built this story and they made history today. I think it was really important to get those points before Le Mans. I'm super proud of the entire team and I can't wait to be back at Le Mans in a few weeks.”

2026 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps Results – Hypercar class

2026 FIA World Endurance Championship standings – Manufacturer Hypercar class

LE CASTELLET, France, May 7, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing has entered the realm of esports and sim racing for the first time with the launch of GMR Esports. The expansion into esports is a key part of Genesis’ goal to increase awareness of the brand and Genesis Magma Racing among a diverse audience, including further raising the profile of the team in South Korea. 

Esports Squad Supports Main Goals of Team 

The team will compete in official esports events organized on the official game of the series, Le Mans Ultimate, developed by Motorsport Games, including Online Championships, World Endurance Championship Special Events and future official esports competitions. 

In joining these events, GMR Esports will support the work of Genesis Magma Racing. The Esports team will compete in virtual models of the same GMR-001 Hypercar from the WEC, carrying a similar distinctive livery as their on-track counterparts. The team’s presence in the events will help further expand the awareness of the Genesis brand outside of the traditional motorsport audience, just as Genesis Magma Racing aims to expand the following of the manufacturer with its more performance-orientated image and approach. 

Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul said: “Genesis Magma Racing is a large project and we want to be successful everywhere we compete, including with GMR Esports. The creation of GMR Esports makes the team, GMR-001 Hypercar and the Genesis brand more accessible to a wider audience and the success of our drivers in online competition will complement the work of the race team on track.” 

He continued: “Esports is increasingly becoming an entry point to motorsport, so it is very important to have Genesis and Genesis Magma Racing represented there. Esports provides a gateway for would-be drivers to develop their talents, prove themselves to teams in official events, and build a professional racing career. If GMR Esports and our work with Le Mans Ultimate can provide a route for new drivers and fans, then we can certainly take that as a positive, on top of any event results.” 

The launch of GMR Esports builds on Genesis Magma Racing’s existing partnership with Motorsport Games, with Le Mans Ultimate branding featured on the GMR-001 Hypercar. This close collaboration has already enabled the GMR-001 Hypercar to be brought to Le Mans Ultimate ahead of its first competitive outing, giving fans an early opportunity to experience the car in action and underlining a shared commitment to authenticity. 

Virtual and Real-world Racing Experience Combined 

GMR Esports is made of a stable of seven drivers — six main drivers and one reserve, similar to the makeup of the Genesis Magma Racing FIA World Endurance Championship team. The esports drivers are a mix of European and Korean talent and blend proven professional virtual racing and real-world experience, including competing in some of the biggest races in the world. 

The team is led by Dutchman Collin Spork. A former Formula Sim Racing World Champion and a Virtual Endurance World Championship winner in the Hypercar category, Spork combines elite-level sim racing with ongoing work supporting professional race teams as a Simulation and Development Driver. He brings a strong focus on detail and collaboration, helping translate simulator learning into actionable performance gains. 

As well as a driving role, Spork will also take on the technical and development lead within the team. Spork said: “This program is about more than just results — it’s about building a team that can push the limits of the GMR-001 Hypercar in the virtual world and feed that learning back into everything Genesis Magma Racing stands for. Le Mans Ultimate gives us a platform that rewards detail, discipline and teamwork, and that’s exactly the environment we want to develop in. My focus is to make sure we arrive prepared, keep improving every session and represent the Genesis brand with the same professionalism and ambition you see on track.” 

Further leadership is provided by Nissan GT Academy alumni Jesper Pedersen and Slovenian Jernej Simončič, two of endurance sim racing’s most established competitors. Pedersen is an Endurance eRacing World Champion and a Virtual Endurance Championship Division 1 GT3 champion and also a Le Mans Virtual Bahrain 8 Hours overall winner. Alongside his esports record, the Dane brings real-world experience including Formula Ford and national endurance racing. 

Simončič has built a reputation as one of the standout drivers in global esports, with multiple Formula Sim Racing World Championship titles and a record of winning at the highest level across formats, including major LAN finals. He also brings proven endurance credentials highlighted by podium finishes in virtual editions of the 24 Hours of Le Mans and front-running results in the Virtual Endurance Championship. 

Korean Talent Expands Aims of Program 

Genesis Magma Racing’s expansion into esports also provides a new avenue for the team to connect with its growing Korean audience. “GMR Esports and Genesis Magma Racing will work together to achieve our shared goals,” said Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul. “There is no WEC round in the country, but esports are very popular in South Korea. GMR Esports gives us a new, key way to engage with our Korean audience, making Genesis Magma Racing, Genesis and motorsport far more accessible to the new fans we aim to create.” 

Taking advantage of a strong talent pool in the country, four South Korean drivers have been selected to be part of the GMR Esports lineup: Hyukjin Kwon, Gyumin Kim and Youngchan Kim. All three have virtual racing experience, including representing South Korea in the esports disciplines of the FIA Motorsport Games, where Gyumin Kim claimed the Bronze Medal in the F4 class. All three drivers are also regulars in the Hyundai N Festival race series. 

Hyukjin was a four-time race winner in the N2 class of the Hyundai N Festival last year. Gyumin is a former N1 class champion, the highest category in the series, having claimed the title in 2024 before Youngchan went on to secure the championship last season. The success of Gyumin and Youngchan has also led them onto the international stage: in 2025, Gyumin made his debut in the U.S.-based TC America series, while both drivers have become regulars at the Nürburgring 24 Hours where they will make their third and second starts respectively next week. 

The team is completed by Reserve Driver Rokyeong Kang, a 17-year-old rising talent. With experience in virtual competition such as the Hyundai N Virtual Cup, Kang also gained real-world race experience in the Hyundai N Festival, including competition in the N1 class where he secured a victory in the N1 Club category last season. He is viewed as a high-potential prospect for the future of the program. 

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 6, 2026 — CarGurus has honored the Genesis G70 its Best Smart Luxury Awards as part of its inaugural Confidence Awards, recognizing the sport sedan for delivering a combination of advanced technology, safety features and performance for everyday drivers.

“At Genesis, we’re committed to providing vehicles with intuitive features that enhance usability and elevate the driving experience,” said Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America. “G70 continues to resonate with enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike, delivering a refined yet engaging experience.” 

G70 is equipped with advanced technology and convenience features focused on everyday usability. Standard features include standard premium navigation with a 10.25-inch HD screen, USB‑C charging ports, touch‑type climate controls, and a frameless rearview mirror. Available Genesis Digital Key 2 with Near Field Communication (NFC) compatibility allows drivers to unlock, start and share access to the vehicle using Apple Wallet or Samsung Pass, while automatically loading saved driver preferences. 

G70 comes standard with a 2.5-liter turbocharged engine producing 300 horsepower paired with Brembo brakes. It also comes in a 3.3-liter twin turbocharged V6 gasoline engine. This powertrain also propels the G70 Prestige Graphite, balancing performance and advanced technology. Five selectable drive modes adjust steering, throttle response, suspension behavior and fuel efficiency. 

Exterior design elements reflect Genesis “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy, including the new Genesis emblem engraved with a Guilloche pattern, new exterior color options — Vatna Gray and Kawah Blue — and Two-Line headlamps featuring micro lens array (MLA) technology. 

“This award is all about thoughtful luxury that appeals to your head as much as your heart,” said David Undercoffler, head of consumer insights at CarGurus. “And there’s nothing on the road today that’s better at proving luxury can be both rational and indulgent than the Genesis G70. Regardless of which engine, drivetrain, and price point you pick, this sport sedan comes standard with endless satisfaction.” 

The inaugural CarGurus Confidence Awards were relaunched to give shoppers greater clarity and confidence during the car-buying process. Vehicles are evaluated using a rigorous, transparent methodology that leverages CarGurus’ inventory and pricing data, and emphasizes objective vehicle scoring across areas such as performance, efficiency, safety, technology and cost of ownership, with final selections informed by expert insight from the CarGurus editorial and content teams to reflect real-world ownership needs.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., May 4, 2026 — WardsAuto has named the Genesis GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige a 2026 Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Award winner, recognizing the SUV for its interior design, technology and user experience. This marks the second Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX award for Genesis following the all-electric GV60 SUV’s inclusion in 2023.

“GV70 has become our most popular model in the U.S. as customers resonate strongly with the elevated craftsmanship of its cabin and intuitive technologies,” said Tedros Mengiste, Chief Operating Officer of Genesis Motor North America. “This recognition from WardsAuto highlights our focus on designing interiors that enhance the driving experience through a balance of elegance, comfort and usability.”

The interior of the 2026 GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige reflects Genesis’ “Beauty of White Space” philosophy with clean architecture and elevated materials. Design elements include Nappa leather seating surfaces, carbon fiber accents and a microfiber suede headliner.

Convenience features include an Ergo Motion driver’s seat with power lumbar and cushion extension, three zone climate control, enhanced voice recognition controls, and manual rear door shades. The user experience centers on a new 27 inch OLED integrated instrument cluster and display. Also new for 2026 is Terrain Mode which optimizes vehicle performance based on road conditions – snow, mud or sand.

Genesis’ suite of driver assistance technologies includes integrated camera and sensor based systems, including Highway Driving Assist 2, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist, and Rear Cross Traffic Collision Avoidance Assist. Additional technology features include Bang & Olufsen® premium audio, Genesis Connected Services, and Genesis Digital Key 2.

GV70 is a sport-oriented expression of the Genesis SUV lineup, shaped by the brand’s “Athletic Elegance” design philosophy. Its confident proportions and fluid exterior lines set the stage for a cabin that prioritizes refinement and comfort. In the 3.5T Sport Prestige form, the ride and suspension technologies work together to deliver a smooth driving experience. Exterior details reinforce the GV70 3.5T Sport Prestige’s confident presence, including 21 inch sport alloy wheels, exclusive air intake, dark chrome rear diffuser, dual single muffler tips, multi-lens array (MLA) headlamps and a redesigned G-Matrix Crest Grille.

"This GV70 oozes style and luxury, with its sweeping dash, touch of chrome finish on doors, console and steering wheel and carbon-fiber material on doors and console,” said Dave Zoia, judge, WardsAuto. “The quilted seats and splash of color from its orange seatbelts and accent stitching supply the finishing touches. The large, curving screen provides the perfect interface to Genesis’ top-notch infotainment tech. The bottom line: The GV70 strikes all the right chords."

The annual Wards 10 Best Interiors & UX Awards honor vehicles that set new benchmarks in cabin design and usability. Winners are selected through comprehensive daily driving evaluations conducted by WardsAuto judges, who assess interior aesthetics, material quality and fit and finish, connectivity and infotainment, comfort and usability of controls, driver assistance technologies and overall value. For 2026, the awards highlight a broader industry movement toward serene cabin environments paired with advanced, thoughtfully integrated user experience technologies.

LE CASTELLET, France, May 3, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing Trajectory Program drivers Jamie Chadwick, Laurents Hörr and Valerio Rinicella scored a second consecutive fourth place finish in the European Le Mans Series at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. The team rose through the order, running in podium contention for much of the race at the home event of the IDEC Sport team.

Team in Podium Contention from Rear of Class

Jamie Chadwick was forced to start the #18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07 from the back of the LMP2 class field following a penalty in qualifying which led to the team being stripped of their result from the session. Despite the setback, she immediately made good progress — taking two positions on the opening lap and a further two before the first Virtual Safety Car period of the race less than 30 minutes into the contest.

She continued her progress up the order, combining overtakes on circuit and a strategy decision to extend her stint beyond several rivals to rise to third before pitting to hand driving over to Rinicella. The Italian, who had qualified the car, kept the team in position through the calmer middle part of the race, remaining in contact with the podium places as gaps on track ebbed with traffic and strategy decisions.

Hörr took over the car during another Virtual Safety Car intervention with a little over an hour remaining, taking the restart in fourth. The German showed the best pace of the car, setting the team’s fastest lap in pursuit of a podium. The racing of the final stint was frantic, with several leading teams making mistakes allowing Hörr to first take third and then inherit second when the two leaders clashed. However, Hörr had himself picked up damage on the front of the car. A slower final pitstop resulted from the team examining the damage but deciding not to replace the nose of the car. The extra time dropped the #18 from the podium places, now completed by the sister IDEC Sport entry. Instead, as the damage worsened through the final run — Hörr was unable to remount a challenge for third place, instead turning to concentrate on a successful defense to protect his own position.

Post Race Quotes - #18 IDEC Sport Oreca 07

Jamie Chadwick said: “It was good fun. Obviously starting at the back, we had some ground to make up, but I was able to make the most of the traffic and make up a few positions. It was a bit of max attack to get as far forward as possible, which made my stint a bit more fun in a way. Given the penalty and where we started, we can be pretty positive, but we always want more, especially because we were fighting for the podium for so long and it was small things at the very end. Equally, I’m happy for the #28 – they did a great job all weekend -and for us, I think it’s just going to make us hungrier. Two fourth places are good points, but you always want to stand on the podium.”

Valerio Rinicella said: “I think for where we started, fourth place is a mega result. We struggled a little bit with the set-up during Free Practice, but Qualifying was really strong from my side, but we had an issue with the weight, so we had to start last, which messed up a bit of our strategy. With Jamie, we recovered a lot, and my stint was very strong. Some laps in my stint I was lucky with traffic, some lap unlucky, but that’s endurance racing. Laurents also did a mega job fighting for podiums. I’m really happy we managed to make a good recovery, so we just need to be proud. P4 is good points for the championship, and we have to keep working for the next one, so let’s see for Imola.”

Laurents Hörr said: “Generally, we had a strong package this week. We could have made the podium. It was a pity about the last pitstop where we lost a lot of time. The last two strong were just full push, with a lot of track action. One car in front of me had a technical issue and slowed down quite abruptly. The two cars between us saw him in time, but for me it was too late. I touched him slightly. We still had great pace, and I fought for the podium, but with the damage we pushed the tires too hard and I really had to fight in the end to keep P4 which is a solid result for us. It was a really tough race, including some damage at the end, due to some contact. We managed everything well. The team did an incredible job. We had a great car, and a day like today is good for us as a team.”

Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director Gabriele Tarquini said: “Jamie, Valerio and Laurents can be incredibly proud of their performance at the 4 Hours of Le Castellet. The penalty after qualifying was unfortunate, but they and the team responded very well. Jamie had one of her best stints in the car to attack from the back of the class and get the team in contention for the podium, and Valerio and Laurents were able to keep the car in position. The last part of the race was really intense with mistakes and problems for other teams and Laurents moving up to second. Unfortunately, the damage at the end forced him to defend for the final laps. He kept the position well despite the pressure for another strong result.”

FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, May 1, 2026 — Genesis Magma Racing aims to build on an encouraging debut weekend in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) when the series resumes at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. 

Team Aim to Maintain Momentum After Fast Turn Around 

Coming just three weeks after the team made its competitive debut at the 6 Hours of Imola, the race in Belgium gives Genesis Magma Racing a near-immediate opportunity to build on the learnings and momentum gained for the team’s first competitive outing. The pair of GMR-001 Hypercars showed good reliability and pace against the more experienced manufacturers on the grid after a combined Prologue and race weekend. 

However, though obviously wanting to capitalize on a positive first event, the team are wary of over-confidence and remain focused on its own performance – continuing the work they began in Imola. In the short time between the two events the team has been able to analyze its own performance, finding ways to improve its operational processes throughout the team, while keeping the on-track focus on confirming the reliability of the GMR-001 Hypercar. 

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is a formidable challenge for any team, especially one still taking its first steps. The Ardennes circuit is one of the most challenging in the world. The seven-kilometer track features long flat-out sections and famous high-speed corners such as Raidillon and Blanchimont, but also a tighter, more technical, second sector that necessitates a constant compromise on setup. The track is also infamous for unpredictable weather, capable of generating a mix of conditions over the course of single day, let alone a race weekend, giving the team’s engineers another variable to consider in every decision. 

The 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps is scheduled to start at 14:00 local time (GMT+2) on Saturday, May 9. As in the first race of the season both GMR-001 Hypercar will be shared by the full three-driver lineup – Pipo Derani, Mathys Jaubert and André Lotterer in the #17 entry and Paul-Loup Chatin, Mathieu Jaminet and Dani Juncadella in the sister #19 car. 

Genesis Magma Racing Team Management Quotes 

Cyril Abiteboul, Genesis Magma Racing Team Principal, said: “What we achieved in Imola was obviously encouraging, but we need to keep building on the foundations we have built. There have only been a few weeks since our first race, but that has given us time to reflect on our debut weekend and take some lessons which we can apply right away at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. We saw we have the performance and reliability in the GMR-001 Hypercar, and the ability in the team to compete in the Hypercar class; now we have to make sure we can do that for a full race. For Spa we stay focused on delivering on the things that we can control – confirming what we saw at Imola, while beginning to push a little for performance. If we can repeat all the things that we did well in Imola, while taking the extra forward steps that we are aiming for, then we will be able to take our challenge further up the order and keep making the forward steps we need to reach our goals for our first year of racing.” 

Gabriele Tarquini, Genesis Magma Racing Sporting Director, said: “Imola gave us some positive signs and showed the work we have done is moving in the right direction. However, it was only the first race, so we need to stay realistic and keep focused on improving step by step. Spa is a very demanding circuit, both for the car and drivers. The combination of high-speed corners, long straights and changing weather conditions makes it one of the biggest challenges of the season. Not having tested our car at Spa beforehand is an extra challenge for us, but the experience that some of our drivers have at the circuit could help us compensate for that. We are still very early in our program, so every event gives us another valuable opportunity to understand more about the car, improve our package and continue building confidence as a team. Our target for the weekend is clear: to confirm the progress we made in Imola, keep learning and take another step forward in performance and consistency.” 

Justin Taylor, Genesis Magma Racing Chief Engineer, said: “Our focus in our first race was on learning and executing the basics of an FIA WEC weekend. We were successful in gathering a tremendous amount of data, something which was never possible in testing, and we can now use this information and our extra experience to adjust our approach for the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. Spa will bring new challenges with the big compression at Eau Rouge and the speed through Pouhon. It’s a very different challenge to what we faced in Imola, due to the lower downforce nature of the track, so we’ll be able to get some important information about how the handling balance and, undoubtedly, we will gain more information about the 2026 tire. Our focus in Spa will again be on execution and maximizing mileage with the GMR-001 Hypercar to give us as much data as possible to take into the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.” 

Driver Quotes - #17 GMR-001 Hypercar 

Pipo Derani said: “With our first race and finish completed, we are now preparing for Spa-Francorchamps with the goal of making further progress and advancing the development of the GMR-001 Hypercar. Completing the race in Imola with both cars without significant problems has eased some pressure and allows us to concentrate more on performance and execution moving forward, which is particularly important as we move further into the season. There is still much to improve, but we are satisfied with the outcome of the weekend in Imola and aim to maintain a steady pace of progress for Spa. It is quite a different circuit from Imola, so adapting quickly to the track will be important for our learning. I am interested to see how our car performs on this type of track and am ready to get back on track.” 

Mathys Jaubert said: “From Imola I think the biggest takeaway is how strong we were operationally as a team. We executed a clean, controlled race with no major issues, and that’s the kind of foundation we want to carry forward. Personally, I really enjoy racing at Spa. It’s one of the most iconic circuits with a great flow and some very challenging sections. You need commitment and precision, especially in high-speed corners, and the changing weather can make things even more complex. For the car it’s a real test in terms of balance and efficiency over a long lap, so getting everything right is key. The goal is to repeat what we did well in Imola: a clean, well-managed weekend, maximizing every session and putting ourselves in a strong position for the race. If we do that, the result will follow.” 

André Lotterer said: “Very excited to race in Spa as always, as I grew up in Belgium since I was 1 year old. I was playing there a lot as a kid in my father’s race team, and then later on my go-kart tuner was based at the track. I have great memories there, winning WEC races and my only F1 race there, so it’s always a highlight of the year for me. I can’t wait to see all the fans, because there are always a lot there. What we can take from Imola is that we did well on operations and we were effective in everything with almost no problems, so now we can focus more on performance after the debut was ticked off. Spa a demanding circuit, with one of the most exciting corners of the season in Eau Rouge. It’s a high-energy track for the tires, so it’s really interesting for the car setup. We would like to aim for the points. We are still learning how we compare to our rivals, but we saw in Imola that we could compete a little bit, so it would be great if we can push for a bit more.” 

Driver Quotes - #19 GMR-001 Hypercar 

Paul-Loup Chatin said: “Spa is an iconic circuit that we all look forward to visiting every year, so I’m really looking forward to driving there for the first time with the GMR-001 Hypercar. It’s a circuit that requires the best compromise between aerodynamic performance and top speed. From a driving perspective, confidence is key, as well as tire management, which remains a real unknown with the new 2026 tire. First, we need to confirm the positives from Imola and continue progressing in terms of execution and operations. It’s also important to freeze certain processes to build strong routines as a new team. Once these are in place it means we can arrive at any track with a real sense of confidence and calmness and be better placed to react to unexpected things. Our overall package should allow us to fight with the others in the race, and crossing the finish line around tenth position would be a great reward and motivation for the whole team.” 

Mathieu Jaminet said: “I’m looking forward to the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps. It’s a very short turn-around after Imola but I think we had a pretty strong first weekend, so I hope we can keep the momentum and the spirit we had in Italy for the second round. It’s important to see where we are in Spa. It’s a very different track – it’s very fast compared to Imola, so it will be a good place to learn more about the characteristics of the GMR-001 Hypercar. I know Spa really, really well, but I’ve never had the chance to race a Prototype there before – I’ve always raced in GT. I have some really good memories from those races, so I’m looking forward to my first Hypercar race there, and to see how we go as a team. It will be a very important weekend to learn, so every session and lap is going to be important, and I hope we can bring the two cars to the finish again.” 

Dani Juncadella said: “Spa is a really good place. It’s one of my favorite tracks and one of the highlights of the WEC season. I really enjoy racing there. I’ve won the 24 Hours of Spa in GT3, so it’s a place I have fond memories of. Last year in ELMS we crossed the line second after a very strong race – but unfortunately got a penalty. Spa is a track that has a lot of different characteristics, such as a long straight and a good combination of high- and low-speed corners. That makes it very challenging as a driver, and it’s not easy for the engineers to set up the car. You need to think about where you want to maximize the performance. We can take a lot of positives from Imola. We were not expecting to be so competitive so early in the development of the GMR-001 Hypercar. However, we need to keep on learning the class, learning the car so we’ll take the weekend in Spa session-by-session and try to maximize what we have.” 

What is Endurance Racing?

Endurance racing is a marathon rather than a sprint. It is a thrilling motorsport discipline that tests not only the speed and skills of drivers but also the durability of vehicles and teamwork over extended periods.

It involves teams of drivers who share a car, rotating in stints over race durations that commonly range from 6 to 24 hours. The core challenge is not just to finish first but also to cover the most distance in the allotted time while managing fatigue, pit stops, car reliability and changing track and weather conditions.

Why is Genesis Getting into Endurance Racing?

Endurance racing provides an unparalleled platform to push automotive engineering to its limits, serving as the ultimate testing ground for innovation. Genesis Magma Racing (GMR) serves to validate Genesis’ capabilities and credibility under the most extreme competitive conditions. Endurance racing demands high-speed aerodynamics, advanced cooling systems and durability over grueling hours-long competitions — conditions that cannot be replicated through conventional development.

For Genesis, this is a pathway to refine technologies and transfer those learnings into the design and performance of its mass-production vehicles. Motorsport is not just about making the podium. It is about putting design principles and institutional knowledge to the ultimate test and, through that test, refining them to enhance quality and engineering excellence across the entire Genesis lineup.

Forging a New Legacy

Genesis will become the first South Korean automobile manufacturer to compete in the legendary 24 Hours of Le Mans this year. Genesis Magma Racing carries a dual mission: to compete at the highest level of endurance racing and to serve as a cultural ambassador, bringing the excitement of this global sport to Korea.

The team is fielding two GMR-001 Hypercars in each race, numbered 17 and 19. Each car is piloted by a team of three drivers, a blend of decorated veterans and exceptional young talent.

The #17 Hypercar is piloted by André Lotterer, Luis “Pipo” Derani and Mathys Jaubert. Lotterer brings a wealth of prototype experience as a three-time 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and former WEC champion. Derani has previously conquered the top class of the North American International Motor Sports Association (IMSA). And Jaubert was just promoted from the GMR Trajectory Program, proving his readiness with three ELMS victories in 2025.

The #19 Hypercar is shared by Paul-Loup Chatin, Dani Juncadella and Mathieu Jaminet. Chatin is a two-time European Le Mans Series champion with recent race-winning experience in the Hypercar class. Juncadella is a versatile winner in both GT and prototype machinery, while Jaminet has several IMSA wins on his record.

GMR Trajectory Program driver Jamie Chadwick will serve as reserve driver this season.

About FIA WEC

WEC is a racing series governed by FIA. It is made up of a set of races spanning the globe, with this year’s season having begun in Imola, Italy.

The 2026 FIA WEC race calendar consists of 8 races this year. The 6 Hours of Imola started April 17 and the final race, the 6 hours of Monza, ends November 8.

The races, dates and car classes allowed in WEC

WEC features a multi-class format where cars with different technical specifications race on the track simultaneously. Although they all share the same circuit, each class is effectively in its own race, competing for separate honors.

A comparison of the different endurance racing car classes.

Hypercar

The Hypercar class, in which Genesis Magma Racing competes, features the most technologically advanced prototypes from major manufacturers and heritage marques. Hypercars include both Le Mans Hypercar (LMH) and Le Mans Daytona h (LMDh) specifications. Regulations are defined jointly by FIA and the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO). LMDh regulations are also defined jointly by the ACO and the International Motor Sports Association (IMSA).

LMH allows manufacturers freedom to design their cars from the ground up, while LMDh mandates the use of a standardized chassis and hybrid engine system.

LMGT3

The LMGT3 class is based closely on production grand tourers (GT) but with heavy modifications for racing. Usually, any extraneous frills are stripped out of the cars and replaced with a full roll cage and advanced safety systems.

LMP2

LMP2 is a secondary prototype class that only appears once in the WEC calendar, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Each one is powered by the same standard engine on the same chassis to maintain affordability and tight competitions. This class is often used as a proving ground for teams and drivers aspiring to move up to the Hypercar class.

Genesis Magma Racing has an ongoing collaboration with French racing team IDEC Sport, which competes in the LMP2 category at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the European Le Mans Series. Since 2025, GMR Trajectory Program drivers have been placed in the IDEC Sport cockpit to fine-tune their endurance racing skills and prepare them to potentially ascend to the Hypercar category.

Race Weekends Explained

Each race typically takes place over a three-day weekend, except for the four-day 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Day 1: Free Practice

The first day of the event consists of three timed practice sessions. Teams and drivers use them to fine-tune their car for the track and make any necessary last-minute adjustments.

Day 2: Qualifying

Qualifying races determine each car’s starting position on the grid on race day. Races consist of relatively short qualifying and Hyperpole sessions for each car class. After the first qualifying round, the top 10 finishers get a chance to race again in the Hyperpole qualifying race to vie a second time for Pole Position.

Day 3: Race Day

Race day begins with cars lining up on the grid based on their qualifying results. The cars are positioned at a slight angle next to the pit wall known as “ear of corn” or “echelon” style, with Hypercars in front of the LMGT3 class. After a single formation lap behind the safety car to warm up, the timed race officially begins as the safety car exits the track via the pit lane and the first race car passes the starting line a second time.

The Path to Victory

Pole sitters in reach class receive a point each ahead of the race. Race points are awarded based on the number of laps completed in the race timeframe. The car with the most laps completed in its class gets 1st place and the most points. The next nine cars each score a decreasing number of points.

Points earned by cars in each class based on finish position across different race durations.

In the event of a tie in the number of laps completed, the times in which the cars cross the finish line determine the order. Any car after 10^th place, or that has covered less than 70% of the distance of the 1^st car, does not receive points. At the end of the season, five different championship titles are awarded across the Hypercar and LMGT3 categories.

As a manufacturer team fielding two cars, Genesis Magma Racing qualifies to compete for two of the titles: the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Manufacturers’ Championship and the FIA Hypercar World Endurance Driver's Championship.

For the Manufacturers’ title, only points from its highest-finishing car in each race will contribute to this championship. The drivers of each car share the points awarded to their respective entry.

Stay tuned for part 2 explaining what happens during the race.

Milanese luxury, a style epitomized by Larusmiani for over a century, is defined by its focus on timeless elegance over fleeting trends. It champions superior quality, meticulous craftsmanship and an unwavering attention to detail. This philosophy aligns perfectly with the core principles of Genesis, especially the concepts of “Athletic Elegance” and the “beauty of white space,” where every line and surface is intentional and minimalistic.

Genesis Debuts in Italy

The partnership celebrates two new milestones for Genesis. It officially launched in Italy on Jan. 22 with two retail locations opening this spring in Rome and Padua. Genesis also made its racing debut with its motorsport team Genesis Magma Racing (GMR). GMR drivers competed in the GMR-001 Hypercar at the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Endurance Championship (WEC) season opener, the 6 Hours of Imola 2026 at the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari in Imola, Italy.

The Genesis X Larusmiani collaboration kicked off during Milan Design Week, blending the heritage of Italian fine lifestyle goods with Korean automotive design, creating a new vision for the modern “gentleman driver.” It is a story of two cultures finding common ground in the pursuit of understated luxury.

Genesis x Larusmiani

The Genesis x Larusmiani collaboration is part of The Automotive Gallery project by Larusmiani, stemming from the passion for cars of the brand’s president, Guglielmo Miani. It is a multifaceted initiative that celebrates both fashion and automotive design. The partnership centers around the GMR-001 Hypercar, which symbolizes a bold step in Genesis’ global motorsport ambitions and translates Genesis’ Athletic Elegance design philosophy into raw racing power.

Leaning into the Athletic facet of the brand’s defining design aesthetic, the GMR-001’s sweeping parabolic line creates a sleek yet aggressive visual while optimizing airflow to improve performance. The sculpted form houses a mid-mounted turbocharged V8 engine, framed at the rear by an active spoiler that adjusts to balance drag reduction with stability for high-speed racing. The GMR-001 Hypercar also features Genesis’ signature Two-Line headlamps, which it shares with the luxury marque’s road car range, making it instantly recognizable.

The GMR-001 Hypercar’s livery marries intensity with subtlety, dominated by the signature Magma orange — a hue symbolizing Korea’s vibrant energy. Integrated into the design is the Korean lettering for Magma (마그마), with its consonants “ㅁ,” “ㄱ” and “ㅁ” forming geometric motifs that are echoed in the team’s insignia. This visual language reflects Genesis’ fusion of cultural authenticity and innovation, ensuring the GMR-001 Hypercar stands out as a moving emblem of Korean identity.

The GMR-001 Hypercar prototype is on display in Larusmiani’s historic boutique from April 17-30, in the heart of Milan’s luxury shopping district during Milan Design Week, the same time as the WEC’s Imola race weekend. This places Genesis at the intersection of automotive performance and luxury living, creating appeal for both global motorsport enthusiasts and international design connoisseurs during one of the most culturally relevant moments of the year.

“The GMR‑001 Hypercar represents more than our entry into global motorsport — it embodies Genesis’ belief that performance and beauty should never be separated. Bringing this car into Larusmiani’s world during Milan Design Week places racing, craftsmanship and culture on equal footing, and reflects our ambition to build a brand that moves fluidly between the track and the wider creative landscape,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis.

A Translation of Design

For the Larusmiani creative team, translating the Genesis design language was an exercise in shared philosophy. The maison’s approach began with identifying the essence of Genesis’ design — the surface tensions, the way light flows across the bodywork and the coherence between form and function. The team transformed those elements into wearable design.

The process begins with direct observation of the vehicle, focusing on its physical presence. A hand-drawn sketch captures its essence, which is later adapted to the final product. Screen printing is used for the limited-edition T-shirts, while skilled artisans in Milan hand-paint the image of the GMR-001 onto the French Limoges porcelain pocket emptier, or “svuotatasche” in Italian. The goal is not to represent the car precisely, but to evoke it, ensuring that the owner of the object perceives in it the same formal care found within the bodywork of every Genesis.

The collection draws inspiration from the vehicle’s most intentional details: the texture of carbon fiber, the pattern of the air intakes and a color palette calibrated with tailored precision. Larusmiani team members recognize the same care in the vehicle design that they take with every stitch; choices that serve to signify, not just to fulfill a function. It is this layering of intention — design, craft and cultural — that elevates an object to a luxury piece. In this way the collection finds its meaning as a dialogue between two cultures of precise detail and overlapping design codes.

Larusmiani imagines the person using their capsule collection as someone who has no need to announce themselves. This modern gentleman driver is curious, not nostalgic. This individual appreciates tradition as a method to be applied to the present and does not hesitate to pair a Milanese tailored jacket with a Korean-designed car. This collaboration says it clearly: luxury is no longer a matter of origin or accumulated heritage, but of shared intention. And the one between Larusmiani and Genesis is a conversation between equals. 

Celebrating Heritage and Innovation

To mark the significance of the collaboration, Genesis and Larusmiani co-hosted an exclusive gala dinner within the breathtaking halls of the iconic Bagatti Valsecchi Museum. Contrasting beautifully with the classical architecture were the Genesis X Gran Racer Concept and GV60 Magma on display in the museum courtyard.

This juxtaposition was not about creating a clash between old and new, but about revealing a shared spirit. “The dialogue between the neo-Renaissance surfaces of the museum and the lines of the Genesis cars generates not contrast, but recognition,” explained Larusmiani President Guglielmo Miani. “Both things are born from the same intention, that of those who create with permanence in mind, not the impression of the moment.”

Through their embodiment of Athletic Elegance, the two Genesis models on display told a facet of this story of modern permanence. The Genesis X Gran Racer Concept, derived from the standard of excellence set by the Genesis X Gran Berlinetta Concept, merges purposeful racing derived elements with a refined aesthetic. The GV60 Magma beside it commands attention with its bold Magma Orange exterior, symbolizing the hidden potential energy bubbling unseen beneath the earth’s surface. The GV60 Magma is Genesis’ first production vehicle of its luxury high performance Magma Program.

Placing these vehicles in such a historic setting was a deliberate statement about the evolution of luxury and art. “The Bagatti Valsecchi Museum is a place built on the conviction that beauty deserves to be preserved regardless of the era,” Miani reflected. “Placing the Genesis X Gran Racer and the GV60 Magma in that space is not a provocative gesture — it is a question: does a brand capable of bringing a hypercar to Imola and these models to Milan in the same month, weaving motorsport and design culture together with equal ease, deserve the same gaze reserved for things that endure?”

The Unexpected is Most Interesting

For Miani himself the most interesting collaborations arise from the unexpected. He believes that Genesis embodies this; it arrives not with the weight of motoring mythology, but with something rarer — an aesthetic philosophy built from scratch, free from legacy expectations and full of raw determination.

“It is this convergence between track and culture, between performance and formal beauty, that Larusmiani recognized as an authentic hallmark,” Miani explains. “Not a commercial operation, but an act of shared identity.”

The Automotive Gallery was born from Miani’s conviction that the automobile, when designed with true intention, is art, and he immediately recognized in the GMR-001 Hypercar that Genesis spoke that language too. “Larusmiani’s clients are people who read details,” Miani notes, “and what convinced them, as it convinced me, was precisely that integrated vision: a brand that designs racing cars with the same care it devotes to luxury interiors.”

This approach also addresses how to introduce a futuristic marque to a clientele steeped in classic heritage. The answer lies in the method. The capsule collection pieces are made like every other Larusmiani item, with first-choice natural materials and established techniques, yet they draw inspiration from the carbon fiber surfaces of the GMR-001 Hypercar.

In a world where heritage often dictates the rigid rules of luxury, the collaboration between Genesis and Larusmiani offers a compelling vision of the future. This partnership is more than a mere intersection of automotive design and high fashion; it is a testament to a shared philosophy. Both Genesis, with its audacious challenge to the automotive hierarchy, and Larusmiani, with its legacy of innovation, have proven they are not content to simply participate in the status quo. They are here to disrupt it.

By weaving together their respective crafts, they have created a narrative of a new kind of luxury — one that is defined not by adherence to tradition, but by the courage to innovate and the relentless pursuit of a different, more dynamic, standard of excellence. This collaboration doesn't just place a car next to a suit; it places two forward-thinking manifestos in dialogue, leaving us with the resounding impression that the most exciting frontier of luxury is the one still being designed.

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 24, 2026 — The Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) named the Genesis G70 Prestige Graphite its 2026 Car of Texas. G70 Prestige Graphite was recognized for its compelling blend of turbocharged performance, effortless all-wheel drive capability and refined sport-sedan handling. The award builds on a growing list of accolades from TAWA, further highlighting the brand’s commitment to delivering an elevated driving experience.

“The Genesis G70 Prestige Graphite embodies Athletic Elegance, elevated craftsmanship and everyday versatility, making it the ideal sport sedan,” said Tedros Mengiste, chief operating officer of Genesis Motor North America. “G70 Prestige Graphite delivers an exceptional balance of performance and comfort, which is why it continues to resonate with enthusiasts and everyday drivers alike.”

G70 Prestige Graphite delivers a distinctive expression of sport sedan refinement, powered by a 3.3L twin turbocharged V6 engine available in RWD or AWD and paired with a sport electronic controlled suspension (ECS) for poised, engaging road feel. Exclusively finished in Ceres Blue or Vatna Gray, the model stands apart with dark chrome Crest Grille accents and dark finish 19-inch wheels, sharpening Genesis’ Athletic Elegance design into a more purposeful, performance-inspired presence.

Inside, the driver-focused cabin makes an immediate statement with Ultramarine Blue Nappa leather and orange contrast stitching, complemented by a microfiber suede headliner and 12.3-inch 3D digital instrument cluster. A full suite of advanced driver assistance technologies enhances comfort, confidence and everyday usability, reinforcing the G70 Prestige Graphite’s balance of luxury craftsmanship and engaging capability.

During the Texas Auto Roundup, TAWA journalists and content creators tested and scored vehicles across a sliding scale of key attributes including interior and exterior design, performance, value and overall personal appeal. Vehicles were evaluated in real-world driving conditions, allowing the panel to assess everything from daily usability to overall capability.

G70 Prestige Graphite stood out amongst a diverse lineup of competitors with its refined craftsmanship and bold on-road capabilities. 

“With 300 horsepower, razor-sharp handling, and a bold, sophisticated design, the Genesis G70 redefines what a modern sedan can be,” said Marc Newman, president of TAWA. “Genesis continues its momentum, securing the top award at the TAWA Auto Roundup for the fourth straight year.”