WHAT A LONGER WHEELBASE MEANS FOR THE REDESIGNED GENESIS ELECTRIFIED G80
SEOUL, Nov. 7, 2024 — Nowhere is the impact of the redesigned Electrified G80 felt more strongly than in the back row.
Three years after its initial launch in 2021, Genesis’ latest electric vehicle (EV) comes with a longer wheelbase than its predecessor, resulting in extra legroom and headroom in the rear seats.
Bohyun Park, Senior Research Engineer at the Genesis Engineering Solutions Team, explains how a steadfast obsession with creating a more comfortable ride led to the upgrades, and what the future holds for the brand’s flagship EV sedan.
One of the biggest changes in the redesigned Electrified G80 seems to be the spacious back row.
Some of our customers who purchased the previous Electrified G80 said they would have liked more space and convenience features in the second row. And that’s probably because the EV model was built on the same platform as its internal combustion engine (ICE) counterpart, the Genesis G80. So when we started planning for the redesigned Electrified G80, our first and foremost priority was to maximize comfort in the rear seats, targeting VIPs. Hence, we stretched the wheelbase by 130 millimeters and added more features such as power reclining seats, Ergo Motion technology , electric door curtains, wireless charging pads and EasyClose [which enables passengers to conveniently open and close their doors with a push of a button on the rear console armrest, door trim or front center console].
Extending the wheelbase: How does that normally work?
Adding more room in the cabin by simply enlarging the body is easy. What’s not easy is adding more room in the cabin and creating a comfortable, user-friendly space all the while perfecting our brand’s design philosophy, “Athletic Elegance.” Approaching this task, our focus was to optimize the dimensions of the vehicle by extending the length, specifically the wheelbase, by 130 millimeters. The 130-millimeter increase was then split between 70 millimeters toward expanding passenger space and 60 millimeters for seat adjustments.
What do you mean by “optimizing” the dimensions of the vehicle?
Once we decided to create more space in the back, we narrowed it down to three core objectives: more legroom, more headroom, and recreating the Rest Mode seat position originally offered in the Genesis G90. To this end, we moved the hip point [the point where the hips touch the seat] of the rear seats 70 millimeters backward, allowing passengers — even tall people above 180 centimeters — to comfortably stretch their legs. We also incorporated independently adjustable power reclining seats, unprovided in the ICE model. Improved seat designs in the EV model required an additional space of 60 millimeters compared to the previous model.
How about the legroom and headroom?
For the front row, both the legroom and headroom remain the same as the previous Electrified G80. For the back, they’ve been increased by 82 millimeters and 20 millimeters, respectively. Whereas people often feel cramped in the back of an EV sedan because of the battery packs underneath, the redesigned Electrified G80 eliminates this issue by offering additional legroom and headroom. The car is even now 5 millimeters higher than before, maintaining its athletic and elegant roofline.
The back seats also look a lot more comfortable than before.
The newly implemented power reclining seats allow for personalized seatback and bottom cushion tilt angles, enabling passengers to adjust their positions according to preferences. More specifically, a leg rest function has been added in the rear right VIP seat to provide extra support for the feet. When Rest Mode is activated, the front passenger seat moves forward, while the angles of the seatback, bottom cushion and leg rest in the rear right seat are modified to create an optimized seating position. The extent of modification for this leg rest may vary depending on various factors such as whether a passenger is in the front seat, and its reclining angle.
For those who chose to go without the power reclining seat option at the time of purchase, the fixed rear seats come with extra padding in the cushions and are tilted back by 2 more degrees.
Developing both ICE and EV models using the same platform doesn’t sound easy. What was particularly challenging?
Unlike SUVs or crossovers, it’s critical for EV sedans to secure sufficient ground clearance to accommodate the high-voltage battery located at the bottom of the car. When using the same upper body for both the ICE and EV models, there are, of course, bound to be differences in interior space. That's why the latest Electrified G80 features a longer body, thus providing ample space for passengers within the cabin.
What’s the next step for the Electrified G80?
The most important factor to consider in a flagship EV model like the Electrified G80 is to provide customers with a comfortable, distinct experience. This includes both physical space and the overall emotional experience. As Genesis moves forward with electrification, the brand will continue to design interior spaces that offer elevated comfort and luxury.
Disclaimer: Specifications may vary depending on region. Please contact your local Genesis retailer for more information.