Tag Archives: Genesis

Motorsport

Genesis Magma Racing GMR-001: The Hypercar Awakens

Bare carbon, fat wheel arches, and an aura that says “I eat prototypes for breakfast”. That’s the GMR-001 — the first hypercar from Genesis Magma Racing, and it’s just rolled into the world after a successful shakedown. Built with the help of chassis wizards ORECA, this stealth bomber of endurance racing is the first of three development cars that will lay the groundwork for a 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship debut.

At the moment, it’s as naked as Adam in Eden — no paint, no frills, just raw carbon and menace. And yet, under the surface, lies Genesis Magma’s so-called “Hyperspeed” philosophy: progress at breakneck pace without cutting corners. “We’re passing milestones every day,” admits team principal Cyril Abiteboul — yes, the same Abiteboul once wrangling Renault’s F1 squad. Now, he’s shepherding Genesis into the white-knuckle world of endurance hypercars.

Building the Beast

This isn’t just another manufacturer dipping its toes into motorsport to sell a few extra SUVs. The GMR-001 has been engineered with intent. ORECA bolted together the first chassis, slotted in the engine, hybrid system and gearbox, lit the fuse, and handed it over to the Genesis engineers. From here on out, the car lives and breathes under Magma’s roof at Le Castellet — their soon-to-be-completed HQ where design, development, and race prep are converging like tributaries into a river of speed.

Drivers With Bite

Behind the wheel? None other than endurance titans André Lotterer and Pipo Derani. Both have already been sweating it out in the simulator, fine-tuning the virtual GMR-001 and setting baselines that’ll make the first track tests more than just glorified wheel-spinning. They’ve already had their first taste of the real car in a shakedown, checking that the electrics don’t explode and the mechanicals behave. Their verdict? Promising. Very promising.

The Road Ahead

Next stop: a punishing test program across Europe’s great circuits. Every lap will be dissected, data hoovered up, and solutions validated faster than you can say “Le Mans 24 Hours.” ORECA stays in the loop as long-term chassis partner, while Genesis engineers hammer away at fine-tuning the beast into a reliable, homologated weapon.

FX Demaison, Magma’s technical director, knows the score: “Every bit of running we do with the GMR-001 in 2025 is extremely valuable.” Translation? They’ve got one year to turn raw carbon into silverware.

And make no mistake, this is Genesis putting its flag firmly in enemy territory. They’re not here to make up the numbers. They’re here to punch Ferrari, Toyota, Porsche, and Peugeot square in the nose.

So remember the name: Genesis Magma Racing, GMR-001. Today it’s bare carbon and testing gear. In 2026? It might just be the car staring down the Mulsanne Straight with victory in its sights.

Source: Genesis

News

Genesis: Tech Royalty with a Digital Crown

It’s official: Genesis is still the teacher’s pet in the classroom of automotive tech. According to J.D. Power’s 2025 U.S. Tech Experience Index (TXI) Study, the Korean brand has just bagged the title of highest-ranked brand overall for the fifth year running. Five. In a row. That’s not a streak — that’s a dynasty.

And the secret sauce? Tech that doesn’t feel like homework. Genesis hasn’t just shoved gimmicks into dashboards; it’s quietly slipped in features that make life easier — and, crucially, actually work. The brand’s GV80 SUV, for instance, just scooped up “Best Connected Vehicle Technology” thanks to the Genesis Digital Key 2. Forget clunky key fobs the size of a brick: with this system, your phone (or smartwatch) becomes your car key. Apple Wallet, Google Wallet, Samsung, watchOS, Android Smart Watch — it’s all invited to the party. If you can tap to pay for coffee, you can tap to drive your Genesis.

Now, that might sound like another buzzwordy gadget destined to gather dust in the settings menu. But the TXI isn’t just about who’s got the most toys. It grades brands on a 1,000-point scale, blending adoption and execution. In other words: do customers actually like these toys, or do they just sit there, glowing smugly on a touchscreen? Genesis smashed the scoring not by bombarding owners with tech but by nailing the user experience.

Tedros Mengiste, Genesis North America’s COO, insists this is all part of the brand’s mission to treat every owner as “Son-nim” — an honored guest. And while that may sound like a neat marketing bow, the results show it’s not empty talk. The study looked at 40 different technologies across five categories — comfort & convenience, driver assist, EV, connected car, and smart vehicle. Genesis didn’t just pass; it aced the exam while everyone else was still fumbling with the calculator.

So, what’s the takeaway? Genesis isn’t just catching up with the Germans and Japanese anymore; it’s schooling them. A luxury brand that started life as the “other” option is now the one setting the benchmark for automotive tech — and making the competition sweat in the process.

Fifth year in a row. Same result. Different headline. If the TXI Study were Formula 1, Genesis would be Max Verstappen with better manners.

Source: J.D. Power

News

Former BMW Exec Peter Kronschnabl to Lead Genesis Motor Europe

Genesis Motor Europe has appointed industry veteran Peter Kronschnabl as its new Managing Director, signaling a pivotal step in the brand’s ambitious European growth strategy. Kronschnabl officially assumes the role today, succeeding Xavier Martinet, who served as interim MD alongside his ongoing duties as President & CEO of Hyundai Motor Europe.

Operating out of Genesis’s European headquarters in Frankfurt, Kronschnabl is set to steer the premium Korean marque through its next phase of development, as it prepares to dramatically expand its footprint across the continent.

A seasoned automotive executive with over 30 years of leadership experience, Kronschnabl brings a deep well of expertise from the BMW Group. His career spans a broad spectrum of senior roles in regional management, sales, marketing, and business development. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Market Development and Special Sales, overseeing BMW’s operations in emerging global markets.

“With his extensive premium automotive brand experience, proven track record of leadership and strategic thinking, Peter is perfectly positioned to lead the next phase of growth for Genesis in Europe,” said Xavier Martinet. “His expertise in market development will be key as we prepare to launch in multiple new European markets in 2026.”

Indeed, the timing of Kronschnabl’s appointment couldn’t be more significant. In June, Genesis announced its plans to expand into France, Italy, Spain, and the Netherlands—adding to its current presence in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland. Customer deliveries in these new markets are set to begin in early 2026, with an electrified lineup forming the core of the brand’s offering.

Kronschnabl is bullish about the brand’s prospects: “Genesis is an exciting brand with strong foundations, a passionate team and a unique position in the market. With its distinct Korean spirit, design-driven performance values and a premium all-electric model lineup, I look forward to replicating the customer demand and growing success seen already in Korea and the US.”

He also hinted at what’s to come: “The future Magma and hybrid products, Genesis Magma Racing program and market expansion plans will all provide great opportunities to really drive Genesis into its next chapter in Europe.”

Central to that chapter is the GV60 Magma, the brand’s first high-performance model, which will debut ahead of Genesis’s entry into the 2026 FIA World Endurance Championship under the Magma Racing banner. It marks a bold evolution for a company that has, in just a few years, established itself as a genuine challenger in the luxury EV space.

As Genesis enters a transformative phase, Kronschnabl’s appointment underscores the brand’s intent: to go toe-to-toe with the German heavyweights on their home turf—with design, electrification, and performance leading the charge.

Source: Genesis