Genesis turns Le Mans into a runway: the X Gran Convertible takes the stage

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Genesis used the «24 Hours of Le Mans» weekend for more than just racing. The brand sent two updated versions of the X Gran Convertible Concept — a lavish four-seat drop-top — to the drivers’ parade in the city centre, reigniting talk of a possible production model.

One car, finished in Liquid Titanium, was driven by Jacky Ickx, six-time Le Mans winner, Genesis ambassador and racing programme advisor. The second cabrio, painted Midnight Teal, was handled by Jamie Chadwick, a driver with Genesis Magma Racing. It’s a convenient stage for the brand: standing next to the GMR-001 race car, Genesis is showing how its Magma performance line could spill over into road-going machinery.

The X Gran Convertible isn’t entirely new. Early versions were shown at Seoul Mobility Show 2025, but for Le Mans the concepts were reworked to sit visually closer to the Magma portfolio. The cars feature long doors with frameless windows, broad fenders, bespoke wheels and a more expressive aero package. Carscoops also notes a redesigned front bumper with large air intakes, carbon-fibre accents, a pronounced diffuser and four exhaust outlets.

The platform comes from the Genesis G90. That detail matters: the concept doesn’t look like a hopeless flight of fancy but rather an expensive body-style spin-off of the flagship sedan. Inside, one car wears bright orange upholstery with contrast stitching and tartan motifs, while the other matches Midnight Teal with a green-tinged cabin. The approach feels closer to a bespoke individualisation programme than to a typical show car.

Genesis isn’t sharing technical details. Autoevolution stresses that V8 rumours remain just rumours, though the cars are clearly not empty mock-ups — they actually drove around Le Mans. If the project moves forward, logical options would include an uprated V6 from the G90, a hybrid setup or something more ambitious in line with Magma.

For Genesis, a convertible like this isn’t about volume. It helps the brand climb into Bentley, Mercedes-Maybach and bespoke territory, where buyers pay for rarity as much as for power. Especially now, as Genesis expands across Europe and wants to be noticed for more than just its crossovers.

The X Gran Convertible hasn’t been promised for production. But if Genesis keeps wheeling it out in public, the brand isn’t just testing a body style — it’s testing whether buyers are ready to believe in Korean luxury without a discount on its origins.