Genesis Sharpens the GV60: 650 hp in Boost and 200 km/h in 10.9 Seconds

© A. Krivonosov / SPEEDME

Genesis brought the GV60 Magma to BIMOS 2026 in Busan — the first production car of its new performance program. According to journalists working at the international motor show, for the brand it is not just a hotter version of the electric crossover, but an attempt to add something its premium image had been missing: an in-house performance line on par with BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Hyundai N.

The GV60 Magma is built on a reworked E-GMP platform. Two electric motors deliver 448 kW, or 609 hp, and 740 Nm, while the Boost button raises output to 478 kW — 650 hp and 790 Nm — for 15 seconds. With Launch Control, the SUV accelerates from a standstill to 200 km/h in 10.9 seconds; top speed is 264 km/h. For a crossover, that is no longer the territory of city «quick starts», but real track ambition.

The battery keeps its 84 kWh capacity, with a WLTP range claimed at 425 km. Charging from 10 to 80% takes 18 minutes — here the GV60 Magma is ahead of the Kia EV4 GT with its 400-volt architecture and roughly 30 minutes for the same window. Genesis also reworked battery and motor cooling so the car holds peak power longer and does not drop into protection mode after a couple of hard launches.

On the outside, the Magma makes no attempt to be subtle. The track is 5 cm wider, the body sits 2 cm lower, the car rolls on 21-inch forged wheels and 275 mm Pirelli tires. Canards, three nostril vents above the grille, hood louvres, a black diffuser and a winglet spoiler do more than just look the part. The standard GV60 reads as a tech-forward premium crossover; the Magma looks as if every soft edge has been deliberately stripped out.

Inside, Genesis plays on sensation. There are orange seatbelts, sports seats with extended thigh support, and Magma Mode with motor and battery temperatures, G-forces and a Boost timer on the head-up display. The most divisive feature is Virtual Gear Shift: the EV simulates an 8-speed dual-clutch gearbox with «shifts», sound and a haptic kick. It does not make the car faster, but it gives the driver something powerful EVs usually lack — an event between the pedal press and the number on the speedometer.

Genesis did not announce an exact Korean price in Busan, but industry watchers expect the car to start at around 98,000 Canadian dollars — roughly $71,000. For context: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in Korea starts at 77.69 million won after incentives, while the non-Essential trim sits at 80.29 million won. That makes the GV60 Magma almost certainly more expensive than its Hyundai N cousin, but it is aiming at a different segment: not «the fastest Hyundai», but a premium Genesis flagship with limited availability.

The Korean launch is scheduled for summer 2026, and the car should arrive in the United States at roughly the same time. For Genesis, the point is something else — with the Magma, the brand is no longer just expensive and composed, but a little nervous, in the best sense.