Riding shotgun in the Genesis GV60 Magma
Australians love performance cars, we buy Mercedes-AMGs, BMW M cars and other fast models by the truckload, but this new vehicle has missed the mark.
This is the wrong car, at the right time.
Australians love performance cars, we buy Mercedes-AMGs, BMW M cars and other fast models by the truckload, so it makes sense that one of our newest luxury brands wants a piece of that action too.
But the all-new Genesis GV60 Magma, may not be what we’re looking for in Australia.
Let me explain.
MORE: How Genesis will take on the world’s best supercars
Magma is the brand’s answer to AMG and M, a performance arm signified by a bright orange colour and enhanced models.
But the ambition doesn’t stop there, the Korean brand is also launching Genesis Magma Racing, an all-new team that will compete in sports car racing at famous events like the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
MORE: New machines from Genesis’ Magma sub-brand
Jose Munoz, the global boss of both Genesis and parent company Hyundai, has high hopes for this move into the performance and racing world.
“Magma will play a key role in driving Genesis toward the future,” Munoz said at the official launch of the GV60 Magma.
“By 2030, Genesis global sales will reach 350,000 units annually, a 55 per cent increase from today’s volume and Magma will be an active contributor to that growth.
“We expect Magma models to account for around 10 per cent of each Genesis model’s volume.”
Genesis surprised the world by also revealing the Magma GT Concept, an all-new sports car that will launch in the coming years as a direct rival to the likes of the Porsche 911. It’s a stunning looking mid-engined sports car that looks like it would be a joy to drive on any road or track.
MORE: Hyundai and Genesis to race at Le Mans
But that’s not what Genesis Magma is launching with.
Instead, it is starting with the GV60, which is an all-electric performance SUV. If that sounds like a strange type of vehicle to launch at this moment in time, when electric vehicle sales are stagnating, you’d be right.
Tellingly, neither Mercedes-AMG, BMW M or Porsche have anything that can be considered a direct rival.
Genesis probably doesn’t want this shouted from the rooftops, but the reality is, the GV60 Magma is the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N in a different (albeit it more luxurious) body – so it’s not a bespoke model for the brand, like the rest of the range.
MORE: Sideways in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N
There are some subtle differences between the two, but perhaps the saving grace for the GV60 Magma is the fact the Ioniq 5 N is an utterly brilliant car.
Both clever and extremely fast, Genesis could have done worse for a shared model.
It means the GV60 Magma is powered by a dual-motor electric powertrain that makes supercar-like 448kW of power and 740Nm of torque, when it’s at its most restrained. If you hit the Boost Mode button you bump those figures up to 478kW and 790Nm.
In Boost Mode you’ll be able to leap from 0-100km/h in just 3.4 seconds and Genesis claims the GV60 Magma will take just 10.9 seconds to run 0-200km/h and has a top speed of 264km/h.
We got to experience the full potential of GV60 Magma at the Paul Ricard circuit in France, former home of the French Grand Prix.
Unfortunately, we didn’t get to drive, but fortunately we were chauffeured around by multi-time Le Mans winner Andre Lotterer, the German racing ace drafted in to lead Genesis Magma Racing in 2026.
Lotterer demonstrated just how dynamically capable the GV60 Magma is, launching us out of the pit lane with neck-snapping fury, bouncing over the racing kerbs with ease and then casually blasting past 200km/h down the straights.
Is this the ideal car to launch Genesis Magma?
Probably not, it’s too niche and it will take a lot of effort to convince buyers of its merits as an electric performance car.
But make no mistake, Genesis means business with Magma, so if the GV60 isn’t the ideal car for this moment in time there will be more coming. Every member of the line-up will have a Magma variant in the not-too-distant future, and then the Magma GT will arrive to crown the range.
By that time Genesis Magma Racing, and my chauffeur Lotterer, should be in the thick of racing battles with Ferrari, Porsche, BMW and the rest.
Originally published as Riding shotgun in the Genesis GV60 Magma
