First Look At The Electric Genesis GV70e SUV

Just a few days after trademark filings seemingly confirmed that Genesis plans to electrify its entire lineup, our spy photographers have caught the luxury automaker testing a new electric SUV.

Genesis has already confirmed it will be skipping plug-in hybrids altogether and will instead launch fully electric versions of its current model lineup, including the G70, G80, G90, GV70, and GV80. Genesis lifted the wraps off the new GV70 SUV last year, and now prototype testing of the fully electric version is underway. According to the trademark filings, the fully electric GV70 will be unimaginatively called the “GV70e.”

Like the G80e we spied last year, the GV70e will sport a closed version of the automaker’s signature crest grille. The lack of exhaust pipes also indicates this SUV is running on pure electric power. At this early stage, the prototype is still heavily covered up, but there could be some subtle changes to the front and rear bumpers to distinguish the GV70e from its combustion counterpart. Elsewhere, the GV70e borrows styling elements from the regular GV70 including the signature split headlights.

Technical specifications are unknown, but the GV70e will be underpinned by the Hyundai’s Electric-Global Modular Platform, which will offer driving ranges of up to 310 miles.

This same platform will also be utilized by a smaller compact Genesis electric crossover that was caught undergoing testing just last week. While that model will be a Tesla Model Y rival, the GV70e will be the Korean automaker’s answer to the BMW iX3 and Audi e-tron.

The GV70e will be one of 23 new electric models Hyundai plans to launch by 2025. Slotting above the GV70e will be an electric version of the flagship GV80 SUV. However, the trademark filings suggest Genesis is plotting an even larger, more luxurious GV90e SUV that will compete with the BMW iX. It’s unclear when the GV70e will debut, but it could arrive later this year around one year after the combustion model.