Even though Genesis was spun off as a separate luxury brand from Hyundai more than a decade ago, it still hasn't offered a hybrid. That’s a bit odd considering its parent company has been selling cars that combine combustion engines with electric motors since the late 2000s. Better late than never, the first hybrid from the Korean luxury automaker is here, and it doesn’t carry over a setup found in a car sold by the mainstream brand.
Instead, the GV80 Hybrid uses a next-generation hybrid system developed by the wider Hyundai group. It’s the first to use a liquid-cooled battery for better temperature management, allowing it to make the most of the battery’s power. Genesis says the hybrid setup effectively turns the luxobarge into an EV from the moment you start the vehicle until it reaches around 19 mph (30 km/h).
