- GV60 Magma becomes Genesis’ first high-performance production model.
- The electric crossover will come with a maximum of 650 horsepower.
- Genesis launches a decade-long shift toward “Luxury High Performance.”
Plenty of carmakers talk about performance, but not all of them back it up. Genesis, however, seems determined to change that narrative. When it announced plans for a high-performance trim called Magma last year, it sounded ambitious enough.
Now, it’s delivering on that promise with a 650-horsepower (478 kW / 650 PS) crossover that marks the start of a decade-long push toward what it calls “Luxury High Performance.”
More: Genesis Just Revealed Something That Could Finally Take On The Corvette
Genesis launched its new production version of the GV60 Magma at Circuit Paul Richard in France, instead of the predictable LA Auto Show. The location made a clear point. Genesis wants to be seen as a true luxury brand with genuine performance credibility.
As Hyundai Motor Company President & CEO José Muñoz put it, “We’re not just building high-performance vehicles; we’re redefining what a luxury high-performance brand can be.”
New Ground for Genesis
Genesis says its new identity reframes performance around balance, precision, and refinement rather than sheer numbers. That idea builds on the brand’s “Athletic Elegance” design language but pushes it into motorsport territory.
Chief Design Officer Luc Donckerwolke described Magma as “injecting adrenaline into the Genesis DNA while preserving elegance.”
The GV60 Magma is the first production car of the new performance variety. It sits 20mm lower than the standard car. It comes with wider fenders, 21-inch forged wheels, gloss-black aero bits, and other Magma-specific design cues. It’s under the sheet metal that things really get good, though.
How Fast Is It?
Sharing its platform and core components with Hyundai’s Ioniq N models, it packs dual motors producing 609 hp (448 kW) in standard tune, rising to 650 hp in Boost Mode. That makes it more powerful than both the Ioniq 5 N and Ioniq 6 N, as well as the 483 hp and 516 lb-ft found in the GV60 Performance.
With launch control engaged, it hits 0–200 km/h (124 mph) in 10.9 seconds. For context, that’s quicker than a Lamborghini Murcielago. It’ll also do 0-60 mph (97 kmh) in 3.4 seconds and continue on to a top speed of 264 kmh (164 mph). Not too shabby for a car with five seats that’ll (probably) cost fewer than six figures.
On the downside, it’s no lightweight. The GV60 Magma tips the scales at a claimed 4,938 pounds (2,240 kg), a reminder that performance and mass still make uneasy companions.
Genesis widened the performance envelope with recalibrated suspension geometry, stiffer bushings, upgraded brakes, and an e-LSD. Despite larger tires, cabin quietness reportedly remains on par with the normal GV60 thanks to reinforced sealing and active noise control.
Digital Theatrics
Genesis didn’t just stop at hardware changes, though. It learned from the rest of its family.
To that end, it features an enhanced Virtual Gear Shift (VGS) system that modulates motor output and regenerative braking to simulate real gear changes, complete with high-rev engine sounds, similar to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N.
Activate “Magma Mode,” and the display switches to a three-dial layout showing battery and motor temperatures plus g-forces. Drift mode is included, along with a dedicated battery cooling system for track use.
The GV60 Magma will hit Korea first, with European and North American sales beginning in 2026. We can’t wait to see what the next decade has in store.
