Category Archives: Coupe

Coupe, electric, GENESIS, Motoring

Luxury GENESIS now even better

Leave a comment

GENESIS GV60 Pure

By Bill McCarthy

There is no doubt in my mind that Genesis, the luxury arm of Korean manufacturer Hyundai, is maturing impressively.  Parent brand Hyundai was once known for budget motors. No longer of course, but its upmarket GENESIS brand now feels thoroughly luxurious, competitive in the £50k-plus market, and packed with technology.

A recent facelift sees three model specs: the new rear-wheel-drive Pure, the all-wheel-drive Sport, and the high-performance Performance.

The Pure, tested here, focuses on efficiency and luxury, while the Sport and Performance add dual-motor traction and increased power, catering to buyers who prioritise grip and acceleration over maximum range. I previously drove the ridiculously quick, 490PS Sport Plus twin motor a couple of years ago, and although the new Pure lacks that kind of performance, like most electric cars it still offers plenty of pace.

Price and styling

This entry-level model starts at just over £53k, but the tested version – featuring a host of optional extras – bumped the price to well over £63k. Visually, it remains a show-stopper, with a slippery, aerodynamic profile offering luxury, performance and now an extended range via a larger 84.0 kWh battery. With a claimed 348 miles, range anxiety is pretty much dispatched. 

Striking exterior features include quad lamps, the distinctive Bentley-esque badge, a lower crest grille, and eye-catching alloy wheels.

High-tech features include an Electronically Controlled Suspension system, which uses the front camera and navigation data to recognise potential bumps and potholes, pre-adjusting the suspension.

Cutting edge cabin

Inside, the cabin looks and feels superb, with planet-friendly trims made from organic and recycled materials. Despite the dual panoramic touchscreen, a wealth of physical controls remains, making life simple for the driver. The interior is roomy enough and comfortable, with high-quality soft-touch finishes.

This test car came with the optional £2,930 Comfort Pack, adding an 18-way electronically adjustable Ergo-Motion driver’s seat, ventilation for the front seats, heating for the rear, and Premium Relaxation Seats for both driver and passenger. The rear seats recline and fold to increase boot capacity from 520 litres to a capacious 1,580 litres, accessed via the powered tailgate.

Additional security comes from a face recognition panel in the B-pillar, supplemented by a fingerprint recognition button near the drive controls. The door unlocks seamlessly as you approach, and the door handles pop out. Still, I wonder about the longevity of these features – it feels slightly gimmicky.

The cabin’s touch-controlled cockpit is dominated by a new single 27-inch panoramic OLED display that controls instrumentation and infotainment, while Genesis Connect Services offers cutting-edge over-the-air updates and smartphone integration.

The interior centrepiece is the so-called ‘Crystal Sphere’: press the starter, and the sphere revolves to present the automatic gear selector. Switch off the car, and it rotates back to deliver subtle ambient lighting. When indicating, cameras show the road ahead on the screen – an excellent safety measure.

 In additions, the innovative Active Sound Design (e-ASD) delivers three virtual driving sounds. 

Upgraded powertrain

Thanks to a larger battery powering a single motor, the Pure boasts a WLTP combined range of 348 miles. An accurate figure was difficult to obtain, but across all types of driving and sometimes inclement conditions, I estimated around 300 miles. 

When you do stop, the 400V/800V ultra-rapid charging architecture proves a game-changer, capable of accepting up to 240kW DC to charge from 10% to 80% in just 18 minutes. Smart Regenerative Braking 3.0 with i-Pedal further helps to maximise efficiency.

Safety and Innovation

The test car offers a comprehensive list of advanced safety kit, including numerous warnings and alerts, front and rear parking sensors, a rear-view camera with dynamic reversing guidelines, smart cruise control with lane assist, collision warnings and blind-spot recognition. 

The £4,170 Innovation Plus Pack adds a head-up display, digital centre mirror, blind-spot view monitor, surround view monitor, remote smart parking assist 2, parking collision-avoidance assist, and the excellent intelligent front-lighting system.

Verdict

The GV60 Pure has matured excellently and still looks the part with sharp styling, cutting-edge technology and cabin comfort. It is not cheap, but similarly specced premium models will cost much more.

Factfile

  • Genesis GV60 Pure 
  • Price: £53,300 (As tested: £62,605)
  • Mechanical: 229PS, 84.0kWh battery/single motor driving the rear wheels via single-speed auto gearbox
  • Max speed: 115mph
  • 0-62mph: 7.5 secs
  • Combined WLTP range: 348 miles
  • Insurance group: 45-49
  • CO2 emissions: 0 g/km
  • BiK rating: 2%
  • Warranty: Five years/unlimited mileage
Coupe, CUPRA, electric, Motoring

Tavascan offers striking design and impressive range

Leave a comment

CUPRA Tavascan V2 77kWh

By Bill McCarthy

CUPRA originated as the performance division of SEAT. Both are part of the Volkswagen Group, with CUPRA now operating as a standalone premium brand focused on sportier design and enhanced dynamics. The Tavascan, the brand’s second dedicated electric vehicle, represents a key model in its transition to an electric lineup.

This coupé-SUV delivers a strong initial impact through its design and technology.

There is strong competition, notably from stablemates the VW ID.5 and the Skoda Enyaq, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6, not to mention a host of new Chinese brands making their mark, including the BYD Seal and Omoda E5.

Design and Styling

CUPRA says the Tavascan is rare among production cars because it keeps most of its concept vehicle’s bold character. It introduces a new, confident design language. Marketing speak, but it does stand out with its three-triangle LED signature, an illuminated badge, and a coupé-style flowing roofline. This makes it more efficient and helps with the range thanks to a drag coefficient of 0.26.

Interior and Technology

The cabin presents a vivid contrast of copper and black. It features sporty bucket seats, built around a central spine and a floating dashboard, and a mix of hi-tech and more traditional controls. Soft-touch finish is prominent and the cabin has a sporty feel.

The centrepiece is a 15-inch touchscreen which controls major features like connectivity, infotainment, app selection and navigation. Physical controls include a backlit touch slider for climate functions and three physical ‘diamond-cut’ toggle switches on the centre console.

Real-time information is delivered to the driver with a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster. Another classy touch is the selectable ambient lighting and a star-constellation-like pattern of small, individual light points scattered across the door panel. It feels well engineered and robust.

Equipment levels are comprehensive, as you’d expect for a £54k-plus car, and include a 360-degree camera and remote parking, dual-zone automatic climate control, heated front seats and steering wheel, a wireless smartphone charging pad and multiple USB-C ports

On the road

It looks like it would be quick and it is. This rear-wheel-drive V2 model uses a 286 PS electric motor powered by a 77 kWh (net) battery. Acceleration is brisk as it hits 60mph in about 6.5 seconds and on to a top speed of 112 mph. There are multiple driving modes such as Range, Comfort, and Sport, depending on what kind of driving experience you want.

It has a claimed WLTP range of up to 353 miles, which might be obtained in perfect conditions, but with mixed weather, around 280-plus seemed nearer the mark. Charging capability includes 11 kW AC (0-100% in approximately 8 hours) and rapid 135 kW DC charging (10-80% in 28 minutes).

A heat pump, which preserves range in cold weather standard on this vehicle.

Handling is excellent with a low centre of gravity, allowing the driver to push hard through bends on twisting roads with confidence. The steering is well weighted, offering good feedback about the car’s agility.

However, one letdown is with the brakes. They feel vague and soft and don’t respond sharply until much more pressure is applied, which is disappointing for a car that promises a sporty drive.

Practicality

Despite its coupé-like profile, practicality is respectable. The cabin accommodates four adults comfortably, with reasonable head and legroom. Boot space is good, among the best in fact, with 540 litres. This increases to a cavernous 1,565 litres when the 40/20/40 split-folding rear seats are folded.

Vehicle-to-Load (V2L) capability, which allows you to power external devices (for example, a laptop or coffee maker) from the car’s battery.

Safety features

The vehicle is equipped with a comprehensive suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). Standard features include Connected Travel Assist with adaptive cruise control and lane guidance.

Verdict

The letdown is the brakes, which feel a bit soft and vague. For a car that looks this sporty, you’d expect a sharper response when you hit the pedal. 

Factfile

  • Model: CUPRA Tavascan V2 77kWh 286 PS

  • Price: £53,845

  • Mechanical: Single electric motor, rear-wheel drive, 286 PS, 545 Nm, 77 kWh (net) battery

  • 0-62 mph: 6.8 seconds

  • Top Speed: 112 mph

  • Range (WLTP): Up to 353 miles

  • Insurance group: 36

  • CO2 Emissions: 0 g/km

  • BiK Rating: 3%

  • Warranty: 3 years / 60,000 miles