The electric Genesis G80, getting slightly ahead of itself

Electric version of the Genesis G80, left, and the brand's home charging equipment on the right [HYUNDAI MOTOR]

Genesis, the Hyundai Motor luxury brand, showcased an electric version of its G80 midsize sedan in Korea. It was premiered at Shanghai Auto Show in April.

The car has the Genesis signature mesh-design grille, except that the spaces are blocked as there is no engine or radiator and no need for air. The socket for the charger is placed discreetly within the grille and only reveals itself when one piece of the grille is pushed in gently.

The electric G80 is not made on Hyundai Motor's electric vehicle (EV)-dedicated E-GMP modular platform, which might explain some design issues.

The front seats are cramped, as a sizable center console completely blocks the space between the driver and the passenger in the next seat. The floor in the back isn't completely flat.

There is no extra storage space underneath the hood due to a sizable motor, inverter and other components, while E-GMP-based models like the Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 have additional storage space there.

The vehicle is installed with a vehicle-to-load (V2L) function which is able to use the electricity left in the car's battery to charge external electronic devices. The socket for the V2L function is outside, whereas the E-GMP-made models have a V2L socket inside the vehicle as well.

Genesis also showcased home charging equipment that looks like a fancy home appliance. The charger will only be available for slow charging, and the exact availability date is not confirmed.

The electric G80 has an 87.2 kilowatt-hour battery and is able to drive a maximum of 427 kilometers per charge. Hyundai Motor said Thursday it plans to start selling the model in later this year.

BY JIN EUN-SOO [jin.eunsoo@joongang.co.kr]