With over five years of experience in automotive journalism, Amanda Cline has spent the last four specializing in car reviews and enthusiast content. At HotCars, she produces detailed written reviews and long-form videos for the brand’s YouTube channel, showcasing deep knowledge of new and performance vehicles.
Genesis picked Circuit Paul Ricard for a reason. It wanted a proper stage to show the world that its future isn’t about quiet luxury anymore. It is stepping into a decade built around performance, emotion, and a kind of engineering that other brands will undoubtedly be trying to copy in the future. The GV60 Magma is the first production car to carry that message, and it arrives with power numbers that cut through the noise. This is the beginning of a performance era for Genesis, and the brand made sure the first chapter sends a clear signal.
The Magma performance models are the start of a new identity for Genesis: performance with a luxury edge, but not the kind that weighs a car down. The GV60 Magma shows how serious the brand is by pairing big electric power with real driving hardware, an upgraded chassis, and a design that finally gives Genesis a true performance hero. And it didn’t come alone. The new Magma GT Concept previews where the company wants to go next.
After years of concept cars, sketches, and track-only experiments, this finally feels like a turning point. Genesis is tired of being the nice, quiet newcomer in the luxury space. Magma proves it wants to compete on the same emotional level as everyone who builds cars that people dream about.
Performance is the part Genesis wants people to feel first, and the GV60 Magma delivers it without hesitation. The dual motors deliver 609 horsepower in normal conditions and 650 horsepower in Boost Mode. The numbers translate into an immediate punch that makes the Magma feel more alert than anything the brand has built before. Genesis engineered the motor outputs to stay consistent even during high-power driving, so the acceleration doesn’t taper off. This is where the Magma name starts to make sense.
Category
Specs
Powertrain
Dual-motor AWD electric
Max Output (Normal)
609 hp / 740 Nm
Max Output (Boost Mode)
650 hp / 790 Nm
0–200 km/h
10.9 seconds (with Launch Control)
Max Speed
264 km/h
Drive Modes
Sprint, GT, MY (custom)
Special Modes
Drift Mode, Magma Mode, Virtual Gear Shift System (VGS), High-Performance Battery Control
Battery Systems
Performance-optimized thermal management, HPBC track prep
Suspension
Electronic Control Suspension (ECS), recalibrated geometry, End-of-Travel control
Brakes
Front monoblock calipers, large-diameter discs, high-friction GG-rated rear pads
Steering
Revised mapping, optimized roll center, Hydro G-bushings
Wheels & Tires
21-inch forged Magma-exclusive wheels, 275-section performance tires
Exterior Aero
Functional spoilers, three-hole cooling design, optimized ducts
Straight-line speed is only part of the story. Launch Control gives the electric motors a chance to deliver maximum torque from a standstill, making the system feel polished rather than aggressive. The jump to 124 MPH in 10.9 seconds signals just how far Genesis has pushed the GV60 platform. You feel the power build deliberately, not chaotically, and it plays into the brand’s idea of performance you can trust.
“Magma reveals a new facet of Genesis, one that elevates the brand towards true luxury through performance. It shows how emotion and precision can coexist in perfect harmony, defining a more confident and mature expression of Genesis. Through Magma, we’re injecting adrenaline into the Genesis DNA while preserving the elegance and balance that define true luxury.”
Luc Donckerwolke | President and Chief Creative Officer of Genesis
Handling and ride quality received just as much attention. New suspension geometry and recalibrated roll centers keep the Magma level through corners without making it stiff or punishing. There’s also a new End-of-Travel control system that keeps the suspension from bottoming out during hard driving. Genesis clearly didn’t want this car to feel like a concept brought to life. It feels engineered, tested, and ready for more.
We spoke with Genesis COO Claudia Márquez about her leadership role and the positive reception of recent brand launches, such as the GV80 Coupe.
Genesis leaned into a low, wide stance for the GV60 Magma, one that immediately sets it apart from the standard model. The front bumper’s three-hole design is functional first, increasing airflow and cooling for the motors. The lower height and wider track give the car a presence you notice immediately, yet the overall design still feels confident rather than exaggerated. Magma-exclusive wheels, canards, dark-metal accents, and gloss-black trim tie everything together visually. Not to mention the orange, which we’re huge fans of.
Category
GV60 Performance (Standard)
GV60 Magma
Max Output (Normal)
~429 hp
609 hp
Max Output (Boost Mode)
483 hp
650 hp
Peak Torque
~516 lb-ft
≈ 582 lb-ft (790 Nm)
0–200 km/h Time
Not disclosed
10.9 seconds
Top Speed
~146 mph
164 mph (264 km/h)
Drive Modes
Eco, Comfort, Sport, Sport+
Sprint, GT, MY (custom)
Special Performance Modes
N/A
Drift Mode, Magma Mode, Virtual Gear Shift, HPBC
Suspension
Standard ECS
Recalibrated geometry, EoT control, Hydro G-Bushings
Brakes
Standard discs
Front monoblock calipers + large-diameter discs; GG rear pads
From the side, the lowered roofline and fender extensions do the heavy lifting. Wide 21-inch forged wheels sit perfectly within the arches, showing the difference between a “sporty” trim and a real performance model. Even the three-hole detail on the side skirts flows air rather than serving as a visual decoration. Genesis paid close attention to ensuring everything on the Magma has a purpose, something the brand has struggled with in earlier performance concepts.
Inside, the car feels like a cleaner and more focused version of the standard GV60. Chamude suede-like material, orange stitching, and small Magma signatures add personality without turning the cabin into a race-car parody. The steering wheel is redesigned with dedicated controls for drive modes and boost, and the blacked-out trim helps cut reflections and glare. It feels premium but also like a car intended for spirited driving, not just daily commuting.
The 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe’s high-quality and comfortable interior are highlights, but wait until you hear about the electric supercharger.
One of the biggest surprises from the Magma program is how invested Genesis is in digital performance tools. Magma Mode transforms the instrument cluster into a three-circle layout that prioritizes battery temperature, motor temps, G-force, and speed. The interface feels clean and intentional, giving you the information you need without turning the dash into a simulation game.
The car’s performance features go deeper than software skins. Drift Mode uses torque distribution and the electronically limited-slip differential to shift the GV60’s attitude toward a rear-biased driving style. The new High-Performance Battery Control system preps the battery for track or drag driving, keeping temperature and power delivery consistent when you’re pushing the car hard. The Virtual Gear Shift System is the wildcard here, creating a simulated shifting experience for drivers who miss the sensation of gears in an EV.
Even audio and feedback systems were rethought. Magma-exclusive sound design gives the GV60 an identity without pretending to imitate an engine. And while performance EVs often suffer from cabin noise caused by wide tires, Genesis countered that with sound insulation, reinforced door sealing, and Active Noise Control. That attention to comfort is what separates this from many performance-focused EVs, as drivers don’t have to choose between capability and refinement.
Genesis says the GT Concept “symbolically defines the direction of Genesis’ performance heritage for the next decade.” This could be the sports car that Donckerwolke has been hinting at over the last year or so. It gives us a better look at how they plan to continue marrying luxury and performance down the line, with an emphasis on the impact of motorsports. José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company & Genesis, said, “Genesis achieved one million global sales faster than any luxury marque in history. Magma represents our declaration that the next ten years will be even more significant. We’re not just building high-performance vehicles; we’re redefining what a luxury high-performance brand can be when Korean innovation meets global ambition.” At this time, the plan is to make the Magma GT Concept a halo car, making this one of the most critical launches to date for the brand. Oh, and don’t forget that they plan to compete in the GT racing class.
The GV60 Magma marks the moment Genesis finally stepped into the performance space for real. With big power, sharpened handling, meaningful digital tools, and a design that finally gives the brand a performance identity, the Magma program is shaping the next decade of Genesis. This is the most confident car Genesis has ever shown, and it opens the door for a lineup that looks competitive, expressive, and genuinely emotional. The quiet luxury years were the warm-up, but Magma is where the brand starts to move.
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