QUICK SUMMARY
Genesis has unveiled a stunning new off-roader called the X Skorpio, with a 1,100-horsepower V8 engine and 40-inch tires.
Although it will not go on sale, the car is a symbol of Genesis’ intention and its future Magma motorsport and sports car division.
We’re used to producing a series of sleek, stylish yet sensible electric SUVs, like the GV60, but what happens when the walls are lowered?
This is the result. It’s called the X Skorpio Concept and it’s a Genesis but not as we know it. Powered by a V8 engine that produces 1,100 bhp and 850 lb ft of torque, the one-off is actually a great off-road vehicle.
Designed to stand out in the desert landscape, apparently with dunes as if they were just obstacles, the X Skorpio was inspired by the black scorpion, Genesis says, and was built to “conquer difficult terrains with superior performance and luxurious designs, driven by a spirit of bold exploration,” says the automaker.
Sitting on 18-inch wheels wrapped in large 40-inch off-road tires, the car also features Brembo motorsport brakes, a roll cage, bucket seats with harnesses, and construction that includes Kevlar and carbon fiber.
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Inside there is a spacious cabin equipped with a digital display mounted directly on the steering wheel, and a secondary touchscreen on the dashboard for the passenger to act as a navigator and co-pilot. A few handles on the center console indicate that the passenger can spend most of his time doing it.
Genesis says that the concept’s aerodynamics have been improved to reduce drag “while maximizing stability, keeping the car stable on the ground and during high altitudes.” In other words, it’s designed to make big jumps over those desert dunes – performance aided by an off-road suspension with a “clean surface” and “open approach, take-off and break angles,” the Korean company says.
You’d be hard-pressed to find many parts shared with Genesis’ road cars, but that doesn’t mean the company has completely ignored its sensible roots. The V-shaped light pattern at the front is similar to the same detail on the GV60 SUV, while the brand’s signature two-row LED light clusters are also present, but joined by full-length strips running front to rear.
(Photo credit: Genesis)
Naturally, the X Skorpio never went into production. But that’s not the point, because it’s a reminder that Genesis wants to produce interesting cars and SUVs for the market.
The company’s CEO Luc Donckerwolke said: “We create concept cars to inspire and evoke the true passion of our vision. They are designed to deepen the emotional connection with our customers by showing the high desirability they have always dreamed of…Each concept is a symbol of what is possible, a vision of the DNA of Genesis’ future.”
On that note, the company is ready to reveal the production version of its GV60 Magma, the first car to show what the sporty Genesis (and technology shared with the excellent, and closely related, Hyundai Ioniq 5 N) will be like. In addition, Genesis’ Magma Racing division will begin competing in the FIA World Endurance Series, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, this year.
