Tag Archives: Korea

Should You Pick The All-Electric Genesis G80 Over The ICE Models?

While the GV60 is the first Genesis electric vehicle built from the ground up, it isn’t actually the brand’s first EV. That title belongs to the Genesis eG80, also known as the Electrified G80.

Genesis unveiled the vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show back in mid-April and recently handed it over to reviewers in South Korea. This particular review comes courtesy of YouTuber CarSceneKorea and shows him testing the car both on the highway and some more flowing and enjoyable roads.

Powering the Electrified G80 are a pair of electric motors, one at each axle, combining to produce 365 hp and 516 lb-ft (700 Nm) of torque. Genesis says the car can hit 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.9 seconds.

Read More: 2022 Genesis Electrified G80 Has 365 HP And Up To 310 Miles Of Range

Interestingly, the electric G80 is only down 10 hp from the 3.5-liter twin-turbocharged petrol V6 model but has 125 lb-ft of additional torque. As such, the reviewer says it feels much quicker than the flagship ICE model. He also praises the car’s handling and thinks it is better to drive than the ICE model, thanks in part to the lower center of gravity.

There are some downsides to the Genesis Electrified G80. For example, it sacrifices a lot of trunk space because there is now a large electric motor at the rear. The presence of the battery pack under the floor also means the seats are positioned slightly higher than the standard car, so the driving position isn’t quite as good.

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Hyundai Considering Pulling Plug On Kona EV In South Korea

Even though the Hyundai Kona Electric is one of Europe’s best-selling EVs, a series of recalls could end up costing it dearly in its home market of South Korea.

The recalls were prompted by multiple fires (resulting in lawsuits), as well as faulty braking systems, leading the carmaker to allegedly consider ending domestic sales for its fully-electric crossover, claims cable news channel YTN.

However, according to the JoonAng daily, an unidentified source is saying that sales will continue in Europe, reports Autonews Europe.

Read Also: Hyundai EV Battery Fires Lead To Lawsuits, GM Recalls 70,000 Cars With Batteries From Same Maker

While declining to comment on these reports, Hyundai did state that they are “reviewing various options as we prepare to launch the Ioniq 5”.

The Kona EV was recalled in South Korea back in October due to a short circuit risk, possibly caused by the faulty manufacturing of the car’s high-voltage battery cells. The recall, which includes software updates and battery replacements following an inspection, involves 25,564 units built between September 2017 and March 2020.

This same issue also forced GM to recall 70,000 cars fitted with batteries from the same maker, specifically LG Chem

As for the other issue, a total of 50,864 Kona and Nexo fuel-cell vehicles were recalled in South Korea due to faulty electronic braking systems – the problem here being a software defect that affects not just Kona EV variants but the hybrid version as well (built between May 2019 and November 2020).

It’s safe to say that pulling the Kona EV from its home market would be a tough pill to swallow for Hyundai.