The Genesis Neolun idea previews an electrical SUV flagship, more likely to be referred to as the GV90. In typical concept-car vogue, the Neolun—that means “New Moon”—has some loopy options. Among them is a pop-out roof rack, heated flooring, rotating entrance seats, suicide doorways, and no B-pillar. The types of issues that typically by no means make manufacturing, however SangYup Lee, head designer at Genesis, says the automaker is pushing to make this a actuality.
“We don’t do a show car for show business,” he tells Motor1. “Every element in design, there’s an engineering study behind it.”
Putting suicide doorways in manufacturing is one factor. Rolls-Royce has used them for years, and the Ferrari Purosangue has a rear-swinging door, too. But having no B-pillar is one other matter solely. Without that ingredient, it’s an actual problem to make sure the automobile is stiff sufficient and meets related crash-safety requirements.
Lee says it’s straightforward to do that with a small automobile, citing the previous BMW i3 for instance. It’s a comparatively small opening. “A car like this, when you roll, the roof has to be strong enough to hold the weight,” he explains. “But as I said, never say never… Without the B-pillar, look at how big this space is. Imagine when you pull up to a beautiful concert with a red carpet, staging door opens, or when you go to the beach, staging door opens and you have the whole sea in front of you.” It’s a stunning thought.
There are different neat particulars. Lee is especially happy with lights and badging which might be completely flush with the physique. Run your hand over them, and you’ll’t really feel the place one ends and the opposite begins.
Inspiration for the Neolun got here from Korea’s moon jars, and river stones. Lee usually retains a extremely polished river stone in his pocket, and he needs the surfaces of the Neolun to really feel comparable. “You should be able to define a Genesis vehicle even when your eyes are closed,” he says. “This is how you discover the Genesis character.”
That interprets to a really easy car. There’s hardly any sharp traces or creases to be discovered, in direct distinction with massive SUVs from different luxurious manufacturers. The Neolun, and the eventual manufacturing automobile, are consciously totally different. “This car is all about proportion, balance and volume,” Lee says.
Genesis didn’t present a timeline for Neolun manufacturing, however Lee mentioned it can come “sooner than later.” Figure a pair years. Hopefully, all these fancy parts grow to be a production-car actuality.
