Genesis says first EV will have sporty acceleration and a generous range

TOKYO -- Genesis unveiled a battery-powered version of its G80 sedan as the brand's first full-electric model, promising sporty acceleration and a generous driving range.

The South Korean premium brand revealed the model on Monday at the Shanghai auto show, foreshadowing the marque's electrification strategy in the important Chinese market.

Automakers worldwide are developing EV models for the Chinese market, where stringent emissions regulations require them to have robust lineups of electrified vehicles. Genesis said the Electrified G80 will be the leadoff nameplate for other full-electric offerings down the road.

"Electrification is one of the key strategies for Genesis as it aims to design and provide new experiences for customers with electric models," Genesis said in a release.

Genesis announced its entry into China only on April 2, launching the brand into the world's biggest auto market and tapping a potential driving force for international sales growth.

The brand said it would disclose more information about a U.S. and Canada introduction later this year, including the Electrified G80's North American specifications. It will announce its plans to launch European sales on May 4.

The China-market G80 shown in Shanghai has a range of 500 km (310 miles), based on the New European Driving Cycle, or NEDC. Estimates derived from NEDC are generally considered more optimistic than the U.S. standard set by the EPA.

The company estimates the range as 427 km (265 miles).

Genesis says the Electrified G80 can cover 0-60 mph (97 kph) in 4.9 seconds.

Like the newly introduced Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric crossover, the Electrified G80 can support both 400-volt and 800-volt charging, meaning it allows for faster charging.

The exterior design shares the much the same looks as the standard G80 under the brand's "Athletic Elegance" design language. But it gets subtle tweaks to show its electric credentials.

Among them is a more aerodynamic grille, which also houses the charging port.

The Electrified G80 comes with standard all-wheel drive but has a disconnector actuator system that allows the driver to switch between all-wheel and rear-wheel power to improve efficiency.