2019 Genesis G70: A not-so-little little brother

The first of the three Genesis G-series cars developed from the ground up to be a sporting grand touring (GT) car, the Genesis G70 is ready to battle the Germans, Italians, Brits, Swedes and Americans, anytime, anywhere. It's now on sale at Napleton's North Palm Genesis.

A new, intimate sized sedan, the Genesis G70 is aimed at the enthusiast driver who likes a bit of luxury to offset his exuberance. In the process of offering an enthusiast a respectable sporting sedan, Genesis has opened its franchise to buyers who previously would have walked on by. If that were the case, they will have missed a lot.

Several possibilities.

Genesis has taken a scattershot approach, but not in a haphazard way. Instead, the brand has targeted three distinct buyers: The entry-level buyer who will be happy with the 2.0-liter turbo engine and the anything-but-basic handling that comes with it. Second is the enthusiast driver who thinks the journey is half the fun. He will likely buy the 2.0-liter turbo package with the available six-speed manual transmission and sport handling package. The final buyer is likely the "never enough buyer," who thinks there is no such thing as too much horsepower, and will opt for the 3.3-liter twin turbocharged V6. Luckily, Napleton North Palm Genesis can cater to all three kinds of customers.

Whichever driver you are, we think you will come away from your respective choice, more than satisfied.

Power for the Genesis G70 comes from a buyer's choice of a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 252 horsepower and 260 lb-ft of torque to the rear or to all four wheels. Second up is a twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V6 that has been stolen directly from its Kia Stinger cousin. Making 365-horsepower and 376 lb-ft of torque, and the fact it can go 0-60 mph in 4.5 seconds, makes this a case of Grand Theft Auto.  Both engines are available with eight-speed automatic transmissions, complete with paddle shift levers, although the 2.0T can be equipped with a smooth shifting six-speed manual transmission. Both engine choices can be ordered with either rear or all-wheel-drive. Consult with your Napleton North Palm Genesis sales consultant for options and availability.

The 2.0T is also available with a Sport package option that includes beefed-up brakes, a limited-slip differential and an available six-speed manual gearbox that includes a pumping-up of the ponies from 252-hp to 255-hp.

All automatic transmission G70 models are equipped with a launch control that enables quick starts without any hindering from traction control, and even goes further with a drift mode that allows for a bit of controlled tail wagging, should the urge strike. Drift on is the phrase of the day, although we don't suspect we will see many Genesis owners drifting about on their way to the local big box store.

Inside offerings.

Inside the G70, occupants will find an interior that is well-outfitted with quilted leather that could make some ultra-luxury sedans and coupes rather jealous. Using extremely high-quality material including leather and suede-like material throughout the cabin, not to mention single needle stitching throughout, lends the right amount of sportiness and buttoned down panache to the interior.

Seating is comfortable especially in the business row of the cabin (front seating area) Controls lay out nicely with an adjustable steering wheel that allows a comfortable seating position for most driver types. Paddle shift levers help reduce monotony for drivers who would rather channel their inner Max Verstappen (Google him) rather than let the transmission shift for them. But at the end of the day, there are times we would rather set it and forget it.

Dual-zone automatic climate control is standard along with an eight-inch display that features Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. A two-toned interior gives the interior a more business-like appearance while the Lexicon premium audio system with Clari-Fi from Harman offers stellar audio quality while its Clari-Fi function helps to restore music definition that is lost in the compression algorithm.

Drive we said.

To get behind the wheel of the 2019 Genesis G70 is to get into a GT-style sport sedan designed by someone who knows what he is talking about. Albert Biermann is the "performance whisperer" from Hyundai, Genesis and Kia brands, following years of being in charge of the BMW M series stable of vehicles. The change in stance for the Genesis brand is remarkable and will be even more so as it grows. All we can say is "watch this space."

The result of all the tuning underway at the Genesis factory is a pair of sedans that feature enough oomph without that added shock from a high monthly gasoline credit card bill. Instead, Genesis has presented us with a pair of land sharks that like ticking off the miles in rapid succession. In the case of the 3.3-liter twin turbo, that happens on the way to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds.

The power from the 2.0T is surprisingly stout for a four-cylinder turbocharged engine. Steering from the electrically-assisted steering system is well-modulated, thanks to the rack-mounted motor and the reduced weight over the front axle. Here you have a sport sedan that grips without the feeling of digging in.

Unlike other established marques, Genesis has no pedigree stretching 50 or 60 years into the past, enabling them to claim bragging rights to wins at the 24 hours of Lemans or on the Nurburgring. But that's just fine, as it enables new G70 owners the ability to go out and make some history of their own. Get in, push the button and go, we say.

The Genesis G70 is now available for purchase or lease at Napleton's North Palm Genesis.