Luxury brand Genesis will look to debut its new hybrid drivetrain in the GV80 SUV in late 2026, according to a new report from a Korean news outlet.

Korea JoongAng Daily cites “a source familiar with the matter” saying the Hyundai Motor Group subsidiary’s first hybrid model will commence production in September 2026, followed by the smaller GV70 Hybrid in March 2027 and then a G80 Hybrid thereafter.

The source added the GV80 Hybrid, based on the current model which was recently facelifted, will have a short lifespan. A “fully revamped GV80 Hybrid is slated for the second half of 2028”, according to the unnamed source.

Those timings align with Hyundai Motor Group’s official communications about its next-generation hybrid rollout from April, which confirmed the new 2.5-litre turbocharged hybrid system debuting in the next-gen Palisade SUV will spawn a rear-drive variation bound for Genesis vehicles sometime in 2026.

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Above: 2025 Hyundai Palisade 2.5T HEV system

At the heart of the Korean carmaker’s latest hybrid system is a new transmission, which features two integrated electric motors and can be “paired flexibly” with a number of the company’s existing engines to optimise performance and efficiency.

The new transmission features what the Hyundai group calls a P1 and P2 motor, the former acting as a starter-generator while the latter assists with vehicle propulsion and regenerative braking. Hyundai adds the P1 motor is incorporated into the Active Shift Control (ASC) hybrid transmission logic, offering “faster and smoother” shifts.

In the case of the Palisade’s 2.5-litre turbo-petrol system, the combustion engine has also been re-engineered to be more efficient. Beyond the P1 and P2 motors, the ICE unit features enhanced cylinder flow and a high-efficiency combustion cycle optimised for hybrids.

Hyundai says the new Palisade Hybrid offers fuel efficiency of 7.1L/100km, which is approximately 45 per cent better than the 2.5T engine without the new hybrid tech. The Palisade Hybrid’s 245kW and 460Nm outputs also represent 19 and 9.0 per cent improvements respectively over the non-hybrid version of the same engine.

Above: Genesis Electrified GV70

This is the latest development in Genesis’s rejigged electrification strategy in response to slowing EV sales growth. Genesis had previously confirmed all its new models from 2025 onwards would be electric vehicles working towards an EV-only lineup by 2030, but has since adjusted to include hybrids and is also developing range-extender EV technologies.

“Five years back we anticipated that the EV era would arrive very quickly, and we really wanted to be a leader and a disruptor in the EV space,” Genesis global boss Mike Song said in April 2024, as reported by The Korean Car Blog.

“Electrification is still our vision. We will have 100 per cent electrified vehicles, but the market and the customers now want hybrid more than EV, so we really want to bring Genesis hybrid into the market as soon as possible. We will apply it to as many models as possible.”

Genesis Australia head Justin Douglass said he wants to offer hybrid models Down Under as soon as they’re available.

“We are eager to introduce these new powertrains into our range in Australia at the earliest opportunity, enabling us to further expand our growing customer base and meet the needs of our discerning clientele,” Mr Douglass said in April 2024.

Above: Genesis GV80 Black

The Genesis GV80 is currently on sale in Australia with one drivetrain option, a 3.5-litre V6 twin-turbo petrol engine without any form of electric assistance – despite a 48V version with an electric supercharger being available overseas.

A smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol is also offered in the domestic market as the base option, though this powertrain was axed from the Australian lineup pre-facelift. This engine will return though, once the GV80 Hybrid reaches the Australian market.

It’s unclear whether the Genesis hybrid system’s outputs will differ greatly from the 245kW/460Nm quoted by the front-drive-biased Hyundai Palisade, though given Genesis’s sportier rear-drive layout and more premium positioning, it wouldn’t be surprising if the luxury arm pushed for a beefier tune around the 250kW/500Nm mark.

Stay tuned to CarExpert for all the latest.

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