Genesis has made the art of wowing the crowds at the New York Auto Show into an art form with the luxury brand using the auto show to formally unveil a stylish concept vehicle. This year’s event is no different with the brand unveiling the all-new X Gran Equator concept which teases a future EV SUV that would bring the fight to rivals like Tesla, Rivian, and Lucid while also giving Genesis a bigger EV for buyers looking to bring their families along for the ride.
X Gran Equator is packing electrons
For its part, Geneiss didn’t explicitly say the Gran Equator is an EV but unless the concept is a pure rolling design study, there are some visual clues to suggest that this SUV is being powered by electrons with the concept not featuring a traditional exhaust system and a fully enclosed underbody to improve aerodynamics. It also appears to be a proverbial missing link between a wagon and a traditional SUV with Genesis saying the concept “defies traditional SUV conventions” and features a split tailgate.
The two-lined lighting motif is on full display and the concept also gets 24-inch beadlock wheels though a potential production version will most likely pitch them in lieu of slightly smaller but still stylish hoops. The interior is clean and modern but unlike recent concepts we have seen from other automakers, Genesis didn’t add a giant screen and the instrumentation is instead provided by four digital dials with a trio of smaller displays serving as the instrument cluster. A suite of physical buttons is also standard with the cabin seating up to four passengers. Our favorite feature (besides the four-panel glass sunroof) is the glovebox with the piece here being made up of two doors which are held in place by leather straps.
Will it enter production?
Genesis says the X Gran Equator is “not confirmed for production.” but we’re not taking that statement at face value since the SUV would help fill a niche for the brand in the EV segment. Its dimensions put it firmly in contention with the Rivian R1S and it’s no secret that the brand would love to have a bigger EV in its arsenal to help bring more families into the ranks.
In the meantime, the brand is continuing to focus on more immediate matters with the brand preparing to unleash the updated 2026 GV70 while also sharpening the presence of many of its existing models with refreshes. The GV60 EV is slated to get a performance-oriented Magma model and the brand confirmed it’s accelerating the release of hybrid models to help offset a slump in EV demand.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.