SNAKE CHARMER
Autocar UK|April 12, 2023
Jim Holder goes in search of Korea's Stelvio Pass to see how his favourite car of last year, the Genesis GV60, responds to the twists and turns that lie ahead
Jim Holder
SNAKE CHARMER

Korea's fastest electric hot hatch. Korea's twistiest road. This one should write itself, right? As I glide out of bustling Seoul's surprisingly free-moving traffic and push east towards the rural coast, rolling along Route 60 amid a mixture of heavy trucks and a multitude of Hyundais and Kias, it's hard not to conclude that I've lucked in: the traffic is light, the weather decent and the Genesis GV60 all the car I remembered it to be.

As tradition dictates, at the close of 2022, we were all asked to nominate our cars of the year. Ferrari 296 GTB, Maserati MC20, Pininfarina Battista... In that company and with sales figures in the UK barely troubling the hundreds, my nomination of the GV60 felt sufficiently left-field that I opened the piece with an apology (although I should give honourable mention to Piers Ward for going with and justifying the Kia Picanto).

On reflection, I shouldn't have been so meek. Genesis may be a relatively new brand in Europe, and its understated quest to push the performance envelope of EVs into new territory, but there was never any doubt that the GV60 would be good. Sharing technology with the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5, among the best mass-market EVs on sale today, its family lineage was too special for it to go drastically wrong.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM AUTOCAR UKView all
Poster car that went from rusty to trusty
Autocar UK

Poster car that went from rusty to trusty

One evening, two years ago, George Pappas was being driven down his local high street by a mate and mulling over whether to replace his Mk4 Golf diesel, a recent purchase that was boring him to death, when his girlfriend, also in the car, spotted an old BMW 3 Series at the side of the road with a 'for sale' sign in the window.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2024
THE SEVEN-SEATER THAT VOLVO DARE NOT KILL OFF
Autocar UK

THE SEVEN-SEATER THAT VOLVO DARE NOT KILL OFF

The current-gen XC90 has been on sale since 2015 for good reason

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2024
GENESIS ELECTRIFIED G80
Autocar UK

GENESIS ELECTRIFIED G80

Where the story begins, in the Hyundai premium marque’s luxury saloon

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2024
LEXUSLBX
Autocar UK

LEXUSLBX

Can you shrink premium quality to fit an SUV this small? We now know

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2024
Rolls boss ready to 'define the next chapter'
Autocar UK

Rolls boss ready to 'define the next chapter'

Nine months into the job, Rolls-Royce CEO and car guy Chris Brownridge tells STEVE CROPLEY what he's learned and where the firm's heading

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2024
Once more, with feeling
Autocar UK

Once more, with feeling

AC Cars' recreation of the classic MkII Cobra is at first glance a faithful facsimile of a 1960s performance benchmark. SIMON HUCKNALL drives it

time-read
7 mins  |
November 13, 2024
MERCEDES-BENZ CLE
Autocar UK

MERCEDES-BENZ CLE

Does a PHEV set-up work in a coupé that exudes such old-school vibes?

time-read
9 mins  |
November 13, 2024
ANALOGUE SUPERSPORT
Autocar UK

ANALOGUE SUPERSPORT

Lotus Elise specialist uprates 1990s icon with an eye on track days

time-read
4 mins  |
November 13, 2024
ALPINE A290
Autocar UK

ALPINE A290

The hot hatch is alive and well, and living in France. On both road and track, there's much to savour`

time-read
5 mins  |
November 13, 2024
UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS
Autocar UK

UK HANGS ON TO OLD CARS

Average car age climbs as high prices dampen demand for new models

time-read
2 mins  |
November 13, 2024