Genesis is crashing the luxury party with the GV60 Magma, its first performance EV

The GV60 Magma is Genesis’ first high-performance vehicle, and it’s aimed straight at Mercedes-Benz AMG and BMW M. Here’s our first look at the sporty EV.

A little over a year and a half after Genesis first introduced the GV60 Magma concept at the New York Auto Show last March, we are finally getting our first look at the production model.

Genesis unveiled the GV60 Magma for the first time at Circuit Paul Ricard in Le Castellet, France, where it outlined plans to solidify its position as a true luxury brand.

Magma is the luxury brand’s “expansion into the realm of high-performance vehicles,” but it’s shaping up to be much more than that.

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Genesis is not just building sporty-looking, powerful vehicles. It’s “redefining what a luxury high-performance brand can be,” according to José Muñoz, President and CEO of Hyundai Motor Company & Genesis.

Muñoz said at the event that “Genesis achieved one million global sales faster than any luxury marque in history.” Magma is a declaration that the next 10 years will be even bigger for the luxury automaker, setting the stage for Genesis’ next chapter.

Essentially, Magma is Genesis’ version of Mercedes-Benz AMG and BMW M, offering more power, fine-tuned suspension, bold styling, and added tech and features.

Meet the Genesis GV60 Magma EV

Compared to the standard GV60, the Magma looks far more aggressive, thanks to its wider stance and lower ride height.

The GV60 Magma is 20 mm lower than the standard version and features wide fenders. It also gains Magma-exclusive 21″ wheels and 275 mm tires.

The bumper has been redesigned with a new three-hole structure, exclusive to Magma models, that optimizes airflow. Genesis tweaked the lower diffuser to improve aerodynamics. Like the bumper, the side skirts feature a three-hole design.

The massive rear wing isn’t just for show. It helps generate downforce, boosting wheel grip for improved control and acceleration.

Inside, Genesis upgraded the GV60 with a new Magma-exclusive steering wheel and Chamude materials on the seats, door trim, and center console.

A new Magma Mode converts the instrument display into a 3-circle layout, showing motor and battery temp, speed, and G-Force. An added head-up display projects key information such as speed, regenerative brake levels, and remaining boost time.

Like Hyundai’s performance EVs, the IONIQ 5 N and IONIQ 6 N (which made its North American debut today), the Genesis GV60 Magma is powered by a dual motor, all-wheel drive (AWD) powertrain, boasting a combined 650 hp (478 kW) and 790 Nm torque when Boost Mode is activated.

Boost Mode unlocks the vehicle’s full potential, boosting power and torque for 15 seconds. It’s just one of the many different modes and features the GV60 Magma offers.

When Boost Mode is active, the GV60 Magma can accelerate from a standstill to 200 km/h (124 mph) in just 10.9 seconds.

Other features, like the Virtual Gear Shift System, replicate the feel and sensations of a high-performance ICE engine. Meanwhile, Drift Mode combines power distribution with the electronic limited-slip differential (e-LSD) for rear-wheel-focused driving.

Genesis will launch the GV60 Magma in the US and Europe in 2026. Prices and final specs, including range, have yet to be revealed, but given the current 2026 Genesis GV60 Performance starts at $71,875, the Magma variant is expected to start at around $75,000.

Genesis also unveiled the Magma GT Concept at the event. The concept is much more than a show car, Genesis said, it “serves as a road map for how Genesis plans to establish its performance heritage in the years to come.”