Genesis GV90 Neolun enters production with no B-pillar doors

On August 19, Genesis put its first full-size all-electric flagship SUV, the GV90, in the spotlight. The higher-end GV90 Neolun’s two doors open outward on either side of the vehicle, with no fixed B-pillar between them, and the front and rear doors can each be opened and closed independently. The concept car’s most expensive and most difficult-to-certify design in crash testing has ultimately been retained for the production model. The standard GV90 uses conventional doors, while its price and China launch date have not yet been announced.

This structure is not simply a matter of installing the doors in reverse. Genesis designed a two-stage hinge for the rear door: when the door is pulled, it first slides outward and then rotates backward, creating room for the front door’s movement. Once the doors are closed, the high-strength twin steel beams inside them work with the body to distribute crash loads. The passenger-compartment frame is 1.5 times thicker than that of conventional vehicles, and the interior also incorporates high-strength steel tubes and structural foam. Genesis says this concealed rollover-protection frame can deliver crash-safety performance on a par with vehicles equipped with a conventional B-pillar.

The roof is also part of the safety system. The GV90 is equipped with a roof safety airbag covering the entire glass roof, one of the vehicle’s 12 airbags. In a serious rollover, it is intended to reduce the risk of occupants being ejected and limit the possibility of their heads striking the roof or glass. Side curtains extend to the third row, while the cabin occupant-monitoring system adjusts airbag and seatbelt controls according to seat occupancy, occupant type and posture. These safety claims remain the manufacturer’s own statements.

The vehicle’s dimensions and powertrain specifications have also been announced: it is 5285mm long, has a 3245mm wheelbase and rides on 24-inch wheels. Its 123.5kWh battery delivers around 500km of range in official internal testing of the seven-seat version, while up to 350kW fast charging takes 22 minutes to go from 10% to 80%. The front and rear motors produce a combined 490kW and 800N·m, and the vehicle comes with air suspension, electronically controlled dampers and rear-wheel steering of up to 5 degrees. Inside, 180-degree-rotating front seats, a four-seat executive package, a retractable OLED theater screen and a 25-speaker audio system turn the SUV into a mobile lounge.

Independent coach doors without a fixed B-pillar create a more complete opening for entry. Rotating seats and radiant floor heating, meanwhile, turn “getting into a car” into “entering a room.” Genesis CEO Muñoz previously said the GV90 is not centered on a specific sales target or profitability. For consumers, the actual price, launch date and real-world safety-test results have yet to be announced. For the brand, its first task is to showcase a distinctive philosophy of hospitality.