Dealers ready for Genesis high-end EV

Luxury electric vehicle buyers can expect to see a premium electric coupe in Genesis showrooms as the brand continues to open dedicated retail stores and make its transition to an all-EV lineup.

Peter Lanzavecchia, the longtime chairman of the Genesis National Dealer Advisory Council and owner of Genesis of Cherry Hill in Marlton, N.J., told Automotive News that the brand's chief creative officer, Luc Donckerwolke, told dealers at Genesis' annual meeting that the X Convertible concept revealed ahead of the Los Angeles Auto Show last year will go into production.

"When he said that at the dealer meeting — to say it in front of a couple of hundred Genesis dealers — that's a pretty good sign," Lanzavecchia said.

A performance GT coupe is high on the wish list for Genesis dealers, according to Lanzavecchia, adding that was rumored even before Donckerwolke addressed dealers about its planned arrival.

"I don't know if it's going to be over $200,000 or $300,000, but I guarantee we're going see a lot of Bentley Continental convertible trade-ins on that when it comes to our showrooms," he said.

"It would be a true halo flagship for the brand," he said. "And although sales volume might be extremely limited, I think production of that convertible would help put an exclamation point at the end of the sentence saying Genesis is a full real luxury brand."

The X Convertible revealed in Los Angeles was the third version in a trio of electric coupe concepts that Genesis has teased. The sleek open-roof, four-door concept follows the Genesis X Concept two-door grand tourer and Genesis X Speedium Coupe, which showcased a new, lighted version of the crest grille.

A spokesperson for the brand said that the new grille, also featured on the X Convertible, would be a blueprint for the front-end designs of future Genesis EVs.

At the X Convertible concept reveal in L.A., Donckerwolke told media that the design team had poured time and effort into the three X concepts and is pushing hard for a production vehicle based on them.