Genesis, Hyundai's luxury brand, continues to circle the possibility of an introduction to the Irish car market, and we continue to really, really want the brand to come here, especially when it's knocking out stunning concept cars such as this X Skorpio.
What's an X-Skorpio when it's at home?
Well, that's the point - it's not at home, it's hurling itself over a sand dune in the Rub' al Khali "Empty Quarter” desert in the United Arab Emirates, rather than just sitting on some motor show stand. And when we say hurling, we really mean it - this thing is packing a 1,115hp V8 engine.
Is Genesis serious about this?
It might just be. The X Skorpio comes hot on the heels of two other dramatic Genesis concept cars - the Magma GT mid-engined supercar (which is due to go into production in 2027 and which will very likely share the X Skorpio's engine) and the G90 'Wingback', an exceptionally handsome big estate car, which will also go on sale "if a business case can be made.”
So how does the X-Skorpio fit into all this?
The X Skorpio concept - which Genesis inevitably says is inspired by desert scorpions - is designed to show off the company's off-road prowess. It kind of looks like someone crossed an Aston Martin Valour with a Dakar off-road buggy, and frankly, we're absolutely fine with that combination.
"The X Skorpio concept is an extreme off-road vehicle designed to be driven across the toughest and harshest terrain,” said Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of Genesis. "With a tubular frame, a full roll cage and many components sourced directly from off-road endurance racing specialists, the X Skorpio Concept explores yet another facet of the Genesis brand and highlights our intent to inject emotion and adrenaline into different segments.”
It definitely looks cool…
It really does. The segmented body panels are meant to evoke the look of the 'armour plates' of a scorpion's body, but they're not just for show - in common with a Dakar racer, they're designed to be easily and quickly removed for repair.
Inside, this is no stripped-down 'Trophy Truck' - instead, there's a mixture of motorsports - chunky buttons and a visible roll cage - and luxury - a padded diamond stitched leather dash and softly upholstered bucket seats with four-point harnesses. There is a big touchscreen, but it's offset to the passenger side, emphasising the idea of passenger-as-co-driver and also subtly pointing out that, with 1,115hp on tap, the driver has bigger things to worry about. The driver gets a race-car-derived simple digital display strapped to the steering wheel.
What's the mechanical spec?
That amazing V8 engine sends power to all four wheels, of course, and there are 18-inch alloys wearing super-rugged 'beadlock' 40-inch off-road tyres. Need to stop? There are brakes engineered by racing experts Brembo, while the ultra-short front and rear overhangs, massive ground clearance, and underbody skid panels mean that there's not much terrain you shouldn't be able to cross.
So, how serious are they about production?
Well, that's unclear as yet. Obviously, Genesis wants to be taken increasingly seriously as a luxury and sports car maker - it's even entering the Le Mans 24hrs this year with its new 'Magma' high-performance sub-brand - and it also wants to be taken seriously as a maker of proper off-road machinery, hence why the X Skorpio was accompanied in the desert by an electric GV60 Outdoors Concept (complete with tracks instead of wheels!), a GV70 Outdoors Concept and a GV80 Desert Edition.
According to Luc Donckerwolke: We create concept cars to inspire and ignite authentic passion for our vision. They are designed to deepen the emotional connection with our customers by showcasing the ultimate desirability they've always dreamt of. At Genesis, we craft cars that drive emotional expansion, showcasing not only our design philosophy but also the future technologies that personalise and elevate lifestyles. By aligning our designs with these qualities, Genesis aims to foster emotional connections with customers, generate valuable feedback and solidify our position as an industry leader in luxury automotive innovation. Each concept is a signal of what's possible, a glimpse into the DNA of Genesis' future."