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Mar 29, 2018 | By Tess

Genesis, Hyundai Motor Group’s luxury vehicle brand, has got the auto world abuzz with its recently unveiled Essentia Concept car. The luxury car, a battery-powered electric vehicle with 3D printed components, was presented at the New York International Auto Show this week.

Concept cars (and tires, for that matter) put forward a vision for the future of the auto industry and give us insight into where the sector could be headed. And if Genesis’ Essentia is any clue, we’re on board for the ride.

The stunning and sleek car is built of a lightweight carbon fiber monocoque (meaning the chassis is integrated into the car’s body) and is powered by a multi-motor electric powertrain. Essentia puts an electric spin on the classic GT car.

As Luc Donckerwolke, head of Genesis Design, says: “The Genesis Essentia concept defines our vision for an electric Gran Turismo that integrates Athletic Elegance and Genesis DNA as defining parameters. A Gran Turismo typology highlights our ambition as a luxurious car brand for the connoisseurs and it is the perfect base to project our DNA in the future.”

The car itself is perhaps most notable for its transparent hood, which reveals the car’s intricate carbon fiber chassis, a nose cone, and pushrod suspension. The glass-like hood of the car also extends over the Essentia’s cockpit, providing a transparent roof for the driver of the car. This, says Genesis, was done to “maximize the connection between car and driver” and to de-clutter the car’s design.

The car’s exterior also features an aerodynamic Crest Grille, and Genesis’ signature Quad Lights which rely on laser optical technology. The lighting system also runs down the front wheels, providing a “unique light signature” for the car. More functionally, the concept car integrates intakes to the left and right of the Crest Grille which act as air curtains, and air outlets behind the car’s front wheels which help to reduce drag and pressure.

Inside the car, Genesis designers have opted for a “mixed-material approach” inspired by classic colors and “high fashion.” Indeed, images of the car’s interior reveal a playful blend of textures and materials. The seats are made from cognac leather and herringbone quilting, while leather accents in Oxford blue provide a bit of color. If that wasn’t luxurious enough, the car’s roof and pillars are covered in blue velvet and the seatbelt slots are made from aluminum treated with a glass pearl finish.

The Essentia’s interior also features a number of 3D printed components, including details made from 3D printed carbon fiber which are meant to add texture and a “sporty technical element” to the interior design.

“On the interior, purism has also dominated the creative process for the interior skin, the layer in contact with the occupants, but less traditionalist the connection between the outside skin and the internal structure,” said Donckerwolke. “We connected both with our flowing G-Matrix that uses a dynamic web allowing lightness and internal air flow. This highlights the exciting opportunities being explored in 3D printing which transcends the lengthy, inflexible and costly tooling process.”

The car is powered by a high-density battery pack and a system of electric motors. The battery pack is contained within the car’s center tunnel inside an L-shape structure. This novel approach enabled the designers to maintain the luxury’s car’s low profile and 50-inch roofline.

As a car of the future, the Essentia is also equipped with AI features like voice recognition, an intelligent assistant, voice command vehicle control, driver mood analysis, and more. The car also integrates a banking feature which lets its drivers easily make payments while on the road. We’re not sure about that last one, but hey, why not?

“We understand our obligation as a luxury car manufacturer to create objects of desire, sparking passion and inspiration by emphasizing a culture while exceeding expectations in terms of technology and connectivity, bringing our outside world seamlessly to the inside of the vehicle,” said Manfred Fitzgerald, Global Head of the Genesis Brand. “This is what the Genesis Essentia Concept is all about.”

 

 

Posted in 3D Printing Application

 

 

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