Genesis Just Designed The Perfect Wagon

The most interesting luxury car brand on the planet right now is Genesis. Its existing lineup of SUVs and sedans is almost entirely gorgeous, the high-output GV60 Magma is intriguing, the investment in a Le Mans Hypercar is unexpected, and news of a mid-engined V8 homologation special supercar? That’s eye-opening. However, while the Magma GT concept widened pupils and slackened jaws, the G90 Wingback concept seems designed to rearrange brain matter. For its latest concept car, Genesis built a sports wagon out of a big-body luxury sedan, and it looks almost ready for production.

Yep, underneath the shiny side, the G90 Wingback is a Genesis G90, the flagship sedan a whole size class up from something like a BMW 5 Series or a Mercedes-Benz E-Class. We’re talking about an S-Class competitor with optional massaging rear seats, more leather than a Bottega Venetta store, and a massive 125.2-inch wheelbase. Outside of low-volume coachbuilders and a handful of specials made for the Brunei Royal Family, the whole concept of an executive limo wagon hasn’t really been tried before, but the sheer footprint should practically ensure spaciousness.

Indeed, the front doors, wing mirrors, and taillights of the G90 Wingback appear to be shared with the sedan, but everything else is markedly different, starting with that aggressive front clip. Not only does it borrow the lighting from the gorgeous Genesis X Gran Coupe and X Gran Convertible concepts, it adds a handful of butch punch-out vents in the bumper and outrageous fenders. Think supercar-sized fender vents to extract air from the wheel wells, and enough width to cover what appears to be a revised track width. After all, 255-section front tires are only ten millimetres wider than what you get on a standard G90, so this front end doesn’t just cover rubber alone.

Moving around to the side of the G90 Wingback, the whole roof is completely unique, all the way down to a seamless blend into pillars and roof rails. There are a few ways to achieve this including laser welding and brazing, but the effect is downright sleek. It’s also repeatable, as Honda’s used it to great effect on the current Civic. Speaking of the roof, check out those wild fins that really complement the wide arches, rear fender flares, and deep side skirts.

At the same time, Genesis has really blended elements of a sedan with that classic wagon roofline. There’s some wedge to the main character line, big haunches, and even a little ducktail treatment that bisects the tailgate and has let the designers go with a slightly raked rear window. Put it all together and you get a wagon that’s bite-the-back-of-your-hand gorgeous. It’s pure desire on four wheels, and the craziest part is that the G90 Wingback might actually make sense.

Outside of the Subaru Outback which isn’t really a wagon anymore, the only wagons that work from a sales perspective in America occupy the upper echelon of the market. Think AMG E-Class wagons, the Audi RS6 Avant and the BMW M5 Touring. Demand for the M5 Touring alone is just as strong as market desire for the sedan, so if a luxury brand is planning a wagon, it pays to go big. Not only does crossing the six-figure mark and going all-out move units, it also means sweet, sweet margins. You know, a thing that actually solidifies a business case for a niche vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at the competition for a second.

The Audi RS6 Avant is monstrously fast with its 621-horsepower four-liter biturbo V8, but it is getting a bit old. Considering a new A6 is already on sale, the current RS6 Avant probably isn’t long for this world. While a successor is in the works, little is known about the next big, high-performance Audi wagon.

The BMW M5 Touring serves up an obscene 717 horsepower and can glide along on electric power alone, but it weighs more than a Ford F-150, the ride’s quite harsh, the styling’s a bit contentious, and BMW’s been working overtime to alienate its loyal fanbase. This is a great machine for young money, but a bit Marmite to older enthusiasts.

The Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid Wagon is an interesting one. Sure, it only uses a straight-six, but it’s tens of thousands of dollars cheaper than an M5 Touring or RS6 Avant, promises 41 miles of electric range, and can still sprint from zero-to-60 mph in fewer than four seconds. It may be a midsizer like most of its competitive set, but this is one to watch. Mind you, some of the detailing like the thick black bezel around the grille is a touch frumpy.

The Porsche Taycan Cross Turismo and Sport Turismo can be genuinely head-bendingly quick, and they look fantastic, but they’re tiny inside. A scant 32 inches of rear legroom is less than you get in a Corolla, and 15.75 cu.-ft. of rear cargo volume with the seats up isn’t anything to write home about.

If Genesis were to put the G90 Wingback concept into production, it would simultaneously be building in a bracket that works and be boldly going where no other automaker has gone before. See, the Mercedes-AMG E 53 Hybrid, Audi RS6 Avant, and BMW M5 Touring are all midsize performance wagons, capable of dashing from zero-to-60 mph in fewer than four seconds. They aren’t all-out full-size luxury machines, although something tells me that the G90 Wingback has sporting aspirations of its own. I mean, between the styling and the suede interior, there’s probably a reason Genesis rolled it out at the Magma launch event.

While the G90 Wingback concept is likely just a feeler for now, the response I’ve seen from people with S-Class money to spend on a daily driver has been tremendous. Sure, a production-spec G90 Wingback would sell in tiny numbers, but if a business case can be made, there’s no reason not to build it. For now, we’ll just have to ogle the concept car. Hey Siri, play “Oh Yeah” by Yello.

Top graphic image: Genesis