As I sat in my hotel after a long travel day last week, I reached that point of exhaustion when you’re too tired to go to bed. I slept about two hours on my flight to the 24 Hours of Le Mans, walked seven miles around Paris, and climbed the stairs of the Eiffel Tower because it was cheaper than the elevator. But when I saw new photos of the Genesis Magma GT supercar concept, which show the car’s interior for the first time, my drooping eyes flew open.
“IS THAT A GATED MANUAL SHIFTER?” I screeched to my empty room.
It was not. It was a gated automatic PRNDL.
Still, the Magma GT is one of the few modern concept cars that actually interests me. I’ve realized that interest is part of a bigger pattern: Genesis and its parent company, Hyundai, have made me believe in concept cars again. I didn’t think I ever would.
Genesis brought a group to France last week, including me, for the company’s debut in Le Mans’ top Hypercar class. The automaker originally showed off the exterior of its mid-engine Magma GT concept in November 2025, and the new interior photos came this week.
They preceded a real, physical version of the car on display at Le Mans, alongside a GT3 race-car concept. Both looked sick.
There are scarce details about what the Magma GT is and what its production counterpart could look like (or cost), but in a press conference about the car, Genesis leadership repeatedly said they want a production version to come soon.
The company has also said the mid-engine concept has a twin-turbocharged V8 engine “producing up to 800 horsepower.” That’s about all we know.
When I saw the Magma GT concept up close at Le Mans, it was exactly what I’ve come to expect from Genesis: a concept that looks like spaceship, but also a real car, similar to the iconic Lexus LC 500.
The GT’s green paint and bronze wheels were elegant, either in spite of or due to the fact that they’re a combination you can find on a slammed Toyota GR86. The suede and quilted leather inside looked soft, even if I couldn’t touch them. The gauge cluster included an analog tachometer instead of a digital one, which is a car feature I dearly miss. The cabin starkly separated the driver and passenger seats with a thick interior panel running through the center of the car, yet it somehow felt classy instead of isolating (like it feels on every other car with this feature). The only thing I didn’t love, aside from the fake gated manual, was the front grille, which looked plasticky because it had a matte-black finish.
Even if the Magma GT concept has a few features I’d change, it felt like a car that could actually exist one day. I’ve been covering cars since the early 2010s, and I’ve witnessed myself and my colleagues become more exhausted of concept cars. An automaker would create a “car” so outlandish that it was either too bold to be built by said company, too absurd to ever meet manufacturing or design regulations, or both.
Concept cars began to feel like a waste of space, because the companies showing them off watered down their production counterparts — if those counterparts ever came to be — to the point of being both uncool and unrecognizable. Concept cars are supposed to be design studies, but for years, they felt like vaporware.
Hyundai’s built some of my trust in concept cars back. When Hyundai, Genesis, or even Hyundai’s sister brand, Kia, debut a modern concept, that concept feels more like a promise — or at least a true design study — than a gimmick.
There are tons of modern examples for this. The Hyundai Prophecy concept became the Ioniq 6, which looks so funky that I still struggle to believe it’s a real car. The Hyundai Concept 45 became the all-electric Ioniq 5, whose performance N variant is beloved among car reviewers. The Kia Telluride concept became the production Telluride, a vehicle I immediately recommend to anyone in the market for a three-row SUV. The recent Ford Bronco-like Hyundai Boulder concept is supposed to preview future body-on-frame Hyundais, and like the Magma GT, it feels realistic.
Hyundai Motor Group, as a whole, seems to understand that winding up excitement with concept cars is useless without a plan to actually produce the features and design elements that make those concepts special. If a concept car or its essence never comes to pass, it’s just an empty promise.
My first reaction when I saw the Magma GT wasn’t to groan, like I did about concept cars for years. It was: “Wow, I can’t wait to see what this car becomes.”
If Hyundai’s track record is any indication, it’ll become the kind of concept-car-turned-sports-car that makes us all stop and stare. That’s exactly what concepts should be, and how they should make us feel.
[Ed note: I feel like another real test of this is going to be the Hyundai N Vision 74, which is one of the most successful and interesting concept cars produced in the last few years:
It looks kind of perfect, other than its hydrogen power supply (which it could ditch and no one would care). If Hyundai could somehow make this vehicle arrive, I think we’d all believe in chupacabra, yetis, the prospect of a Seattle Mariners pennant, or whatever other seemingly mythic concept they proposed. There’s also some indication that Hyundai might actually do it.
LFG – MH]
All that work and they got the direction for up and downshifts around the wrong way?!
Hear hear. Example 1, Aussie Supercars: https://youtu.be/Bru43rirfv8?t=16
Porsche does this too on their SUVs, but not on their sports cars. Which means they know which way is correct, but just refuse to universalize it.
But I guess “up means down” is too much for the average Macan driver.
Yes, and the patterned leather just bugs me at some level.
First off, how long has Alanis been here? Welcome! I remember meeting at a 24h of LeMans party that her old employer put on in NYC; that was a cool event.
I agree that Hyundai is killing it lately with the concepts, though the execution to commercial reality is sort of weird.
I continue to love the Prophecy, in all it’s 911ish goodness. The 6 is, to my eyes, just awkwardly proportioned. I love that it’s being made and allowed to be weird looking, just not my cup of tea.
I don’t remember if there was a concept for the 5 but, apart from that gap tooth thing it has going on, I think that’s a really handsome hatchback. And to give full props to the design department at Hyundai they really pulled off a trick with the proportions because every time I see one in person I am surprised at just how big it is (OK, not like an F150, but still).
Finally, yeah, the N74 and the Magma stuff is excellent and I hope that they just translate over exactly to a commercial offering (neither of which I’ll be able to afford, but I would love to see other people driving them around). I could do without the quilted leather, it’s a bit too much for me but I understand that there’s a level of luxury that they’re aiming to portray.
That is all, I’m glad to see more great writers make their way here.
Cheers
I think Genesis is aiming too high, quite frankly.
I don’t think their brand has the cachet to play in the elevated prices that they aim for.
“He who dares, wins”..
Back in 1985, as I struggled to get my girlfriend’s brand new Hyundai Excel up to 55 MPH so we didn’t become a statistic on Route 128, I never would have thought I’d ever, ever, think about purchasing something from such a @#$% car company. Yet it’s the current year and they are killing it with their design language, EVs and some pretty decent competition to the German offerings. Are they in 6 figure territory? well the landscape has changed so that six figures isn’t what it used to be, so maybe?
“Cachet” has given us beaver-toothed Beemers, Mercedes with more stars than the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and a $600k electric Ferrari that looks like a Federation-issue sex toy. Cachet doesn’t have the cachet it used to.
But those beaver toothed Beemers wouldn’t have existed if BMW hadn’t built their reputation over decades. Genesis seems to want to take a short cut and I simply don’t think it will work. Release some cool performance cars that enthusiasts can strive for – clearly not cheap, but attainable for those with a little bit extra money. Then grow their brand up from there. But they seem to want to jump head first into the 6-figure end of the market without building up a loyal fanbase at the lower end.
Still happy to see cars like to see instead of some appliances on the wheel
The Genesis Magma team turned in a respectable finish at LeMans this past weekend – coming in 13th in the Hypercar class after having been in 4th, but being forced to retire after a suspension failure forcing the leading Genesis out of the race.
Genesis has also done some other great concepts which you don’t mention – updated to feature tartan interior trim which is to die for.
https://www.carscoops.com/2026/06/genesis-g90-convertible-concepts/
Genesis was never really in the running, despite running as high as 4th due to pit stop shuffling. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a brand new car and team, and finishing is already a great achievement (the second car also retired late in the race). But they are not competitive, they don’t have the speed… at least yet.
I feel the exact opposite. I have begun to hate concept cars.
“Look at this cool thing we won’t sell and you can’t have. Now buy our watered down crap instead.”
or we will charge half million if you can afford it
I know there are a few examples of small batch production after so many people express interest or make offers. I’m not offended by the cost. There is no escaping economy of scale. Obviously I would prefer mass production at a cheaper cost, but I don’t think automakers are gouging when they charge so much for small batches
Isn’t that exactly what a concept car is since… forever?
Show me where I said that wasn’t the case. You have reading comprehension issues.
I have begun implies recently.
Were you ok with that previously and suddenly discovered you hate them? Maybe after trying to buy an RX-500 from a Mazda dealer for the last 56 years?
That takes determination indeed.
That’s kinda rude. This isn’t X or whatever..
Don’t ask stupid questions if you don’t want a blunt and unforgiving response.
I remember saying things like that when I was a teenager too. Maybe sort your own problems out rather than take them out on other people. Or maybe just stick to Reddit
I want to stress test / snap off the bit of disconnected bodywork just behind the front wheel, on this and the Mclaren 720s for that matter. And also fill in the disconnected B pillar trim on the N74 concept, and on the C-pillar of basically every SUV
Fantastic looking car if you ask me!
Wasn’t this the concept that a whistleblower said had the C8 chassis under it? Did they finally make their own under that fantastic skin? Should be the C9 if Chevy got rid of their straight-edge-only design format. This has a muscular flow missing from so many designs, almost a callback to older two seat exotics that scratch that mental itch.
It has some nice haunches, for sure. More cars should have haunches and curves.
That paint looks like it might be a colorshift paint, green to bronze. And it makes me want to make a guitar like that.
Q1: What’s the story with the car in the top pic and the one in the pic after the interior shot having different grille and chin spoiler? (Also, why does there appear to be something itting on the floor supporting the chin spoiler?)
Q2: What separates a super car from a hypercar? Power? Price or production quantity? Or is it a false distinction?
the second one is a GT3 race car style concept.
False distinction. It’s the same. The top performance / halo model sportscar-type for a brand is a supercar. The rest sportscars.
Ferrari F80 -> supercar.
Every other Ferrari (that is not a stupid crossover) -> sportscar.
McLaren W1 -> supercar.
Every other (road) McLaren -> sportscar.
Hypercar is a stupid nomenclature for insecure people.
Personally, modern Hypercars need a number plate holder, 2 seats, 4-digit power figures, and top speed over 240 mph. High-downforce cars are really wildcat track cars with no real racing category.
LMH and LMDh are racing prototypes and not roadgoing hypercars, despite what the FIA marketing would have you believe.
I was thinking about the 4 digit power figure. But this car does not have it, plus 1000 hp still only 746 kW.
In the 2010s I’d have agreed, but in the 2020s, unless there’s something especially high-tech about it (AMG one having basically an F1 power unit) it needs over that 1,000hp number. This car is simply a modern supercar. Besides, there’s a GT3 variant, that’s a supercar class.
A Lexus RC is not a supercar. To put an example of a car homologated in GT3.
But there’s no Koenigsegg homologated for GT3. Why not?
I actually meant that there are plenty of non-supercars in the GT3 class. I would say all of them actually (but being honest I don’t have the full list in my head).
Right, (there’s a goddamn Mustang for crying out loud) but I’m tryig to say supercar is kind of the cutoff point. At a certain point there’s no way you’re going to be able to restrict a car to the roughly 550hp you get in GT3. Hyundai feel they have the room to do that, so I feel comfortable calling this a supercar and not something on the level of a Bugatti, Koenigsegg, or whatever other flavor of the month straight-line bullet is out there.
That center divider will make for an awkward attempt at getting some road head. Which means that some buyers (such as my good friend Glenn from Rhode Island) would automatically disqualify such a vehicle from purchase (if it were production anyways).
The car looks good, interesting indeed to see what will it become.
But to be honest, hardly a “concept”. This looks very production ready…
Which makes it all the more painful if they don’t build it (see also: X Convertible, G90 Wingback).
I still believe it’s just a reskinned C8
If so, it is a much improved C8.
Since the departure from column mounted shifters, putting a typical automatic in drive is so boring and uninspiring. The event of fiddling with the column shifter because they always caught, then gave you a satisfying clunk and lurch indicating when it was in gear let you know it was time to go. At least this one is more engaging than the typical lever you pull back, making it more of an event.
That car looks fantastic!
One concept I’d love to see come to reality and I highly recommend everyone checks out is the Hyundai Pony Coupe concept. Hyundai sure knows how to build a concept, and usually the production model is just as incredible. I’ll be purchasing an Elantra N soon and I’m so excited
We’re in a world of 1000hp+++ sports cars, super sedans, regularass-EVs pumping out obscene power with pricetags that would make your head hurt (See Xiaomi SU7 Ultra). Everything is streamlined bulbous looking, now.
The N74, however, is different and makes me do a double-take. That’s what I’d like to see.
(I, also, truly hope the person who greenlit a gated automatic eventually understands why we’re all so personally offended by such things)
Everything about this car is gorgeous but that gated PRNDL makes me want to slap somebody.
If my heart had balls, that shifter would have kicked it in them.
(╥﹏╥)
I kind of like it. Its so different from anything else and gives a mechanical feel that goes along with the real gauges. Its silly for normal cars but works in this application.
Honestly if they were going for novelty or shock value I’d much rather see a classic column shifter in that cabin. That would make me want to hug somebody.
Three-on-the-tree or gtfo
/s
Agreed. If forced to have an auto, I can see how this seems more interesting than a push button shifter and a standard PRNDL doesn’t really seem to fit the vibe of this, since shifting into drive would feel like shifting a Rav4.
But they should have figured out a different concept, instead of inserting a reminder of what could have been.
I’m hoping “what could have been” may be an option (not that I could ever afford this). The only reason I could accept a gated shifter for an auto is if they’re also planning a manual and want to use the same interior.
Especially when the “gates” for the manual shifting are the opposite to what is needed.
It’s pretty perfect, and a genuine halo car could go a long way to legitimizing Genesis. There’s also the motorsports component and the fact that Hyundai has had a ton of recent success in TCR, so they’re not exactly just blindly venturing into the GT3 class. IMHO this could work out very well for them and given how flush they are with cash at the moment this project seems fairly low risk/high reward.
Doesn’t this era kinda remind you of Honda in the 90s when they built the NSX? Hyundai is having that same experience right now. They’re crushing TCR with the N series and now it’s time for a halo vehicle as the cherry on top.
They have certainly come a long way since the Coupe Kit-Car and Accent WRC of the late 90s…
Most of the factories fielding entries in the Hypercar class have GT3 cars in the WEC. I wouldn’t be surprised this Genesys is a result of an agreement between Hyundai and the FIA.
Seriously, Hyundai’s concepts team is the best there is right now.
MAKE THE N74, HYUNDAI! TAKE MY MONEY!!!
with a 2028 proposed launch date and a starting price at 150K, this one definitely is interesting. I kind of figured it would slot under corvette for pricing though, so legit this is aimed above that mark. I look forward to a new Throttle House/Top Gear now I guess shoot out with a Corvette and a 296. maybe a used one if it could be found for anywhere near 150K.
That’s a spaceship I’d love to fly!
It’s stunning, and if Genesis brings something close to it to market, it will define the brand as their halo car.
I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football after all the times Mazda has abused me showing concepts like the beautiful
RX Vision
Vision Coupe
Iconic sports coupe
Vision-X
I drool over all of these concepts, and would be first in line with my checkbook yelling “shut up and take my money” if they actually built one.
But they have a nice red paint option on most of their vehicles.
A refreshing change from the sea of black/white/grey/silver
I think this really highlights how sad the state of concept cars (and enthusiasm in general) has gotten.
“They’re still the enthusiast’s choice! They let you get your 2 row crossover in red!!”
(I love Mazda, but it’s just sad to see how thin the argument for “enthusiast’s car” has gotten in the 2026 car landscape)
Counterpoint: GR86/BRZ, Miata, Cayman/Boxster, Corvette, M2.
Yeah, I guess the “but look how good their red is” plays more into the enthusiast offering of normal cars category.
There are certainly some great sports cars still out there, and maybe even more than in years past. But as a guy that enjoys cars but won’t put that kind of money into it, I like having a boring, reliable daily driver that still has some fun enthusiast elements (like my manual, base model Mazda3).
We used to be able to point to the fun, enthusiast version of the family sedan like an Accord with a stick, or quirky Rav4’s and CRVs with fun colors and funky options that scratched the enthusiast itch without giving up the practicality. Even being able to buy the base version of practically every small sedan or hatch with a stick was a good way for enthusiasts to get some fun in their boring commuter.
Now it’s either soulless econobox or impractical two-seater if you want soul. But at least you can get your soulless econobox in red!!
I know what you’re saying, my comment was both tongue-in-cheek, but also a sad reminder of the state of things.
But if I’m going to go buy an SUV for reasons I’d, at least, like to pick something that isn’t a variation on a shade of asphalt/concrete.
They still exist. C-HR or Juke for example. But you Americans don’t like them. They are available here, though.
Yes please. This is what a concept should be. The quilted interior doesn’t do anything for me though. It has a flavor of Lotus and I also see a hint of Chevrolet Astro II. Very nice.
The whole quilted thing leaves me cold; it’s all very 70s rococo in feel (which I guess fits given how large everything is now) and I can’t help but think bauhaus-ian sleek and functional is coming soon to cleanse our palates.
That would be a good start. They keep up the 70’s theme and we will soon be awash with 2” orange shag, wide wale purple corduroy, lava lamp lighting, and incense emitters.
Paint a mural of conan standing over a lion on the side with a little round porthole window.
Whew, I worried I was the only one! The quilted pattern is, uh, neat? I guess? But yeah, it doesn’t exactly rustle my jimmies. It’s too elaborate; 70s rococo is a great way to put it.
I just don’t get it – I associate “quilted” with grandmas, a particular toilet paper brand ad campaign, and maybe Eddie Bauer down jackets. Nothing about a car seems to connect with that. I wonder if it became a thing for the same reason gray scale paint jobs became a thing – people think other people like it.