Genesis GV60 Magma: 650 hp electric SUV beats BMW to market, charges 10-80% in 18 minutes

Genesis just made its biggest move into the performance car world. The Korean luxury brand unveiled the GV60 Magma on November 20, 2025, at Circuit Paul Ricard in France, and they’re aiming straight at BMW M and Mercedes-AMG.

The GV60 Magma pumps out 609 horsepower in normal driving. Hit the Boost Mode button and that jumps to 650 horsepower and 583 pound-feet of torque for 15 seconds. Genesis claims it’ll sprint from zero to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds and top out at 164 mph. The Porsche Macan Electric Turbo does the same run in 2.9 seconds but costs around $106,000.

This isn’t just a faster GV60. Genesis created an entirely new performance brand called Magma, and this electric SUV is the first production model wearing that badge. Company CEO José Muñoz pointed out that Genesis hit one million global sales faster than any luxury brand in history. Now they’re betting the next decade on performance.

The car sits about 0.8 inches lower than a regular GV60 and rides on 21-inch forged wheels wrapped in 275-millimeter Pirelli tires, the widest tires Hyundai Motor Group has ever put on any vehicle. The front bumper gets three large cooling vents that’ll become a Magma signature look, while a functional rear wing pushes the car down at speed. Genesis installed bigger brakes with 15.7-inch rotors up front and monoblock calipers.

The GV60 Magma uses the same 84-kilowatt-hour battery pack found in the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N. It runs on an 800-volt electrical system that can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in about 18 minutes at a 350-kilowatt fast charger. The regular GV60 Performance gets 252 miles of range, while the Ioniq 5 N manages around 221 miles.

Inside, microsuede covers the seats, door panels, and center console. Orange stitching and seat belts add pops of color. Switch on Magma Mode and the dashboard completely changes. The instrument cluster rearranges into three circles showing motor temperature, battery temperature, speed, and G-forces. The head-up display strips down to basics like speed and remaining boost time.

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Genesis borrowed tech from Hyundai’s N performance division. The Virtual Gear Shift system makes the electric motors pretend they’re shifting through eight gears. The car adjusts power delivery and regenerative braking to feel like a manual transmission, complete with fake engine sounds. There’s also a Drift Mode that loosens the traction control so you can slide the rear end around.

A system called High-Performance Battery Control keeps the battery at the right temperature during hard driving. Despite all the performance hardware, Genesis kept the cabin quiet using active noise canceling, special glass, and extra door seals.

Design chief Luc Donckerwolke explained they’re adding excitement to Genesis while keeping the refined elegance the brand is known for. Every Genesis model will eventually get a Magma version.

The timing matters. BMW hasn’t released a fully electric M SUV this size yet, and Mercedes doesn’t have an electric AMG crossover in this segment either. Electric vehicle sales worldwide topped 17 million units in 2024, making up more than 20 percent of all new car sales. In the first three months of 2025, EV sales jumped 35 percent compared to the year before. The electric SUV market was worth $558 billion in 2023, with projections reaching $4.3 trillion by 2030.

Genesis will start selling the GV60 Magma in Korea early in 2026, then bring it to the United States and Europe later that year as a 2027 model. The current GV60 Performance starts around $74,000.

At the same French track event, Genesis showed the Magma GT Concept, hinting at future high-performance models including plans for a Magma supercar and GT3 racing. The GV60 Magma weighs 4,983 pounds and comes with three driving modes, including MY Mode where you can adjust the electronic differential and stability control.

Genesis already proved the concept works. At the 2024 Goodwood Festival of Speed, a GV60 Magma test car won its class by running up the hillclimb in 52.72 seconds. This launch marks a turning point for Genesis as they push into performance territory where German brands have ruled for generations.