Electric or Gasoline: Genesis Magma Writes a New Chapter in Performance
With a focus on multisensory racing thrills—whether powered by electrons or octane—the Genesis Magma subbrand promises to make your hair stand up. And your heart, too.
A Subbrand Born for Goosebumps
If you’ve ever sampled a performance EV and wondered where the hair-raising drama went, Genesis has read your mind—and summoned a solution. The launch of Genesis Magma, the brand’s new performance division, signals nothing less than a full-throttle reboot of what an enthusiast car can—and should—feel like in the electric age.
“In the world of supercar performance, numbers are easy. Emotional resonance is harder,” says Ash Corson, Genesis North American product director. “With Magma, we’re crafting an experience that’s about visceral connection, regardless of the powertrain.” And if early indications mean anything, that experience will set pulses racing—figuratively and, through a symphony of motorsport sound and sensation, quite literally.
Genesis Magma
Giving It a Voice: Tuning Electrical Thrill
The incoming 2027 Genesis GV60 Magma is the first production car to showcase the subbrand’s motorsport focus—and it wastes no time announcing itself. Rather than resorting to gimmickry, Genesis brought in endurance racing maestros like Andre Lotterer and Pipo Derani, plus consultation from the legendary Jacky Ickx, to orchestrate the car’s “G-sense” experience. At the LA auto show, Corson described why that matters: “It’s such a three-dimensional thing… it tricks me in the best possible way.”
At the heart of it all: a soundscape and tactile feedback that doesn’t simply mimic engines or revs, but leverages the brand’s Le Mans expertise. The GV60 Magma’s power delivery simulates a naturally aspirated V-6 screamer, cranking out bursts to 9,000 rpm, all mapped to an eight-speed DCT. But here’s the trick—those electric motors are tuned to replicate power surges, torque peaks, and upshift “jolts” so convincingly your physiology obeys, even as your intellect knows better.
Of course, the entire sound-and-sensory suite is optionally muted. In Corson’s words, “You can have that serenity bubble… or that feel and sound, just in a higher gear.” Translation: it’s equal parts lounge and lemans.
Inside the Engineering: Modes for Track and Tranquility
There’s more to Magma than clever audio. The damping, body control, and ride strategies in the new GV60 Magma were signed off by Genesis’ WEC drivers—and tuned to quickly flip from “taut and eager” (for apex-hunting) to “cloud-like” (for LA potholes). Key features include a unique multi-chamber air suspension, ten-way magic-seat adjustability, and the calibration to make ultra-stiff never feel ultra-harsh. Active noise cancellation and insulation keep things quiet unless you want the full Magma chorus.
Corson points out, “Technology’s the enabler here, not the main act—the car feels like it’s always on your side.”
Genesis GV60 Magma
The Magma GT Supercar and the Future of Performance
If the GV60 Magma is clever, the coming Magma GT is bold. A true mid-engine supercar, it previews a next-generation twin-turbo V-8 derived from the Genesis racing program. Expect more than 670 hp and a street-to-circuit linkage that puts authenticity—power-to-weight, dynamic feel, sound—at the forefront. Notably, it’s not a plug-in hybrid, but a “purist’s” approach linking road and race powertrains with minimal compromise.
Hybrids and EREVs (extended-range EVs) are still in development, but Corson is quick to clarify: “There’s no prescriptive powertrain. The best feeling wins.” In other words—the days of soulless EV driving may be numbered.
Why Magma Matters: Driving Enthusiasm Isn’t Dead
For a growing group of motoring fans, Genesis Magma’s motorsport approach could change everything. Tuning an electric or gasoline-powered car for “seat-of-the-pants” excitement—not just power figures and sound—is a rare ambition in today’s market. With world-class racing input, a signature “voice,” and technology that prioritizes feedback as much as outright speed, Magma could be where the next generation of car lovers finds its thrill.
To paraphrase one Genesis engineer: “We want your pulse to race, not just your wheels.” For the electric future, that’s a radical, and supremely welcome, promise.
