There is a misconception that SUVs have completely taken over. It’s a misconception fueled largely by Americans’ insatiable thirst for high-riding vehicles. As I mentioned in an op-ed last year, regular cars still reign supreme in many parts of the world, especially Europe.
That said, there’s no denying that demand for crossovers has exploded in recent decades. Many of your neighbors probably already have one and plan to replace it with a newer model. Automakers have fueled this boom by diversifying their portfolios with multiple derivatives of the same base vehicle. Since SUVs typically cost more than their car equivalents, companies have every incentive to encourage consumers to make the switch.
According to Luc Dekrolik, chief creative officer of the Genesis and executive vice president for design at Hyundai Group, the crossover craze will eventually die out. The Peruvian-born designer who penned everything from the Skoda Octavia to the Lamborghini Murcielago believes the SUV will reach a peak, after which demand will begin to cool.
‘At the moment, we say, a multiplicity of SUVs. And this rapid growth will create a saturation. This is when other types of cars will become attractive again. This is why I strongly believe in not having a typology monoculture. ‘
Photo by: Birth
With that in mind, Hyundai’s luxury brand hasn’t dabbled in SUVs. It still caters to sedan buyers with a trio of four-doors (G70, G80, G90), and there’s also a wagon, the G70 Shooting Brake. Recently, it developed a two-seat coupe as a full-blown supercar concept with a V-8 engine, simultaneously previewing a future Halo model and a GT3 homologation special.
The stunning G90 Wingback is another concept, part of Genesis’ newly formed Magma sub-brand dedicated to performance vehicles, alongside the supercar and 2027 GV60 Magma. It’s basically a one-off statement that Hyundai wants to take on the likes of the BMW WM5 Touring, Mercedes-AMG 63 Estate, and Audi RS6 Event.
As the name suggests, it is based on the G90 large luxury sedan. The car stretches to a stately 200.7 inches (5.1 m) and has a 126-inch (3.2 m) wheelbase. Beyond the tall roofline conversion, the wagon stands out with an aggressive front bumper, flared fenders and dual rear spoilers. You’ll also notice stacked road tips reminiscent of the F-badged Lexus.
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Source: Genesis
Unfortunately, Genesis isn’t committing to a production version. But looking at the glass as half-full, for once the effort to create a G90 wagon shows that the brand is open-minded rather than completely bent on SUV dominance. Donkrolic predicts that eventually consumers will tire of crossovers, opening the door for a comeback for wagons.
If the G90 Wingback should ever get the green light, it won’t be cheap. The base sedan already starts at £104,495, so a high-performance Magma wagon will likely fall into the same price range as the £127,675 M5 Touring or the £1131,995 RS6 Avant. In the spirit of the G70 Shooting Brake it would be wise to test the birth waters first with a more affordable wagon.
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