Genesis X Skorpio Concept

Quick look

• World Premiere of Genesis X Skorpio Concept in the Rub’ al Khali desert (Empty Quarter) of the UAE, indicates the importance of the Middle East market to the brand.

• ‘Dakar Style’ and engineering makes it a vehicle for endurance racing through the desert and is not a daily-use SUV.

Highlighting the importance of the Middle East markets to its brand, Genesis – the luxury brand in the Hyundai Motor group – unveiled its latest concept model – the X Skorpio Concept – in the harsh environment of the Rub’ al Khali desert (also known as The Empty Quarter) in the United Arab Emirates.

Design inspiration
Inspired by the resilience of the black scorpion, the X Skorpio utilizes ‘biomimetic’ design elements. The vehicle’s silhouette follows a series of ‘tension-filled’ curves meant to evoke the arched tail of a scorpion.

A key functional feature is the segmented, armour-like body panels. Beyond their aesthetic resemblance to an exoskeleton, these panels are designed for modularity, allowing racing teams to perform quick field repairs or replacements in harsh environments.

The unit with a deep black paint has a blue tint that becomes visible under direct desert sunlight, mimicking the natural hue of the scorpion which can be found in the desert sands. These creatures hide under rocks or in the sand in the daytime to survive extreme temperatures.

Competition-ready cabin
The cabin is designed to minimize the physical strain of high-speed off-roading while maintaining the brand’s premium material standards. The interior utilizes laser-cut suede with gradient patterns and leather stitching inspired by a scorpion’s segmented legs.

The digital instrument cluster is mounted directly to the steering wheel hub, ensuring the driver can monitor engine vitals without looking away from the terrain. A central display is mounted on a sliding rail, allowing it to transition between a driver-centric solo mode and a co-pilot mode for navigation. Each seat has 4-point racing harnesses, with reinforced grab handles over the windows for passengers to remain in position during extreme movements.

For extreme terrain
Engineered as a high-performance off-road vehicle, the X Skorpio Concept is the brand’s first dedicated entry into the extreme off-road segment. Far from being a traditional luxury SUV, it has a ‘Dakar-style’ design and is intended for endurance races over rough terrain.

It is built on a custom tubular chassis with a fully integrated roll-cage. To balance durability with weight management, the body panels are constructed from a composite of carbonfibre, Kevlar and fibreglass. Under the bonnet, the concept vehicle has a high-output V8 internal combustion engine (ICE), indicating that major manufacturers are still developing ICE models. The engine output is around 1,100 hp with peak torque of 1,152 Nm.

Behind the 40-inch off-road tyres on 18-inch deadlock wheels are Brembo motorsport-spec brakes to provide plenty of stopping power. The suspension has long travel while the high-clearance system is not only to keep the vehicle from rock damage but also when landing from airborne transitions. The chassis geometry is optimized for desert dunes, featuring a short wheelbase and aggressive approach and departure angles to prevent grounding during steep climbs or landings.

Testing ‘laboratories’
Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke announced that moving forward, Genesis concept cars will be categorized into ‘emotional facets’ to better align with diverse customer lifestyles. The concepts will serve as full-sized testing ‘laboratories’ for future production technologies and design languages, signalling a decade of expansion beyond the brand’s current sedan and SUV line-up.

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