CarteaNewsConcept CarsGENESIS PICKUP SHOCKER: $100K Luxury Beast Almost KILLED - Radical Design LEAKED!

GENESIS PICKUP SHOCKER: $100K Luxury Beast Almost KILLED - Radical Design LEAKED!

Tamara Chalak
Tamara Chalak
Published: 2026-01-25
Updated: 2026-01-25
contents

Genesis secretly engineered a body-on-frame electric pickup truck targeting the US luxury market with revolutionary flip-out frunk, aggressive two-box design, and genuine off-road ladder chassis capability. Positioned at $100,000, the project advanced to full-scale prototype before sudden termination. Leaked images expose Genesis design language masterfully adapted to pickup architecture - squared muscular proportions, signature twin-line LEDs, and radical centerless interior.

Genesis Pickup: Engineering Masterstroke

Rejecting Hyundai Santa Cruz unibody compromise, Genesis pursued authentic ladder-frame construction with twin side rails enabling serious towing and off-road credibility. Distinct two-box proportions clearly separate cab from bed while preserving luxury brand cohesion. Squared upright stance echoes X Gran Equator concept language, validating pickup's influence on broader Genesis architecture.

Design Revolution Highlights:

  • Flip-out front trunk maximizes EV packaging utility

  • Two-box silhouette establishes clear truck identity

  • Squared muscular fenders convey serious work capability

  • Minimalist interior eliminates traditional center console

Canceled Project Technical Deep Dive

Body-on-Frame Specifications:

Component

Specification

Competitive Edge

Chassis

Twin-rail ladder frame

7,000+ lbs towing potential

Powertrain

Electric dual-motor

Flip frunk storage solution

Lighting

Genesis twin-line LED

Brand continuity cab-to-tail

Suspension

Adaptive air suspension

Luxury + capability balance

Market Positioning: $95K-$105K segment directly challenging Rivian R1T, positioning above F-150 Lightning Platinum, below GMC Hummer EV.

Why Genesis Pulled the Plug

Strategic Realities Confronted:
Multiple factors converged against pickup viability:

Cancellation Drivers:

  • Intensifying pickup segment competition from established EV players

  • Luxury truck market saturation with Rivian/Hummer dominance

  • $100K+ price positioning risked Genesis premium-but-accessible brand DNA

  • Massive development costs amid Hyundai Motor Group SUV/electrification priorities

Post-Cancellation Pivot:
Genesis redirected resources to GV80/GV90 SUV expansion absorbing truck-like utility while maintaining three-row family transporter supremacy. X Gran Equator concept became pickup design repository.

Genesis GV80: Pickup Capability Alternative

Current Luxury Truck Substitute:

GV80 vs True Pickup Comparison:

Capability

Genesis GV80 3.5T

Rivian R1T

F-150 Lightning

Towing

5,510 lbs

11,000 lbs

10,000 lbs

Cargo

84 cu ft seats folded

62 cu ft bed

52.8 cu ft bed

Price

$75K-$83K

$98K+

$78K-$96K

Third Row

Available

None

None

GV80 Strengths:
Immediate availability with proven luxury credentials, highway autonomy, Nappa leather execution, significantly lower acquisition cost than dedicated pickup.

Pickup Design Language Legacy

Genesis pickup styling directly previewed X Gran Equator desert concept:

Design DNA Inheritance:

  • Upright squared wheel arches from pickup template

  • Continuous twin-line LED signature spanning cab-to-tailgate

  • Bold architectural volume separation defining truck character

  • Minimalist interior philosophy with floating digital instrumentation

Interior Design Forward:

  • Console-less cabin with floating armrest architecture

  • Expansive panoramic glass roof emphasis

  • Sustainable material specification focus

  • Potential 27-inch OLED display integration

Luxury Electric Truck Competitive Landscape

Genesis Positioning Analysis:

Premium EV Pickup Matrix:

Competitor

Base Price

EPA Range

Tow Rating

Luxury Score

Rivian R1T

$98,000

410 miles

11,000 lbs

8/10

GMC Hummer EV

$112,000

381 miles

7,500 lbs

9/10

Ford F-150 Lightning

$78,000

320 miles

10,000 lbs

7/10

Genesis Pickup

$100,000

TBD

7,000+ lbs

9.5/10

Genesis Value Proposition:
Korean manufacturing cost efficiencies, Hyundai battery technology lineage, superior luxury execution, strategically positioned pricing.

Strategic Market Opportunity Analysis

Pickup Makes Perfect Business Sense:

Compelling Market Data:

  • US pickup sales exceed 2.5 million units annually

  • Luxury pickup segment ($75K+) remains critically underserved

  • Electrification regulatory pressures favor premium entrants

  • Global markets (Middle East/Australia) demand luxury truck utility

Genesis Brand Expansion Logic:
Pickup diversifies beyond traditional SUV/sedan portfolio while leveraging Hyundai manufacturing economies. $100K positioning establishes luxury truck credibility without Bentley excess.

Flip-Out Frunk: Engineering Innovation

Genius Packaging Solution:

Frunk Functionality:
Front compartment deploys outward via powered mechanism, simultaneously optimizing rear bed access. Dual-purpose loading addresses pickup utility limitations while exploiting EV packaging advantages absent in ICE trucks.

Practical Applications:

  • Golf equipment/camping gear front staging

  • Tool segregation from contaminated bed contents

  • Rapid loading/unloading workflow optimization

  • Bold visual design statement differentiating brand

Genesis Electrification Roadmap Context

Pickup Fits Perfectly Within Strategy:

Current and Pipeline Portfolio:

Model

Powertrain

Launch Status

Positioning

GV60

Full EV

Production

$52K compact

GV70 Electrified

PHEV

Production

$65K mid-size

GV90

Full EV

2026 launch

$95K+ flagship

Pickup Concept

Full EV

Canceled

$100K truck

Design Philosophy Perfectly Executed

Luxury Truck Identity Masterclass:

Core Design Principles Applied:

  • Athletic elegance through squared muscularity

  • Technology leadership via flip frunk innovation

  • Genuine off-road credibility through ladder frame

  • Korean luxury value proposition optimization

X Gran Equator Proves Concept Viability:
Shared lighting architecture, proportional boldness, minimalist execution validate pickup's design foresight.

Revival Recommendation Analysis

Genesis Should Reconsider:

Irresistible Business Case:
Rivian success validates luxury EV pickup viability at $100K sweet spot. Korean manufacturing delivers cost advantages versus US competition. Hyundai ecosystem enables platform/component synergies. Strategic timing perfect post-GV90 flagship establishment.

Regional Market Imperative:
Middle East luxury truck demand remains chronically underserved. $100K pricing perfectly aligns premium buyer expectations. Corporate fleet domination potential massive. Desert performance credibility essential for brand expansion.

Competitive Benchmarking Reality

Genesis vs Established Players:

Luxury Pickup Showdown:

Metric

Genesis

Rivian

Hummer

Verdict

Off-Road

Planned

Excellent

Good

Tie

Luxury

Planned

Good

Excellent

Genesis

Price

$100K

$98K+

$112K+

Winner

Status

Canceled

Production

Production

Revive!

Future Resurrection Pathways

Strategic Revival Options:

Viable Paths Forward:
GV90 platform adaptation leverages shared EV architecture efficiencies. Hyundai pickup collaboration evolves Tasman platform. Saudi market-specific desert-optimized variant addresses regional supremacy gap. 2028 revival follows GV90 market validation.

Design Legacy Endures:
X Gran Equator perpetuates pickup DNA while establishing bold truck identity positioning. Luxury truck market credibility permanently validated.

Genesis pickup revelation confirms Korean luxury mastery extends to trucks. $100K body-on-frame electric with flip-out frunk precisely targeted underserved premium segment. Cancellation sacrificed competitive advantage, but design brilliance survives through X Gran Equator. Luxury truck market awaits Korean perfectionist entry.



Also Read:

Tamara ChalakTamara Chalak
Chief editor information:

Tamara is an editor who has been working in the automotive field for over 3 years. She is also an automotive journalist and presenter; she shoots car reviews and tips on her social media platforms. She has a translation degree, and she also works as a freelance translator, copywriter, voiceover artist, and video editor. She’s taken automotive OBD Scanner and car diagnosis courses, and she’s also worked as an automotive sales woman for a year, in addition to completing an internship with Skoda Lebanon for 2 months. She also has been in the marketing field for over 2 years, and she also create social media content for small businesses. 

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