Right, so the Genesis GV60 - the posh, electric offspring of Hyundai's luxury arm - has returned from its cosmetic surgeon's appointment looking... not radically different. No, it has not turned into a cyberpunk road demon overnight, nor has it sprouted wings or learned to fly. But it has had just enough work done to get everyone pointing and muttering, "Hang on, wasn't that different last week?"
To start with, the nose has been tweaked with some new bumper work that's just about noticeable if you squint hard in a car park. The alloys have gone up to 21 inches, which sounds exciting until you realise it just means more pothole paranoia. The wheelarches, diffusers, and other previously contrasty trim bits now come in body colour, which is Korean for "subtle elegance" but reads a bit like "we couldn't find the matte black paint".
But while the outside has had a gentle dusting of botox, it's what Genesis has done inside and under the bonnet (well, floor) that makes this facelift properly fascinating.
Let's talk screens, because the GV60 is now so tech-infested it makes a spaceship look analogue. The new dash is dominated by a single, whopping 27-inch widescreen that now handles everything. Navigation, media, climate, driving data, and probably your blood pressure too if you ask nicely.
It is beautiful, crisp, and overwhelming - and it now supports video streaming (for some reason). Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Bloomberg - all in your car. Because clearly what every EV driver needs while sitting at a charger is to binge-watch The Mandalorian in Dolby Vision.
Oh yes, the sound system. You can now spec a Bang and Olufsen setup with Dolby Atmos, meaning your Spotify playlist can sound like a symphonic masterpiece even if you're just listening to Dua Lipa mumble about heartbreak again. In the world of in-car audio arms races, Genesis has just launched a cruise missile.
Now, about that steering wheel. It's been replaced with a more modern-looking three-spoke job, designed to improve gesture recognition and, if you're like me, give you something less ugly to look at. It works in tandem with a camera-based interior system that watches you - not in a dystopian way (we hope) - to monitor drowsiness, distractions, or the deeply British habit of tutting at traffic.
But here's where things get truly barmy: virtual gears.
Yes, Genesis has seen what Hyundai did with the Ioniq 5 N and thought, "That'll do nicely, thanks." So now, nestled within the serene silence of this electric lounge-on-wheels is a pretend gearbox. It uses the regen paddles behind the steering wheel to simulate six gear changes, complete with rev counter, limiters, and even faux engine noise pumped through the speakers.
Pull the paddle, and it will upshift. Pull again, and it will do it again. It's all fake - gloriously, absurdly fake - and yet, as gimmicks go, it is surprisingly addictive. Like pretending your Dyson is a jet engine. No, it doesn't make the car faster, and no, it's not needed, but it makes you feel like you're in control of something unhinged. Which, in an EV, is worth its weight in cobalt.
Then there's Drift Mode. Yes, you read that right. Drift Mode. In a plush electric crossover.
Hold both paddles for three seconds - presumably while cackling like a Bond villain - and the car unlocks a setting that sends more power to the rear, tells the traction control to take the afternoon off, and lets you do things that would make your insurance provider break into a cold sweat. Granted, this is best left to racetracks, closed roads, or very large car parks in the snow, but the fact it exists at all is glorious. It turns what could have been a conservative,
Mechanically, not much else has changed. You still get the choice between a single-motor rear-wheel drive setup offering a decent 226 brake horsepower, or the dual-motor all-wheel drive version delivering a rather juicier 483 brake horses and a whopping 516 lb-ft of torque. 0-62 mph takes just under 4 seconds in the quicker variant, which is more than brisk enough to spill your oat flat white into your vegan seat stitching.
What has improved is the range. Genesis has fitted a larger 84 kilowatt-hour battery pack, which boosts the claimed WLTP range to 348 miles. That's 27 more than before - not revolutionary, but enough to keep range anxiety at bay during your average weekend escape to somewhere smug and rural.
Charging, too, remains excellent. Thanks to its 800-volt architecture - borrowed from its Hyundai E-GMP siblings - the GV60 can charge from 10 to 80% in 18 minutes. That's faster than most people can order a Greggs sausage roll and regret it.
There are also new optional extras, including digital side mirrors (still divisive), an electronic limited-slip differential (very welcome), and matrix LED headlights that adjust their beam pattern to avoid dazzling oncoming drivers while still lighting up the road like Blackpool promenade. The front brakes have been upgraded to four-piston callipers too, helping to haul the GV60 down from speed with slightly less panic.
Inside, the quality is still as good as anything from the Germans. Possibly better. You get recycled materials, tastefully applied metals and woods, and a sense that someone in Korea has been quietly watching Audi's interior department and muttering, "Hold my soju."
Pricing? Not confirmed yet, but expect a modest increase over the outgoing model. It'll probably start somewhere north of £54,000, which is a lot for a Hyundai under the skin - but not unreasonable considering how much kit you get thrown in. And how many crossovers let you drift like it's 2002 and Fast and Furious just came out?
So there you have it. The GV60 has evolved. It's still a comfy, stylish, tech-laden electric runabout for grown-ups - but now it has just enough silliness built in to make you grin. Fake gears, real power, and an actual drift mode hidden like an Easter egg. It might be pretending to be something it's not... but honestly, who isn't?
While we do not currently offer Genesis driving experiences, fear not - there's still plenty of excitement from our Electric Driving Experiences to be had. From blisteringly quick Teslas to razor-sharp BMWs and everything in between, our range of electric driving experiences lets you feel the future of performance first hand.
Whether you're after silent speed, instant torque, or just a guilt-free day of tyre-shredding fun, we've got something to spark your curiosity - and your batteries. It might not be the GV60, but it will definitely leave a charge in your memory.
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