Genesis provided flights from New York City to Atlanta and back, plus two nights in a hotel so we could drive the new GV70 Electrified. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

It's apt that a brand named Genesis looks at each step forward as a new beginning. The young brand has been the new kid on the luxury automaker block, contending with the challenge of competing with 100-year-old legacy manufacturers who have long set the bar for extravagance while trying to distinguish itself as something unique.

Regarding the latter, Genesis bets on its core principles of being audacious, progressive, and distinctly Korean to give its offering enough pop in contrast to the traditionally stuffy European fare. The GV70 Electrified is the latest move to that end, delivering a battery-electric vehicle version of its bold-styled crossover vehicle that's no mere drivetrain swap. The EV stands out on its own with unique styling and driving character while also having the distinction of being the first US-made Genesis vehicle ever.

Despite its name alluding to a hybrid system, the GV70 Electrified is the full battery-electric iteration of Genesis' luxury crossover. There are a handful of notable differences between the two versions, not the least of which is their points of origin. As mentioned, the GV70 Electrified is the first Genesis brand vehicle to roll off the assembly line at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama or HMMA, the parent company's plant located in Montgomery, Alabama. Importantly, this means the GV70 Electrified is eligible for the full $7,500 IRS clean vehicle tax credit, at least until the implementation of the domestic battery content requirements.

The GV70 Electrified is built on the rear-drive-based M3 platform shared by the GV70 and GV80 SUVs, and the G70, G80, and G90 sedans. As such, it was developed to fully support EV components from the start, and its electrification isn't merely a retroactive conversion with motors and batteries shoved into the chassis of a gutted internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle, Mini Cooper SE-style. Indeed, the G80 Electrified thoroughly impressed Ars with its efficiency when we tested it in 2022.

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The GV70 is powered by a 77.4 KWh battery with an 800 V charging system. At a DC fast-charging station, the GV70 can charge from 10 percent to 80 percent in 18 minutes. At that rate, that nets you about 64 miles (103 km) of range in five minutes. On a 240 V level 2 charger, the Genesis can top up overnight in about 7 hours.

All this juice spins two front and rear motors, both evenly delivering 215 hp (160 kW) for a total of 429 hp (320 kW). Torque maxes out at 515 lb-ft (699 Nm). An additional "boost mode" sacrifices range for a 10-second blast of extra power, temporarily upping it to around 483 hp (360 kW) with a push of a steering wheel-mounted button. There's no fixed limit to this mode, by the way—drivers can use boost after boost so long as they have more than 25 percent state of charge in the car's pack. Genesis is traditionally shy about sharing performance numbers, but the dual motors of the GV70 do well to get the crossover up to speed, with the boost mode delivering a palpable increase in acceleration when pressed.

The GV70 Electrified sports the signature Genesis elements of split head and tail lamps, as well as a shield-like pentagonal crest grille. As it did for the G80 Electrified, Genesis flips this now vestigial component into a reverse G-matrix, filling the negative space with chromed-out materials while leaving the pattern. It's a clever approach to a problem vehicle designers have been hit-or-miss with, tackling what to do with the blank slate an EV's facia presents. This grille also hides the front-mounted charging port for easy access to charging bays.

Beyond this, the EV-GV mirrors its combustion counterpart, though it features an exclusive font skid plate and a tailpipe-free rear bumper. In short, it won't take more than a glance for gawkers to determine which flavor of GV70 you're driving.

Genesis doesn't skimp on the tech regarding the customer experience, with connected services that pair with most devices for a multitude of conveniences such as a digital key, a drive profile to pre-load an individual's preferences, valet mode, and remote vehicle monitoring. Standard safety features include forward, blind spot, and rear cross-traffic collision avoidance, forward and driver attention warning for you drowsy drivers, and an updated version of highway driving assist.