Inspired By Dakar Rally, Genesis Presents GV80 Desert Special Offroad Edition

Genesis GV80 Desert Edition launched in Saudi Arabia. (Doc. Road & Track)

JAKARTA - A premium automotive manufacturer from South Korea, Genesis secretly launched the GV80 Desert Edition in welcoming the Dakar Rally 2025 event which took place earlier this month. Different from the standard version, this SUV is designed for all terrain with various special tunings.

Launching from Road & Track, Thursday, January 2, the model was launched on the Genesis Wallan dealer network in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia along with brand ambassador brand and Belgian racing legend totaling Ickx.

The car has a different appearance starting from a higher ground clearance with a stronger front bumper equipped with a silver selip plate.

Genesis GV80 Desert Edition also features a set of beamlock rims and tough grip tires. The manufacturer also added LED lighting and yellow lights attached to the front bumper intake as well as rally cars in general.

Although the outside has undergone significant changes, the car still retains standard elements on the interior with premium materials and a typical Genesis seat.

Information about the kitchen runway has not yet been disclosed by the brand. However, it is estimated that the GV80 Desert Edition will use a 3.5 liter V6 twin-turbo engine with a power of 415 ps and a 549 Nm torque.

Unfortunately, fans of off-road vehicles must wait for confirmation of when the Genesis GV80 Desert Edition will be sold globally.

How come Ickx's presence in the launch was not without reason. Apart from being an ambassador brand, the former 80-year-old racer also had experience competing on the Dakar track during his heyday.

In addition to participating in the Formula 1 competition and Le Mans endurance race, Ickx has participated in Dakar Rally 14 times with one of them winning in 1983 by driving a Mercedes-Benz 280 G or one of the lines of the G-Class family.