Hyundai Group design chief Donckerwolke leaves the company after nearly five years.
The Genesis GV70 SUV will slot below that of the new GV80.
The reasons cited for Donckerwolke’s departure from the car company he help revive are simply personal. The current world climate is causing many of us to reflect on our lives and forcing us to put things in perspective. No matter the reasons for his resignation, the fact is that his signature on the Hyundai Group is alive and well and will continue to live on with the upcoming Genesis GV70.
Luc Donckerwolke’s body of work is quite incredible. Starting at Peugeot in 1990, he made his way to Volkswagen and there spent nearly two and a half decades penning some of the most memorable cars from the German giant, including the 2000 Audi A4 Avant, the 2014 Bentley Flying Spur, and a trio of Lamborghinis, namely the Diablo, Gallardo and Murciélago. He joined Hyundai in late 2015 and the Hyundai Kona, Palisade, and Genesis GV80, G90, and G80 are all his creations.
Before he left, he was also involved in the upcoming GV70 which has been spotted driving about. The compact-ish 2021 Genesis GV70 is expected to launch later this fall assumingly in South Korea. The far sportier G70-inspired, dynamically-speaking, GV70 will face-off with the likes of the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Mercedes-Benz GLC.
If what the Koreancarblog says is true, the GV70 will share the GV80’s powertrains including the 375-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-litre V6. This should make the GV70 quite interesting to drive.
2021 Genesis GV80 – Genesis
2021 Genesis G80 | Photo: Genesis
Can’t wait to see the GV70 in the flesh. Currently driving the X3 and will be in the market for new drive early next year. I have had my X3 in shop for three different repairs and will not return to BMW. The renderings I have seen of the GV70 are interesting to say the least but I believe it will be a good selling auto.