2022 Genesis G70 First Look: Refresh? This Looks Like an All-New Sports Sedan!

 The spunky BMW 3 Series challenger adopts the sharp new design language of Genesis.

It was only two years ago that we first experienced the then-new Genesis G70 sports sedan, the brand's rear-wheel-drive shot across the bows of established entry-level luxury sedan players such as the BMW 3 Series and Audi A4. Shortly after that initial drive, we named the 2019 Genesis G70 our Car of the Year. Now, Genesis has completely overhauled the G70's looks for 2022—so much so, that you're forgiven for thinking it's an all-new G70.

New G70, Who Dis?

In reality, the 2022 Genesis G70 represents a heavy cosmetic refresh of the same sedan that's been on sale for years. The upstart luxury brand's emerging design language, which debuted on the larger G80 and G90 sedans, as well as the new GV80 crossover SUV, has been applied to attractive effect. (This isn't entirely surprising—it is our understanding that the G70 was designed from the outset to adopt the new look, which was still being fleshed out in 2018.) Replacing the old G70's more generic face and tail-end styling are twin-bar lighting elements front and rear that bifurcate the headlights and taillights, as well as a bolder and pointier new chain-mail mesh grille.

The front fenders appear to have taken on a more sculptural aesthetic, while a new little vent lives just behind each front wheel and picks up on an existing chamfer in the G70's side doors. In the same vein, the new headlights and taillights align with the G70's sharp shoulder crease that runs just above the door handles from nose to tail. It sounds cliché, but the net effect of the 2022 G70's visual upgrades make it appear longer and leaner than before, even though the body shell and hardpoints are unchanged.

Same Inside Game, Better Tech

From the limited photography Genesis released, the brand seems to have made few alterations to the G70's interior. Already a handsome and user-friendly space, the G70's cabin looks the same as before, though it hides one big improvement: The current model's 8.0-inch central display has been swapped for a new, wider-format 10.3-inch screen running fresh software. While not explicitly stated, the new setup likely changes from the outgoing G70's vaguely Hyundai-esque on-screen menus and appearance to Genesis-specific on-screen style and functionality.

Included with the new kit? Over-the-air update capability. The display still relies on touch inputs for manipulation, and we're happy to see the row of large, easy to use climate control knobs, as well as hard buttons for the audio system remain.

Looks Aren't Everything, Right?

Just as your mother always said, looks aren't everything. That said, the 2022 G70's design the only new feature we know much about at this point. Genesis has yet to reveal mechanical details for the revised model, though we have some hints that changes lurk beneath the G70's new hood. Today, the G70 is sold with either a 252-hp turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine or a 365-hp twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6; the former is available with either a six-speed manual transmission or an eight-speed automatic, while the latter comes only with the self-shifting unit.

For 2022, we expect the base 2.0-liter engine to be swapped in favor of a new 2.5-liter unit that makes around 300 hp—a change that also comes to the G70's Kia-badged platform-mate, the Stinger. That good news is offset by Genesis's decision to drop the manual transmission from the 2022 G70's option sheet. Consider it a miracle that the G70 was ever offered with the stick shift in the first place, as the transmission type is fast fading from the sports sedan segment. It isn't yet known whether the V-6 will get more power, or whether Genesis will swap in the larger twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-6 from the GV80.

All of these questions and more will be answered next month, according to Genesis. Detailed specifications and U.S.-specific information will be a part of that update. In the meantime, drink in the G70's new look.