Differentiating the concept from the street G70, the front has a lower bumper and distinct headlights along with deep air scoops.Emily Atkins/The Globe and Mail
Genesis Motors Canada is trying to lure customers to its G70 luxury sport sedan with a beautiful marketing mule. The company’s Korean parent has built a one-off G70 decked out as a replica of the G70 Track Taxi car currently being used to wow passengers at the famed Nurburgring Nordschleife track in Germany.
The G70 Track Day Special Concept began its tour of Genesis dealerships in late May in Markham, Ont. It will crisscross the country, eventually visiting nearly all of the 31 Genesis stores, said Genesis Motors Canada director Eric Marshall. Canada is the only country that will see the car, at least for now.
The tour will highlight the G70 sedan and its accomplishments on the track.
“The G70 itself was designed, engineered [and] tested on the Nurburgring in Germany,” Marshall said. “So coming back to this concept, that is really what it is trying to embody. It’s a celebration of what has been achieved with that vehicle.”
The G70 Track Day concept tour comes after Genesis has announced its motorsports ambitions and a performance program called Magma. Through its Genesis Magma Racing, the company intends to compete in the World Endurance Championship in 2026 and the IMSA Sportscar Championship in 2027 with the Genesis GMR-001 Hypercar it’s developing.
“The move into endurance racing obviously takes in the performance piece but also the quality of the product and bringing in some luxury components into that too, to really give the brand more street cred,” Marshall said.
A giant wing is bolted to the trunk lid, a feature that is not present on the Track Taxi.Emily Atkins/The Globe and Mail
Genesis plans to launch a high-performance Magma edition for each model in its lineup, along the lines of BMW’s M, Mercedes’s AMG and Audi’s RS divisions. The Magma cars will have a sportier appearance with wider and lower bodies, aerodynamic enhancements and exclusive chassis and suspension parts.
The G70 Track Taxi is one of the models produced as part of the Magma program. It’s joined by Magma concepts for the G80, G80 EV, GV60, X Gran Berlinetta, X Gran Racer and GV80 Coupe. The GV60 has already proved its credentials, with a win in the four-seater production car category at the Goodwood Festival of Speed Hillclimb in July 2024.
Given that the Track Day concept was built to closely mirror the Magma Track Taxi, it is tempting to speculate that the Track Day may be coming as a production car. However, Genesis says it’s not affiliated to the Magma program but is instead a “fresh interpretation” of the Track Taxi.
Marshall demurred when asked if the G70 Track Day would eventually become a production model.
“This is really a concept of what we think the future could be, what the future of performance can be with Genesis,” he said. “The idea really is to build more awareness around the brand.”
The company is inviting the public to come and gawk at the car. Although it calls itself a “young brand”, Frederic Mercier, Genesis Motors Canada’s brand and product public relations manager, said there are “legions of Genesis enthusiasts across Canada. The G70 Track Day Special concept allows us to connect with those guests in person and we’re proud to share a rare concept reveal in Canada with them.”
Although the concept is kitted with a roll cage, racing seat, harness and what look like racecar controls, visitors are not allowed to sit in it, let alone drive it.
The concept is kitted with a roll cage, racing seat, harness and what look like racecar controls.Emily Atkins/The Globe and Mail
Even without the thrill of speed or the throaty roar of an engine, the Track Day concept makes for an attractive package. It’s matte black with orange accents, a colour scheme which mirrors the Track Taxi’s orange with black. Differentiating it from the street G70, the front of the concept has a lower bumper, lower fascia and distinct headlights, along with deep air scoops designed to help keep the engine cool.
Similar to the Track Taxi, it rides on 19-inch wheels and has been lowered 10 millimetres from the roadgoing version. The rear bumper sports a tow hook and rain light, both race day requirements. A giant wing is bolted to the trunk lid, a feature that is not present on the Track Taxi.
Those lucky enough to get a ride in the Nurburgring Track Taxi can experience the G70 at speed with a professional driver on one of the world’s most famed tracks. The 21-kilometre circuit is known as the ‘Green Hell’ thanks to its 73 torturous curves, massive 300 metres of elevation changes and incredible straightaways that let cars develop tremendous speeds. The ride takes eight to 10 minutes, depending on the driver and passenger’s tolerance for velocity.
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