CARS & CONCEPTS: New or refreshed offerings from Genesis, GMC, Lexus and more

The Genesis X Concept, above, high-performance GT prototype provides a glimpse of the brand’s electrified future. As with Genesis’ current production models, the X concept incorporates a “two lines” design language, seen in the parallel accent lines throughout. The clamshell hood is integrated with the front fenders, “resulting in one clean, sensual and uninterrupted surface,” Genesis said. In a bid to be sustainable, a fabric made of “leftover pieces of leather from previous manufacturing processes” is used for the seat belts, airbag cover and on the steering wheel.

2024 GMC HUMMER SUV EDITION 1

After announcing the return of Hummer as an electric pickup, parent company General Motors in April said it would also offer a utility version in 2023 for the 2024 model year. The SUV will launch as a limited-edition model powered by GM’s new Ultium battery technology, providing about 830 horsepower and a range of up to 480 kilometres. According to AutoForecast Solutions, GM is expected to build about 23,000 Hummer SUVs per year in Detroit.

2022 MERCEDES-BENZ EQS

The automaker hopes the new EQS sedan, a reimagined electric version of the S-Class, will give it a foothold in an increasingly crowded high-end luxury segment already populated by the likes of Tesla and Porsche. The EQS will have a range of about 700 kilometres, according to MercedesBenz Canada, and it will accelerate to 100 km/h from zero in 4.3 seconds, with a top speed of 210 km/h. It is expected to arrive in Canada this fall.

LEXUS LF-Z ELECTRIFIED CONCEPT

Toyota’s luxury brand plans to launch 20 “new or improved models by 2025, half of which are expected to be electrified in some way. The LF-Z Electrified concept offers a preview of what some of those vehicles might look like. The crossover features a “steer-by-wire” system — meaning there is no mechanical connection between the steering wheel and the vehicle’s wheels — that allows for more precise handling than a traditional system, according to Lexus. The exterior retains a modified version of Lexus’s spindle grille. The interior design, meanwhile, is highly conceptual and minimalist.

2022 HYUNDAI SANTA CRUZ

Call this small truck a “sport adventure vehicle,” Hyundai says. The Santa Cruz is built on the same platform as the Tucson crossover — although the truck is about 33 centimetres longer — and comes with a four-foot bed. A 281-horsepower turbocharged 2.5-litre engine drives all four wheels. The pricing in Canada was not available as of press time, but sibling publication Automotive News reported that the base trim in the United States “shouldn’t be too far from the Tucson.” The Santa Cruz is expected by summer.