The Genesis GV80, the first SUV from Hyundai Motor Group’s premium brand, will be sold in Canada with a Terrain Mode function that offers independent settings for driving in snow, mud, and sand.
However, due to a U.S. patent for a similar technology that has been actively defended by its owner, Genesis is not able to make this function available in the United States, meaning that in North American markets the feature will be unique to Canada.
The patent, listed as U.S Patent number RE46,828, assigned to Jaguar Land Rover Ltd., is a 2016 reissue of a patent originally issued in March 2008. In the abstract, the protected technology is described as a “vehicle control system” with “a plurality of subsystem controllers including an engine management system, a transmission controller, a steering controller, a brakes controller and a suspension controller.”
In a lawsuit against Bentley Motors in June 2019, Jaguar Land Rover successfully defended the patent when a United States District Court declared the Drive Dynamics system in the Bentley Bentayga to be in infringement.
The GV80’s Terrain Mode function controls the same vehicle subsystems as those named in the patent, meaning that it cannot be offered in the United States, according to brand spokesman Jarred Pellat.
“In Canada, that automaker doesn't own the patents, so we're allowed to [offer] it,” Pellat said.
While some U.S. models will be offered with rear-wheel drive, Canadian models will be offered with standard all-wheel drive. Pricing starts at $64,500 including delivery fees for the entry-level grade with the smaller 2.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine and peaks at $85,000 for the top-of-the-line Prestige model with the larger 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6.
All GV80s will be sold with the same Genesis at Home features offered to all Canadian customers, including at-home valet service, complimentary scheduled maintenance for 5 years or 100,000 km, 24-7 roadside assistance, complimentary multimedia and navigation map updates, and more. Deliveries of the GV80 will begin in Canada by the end of November.
