Head Of Genesis Design - Leading Man LUC

LUC DONCKERWOLKE ROAMS THE GLOBE TO SUPERVISE TUDIO WORK AND LURE NEW DESIGNERS TO HIS TEAM. BUT HE DOESN’T WANT TO BE A BOSS.

- Ronald Ahrens

THE R & D CAMPUS outside Seoul feels much like the Warner Brothers lot in Burbank, California. Employees of Hyundai Motor Group’s three divisions—Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis—bustle about on this lovely Friday morning. Over at yonder intersection a forklift truck hoists a disguised prototype off the pavement before proceeding to a testing cell. On another street some people on our bus spot the next Hyundai Veloster, a contract player in B productions, scuttling by in camouflage wrap. Alas, the security staff put strips of “Do Not Detach” tape over our camera lenses.

Over at the new design center, top executives are introducing the 2019 Genesis G70, the latest sedan from HMG’s two-year-old luxury division. Genesis head Manfred Fitzgerald welcomes us and turns the show over to Luc Donckerwolke, senior vice president and head of Genesis design. Clad in black, Donckerwolke looks ready to break into a rendition of “Folsom Prison Blues.” He was serious to the point of graveness when introducing Sang Yup Lee, vice president of styling and a key member of the international cohort of Genesis designers. Lee made a big mark in Detroit with the C6 Corvette and fifth-gen Camaro before going to England and contributing to the new Bentley Continental GT.

Donckerwolke and cool-hand Lee undrape the two G70s on stage and take more than 200 reporters through the high points, laying out the goals of making their 3 Series battler “emotional, athletic, and sexy.” The G70 evinces a vivid execution of conventional themes, but its grille and flaring nostrils outside it are a surprise after the sober G90 and somber G80, the papa and uncle models of Genesis. Surprising as well are the fender chevron and swoopy roofline, an arching cat’s back. These examples of the new car look alive in blue and red.