Genesis has shown a statement of intent in tackling the high-end electric segment with the release of a combustion-free power trio.
The GV60, GV70 and G80 mark a new direction for the brand in the Middle East, being its first non-fossil-fuel cars in the region.
For those out of the loop, Genesis is the luxury division of Hyundai, so the new models face some competition from established manufacturers already producing their own premium EVs.
Undaunted, the South Korean carmaker showed off its latest wares against a spectacular backdrop in Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
The location was evidently chosen for a specific reason – the region’s rocky backdrop, with its ancient artefacts and stone inscriptions, made for a sharp contrast with Genesis’s most modern and high-tech vehicles.
The newcomers comprise a pair of crossovers, the GV60 and GV70, and a sedan in the shape of the G80.
The first of the new arrivals has been built around a specially developed platform that will provide the basis for Genesis’s future EV models, while the second two are electrified versions of already existing, petrol-powered cars.
Performance seems to have been a significant factor in the development of these vehicles.
We’ll get onto the specifics later, but, as an example, each of the cars has a button marked "Boost", which, when pressed, gives some extra power.
Such functions have existed in many cars over the years, but they haven’t always had a significant impact on performance.
Hit the Boost button on any of the three Genesis EVs, however, and you get an effect that might be likened to Captain Kirk demanding warp-factor 10 on the Starship Enterprise.
The GV60 is the most compact of the bunch and it sets itself apart from its siblings with an ultra-modern and freshly decked-out interior.
This is a design ethos Genesis refers to as the "beauty of white space", and it seeks to create a feeling of spaciousness.
The wing mirrors have been replaced with a neat camera set up that offers a glimpse at the havoc behind you.
The GV60 is the nippiest of the bunch, with testers suggesting a lightning sub-four-second time to 100kph in Boost mode.
Our in-betweener is the GV70, though there is nothing of the left-out middle child here.
This one is distinctly assertive in its stance, having more interior space than its smaller sibling and a higher ride height.
On the road, the GV70 is as fun to drive as its petrol-powered namesake and you feel more-than-a-little brazen behind the wheel, which is always welcome.
This one will get to 100kph in just more than four seconds with the Boost button pressed.
Unsurprisingly, the G80 sedan is the cruiser of the three, with the accent on making those inside feel they’re in something ultra-elegant.
It’ll still shift along at a decent lick – the 0-100kph time of just north of four seconds is impressive – but it massages out the drama you frequently feel with the other pair.
In fact, the G80 is for all intents and purposes barely distinguishable from the petrol-powered vehicle it is based on (lack of engine noise aside, of course).
The decision-makers at Genesis have clearly given some thought about what to offer in their inaugural EV range, and those assessing their work might conclude the top brass have done a decent job.
Much of the brand’s customer base has been covered with the three Gs, and they stand a good chance of getting a decent showing on Middle East roads.
Still, eco-credentials aside, they’re all dynamite to drive and zippy to boot.
AUSTRALIA SQUAD
Aaron Finch, Matt Renshaw, Brendan Doggett, Michael Neser, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (captain), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Jon Holland, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Peter Siddle
The smuggler
Eldarir had arrived at JFK in January 2020 with three suitcases, containing goods he valued at $300, when he was directed to a search area.
Officers found 41 gold artefacts among the bags, including amulets from a funerary set which prepared the deceased for the afterlife.
Also found was a cartouche of a Ptolemaic king on a relief that was originally part of a royal building or temple.
The largest single group of items found in Eldarir’s cases were 400 shabtis, or figurines.
Khouli conviction
Khouli smuggled items into the US by making false declarations to customs about the country of origin and value of the items.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, he provided “false provenances which stated that [two] Egyptian antiquities were part of a collection assembled by Khouli's father in Israel in the 1960s” when in fact “Khouli acquired the Egyptian antiquities from other dealers”.
He was sentenced to one year of probation, six months of home confinement and 200 hours of community service in 2012 after admitting buying and smuggling Egyptian antiquities, including coffins, funerary boats and limestone figures.
For sale
A number of other items said to come from the collection of Ezeldeen Taha Eldarir are currently or recently for sale.
Their provenance is described in near identical terms as the British Museum shabti: bought from Salahaddin Sirmali, "authenticated and appraised" by Hossen Rashed, then imported to the US in 1948.
- An Egyptian Mummy mask dating from 700BC-30BC, is on offer for £11,807 ($15,275) online by a seller in Mexico
- A coffin lid dating back to 664BC-332BC was offered for sale by a Colorado-based art dealer, with a starting price of $65,000
- A shabti that was on sale through a Chicago-based coin dealer, dating from 1567BC-1085BC, is up for $1,950
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Abaya trends
The utilitarian robe held dear by Arab women is undergoing a change that reveals it as an elegant and graceful garment available in a range of colours and fabrics, while retaining its traditional appeal.
LUKA CHUPPI
Director: Laxman Utekar
Producer: Maddock Films, Jio Cinema
Cast: Kartik Aaryan, Kriti Sanon, Pankaj Tripathi, Vinay Pathak, Aparshakti Khurana
Rating: 3/5
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
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AWARDS
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Company%20profile%20
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More from Neighbourhood Watch:
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
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The Bio
Favourite place in UAE: Al Rams pearling village
What one book should everyone read: Any book written before electricity was invented. When a writer willingly worked under candlelight, you know he/she had a real passion for their craft
Your favourite type of pearl: All of them. No pearl looks the same and each carries its own unique characteristics, like humans
Best time to swim in the sea: When there is enough light to see beneath the surface
House-hunting
Top 10 locations for inquiries from US house hunters, according to Rightmove
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Westminster, London
- Camden, London
- Glasgow, Scotland
- Islington, London
- Kensington and Chelsea, London
- Highlands, Scotland
- Argyll and Bute, Scotland
- Fife, Scotland
- Tower Hamlets, London
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
THE SPECS
Engine: 4.0L twin-turbo V8
Gearbox: eight-speed automatic
Power: 571hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 800Nm from 2,000-4,500rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 11.4L/100km
Price, base: from Dh571,000
On sale: this week
Yuki Means Happiness
Alison Jean Lester
John Murray
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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From Zero
Artist: Linkin Park
Label: Warner Records
Number of tracks: 11
Rating: 4/5
The years Ramadan fell in May
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Specs
Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request
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Destroyer
Director: Karyn Kusama
Cast: Nicole Kidman, Toby Kebbell, Sebastian Stan
Rating: 3/5
UAE release: January 31