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Suicide doors, referred to by some manufacturers as coach doors, have traditionally been unique to high-end, luxury vehicles. A prime example is their iconic presence in Rolls-Royce automobiles. However, the future of these distinctive rear-hinged doors seems to be approaching a wider audience, with plans for Seoul-based Genesis to incorporate them into their forthcoming models.
At the 2024 New York International Auto Show, The Drive had a conversation with Sangyup Lee, the head of design for Genesis and Hyundai. Lee has played a pivotal role in the attractive designs we’ve seen from Genesis lately. He revealed during the interview the brand’s intention to bring the concept of suicide doors, like those of the Neolun SUV concept, into production vehicles.
“These designs have been under study for the past five years, and we’re seeing significant progress,” Lee explained to The Drive. “Concept cars often feature suicide doors, but these rarely make it to production. This is our challenge, but we’re close to achieving it, and it will happen sooner or later,” he said.
The Neolun is set to introduce a large electric SUV to the U.S. market in the coming years. Its exemplary design suggests luxury, comparable to upscale offerings like those of Mercedes-Maybach SUVs, drawing inspiration from Korean porcelain jars.
The challenge of integrating suicide doors extends beyond aesthetics, implicating aspects of safety and engineering. Adapting them from concept vehicles, which are not necessarily designed for real-world use, into production models that are safe and functional is a considerable obstacle.
“Pillarless designs are feasible, but ensuring the vehicle’s structural integrity during a rollover, matching the strength of a design with a B-pillar, is our goal. Follow our progress, because this vision will become a reality,” Lee asserted.
Genesis
Despite a relatively subdued New York Auto Show, Genesis captured attendees’ attention with another notable model, the GV60 Magma concept. Alongside Neolun, both vehicles demonstrate the brand’s evolving design language and Genesis’ commitment to carving out its own identity in a fiercely competitive market.
“We’ve invested five years in the development of this [Neolun] concept, collaborating closely with our suppliers. We can’t specify when, but after five years of development, you can anticipate seeing the outcome in the future,” Lee mentioned.
“The world is content with the existing luxury car brands. Therefore, Genesis must strive to offer something extraordinary,” Lee concluded.
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FAQs About Genesis and Their Suicide Doors
- What are suicide doors?
- Suicide doors are a type of car door with hinges located at the rear rather than the front, allowing the door to open from the front. This is opposite to most conventional car doors.
- Which other brands feature suicide doors?
- In recent history, Rolls-Royce is perhaps the most notable brand to feature suicide doors on several of its models.
- Are suicide doors safe?
- Modern vehicles with suicide doors are designed with safety in mind. However, incorporating these doors into a design does pose additional safety and engineering challenges.
- When can we expect Genesis to release a car with suicide doors?
- While no specific timeline has been provided, Sangyup Lee of Genesis indicates that after five years of development, such models are expected ‘sooner or later.’
Conclusion
In an industry that’s as competitive as ever, luxury car brand Genesis is on the forefront of innovating their vehicle design, with plans to include the revered suicide doors style into their future models. As the design chief Sangyup Lee notes, after extensive development, the commitment Genesis has shown in overcoming the technical and safety challenges speaks to the brand’s vision of bringing something special to the luxury car market. Fans and potential customers can stay tuned for more updates as Genesis continues to pave new roads in automotive design and engineering.
