Genesis has built an off-road GV80 in honour of the 1983 Dakar winner
Premium brand Genesis decided to surprise the automotive world by creating a special version of its GV80 crossover - Desert Edition. This unique car was designed in honour of the legendary racer Jacky Ickx, who celebrated his 80th birthday and 40th anniversary of victory in the Dakar Rally 1983.
Here's What We Know
The GV80 Desert Edition has received a number of modifications for conquering desert dunes. The car is equipped with 20-inch wheels with bedlocks and off-road tyres, for which it was necessary to expand the front and rear arches by 40 millimetres. A special roof rack for transporting fuel canisters and a tent is installed on the roof. The bodywork is painted Midnight Blue with white stripes, referring to the design of Ickx's helmet.
Jacky Ickx next to the Genesis GV80 Desert Edition. Photo: Genesis
The car's suspension is claimed to have undergone significant changes to improve off-road capability, although Genesis isn't revealing details. The powertrain is likely unchanged: the most powerful version of the GV80 has a 375bhp 3.5-litre twin-turbocharged V6 engine paired to an eight-speed automatic transmission.
To improve visibility in desert conditions, the GV80 Desert Edition features an additional roof light bar and LED auxiliary lights in place of the standard fog lights. The boot now features an integrated drawer system to safely store a full-size spare wheel, tools and emergency equipment, as well as additional compartments for water supplies, first aid kits and communications equipment.
Jackie X personally drove the entire 6,000 kilometre route of the 2025 Dakar Rally from Bisha to Shubaita. The project was led by Genesis Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke in collaboration with W Motors.
Source: Genesis
