Genesis GTP / Hypercar: Let’s Foxtrot

[FIRE]

[TF110]

Surprised to see that they're using the Genesis brand for the WEC. They're planning something for the brand and the hypercar might just be the showcase for it.

[DistortedSmile]

Per the S365 article on the announcement it doesn't seem like IMSA is confirmed at the moment, probably only a matter of time though.

Seems like it will be an in-house team for WEC with Ganassi heavily rumoured for IMSA.

[flatlandsman]

Herta runs a few of their cars but I doubt as yet is big enough to run a full Hypoer programme, I would think Ganassi is a good shout, but maybe he doesn't want this stuff anymore?

[Simmi]

Originally Posted by TF110

Surprised to see that they're using the Genesis brand for the WEC. They're planning something for the brand and the hypercar might just be the showcase for it.

In hindsight, Genesis signing up Jacky Ickx probably should have raised the alarm. They've been doing a lot of track stuff at the Nurburgring as well.

[veeten]

Reasons as to why Honda's Acura name was more connected in racing in the US. Touring car, GT, and GTP, they've done well for themselves. Hyundai is looking to do similar with the Genesis brand what Honda, Toyota, and even Nissan have with their Acura, Lexus, and Infiniti brands. The returns from this level of motorsport will deliver even more to their name, as well as the improvements to their products.

A big win-win for them...

[chernaudi]

However, it seems that only Toyota and Hyundai have done well with marketing their luxury/performance brands outside of either home markets (Japan and South Korea respectively) and North America.



Honda have rarely, if ever, pushed Acura outside of North America, and even it seems that Nissan trying to market Infinit outside of North America flopped. IMO, for Honda it doesn't help that outside of the NSX, most Acuras are just tarted up Hondas sold at a price premium, and outside of NA, Infiniti had the same problem. For instance, the NA Infiniti G35/G37/Q50 was the same thing as the JDM Nissan Skyline (after the Skyline GT-R was killed off and the GT-R became a standalone model in Nissan's line up).


At least Lexus and Genesis offer cars that are distinct from the more bread and butter Toyotas and Hyundais and Kias. For instance, most Lexuses and Genesis cars are RWD and fill that performance/luxury car niche. IMO, that helped/will help those brands expand outside of NA or their home markets.

[flatlandsman]

Why would Honda push their Acura brand anywhere else, it has no meaning anywhere else, there could be all sorts of reasons why they chose to market Honda as Acura in the USA!!!

Infiniti was a waste of time, and Lexus is different enough to be a wholly different brand especially in Europe where they are completely different.

Genesis sounds to me like like Polestar and Volvo pretty much the same thing, just different marketing and probably much higher prices, as if High and Drys are not expensive enough already.

The hilarious thing is they might be called Acura but what logo is on the side of the damn things, HRC the logo largely only linked to bike racing!!

[chernaudi]

It seems that you may or may not be understanding what I'm saying. Acura is pretty much blatant badge engineering on the levels of what GM and BMC/British Leyland used to do. IMO, other than marketing to people who don't know any better or don't care, IMO Acura serves little purpose than to give Honda a premium brand image.


Infiniti served some purpose in NA, as their cars did differ enough from more mainsteam Nissan offerings. Problem is that outside of NA, they'd run into that same badge engineering problem (see Infiniti G/Q vs JDM Skyline example, probably just one of several).


Where Toyota/Lexus and Hyundai/Kia vs Genesis succeed is the lack of outright platform sharing (no use for badge engineering), or when they do share platforms, there's still enough difference that the two cars are distinct.


IMO, there's a reason why after 2009 for the ALMS as well as the LMS and LM that Honda dropped the Acura badging on the ARX-01 LMP2 cars in favor of HPD (they were selling and supporting customer cars that raced outside of NA), and that carried though until the ARX-05 DPI car and ARX-06 GTP car, where the Acura badging came back (no serious intent to run the cars outside of IMSA).


Also, HRC has become Honda's overall motorsports division name irrespective of motorcycle or auto racing. HRC even appears on Red Bull's F1 cars, and HPD was renamed from "HPD/Honda Racing" to "HRC USA/Honda Racing".


Just maybe be glad that TRD Japan/Toyota Technocraft and TRD USA haven't adopted the "Toyota Gazoo Racing" branding (though both Toyota divisions have ties to that branding for marketing reasons).

[broadrun96]

Uh, Acura shares platforms but it is in no way close to badge engineering like BL or even early Acura. Most of the cars are very very different including powertrain/driveline changes, the SUVs are closer but offer multiple changes that aren't just dropping a sticker on it. Hyundai and Kia are closer but have their own options within the brand. By your logic Audi is a useless branding and to an extent Bentley and Rolls since they use the ownership chassis.

[Adam43]

Badge engineering accusations can be quite off the marque (). Parts are shared, fine, but a lot these very much have their own identity, style and feel as five minutes in one and especially driving one reveals. I am mightily impressed how they do it.

[seanyb505]

I think the 80s and 90s gave badge engineering a bad name. It's a different game now. Many of the old tropes no longer stand as true. (Camry=Lexus ES, Passat= A4, etc)

However there are still some that hold true, but usually in a good collaborative way. Gt86=BRZ, Supra=Z4, etc.

[Adam43]

GT86 yeah they were the same. Toyota dealer asked me if I wanted a blue one I told him if I wanted blue and buy a Subaru. Although less badge engineering and more a joint project. Both are ace too.

I don’t think that is the same as Supra and Z4. Different style of cars for me.

[broadrun96]

**Multiple teams are at play for the Genesis LMDh program in the WeatherTech Championship, with Sportscar365 understanding that Chip Ganassi Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport are currently two of the leading contenders for the factory GTP effort that’s slated to debut in 2026.

Was it confirmed to be Genesis and not Hyundai branding? Interesting that BHA is in the mix to jump from TCR to GTP

From S365 IMSA notebook

[tomcug]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Was it confirmed to be Genesis and not Hyundai branding?

Yes, the original statement can be seen in this video at 1:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S5blQScMRY

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by tomcug

Yes, the original statement can be seen in this video at 1:17
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4S5blQScMRY

Gotcha, assumed it was by my brain was uncertain. But it's defective so there's that

[joeb]

Originally Posted by broadrun96

**Multiple teams are at play for the Genesis LMDh program in the WeatherTech Championship, with Sportscar365 understanding that Chip Ganassi Racing and Bryan Herta Autosport are currently two of the leading contenders for the factory GTP effort that’s slated to debut in 2026.

Was it confirmed to be Genesis and not Hyundai branding? Interesting that BHA is in the mix to jump from TCR to GTP

From S365 IMSA notebook

I wonder if United may be in play here too? They definitely have the capability to run in the top class.

[Nick Woodbury]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if United may be in play here too? They definitely have the capability to run in the top class.

The rumor mill has been teasing it forever, but if McLaren were to dive into lmdh/lmh, United would obviously be the first in line for that given the Zak Brown connection. So no, this will not happen so long as McLaren coming in is even a remote possibility.

[Adam43]

McLaren in LMDh/LMH.

[broadrun96]

Originally Posted by Adam43

McLaren in LMDh/LMH.

Well the Hyundai rumors only took a decade plus so we've still time for McLaren

[Adam43]

Ha! So if McLaren enter the rumours will have been right

[joeb]

Originally Posted by Adam43

McLaren in LMDh/LMH.

Co-program with Ford obviously!

Originally Posted by broadrun96

Well the Hyundai rumors only took a decade plus so we've still time for McLaren

So you're saying there's a chance!

[J Jay]

Originally Posted by joeb

I wonder if United may be in play here too? They definitely have the capability to run in the top class.

As luck would have it, DSC put out a promotional piece for United last Thursday. The last time United had this sort of coverage - about its European base of operations - just so happened to go out as Porsche were deliberating which customer team to choose for WEC.

I think the tagline speaks for itself (emphasis mine):

Originally Posted by DSC

The Anglo-American team is expanding its footprint in North America and has put itself in pole position for a top-class future...

[joeb]

Originally Posted by J Jay

As luck would have it, DSC put out a promotional piece for United last Thursday. The last time United had this sort of coverage - about its European base of operations - just so happened to go out as Porsche were deliberating which customer team to choose for WEC.

I think the tagline speaks for itself (emphasis mine):

Not so subtle play on words

[MitchZ06]

McLaren aren't going to LMDh/GTP and I'll die on that hill.

Sincerely, a McLaren fan since 5 years old (now 33)