Genesis has just revealed one of the coolest concept vehicles we’ve seen this year. It’s called the Box Buggy concept, and it’s little more than four electric motors, seats, and a steering wheel. But the wild styling and off-pavement capability aren’t the strangest parts of this new creation.
The strangest thing is what Genesis hasn’t done. We have some official photos, but no official announcement on what exactly it is, what it does, or why it was built. The only thing we can tell you for sure is it’s a one-off. But don’t worry – we’ve done some sleuthing and can share a bit more than just that.
‘The Grand Daddy Of Golf Carts’
Genesis Box Buggy ConceptGenesis
The images show a vehicle that looks like a dune buggy, except that it’s missing a few key features. Like seat belts. Or any way at all for the driver and passengers to stay inside when jumping over sand dunes, except for the windows on the upper half of the body.
That’s because it’s not that kind of buggy, it’s more of a cart. Genesis revealed the Box Buggy at the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and Daily Sports Car spoke with Genesis Chief Creative Officer and President of Hyundai Group Luc Donckerwolke about it in the paddock.
Donckerwolke called it “the grand daddy of golf carts.” Genesis is the official vehicle of the PGA Tour, and it sponsors multiple big tournaments. “We have been sponsors of golf for many years but never had a golf buggy, so we wanted to design our own and have fun with it,” Donckerwolke said.
Four Motors, Tiny Battery, Big Fun
Genesis Box Buggy ConceptGenesis
It’s built around something that looks a lot like the Hyundai Mobis e-corner System. That’s a system that puts an electric motor in each wheel and lets them turn 90° in either direction. That means it can crab walk sideways, or, in this case, perform zero turns and rotate in place.
Each of the four electric motors makes 40 horsepower. That’s enough to get the golf cart to 100 mph, Donckerwolke said, a speed that feels absolutely absurd in a vehicle that looks like this. Not that we wouldn’t take it for a spin if offered.
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Donckerwolke told Sportscar365 that it used the battery from a Hyundai Tucson Hybrid, and the project was only finished last Sunday. No word on the electric range from the 1.49 kWh pack, but it should be able to handle the 8,130 yards of Castle Pines, the longest course ever on the PGA Tour.
At least the golf cart idea explains the interior. The beige tartan fabric seems more appropriate at the Genesis Scottish Open near Edinburgh than it does in the pits of a sports car race.
Donckerwolke had a slightly different story about the use and name of the buggy for S365. He told that site that “I wanted to create a mobility for paddocks. It allows to turn on its own axis. It’s four-wheel steering, four-wheel drive, motors in each wheel and steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire.”
As for the name? “For us, it’s a paddock vehicle. That’s why we call it ‘Box Buggy,'” he said. It’s the pit-box buggy.
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This clever rig will be at some more sports car races this year as Genesis works to break into motorsport with its Magma branding. The automaker told DSC that the Box Buggy will be making the rounds at every World Endurance Championship event this year. Even more intriguing, there are plans to build more.
Sources: Genesis, Daily Sports Car, Sportscar365
