Genesis is no Land Rover. The Korean automaker is not known for blending off-road performance and luxury into a single, capable package. Nonetheless, the Genesis GV80 Desert Edition exists, and it appears to be a pretty good effort overall.
Genesis built the GV80 for racing driver Jacky Ickx and his daughter Vanina, a former racing driver herself, to pilot at the 2025 Dakar Rally race. This isn’t Ickx’s first time at Dakar, either. On top of his experience in the Formula racing series, the 80-year-old racing driver previously won the Paris-Dakar Rally in 1983 with Mercedes-Benz, in addition to winning The 24 Hours of Le Mans six times.
The Desert Edition is a one-off, and while it’s probably not the kind of desert racer Ickx is used to piloting, this GV80 at least makes an effort to get a production luxury SUV somewhat close.
Genesis
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What makes the Desert Edition special?
Development of the GV80 Desert Edition started in 2024, and over the span of a few months, the Korean off-roader was created in partnership with the Dubai auto company W Motors.
The pair upfitted a stock GV80 with 20-inch beadlocking wheels to tackle slick and sandy surfaces, which are, of course, wrapped in all-terrain tires to further aid in off-road traction. Some slight fender flares help cover the wider wheel and tire package, and you’ll find this one-off is around 1.6 inches wider than your average GV80 SUV. Genesis also fitted the Desert Edition with a roof rack to carry extra fuel and a tent, though it’s pretty unlikely the 80-year-old Ickx is sleeping in that.
Genesis
Further off-road enhancements include a roof rack, a light bar with yellow foglights, and “upgraded adjustable suspension.” Although Genesis didn’t specify exactly how it was upgraded, it’s likely safe to assume that the automaker fitted a lift, if not long-travel dampers, to help the wheels articulate beyond the suburban curbs and speed bumps the SUV is built to handle.
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Speaking of missing information, Genesis doesn’t say a thing about the powertrain. Given the bigger wheel and tire combo, it’s safe to assume the company made use of the GV80’s most potent powertrain: a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 making 375 horsepower and 391 pound-feet of torque.
Genesis
The same assumption will have to be applied to the transmission, which is likely the same 8-speed automatic you’ll find in any other GV80. Of course, the GV80 Desert Edition is likely also all-wheel drive, just like the top trims of the production car, though Genesis doesn’t explicitly say so.
The GV80’s unique livery pays homage to the helmet design Ickx wore during his victory at the 1983 Dakar rally.
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Final thoughts
While this collaboration was by no means one we expected to see, it’s still a welcome one. Jacky Ickx is a legend in all senses of the word, and seeing Genesis venture into a corner of racing that is unknown to them while paying homage to such an influential figure is a noteworthy act, at the very least.
This year, the route ran from Bisha to Shubaytah, Saudi Arabia, spanning 3,728 miles. It was an impressive run, both for the 80-year-old racing driver and for the Genesis off-roader, and it was finished without hiccups. While the model is just a one-off, it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if the Desert Edition were the start of something for the automaker. Luxury off-road SUVs are a big deal in the States, and Genesis may have a winning formula on its hands without realizing it.
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