There was nothing like driving down memory lane during homecoming weekend at Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) where I put in five years of educational and football dedication. With the elegance and sporty nature of a Bering Blue 2025 Genesis GV80 Coupe captivating studious onlookers, I took my time perusing the names and features of my alma mater’s high-tech buildings and facilities from the student center to the library to the dorms. Thirty years later, witnessing the stellar partnership between GT and Korean automakers Hyundai Motor America and Genesis Motor America made the return even more gratifying.
GT’s football schedule pitted us against the mighty Miami Hurricanes on a thrilling college football Saturday and my birthday weekend. The chatter amongst former Yellowjackets teammates was centered on the #4 team in the country we would clash with during Homecoming Weekend. With Heisman hopeful Cam Ward coming in hot, the outcome of an upset looked bleak. We speculated as to why we couldn’t be paired with NC State, Wake Forest, or Duke. Yet, the miraculous outcome was astonishing!
Since I work on the media side of the auto industry and played running back at GT, I was elated to see that Hyundai is investing $12.6 billion into electric vehicle and battery facilities in Georgia, including the $7.59 billion Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) outside of Savannah. Two years after breaking ground, current Hyundai EVs are already being produced at HMGMA. Naturally, the location of Georgia Tech was a consideration for the multidecade partnership in addition to the essential research tenets the school and Hyundai will collaborate on involving sustainable mobility, smart cities, hydrogen economy, and workforce development. The plan is to build 300,000 EVs and batteries annually at this location.
“Like Georgia Tech, Hyundai is a global brand that is synonymous with quality, innovation, and a commitment to advancing technology to make a positive difference in the world. The more we have gotten to know each other, the more obvious the alignment of our values has become,” said Georgia Tech President Ángel Cabrera. “I am grateful for the transformative investments Hyundai is making in our state, and I am proud that the Hyundai brand will feature prominently on our campus.”
From a football perspective, our stadium — located at the corner of North Avenue and Techwood Drive — has rightfully been renamed Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field, currently the oldest in the NCAA Division 1’s Football Bowl Subdivision (opened in 1913) and one of the nation’s most electrifying and celebrated environments to play in or watch a game. Its moniker pays homage to legendary Georgia Tech Coach and Athletics Director Bobby Dodd.
Within the deal, the luxury arm of Hyundai received the rights to the Goal Line Club: Presented by Genesis. The alignment coincides with the brand’s Genesis House theme where culinary, entertainment, and cultural principles synthesize to create unforgettable experiences like GT drying out the Hurricanes and taking the home field win! The VIP treatment includes indoor and outdoor seating, complimentary libations and food, restrooms, and a private entrance. Fans and special guests will soon be able to indulge in new clubs, a speakeasy, a massive video board, and more deluxe suites. Spearheaded by Walter Dawson, Genesis Southern Region Director, and Cyril Akita, Genesis Regional Business Support Manager, I was honored by the tickets and access to the weekend GV80 Coupe media loaner which turned heads wherever I ventured. Moreover, every GT graduate receives a handsome discount on a new Genesis vehicle, which is honored by the Jim Ellis Auto Group and its impressive Genesis of Atlanta showroom. My former roommate Nate Perryman spec-ed out a top-of-the-line 2025 GV80 SUV and was surprised that the concession amounted to $17,000 with three years of complimentary maintenance and service valet.
Atlanta is the mecca of stylish, luxurious, and flavorful sports cars and SUVs. So it was timely that Genesis put me in their latest machinery which combines the savvy and sleek utility vehicle with the dynamics of a coupe. More importantly, with 22” sport alloy rims, an energetic 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 (48v e-supercharger), an 8-speed transmission with various drive modes, and an electronically controlled suspension, the Korean SUV moves like Saquon Barkley cutting through defenses.
Step inside the cockpit to be appeased by Nappa leather seats, carbon fiber trim, unique metals, and relaxation mechanisms in the form of a Mood Curator to relax your mind on Atlanta’s busy streets and highways. The two-tone D-cut steering wheel executes turns with ease; the Bang & Olufsen premium audio provides theater-like sound experiences; and the 27” OLED instrument cluster and navigation screen handles all digital operations from music entertainment and vehicle settings to lifestyle app selection and temperature control. Yes, overall, the GV80 Coupe is a fascinating ride.
“Georgia Tech is known around the world for having some of the best and brightest graduates as well as a storied athletics program,” said José Muñoz, president and global COO of Hyundai Motor Company, and president and CEO of Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America. “We are thrilled to expand our relationship with Georgia Tech, which will include opportunities for student professional development and cooperative work programs in addition to athletic engagements.”
Bravo Hyundai and Genesis. The Georgia Tech Yellowjackets are thankful and humbled!
Experienced by Kimatni D. Rawlins
