Genesis GV80 Desert Edition Takes 80-Year-Old Jacky Ickx on a 3,728-Mile Dakar Journey

At the time of writing Ickx is no longer an active racer, as he just turned 80 on January 1. That doesn’t mean he’s not involved with motorsport anymore, as his role of brand ambassador for Genesis landed him a return to the Dakar race for what will probably be an unforgettable ride inside a one-off GV80 called Desert Edition.

The flagship SUV in the South Korean carmaker's lineup was specifically prepped to accommodate the Belgian for a very long, 3,738-mile (6,000 km) journey from Bisha to Shubaytah in Saudi Arabia, but also to be a sort of tribute to the man's career.

Although Genesis doesn't specifically say this, Ickx was a passenger in the vehicle, but other than that the experience must have been as Dakar-like as possible, as it even included stops at each of the competing teams' bivouacs.

The Desert Edition of a one-off vehicle that was put together by Genesis Middle East with help from custom garage W Motors. No changes were made its powertrain, but the carmaker does not say which of the available engines is fitted under the hood.

Unveiled in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on December 31 as a birthday gift of sort for Ickx, the SUV set out on its journey across the desert with beefed-up off-road attributes. The most visible ones are the more voluminous wheel arches, extended by 40 mm on both ends to allow them to be a better fit for the 20-inch alloy bead-rock wheels wearing all-terrain tires.

Behind the wheels, Genesis installed an upgraded suspension system whose details were not announced but clearly allows for more ground clearance, increased damping, and better stability on the treacherous surface of the desert floor.

A series of fittings have been imagined to make the trip under the scorching Sun (or cold Moon), including a Baja Designs LED lighting system that spreads over the SUV's A-pillars and roof, and an LED light bar on the roof, accompanied there by a custom roof rack capable of holding fuel canisters, sandboards and a rooftop tent.

The interior has been enhanced as well. At the rear, the cargo area is now fitted with an integrated drawer meant to hold a full-size spare wheel, tools and essential emergency equipment. Water supplies, first aid kits, and communication devices can also be stored inside.

When all the upgrades were completed, the SUV was covered in a unique blue color adorned by a single white stripe, a reference to Ickx's race helmet colors.

Genesis did not say what will happen to the GV80 Desert Edition now that Dakar is over, but one can only hope it will inspire at least a limited edition run for the general public.