As cars gradually become rolling computers, yours truly rhetorically asks: What will they think of next? Face recognition technology is how Genesis would answer this question. Yes, the all-electric GV60 crossover is the first production model from Hyundai’s luxury division to boast something called “Face Connect.”
How does it work? The high-tech system relies on a near-infrared camera embedded into the B-pillar, specifically in the rear door. It recognizes faces “under any circumstances,” even at night or during a cloudy day. Once a pre-registered face is detected, the GV60’s doors lock or unlock without the owner having to use the smart key.
Some would argue such a feature is not necessary considering most cars already have a handsfree functionality, therefore making face recognition a bit redundant. There’s a pretty good chance it will end up as a function that customers will use a few times in the first months of ownership before sticking to the traditional way of locking and unlocking the vehicle.
That said, those who want the latest technologies available will appreciate the Face Connect system. There is one important benefit to having face recognition as it liberates the driver from having to carry the GV60’s keys at all times. It can even be left inside the vehicle and Face Connect will still work, making it ideal to use when heading to a location for various outdoor activities. Going running or swimming will remove the hassle of having to carry the key in your pocket.
According to Genesis, Face Connect can register up to two faces for a vehicle, and profiles can be created using the GV60’s built-in voice assistant. These can be deleted at any time and are safely stored inside the crossover without any security risks. The EV also benefits from a fingerprint authentication system, allowing owners to start the vehicle based on pre-registered biometric information to once again remove the need for a regular key.
With the GV60’s launch, Genesis is expanding its over-the-air software updates to support revisions to the suspension, brakes, steering wheel, and even airbags. These are on top of already available OTA updates for the navigation system, digital instrument cluster, head-up display, and infotainment.
Additional models will benefit from all these upgrades in due course, with the electric crossover leading the way.
Source: Genesis
