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In 1974, Hyundai marked its entry into the European market with the presentation of an idiosyncratic compact coupé concept. And now the iconic vehicle is being reborn, under the supervision of the same designer. Hyundai's first self-developed vehicle, the Pony, was unveiled at the 1974 Turin Motor Show as a compact coupe concept designed by Italian design legend Giorgio (Giorgetto Giugiaro). The coupe was one of five pony prototypes that Hyundai had commissioned from Giugiaro. Now, several years later, Hyundai and GFG Style, the design studio founded by Giorgetto and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro, have reinterpreted the then groundbreaking vehicle.
Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept
"Since the original concept vehicle no longer exists, we asked Giorgetto Giugiaro to re-draw it," said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President at Hyundai. The world premiere will take place on Lake Como at the inaugural Hyundai Reunion, an event highlighting the history and future direction of Hyundai Motor. The angular appearance of the 1974 Hyundai Pony concept reflects the European style of the time.
In 1981, the Hyundai Pony concept almost went into mass production, but due to the poor global economy at the time, Hyundai decided against it. Instead, the Pony was introduced as a classic four-door hatchback, later followed by a pick-up version, station wagon and three-door. At the end of the XNUMXs, Hyundai also made the first tentative export attempts with the production pony, including some European markets.
Faithful replica
The newly presented concept vehicle corresponds exactly to the study from 1974. The faithful reproduction was created using the original materials. The origami-like exterior of the pony coupe concept still features flowing and geometric lines, a sleek roofline, simplistic finishes, dynamic proportions and a special B-pillar. It is characterized by a graphic surface treatment with bumpers painted in body color. The wedge-shaped front and the round headlights were already distinctive features in 1974 and still have their aesthetic relevance today. The "Coda Tronca" (engl. cut off stern) has a narrow flap that allows access to the stern area.
The minimalist interior design looks classic and underlines the monocoque design and the driver-focused, floating architecture. The Hyundai Pony Coupé concept features a single-spoke steering wheel and two-tone slim bucket seats that underline the futuristic 70s look. And the importance of the 1974 study's design is underscored by other Hyundai creations that take design cues from the 1974 pony coupe concept. Below that Prototype N Vision 74 with 500 kW hydrogen plug-in hybrid drive, which was presented in summer 2022. Also worth mentioning is the study "45", which was presented at the last Frankfurt IAA 2019 and is considered the forerunner of the Ioniq 5.
Giugiaro's 1974 coupe study was the beginning
The original Pony was Hyundai's first self-developed car, and the Koreans took their first steps in Europe with Giugiaro's coupe study in 1974. A few more years passed until the early nineties, when the brand pushed massively onto the markets. But what has happened since then can be described as a success story. So it seems fitting that Hyundai celebrates itself this year with a re-imagining of the 1974 Pony Coupé Concept.
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Resurrected after almost 50 years: Hyundai Pony Coupé Concept!
Photo credit: Hyundai
