Hyundai joins hands with designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to rebuild 1974 Pony Coupe Concept

The redesigned 1974 Pony Coupe Concept will be unveiled early in 2023.

The iconic 1974 Pony Coupe Concept will be rebuilt by Hyundai Motor Company in collaboration with renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, his son Fabrizio Giugiaro, and their Italian design studio GFG Style. Giorgetto originally designed the car for Hyundai's Turin Motor Show debut in 1974. 

Luc Donckerwolke, Chief Creative Officer of the Hyundai Motor Group, Giorgetto, Fabrizio Giugiaro, and SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Motor's Global Design Center made the announcement during a Design Talk in Seoul. Commenting on the collaboration, CCO Donckerwolke said, 'We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Giorgetto and Fabrizio to Seoul for this rare occasion, and we look forward to collaborating with them and GFG Style on this extraordinary design project.'

SangYup Lee added, 'the original Pony and the Pony coupe concept were one of those rare creations that influenced the designs of not just one but multiple production and concept vehicles. Since the original concept car no longer exists, we’ve commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro to rebuild it, based on our design philosophy, "Shaping the future with legacy".'

Speaking about his original design, Giorgetto stated, 'I designed the Hyundai Pony when I was still a young designer at the start of my career. I felt very proud that I was in charge of creating a vehicle for a company and country that was about to take on a fiercely competitive global market. Now, I’m deeply honoured that Hyundai has asked me to rebuild it for posterity and as a celebration of the brand’s heritage.'

The Pony Coupe was designed with the North American and European markets in mind and featured a wedge-shaped snout, round headlamps, and geometric lines that resembled origami. However, the project was abandoned in 1981 just before full production due to an adverse global economic scenario. The Pony Coupe Concept has since remained a significant part of Hyundai's history and a symbol of its founding chairman Ju-Yong Chung's corporate philosophy.

Hyundai Motor used the original Pony as the inspiration for the '45' concept car in 2019, which had a direct impact on the Ioniq 5. The company created a restomod electric vehicle design based on the original Pony production car in 2021. Hyundai later gave the coupe concept another nod this year with its popular N Vision 74 hydrogen-hybrid 'rolling lab' prototype.

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