2013 Hyundai Limited on 2040-cars

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Hyundai Group design chief wants more differentiation between models and brands

Luc Donckerwolke, the man who oversees design at Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis, is determined to get more differentiation into the model range. He not only wants greater visual separation between all the models in the range, he also wants more distinction between Hyundai Group cars and others in the respective segments, and global distinctions so that a Hyundai in China doesn't necessarily look like one built for North America. He told Autocar, "We will not have a global design language because otherwise it's too rigid. [The alternative is] more work, but it's more flexible." Donckerwolke gets an extreme look at the results of homogeneous design, because an enormous number of cars on the road in South Korea are Hyundai Group products. "[Our] core task is to differentiate the design philosophy of the three brands, not least because we have a big [around 70%] share in Korea. We need to differentiate each model, otherwise the landscape is too homogeneous." Top-down, each brand gets a design brief. Hyundai will be Hyundai's "sexy, seductive and sensuous, sporty, eager and stylish," holding onto its value proposition while adding emotion. Kia will be "young, challenging and cool — cooler than before," said brand design chief Byungchul Juh, with Donckerwolke adding that it's about "streetwear — bold, fresh and young." And Genesis is "haute couture." Donckerwolke characterizes the design philosophy as not "Russian dolls but ... chess pieces, with a look that reveals its own charismatic character. For example, Kia's used to be about the tiger nose grille, separate headlights and the lower intake. Now it's going to be more of a mask that will deliver sportiness and a presence." Kia designer Juh said, "There will be a distinct version of tiger face for each segment, and we'll keep the tiger nose grille. In principle it's the same, but there's a different interpretation for each segment, and more of a 3D feeling. We're moving from a nose to a face." The sketches we've seen of Kia's coming small global crossover take a first step, and we're told the next Sportage will make more impact than the new Tucson. As for Hyundai, the next Sonata will "be the design flag-bearer." We wait to see how much of the vehicle all of this affects. But right now, look at the 2020 Elantra and Sonata from the front three-quarter; ignore their front fascias, and they're two sizes of one sausage.

2019 Hyundai Veloster N revealed with 275 horsepower

Hyundai has finally revealed the first N model to come to the U.S., the Veloster N, and it's basically the i30 N's funkier cousin. Under the hood is the very same turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder cranking out 275 horsepower and 260 pound-feet of torque. That power goes to a 6-speed manual transmission that features an automatic rev-matching system for downshifts, and on to the front wheels by way of an electronic limited-slip differential. Backing up the power is a suspension that is adjustable for damping via the various drive modes on the car, which also adjust throttle response, rev-matching characteristics, steering, differential settings and the exhaust note. The Veloster N also has standard 225-mm wide high-performance summer tires on 18-inch wheels, which can be swapped for 19-inch wheels with 235-mm wide high-performance summer tires. There are two sets of brakes available, too. The standard front rotors are 13 inches and the rears are 11.8 inches, and the optional set are 13.6 inches in the front and 12.4 inches in the rear. Of course all of these performance upgrades need more visual flair, which the Veloster N proudly displays. Up front it has a more aggressive front fascia with red accents around the grille. There are vents behind the grilles that direct air toward the brakes for additional cooling. More aggressive side skirts and a faux rear diffuser with split dual-exhaust tips complete the look of the lower body, while a big wing caps it off. That big wing also has a triangular high-mount brake light just like the i30 N. The exterior can be coated in one of four colors, white, black, red, or the trademark light blue of N. The interior gets some updates, too in the way of cloth sports seats, an N steering wheel with buttons in that same blue color, and shift indicator lights appear on the instrument panel. Production of the Veloster N begins this September, and they will be available at dealers in the fourth quarter of this year. If you can't wait, though, the car will be available for download and virtual driving in Forza Motorsport 7 on January 16. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2019 Hyundai Veloster N: Detroit 2018 View 16 Photos Related Gallery 2019 Hyundai Veloster N View 25 Photos Image Credit: Live photos copyright 2018 Drew Phillips / Autoblog.com Detroit Auto Show Hyundai Hatchback Performance 2018 detroit auto show hyundai veloster n

Hyundai's Western designers want a Genesis supercar

Will Genesis build a supercar? The answer is that it could, eventually ... if the Hyundai Motor executives are convinced by the Western designers they've hired. Speaking with Peter Schreyer and Luc Donckerwolke at the New York Auto Show last week, Australia's CarAdvice reports that there is a desire within the company to create a supercar to cap the Genesis lineup, but that it might take a while. "It's still some time away, something like this," Schreyer told CarAdvice. "All these things take a little bit of time. We're just at the beginning and things like that, you know, we need to talk about and develop more." Donkerwolke seemed even more optimistic. "I won't reveal the secret now because it's still my baby! Obviously, yes, this is part of the interest of designing a brand, being able to create [supercars]. It's not just something which we'll do, let's say a rational traditional project, but there will be some highlights." The Hyundai N 2025 Vision Grand Turismo concept is shown above. Both Schreyer and Donkerwolke came to Hyundai from the Volkswagen Group. Schreyer now serves as one of three presidents at Kia and chief designer for the entire Hyundai portfolio. Donkerwolke recently joined him to run the premium design office for the Genesis brand, having designed the Lamborghini Gallardo, Murcielago, and Bentley EXP 10 Speed 6 concept, among others. Joining the likes of the Acura NSX, Lexus LFA, and Audi R8 may be a priority for the designers, but they'll like face a difficult task in convincing the bean-counters in Seoul to ever green-light such a project. "This is very difficult for them, the company is there to exist," said Schreyer. "It's a business." Related Video: Featured Gallery Hyundai N 2025 Vision Gran Turismo Concept: Frankfurt 2015 View 17 Photos News Source: CarAdviceImage Credit: Copyright 2016 Drew Phillips / AOL Design/Style Genesis Hyundai Supercars supercar