Hyundai Presents Restored 1974 Pony Coupe Concept

MANILA: Almost 50 years after its debut, the rebuilt Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept was unveiled in Lake Como, Italy.

The Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept, which first appeared at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, is a significant vehicle in the company's history and design legacy.

The Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept was a groundbreaking model in its time thanks to its unique sense of style.

Unfortunately, what may have been Hyundai's first phenomenal sports car was unable to achieve commercial production and was lost to history as a result of the adverse global economic conditions in the late 1970s.

However, the concept represents Hyundai's determination to get into the sports car sector in order to secure long-term leadership as an automotive company. Today, this outlook guides Hyundai's innovation in high-performance hydrogen and electric technology.

The Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept is now regarded as a retro-futuristic classic and has provided design inspiration for more recent Hyundai models.

The Hyundai N Vision 74 hydrogen-hybrid electric “Rolling Lab” development vehicle and the “45” electric vehicle concept car, which had a major influence on the Hyundai Ioniq 5, drew inspiration from the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept.

“In the age of electrification, a key condition for Hyundai Motor Company to become a leader in future mobility will be our ability to remain faithful to the unshakable values we inherited. Moving forward, through Hyundai Reunion and other heritage communication initiatives, we will continue to leverage our past as a unique vector for our future innovation,” Hyundai Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Jaehoon Chang stated.

The exterior of the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept is designed like origami. It has flowing geometric lines, a sleek roofline, unadorned surfaces, and a uniquely shaped B pillar.

The wedge-shaped snout and round headlamps of the Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept made it stand out in 1974, and they still appear incredibly appealing today.

The Hyundai Pony Coupe Concept's coda tronca, or “cut-off tail,” features a slim hatch that opens to the back.

The interior of the Hyundai Pony Concept features a monocoque design and driver-centered floating architecture. A single-spoke steering wheel and two-toned slim-line bucket seats bolster the futuristic style that was popular in the 1970s.

“The restoration of this unique vehicle is a milestone in Hyundai’s history,” Hyundai Motor Group President and Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke said.

“It represents our beginnings and our commitment to the future. It serves as a legacy for generations to come. It virtually symbolizes the mobile relay baton we are passing from the past to the future of the company,” Donckerwolke added.

Photos from Hyundai Motor Company

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