Kim Hyun-bin began his journalism career at Arirang TV from 2012 to 2017, specializing in defense, foreign affairs and the economy. In 2018, he joined The Korea Times, covering society and business, and is currently responsible for embassy affairs.
Hyundai Motor's Pony Coupe restored in Italy after 50 years
Hyundai Motor Group Executive Chair Chung Euisun, left, poses with renowned designer Giorgetto Giugiaro in front of the Pony Coupe concept car unveiled in Lake Como, Italy, Thursday (local time). Courtesy of Hyundai Motor Group
By Kim Hyun-bin
By Kim Hyun-bin
Hyundai Motor recreated the Pony Coupe concept car almost 50 years after its original debut. The concept car, initially unveiled at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, holds significant importance in Hyundai Motor's history and design legacy.
The recreated concept car was revealed in Lake Como, Italy at the inaugural Hyundai Reunion, a heritage brand platform that reflects on Hyundai Motor's past and future direction. Giorgetto Giugiaro and his son Fabrizio Giugiaro, both renowned designers, were invited to the event. The restoration project focused on the car that led to the creation of Hyundai's influential Pony line-up, which was Korea's first independently developed, mass-production model.
Under the Pony Coupe restoration project, Hyundai Motor revived the original Pony Coupe showcased at the 1974 Turin Motor Show.
"I express my sincere gratitude to everyone from both Italy and Korea who played a critical role in the success of Pony," said Chung Euisun, executive chair of Hyundai Motor Group. "Despite the poor industrial environment in the 1970s, my grandfather, Hyundai's Founding Chairman Chung Ju-young, poured his heart and soul into rebuilding Korea's economy and improving the lives of its people after the devastating Korean War. He finally realized his vision of making Korea a country capable of developing its own vehicles with perfection."
During its time, the Pony Coupe was a groundbreaking model with a unique aesthetic sensibility. However, due to adverse global economic conditions in the late 1970s, Hyundai's potential first sports car never reached commercial production. Nevertheless, the concept embodies Hyundai's bold determination to and long-term aspiration to build its own sports cars.
Today, the car is regarded as a retro-futuristic classic that has served as a design inspiration for recent Hyundai Motor models. Examples include the N Vision 74 hydrogen-hybrid electric 'Rolling Lab' development vehicle and the '45' EV concept car, which directly influenced the IONIQ 5 EV.
"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," said Chang Jae-hoon, CEO of Hyundai Motor. "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."