Hyundai Reveals New Design Direction with Launch of Concept Car at Geneva Motor Show

Hyundai gave car lovers an idea about the brand’s new design direction with the launch of its latest concept car, ’Le Fil Rouge’, at the 2018 Geneva International Motor Show. The car marked a new beginning for Hyundai design, and the French name reflects Hyundai’s belief that its past, present and future designs are all connected.
According to Luc Donckerwolke, Executive Vice President and head of Hyundai Design Center, “‘Le Fil Rouge’ offers a fresh take on Hyundai’s design DNA that was first seen in the Hyundai Coupe Concept in 1974. He said the new concept car builds on Hyundai’s long history of creating vehicles with a sporty and distinctive character.

Sang-yup Lee, Head of Hyundai Styling said that Hyundai’s goal was to strengthen the Hyundai brand by making vehicles having a heightened emotional value in order to reshape the landscape of car design.

Hyundai’s latest approach when it comes to design is ‘Sensuous Sportiness’. This theme will be followed for the design of all Hyundai vehicles in the future, ranging from sedans to SUVs. The theme’s goal is to make all Hyundai vehicles beautiful, thus adding to their emotional value and desirability. Designers will focus on creating harmony between the four fundamental elements of design: proportion, architecture, styling and technology.

Proportion

In ‘Le Fil Rouge’, the design team created a proportional character based on the golden-ratio with the outcome being a natural looking vehicle that is highly pleasing to the eyes. Proportional uniqueness is achieved through a long wheel base, large wheels and short overhangs. A respectful dash-to-axle – the distance from front wheel center to base of windshield – provides a comfortable driving position, whilst a higher beltline completes the overall look.

Architecture

Hyundai used a progressive approach called ‘Light Architecture’ to lend a fresh look to the brand’s design heritage in ‘Le Fil Rouge’. The idea is to make the car look like it was drawn with a single line by seamlessly integrating the front and rear pillars and the roof into the silhouette of the car. This gives the vehicle a dynamic look and forward motion effect. The same sporty and sleek character is reflected in the interiors with ‘Tube Architecture’. The core goal of Tube Architecture is to create the same emotional value both inside and outside the vehicle, while giving the car a lightweight profile.

The interior design accommodates the different needs of the driver and the passengers. The driver’s seat comes with optimized ergonomics to add to the fun element in driving while there is plenty of legroom for the front seat passenger for maximum comfort even on long-distance trips. The impression of depth and a calm and comfortable environment for travel is conveyed through the use of a wrap-around architecture.

Styling

One goal of the Hyundai designers was to design a vehicle that is immediately recognizable as a Hyundai from a distance. They achieved this by using a combination of layered crisp lines and pure volumes to create a sensuous tension on the side. They came up with the right combination of concave and convex forms to make the vehicle stylish with elements like a wide, layered front hood and the Cascading Grille. The Cascading Grille has been given a three-dimensional treatment, with parametric jewels inside.

Technology

The key design principle for the Hyundai design team was to come up with a design that permitted motorists to get a seamless experience of function. The two-way air ventilation system which is inspired by aircraft ventilation blows air over the curved surface of lightweight tube architecture. Throughout the vehicle, revitalized wood and high-tech fabrics are used in the form of exquisite, sensuous components. Thus the vehicle impresses with its highly effective combination of natural beauty, an airy feel and emotional elements. The panoramic floating display and haptic technology to give motorists access to intuitive controls for climate control and other vehicle configurations make the cabin highly user friendly.