Earlier this week, Hyundai teased us with the so-called Pony Concept. The bespoke retro-futuristic hatchback pays homage to the original Pony model that became so popular in its home market more than 45 years ago.
That car was Korea’s first mass-produced and exported vehicle, enjoying a 15-year manufacturing run (1975-1990), a time in which it became a true automotive icon, to some extent.
Fast forward to 2021, and we have the Heritage Series Pony concept, with its matte silver body and budget cyberpunk-ish vibe. Highlights include the fender-mounted camera mirrors, just ahead of the windshield, as well as the pixelated round headlights and U-shaped LED taillights. These light units feature the carmaker’s "Pixel Road Trip" design, similar to what Hyundai used on the Ioniq 5 and 45 concept car.
In fact, it's quite interesting to see the 45 concept and the Pony concept side by side. The former is basically a more modern interpretation of the latter, as the 45 has also been inspired by the original Pony.
The interior is particularly appealing, as new images reveal a classic yet premium ambiance, featuring a modern lighting system and a gauge cluster made of lighted vacuum tubes. There’s also a designated area for your mobile device, a digital touch transmission (a truly fascinating design), and even a voice-activated steering wheel.
Since this is just a concept, you don’t need to worry about practicality. Still, if you must know, there’s a stainless-steel case installed in the trunk, because why not?
As for performance, there’s been no official word regarding any powertrain configuration. However, we can’t imagine such a car now without a fully electric system powering its wheels—especially after lead designer Yang Gu-rum posted a short video of the car on Instagram, using the hashtag ‘#ev’.
The South Korean carmaker has placed the Heritage Series Pony concept on display as part of the "Reflections in Motion" exhibition at Hyundai Motorstudio Busan in its home country.
Sergiu got to experience both American and European car "scenes" at an early age (his father drove a Ford Fiesta XR2 supermini in the 80s). After spending over 15 years at local and international auto publications, he's starting to appreciate comfort behind the wheel more than raw power and acceleration. Full profile
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