Photo: Stefan Baldauf / Guido ten Brink
The 45 is one of the more outlandish concepts at the IAA 2019, and for good reason. Hyundai looked back 45 years for the exterior design of the fully-electric hatchback, drawing inspiration from the 1974 Pony.
A rear-wheel-drive subcompact presented at the Turin Motor Show in the year Richard Nixon was forced to resign, the Pony was styled by none other than Giorgetto Giugiaro of Italdesign. Developed by a Brtish engineer who used to manage Austin Morris at British Leylands, the Pony was offered in multiple body styles with Mitsubishi powerplants and transmission options.
The Pony II went out of production in 1990, succeeded by the Excel and Elantra. Turning the focus back on the concept, the 45 also stands for the 45-degree angles at the front and rear of the vehicle. This diamond-shaped silhouette is a preview of the design direction for future EVs with the Hyundai badge.
Camera Monitoring is a system that could spell the end of conventional side mirrors going forward into the 2020s, overcoming visibility challenges thanks to the power of software. The interior, however, is a minimalistic affair with a pinch of retro styling for a lounge-like environment. As expected of an e-concept with one eye looking at the future, the infotainment system boasts a projection-beam interface that replaces the more common central touchscreen display.
Now let’s go through the Pony once again because there’s something we haven’t covered about it. As it happens, the Pony was South Korea’s first mass-produced car. Taking this claim into the present, the 45 could be an indicator that Hyundai wants to challenge the greatest EV brands out there, regardless of continent, with the automaker’s well-known value for the money.
The Kona Electric is a perfect example of this philosophy, promising 258 miles of range, 201 horsepower, 291 pound-feet of torque, and a starting price of $36,950 excluding the plug-in car grant for the well-equipped SEL trim level. Even when you put the Chevrolet Bolt next to it, it’s hard to make a case for the alternative from General Motors given its numerous shortfalls.
The Pony II went out of production in 1990, succeeded by the Excel and Elantra. Turning the focus back on the concept, the 45 also stands for the 45-degree angles at the front and rear of the vehicle. This diamond-shaped silhouette is a preview of the design direction for future EVs with the Hyundai badge.
Camera Monitoring is a system that could spell the end of conventional side mirrors going forward into the 2020s, overcoming visibility challenges thanks to the power of software. The interior, however, is a minimalistic affair with a pinch of retro styling for a lounge-like environment. As expected of an e-concept with one eye looking at the future, the infotainment system boasts a projection-beam interface that replaces the more common central touchscreen display.
Now let’s go through the Pony once again because there’s something we haven’t covered about it. As it happens, the Pony was South Korea’s first mass-produced car. Taking this claim into the present, the 45 could be an indicator that Hyundai wants to challenge the greatest EV brands out there, regardless of continent, with the automaker’s well-known value for the money.
The Kona Electric is a perfect example of this philosophy, promising 258 miles of range, 201 horsepower, 291 pound-feet of torque, and a starting price of $36,950 excluding the plug-in car grant for the well-equipped SEL trim level. Even when you put the Chevrolet Bolt next to it, it’s hard to make a case for the alternative from General Motors given its numerous shortfalls.
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