With a recreated 1970s Pony Coupe, Hyundai goes back to the future

COMO, Italy -- Hyundai unveiled a recreated version of the iconic Pony Coupe concept that heralded the start of the South Korean automaker's rise to become a top global producer of mass-market cars.

The remake of the 1974 concept, which is considered a retro-futuristic classic, was done by Italian design legend Giorgetto Giugiaro's company, GFG Style, using the same specifications and materials as the original, which Giugiaro also penned.

The new concept keeps the original car’s typical 1970s wedge-shaped snout, along with its origami-like exterior styling with geometric lines and pure unadorned surfaces. Its minimalist interior has a driver-focused floating architecture.

Although the Pony Coupe was not built, it led to the Pony compact hatchback, which was Hyundai's first independent model and South Korea's first mass-produced car.

Hyundai considers Giugiaro's original Pony Coupe as the roots of a design DNA that still influences modern cars such as the Ioniq 5 electric SUV and the N Vision 74 hydrogen-powered sports coupe concept.

GFG Style used a historic Pony production model to rebuild the concept on a new heritage platform called Hyundai Reunion. The platform will highlight how the Pony Coupe’s striking appearance is still part of Hyundai's "daring" attitude toward design, Hyundai Motor Chief Marketing Officer Sungwon Jee said in a statement.

At 4080-mm long, the rebuilt Pony Coupe is the same length as the original concept. In the 1970s it would have been considered a compact model. But because cars have grown larger by adding more room and technology, it would be now classified as a small car.

The concept has a four-cylinder, 82-hp, 1.2-liter gasoline engine that is mounted longitudinally and drives the rear wheels. These specifications are totally outdated for a modern sports car, but the rebuilt Pony Coupe's retention of the original concept's design is still striking.

With the help of Giugiaro, Hyundai launched the Pony hatchback into production in 1975. About 685,800 units were built when output ended in 1986.

A production version of the Pony Coupe Concept was planned for Europe and North America as Hyundai's first sports car, but the project was abandoned in 1979 amid adverse global economic conditions after Hyundai had spent $80 million on tooling.

The original concept, as well as development prototypes, were lost and last year the automaker launched a restoration project with GFG Style to rebuild the car, while keeping its design unchanged.

The remade concept was unveiled on the eve of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este classic and vintage car show at Lake Como in northern Italy.

Hyundai Motor CEO Jaehoon Chang said the rebuilt concept will help the company to leverage its past as it pushes to be a future mobility leader in the age of electrification.

Hyundai Motor Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke added: "The restoration of this unique vehicle represents our beginnings and our commitment to the future."