The stylish coupe was revived to the precise specifications of the original, just in time to be revealed at Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este.
Hyundai has revealed a beautifully restored version of its classic Pony Coupe Concept at Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on the shores of Lake Como, almost half a century after the original concept appeared at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. It was this Pony Coupe Concept that inspired the dazzling N Vision 74, a car that was rumored to go into production before a conflicting report suggested otherwise.
It may not be a supercar, but the original Pony Coupe Concept's geometric lines remind one of the original Lamborghini Countach in what was an era that celebrated wedge-like designs. Incidentally, the production version of that Countach made its debut in 1974 as well. For this rebuilding of the original Pony, the coupe was recreated to match the specifications of the 1974 version.
The rebuild was done by the original designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro, who recalled his early relationship with Hyundai in 1973 when the Pony Coupe Concept was first developed. “Hyundai approached us to start a complete redesign of a model, without much experience,” said Giugiaro. “I was skeptical at first because I didn't know Hyundai Motor at that time. We were all impressed by the passion and commitment of the Hyundai engineers. They were sharp, curious, open, and extremely eager to learn.”
It's Giugiaro and this special group of engineers that brought the Pony Coupe Concept to life. Its flowing lines, circular headlights, chunky B-pillar, and cut-off tail created one of the most daring coupes of its time.
The Pony Coupe Concept appears larger in pictures than it is, with a length of around 160.6 inches making it even shorter than a modern Hyundai Kona, one of the company's smallest crossovers. It is 61.4 inches wide and only 47.6 inches in height, the latter figure contributing to its sporty appearance.
Inside, the car has an unusual single-spoke steering wheel and two-tone slim-line bucket seats. Vertical instruments are entirely different to traditional round dials, and there is a row of slider controls for the ventilation system.
The restored Pony Coupe Concept has a front-mounted longitudinal engine and rear-wheel-drive layout. The 1.2-liter four-cylinder engine delivers just 82 horsepower, a far cry from the 679-hp hydrogen fuel-cell system found in the newer N Vision 74.
“The rebirth of the Pony Coupe Concept is a meaningful milestone in the history of Hyundai Motor because it signifies not only our beginnings but also our commitment to the future with our new dreams,” said SangYup Lee, Executive Vice President and Head of Hyundai Design Center.
The N Vision 74 made its Italian debut at the 'Hyundai Reunion' event and will also appear at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este on May 20. This inaugural Hyundai Reunion event is a heritage platform that looks back at the brand's past while hinting at its future. Speaking of those plans, we can only hope that Hyundai changes its mind and puts the stunning N Vision 74 into production at some stage.
“[Hyundai Reunion] is where one can see how our past success still serves as a basis for our daring attitude today,” said Sungwon Jee, Senior Vice President and Global Chief Marketing Officer at Hyundai Motor Company. “This spirit of innovation can be seen in these two models as well as the people who made them possible.”
Keyword: Hyundai Restores Iconic Pony Coupe Concept With Help From Giorgetto Giugiaro