Hyundai’s got a new sports car, but it’s also an old sports car.
While the rumoured production of a Hyundai Pony Coupe based on the original from 1974 has been denied, the car has indeed been built again as a one-off 50 years after its original debut.
Recreated by its original designer Giorgetto Giugiaro as well as his son Fabrizio Giugiaro though their firm GFG Style, the Pony Coupe was confirmed for a comeback by Hyundai in late 2022, though reports last week suggested insiders at Hyundai said the car would also become a production model.
Those rumours were quashed by Hyundai quite quickly, with the original idea for the Pony Coupe – an accurate replica of the 1974 version, not a modernised version – set to be a one-off.
The Pony Coupe was recreated as a celebration of the brand’s history, but also – as put by Hyundai Chief Creative Officer Luc Donckerwolke – a symbolisation of the transition between the past and the future.
“It represents our beginnings and our commitment to the future. It serves as a legacy for generations to come,” Donckerwolke said.
“It virtually symbolises the mobile relay baton we are passing from the past to the future of the company.”
The original Pony Coupe concept not only inspired much more recent concepts like the Hyundai N Vision 74, a hydrogen-powered sports car with similar ‘origami’ style boxy, creased styling, but also was the precursor to the Hyundai Pony production model.
While the Pony was less sporting in design than the Coupe concept, it was the first car that put Hyundai on the world stage and was the spiritual predecessor to the Hyundai Excel.
The concept also served as inspiration not only for the DMC De Lorean, also designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro, but for Hyundai’s 45 Concept, the precursor to the Hyundai Ioniq 5 that shares many design similarities with the Pony Coupe.
The recreated concept not only looks like the original, but also features the same very-1974 drivetrain – a 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine that makes a smidge over 61kW, though it does drive the rear wheels and likely weighs less than a tonne.
Hyundai Group Chair Euisun Chung said the original Pony Coupe represented not only Hyundai’s intention to make interesting cars, but also the sign of overcoming struggles in a post-war nation.
“Despite the poor industrial environment in the 1970s, my grandfather and Hyundai’s Founding Chairman Ju-young Chung poured his heart and soul into rebuilding Korea’s economy and improving the lives of its people after the devastating Korean War.
“He finally realised his vision of making Korea a country capable of developing its own vehicles with perfection.
“I express my sincere gratitude to everyone from both Italy and Korea who played a critical role in the success of Pony.”
Keyword: Reborn! 2023 Hyundai Pony Coupe debuts as faithful recreation of 1974 model by original designer Giugiaro