Hyundai Begins Push to Re-Design its Crossover Lineup
Hyundai’s crossover lineup is getting a makeover and the first inklings of the brand’s new and improved design language are finally starting to emerge.
The brand’s new styling push originated from Hyundai’s Irvine, California design studio and makes its debut in the Hyundai Kona. The new Kona will have a narrower front fascia accented by angular LED daytime running lights mounted high near the vehicle’s hood line. Separate headlights will appear lower down on the front end. These specific details will be familiar to fans of the Nissan Juke and the Jeep Cherokee–all three vehicles are leaders in the world of automotive design trends.
The next vehicle to get the California re-design treatment will be the 2019 Santa Fe Sport, which will debut in 2018 with a similar headlight setup to the Kona’s. The new Santa Fe Sport will also feature a unique honeycomb grille.
“This is the next step for the brand,” SangYup Lee, Hyundai Motor Co.’s vice president of styling, said in a recent statement. “The family look was necessary because [Hyundai’s] brand recognition was not really strong 10 years ago, let’s face it.” Now, he says, the automaker has achieved enough of a loyal following and garnered enough industry respect to branch out, try new things and take a few design risks.
Luc Donckerwolke, global design chief for Hyundai, added to Lee’s statement, making it clear that the automaker is purposefully trying to avoid falling into the same uncreative pitfalls of other brands. Specifically, Hyundai wants to steer clear of the “Russian doll” effect, in which every vehicle looks the same as the next, just scaled down to fit into different model categories.
“Each model will have its own identity,” Donckerwolke explained. “It’s a bit different from what has been done so far. For me, it is more fascinating than having to adapt a design to another model. That is boring. That is something I don’t want to do.”
Currently, the available Hyundai models for sale each feature their own unique styling and identities. We’re glad to hear that that won’t change in the future.
For now, the Hyundai Santa Fe Sport and the Kona remain top dogs within the industry, renowned for their fun, fresh interiors and modern exteriors. The new Santa Fe model includes a new infotainment system, additional safety features and new Drive Mode selection capabilities. The Santa Fe Sport is also notable for having one of the most compact, efficient engines available from Hyundai: the vehicle comes standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder direct-injected engine that produces 185 horsepower.
Unlike other Algonquin Hyundai dealers, Rosen Hyundai, near Schaumburg and Elgin, always has the scoop on the latest Hyundai info. Come visit us today to learn more about the future of the Hyundai crossover lineup.
