The Hyundai Grandeur gets reimagined as a electric
There was a time, not too long ago, when South Korean cars were laughed at. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, there were quite a few Korean car brands offering alternatives to Japanese options. Beyond just the familiar Hyundai and Kia, there was also Daewoo and Ssangyong. Unlike many Japanese collectables, sports cars and flagship sedans, Korean cars from the 1980s weren’t all that special. Without a history of desirable cars, brand value doesn’t really climb up. So instead, Hyundai’s team are doing things a little differently.
They’re celebrating their past, by giving their flagship from 1986 – the Hyundai Grandeur (also known as the Azera)– a resto-modded look in the style of their IONIQ 5. In the spirit of the IONIQ 5, they’ve also reimagined the Grandeur as an electric vehicle. The car will be put on display at Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang and then moved to Seoul Motorstudio.
They’re calling the final product the “Heritage Series Grandeur”. Some will recall the other Heritage Series car, the Hyundai PONY, which was shown earlier this year.
This modded Grandeur has modernised side mirrors, covered wheels, side claddings added and pixel-style LED headlights and taillights in the IONIQ style of design.
“As our designers conceive the future, it’s important to look back on what we’ve created in the past and find inspiration in it,” said Hak-soo Ha, Head of Interior Group of the Hyundai Design Center. “With the Heritage Series Grandeur, our designers have reinterpreted an important part of Hyundai’s history as a wonderfully unique blend of vintage and contemporary that reflects the boundless possibilities of our EV era.”
Revised Grandeur Interior
The interior has also been refreshed thoroughly. The Heritage Series Grandeur is wrapped in burgundy velvet and auburn Napa leather (they’ve spelt it this way instead of Nappa).
The cabin gets some bronze-coloured lighting said to be reminiscent of 1980s audio equipment lighting. However, the audio system itself has 18-speakers and is designed by South Korean sound designer Guk-il Yu.
Its got a little digital piano that can be played when the car is put in ‘Park’. The centre console armrest has a pop-out compartment for storage of valuables.
Dials and buttons have been completely removed from the interior. In their place is an ultra-wide, touch-enabled screen. However, the retro-styling is maintained with a single-spoke steering wheel and a jetplane-inspired gear selector.
The bronze-coloured light beam stretches across the entire cabin, penetrating the B-pillars and giving the interior a luxurious hue. ‘Infinity mirrors’ reflect light and give the second row a wider sense of space.
