Some very suggestive and sneaky new images of a new electric car concept have been released by South Korean carmaker Hyundai ahead of next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show.
According to the carmaker, the new “[45]” concept is intended to showcase a brand new look for the carmaker, albeit with a retro perspective.
To date, Hyundai has two electric vehicles, variants of which are available in Australia – the Hyundai Ioniq and Hyundai Kona Electric.
These two EVs – one an over-sized hatch and the other a crossover SUV – embrace Hyundai’s practical and ever-ready style, bringing electric mobility to the mainstream.
The new concept promises to be a clear departure from that aesthetic, with a Delorean-esque profile and red LED tail lights reminiscent of your once trendy 70s clock radio.
Hyundai has of course not given any hint of specifics like battery capacity, range or power, choosing instead to focus on what it calls its new ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language.
“‘Sensuous’ stands for enhanced emotional values that customers can experience through design, and ‘Sportiness’ is determined to implement those values through innovative mobility solutions,” says Hyundai in its press release.
With the Frankfurt Motor Show just weeks away, this year looks set to be another game changer for mobility as carmakers turn on the tech revolution as the transition to zero emissions transport takes hold globally.
Expect the next few weeks to be peppered with similar announcements from car makers as they tease the public with various mysterious and darkly lit images designed to attract the curiosity of car-lovin’ cats.
Not so Opel, though, which has overnight (Australian time) lifted the veil from its Corsa-e in rally car form – see our article here on that.
Neither is it the case with Volkswagen, which has its head down in the wake of the 2015 Dieselgate scandal, keen to redeem itself with the all-electric ID series.
Although the first of that series, the ID.3 hatch, went into pre-production in July, it has still only officially been seen in a red and blue camouflaged livery.
Come September, it appears this may change, with the German carmaker announcing that it will not only officially premier the ID.3 but also unveil a new brand image for the company under the moniker “New Volkswagen”, ushering in a new “electric, fully connected and balance sheet carbon-neutral” era.
"With the #VWID3 and the new brand design, the results of our work will become visible at the #IAA19”, says Ralf Brandstätter, Volkswagen COO. 👉 https://t.co/KfisKtDVoF #eMobility pic.twitter.com/iWmGMd49zY
— Volkswagen News (@volkswagen) August 22, 2019
Bridie Schmidt is lead reporter for The Driven, sister site of Renew Economy. She specialises in writing about new technology and has been writing about electric vehicles for two years. She has a keen interest in the role that zero emissions transport has to play in sustainability and is co-organiser of the Northern Rivers Electric Vehicle Forum.
