Stunner: Head of Design, Luc Donckerwolke, resigns...

[YEH]

for personal reasons.

Luc Donckerwolke has resigned as head of design for the Hyundai Group for personal reasons and due to growing concerns about the impact that the spread of the coronavirus pandemic will have on the automotive industry. Sang-yup Lee, head of the Hyundai Design Center, and Karim Habib, his counterpart for the Kia brand, will remain in their roles and will be supervised by Peter Schreyer, President of design.

LUC DONCKERWOLKE RESIGNS FROM HYUNDAI GROUP - Auto&Design

Luc Donckerwolke has resigned as head of design for the Hyundai Group for personal reasons and due to growing concerns about the impact that the spread of the coronavirus pandemic will have on the automotive industry.

autodesignmagazine.com

Wonder how active Schreyer will be (basically taking back his old job) or if he is just keeping the seat warm for someone else?

Maybe Donckerwolke didn't want to be away from his family so much during the time of a pandemic, but at the same time, wouldn't be surprised if something else was afoot.

On a diff. note. the GV70 is reportedly confirmed for a KDM launch in Oct., so likely means an early 2021 release for NA barring any delays.

 

[PMCErnie]

What exactly did he design for Hyundai/Genesis?

 

[Backslack]

Where did the tidbit about the coronavirus come from? That wasn't in the original statement and not mentioned in other sources:

Donckerwolke steps down as design chief at Hyundai Motor Group

Luc Donckerwolke, the cosmopolitan Belgian designer who overhauled the styling at Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, is leaving the Hyundai Motor Group for personal reasons.

www.autonews.com

He's been with the company since 2015, in fact Biermann was supposed to leave Hyundai Motor Group last year too but decided to expand his contract. Doncerwolke's main priority was to give Genesis its own design language, and I would say he finished his job. As it is now, looks like Sangyup Lee will be in charge of maintaining the Genesis look, and since Lee used to work as Doncerwolke's right hand man back at Bentley (continuing their same relationship at Genesis), I don't think we'll be seeing that many changes.

 

[Midnightsun]

A little more info. He basically was involved with all the latest generation Genesis as can be read in the article.

Luc Donckerwolke Leaves Hyundai Group And The Genesis GV70 Is On The Way - Motor Illustrated

 

[Backslack]

He basically was involved with all the last generation Genesis.

That was Peter Schreyer who designed the last-gen Genesis (back when it was still called the '15 Hyundai Genesis). Schreyer had a heavy hand in the G90 as well.

 

[MG8]

sucks!

 

[3.3 Rulz]

Good, now they will realize those vertical tips on the GV70 are fugly and the new designer will make them like those on the G80.

 

[Midnightsun]

A little more info. He basically was involved with all the last generation Genesis.

Luc Donckerwolke Leaves Hyundai Group And The Genesis GV70 Is On The Way - Motor Illustrated

Ooops, spell checker, was supposed to read latest not last. Corrected the post.

 

[YEH]

Where did the tidbit about the coronavirus come from? That wasn't in the original statement and not mentioned in other sources:

That was an editorial on my part since he reportedly wanted to spend more time w/ his family.

In contrast, Biermann's children are all grown and he and his wife live in Seoul and are enjoying it.

Things shouldn't change much, if at all, at all 3 brands as Lee remains the head of design for Hyundai and Genesis and Habib, the head of design at Kia.

Donckerwolke's largest contribution was formulating the new Genesis design language w/ Lee.

 

[Slip_Angle]

Hope they continue making strong designs. I really like what they have produced.

______________________________

Help support this site so it can continue supporting you!