Hyundai HCD-14 Genesis Concept takes a sleek look at the future

[landtuna]

Not that it matters to Hyundai because I plan on keeping my '12 Genny for at least the next ten years but....

I think the '14 concept car is remarkably ugly. I particularly dislike the Chrysler-like front grill (it belongs on a Jeep) and the Stingray-like way-too-busy rear end.

I would strongly suggest Hyundai place a discreet display on the rear trunk lid that would light up upon demand with something like "C ya!", "Adios Lead Sled!" or "Up Yer ATS!" as the R-spec accelerates away from the unsuspecting poseur racer.

 

[Billfz1]

OK styling is SUBJECTIVE but come on is that front end a joke?
What is it with the blunt nose look? I've never liked it and it is a aerodynamic nightmare. the body side shape is great, barring the too high nose line. There is no reason that the hood line need be that high. The current front end is MUCH more to my liking. Hope this is just a one time thing. I want the front end to be cleaner. I don't mind grille work, but not as a feature into itself.

 

[mikec]

I'll stick to my feeling that nose styling elements tend to look better when they're fundamentally horizontal rectangles. The current trend of tall and squarish grills is one trend I wish would end quickly. Same for the trend of tall grills with rounded sides that just look like wide open toothless mouths to me. Furniture designers, many artists, architects, etc. often use the "Golden Rule" aspect ratios which favor rectangular shapes of certain height-to-width ratios. Car noses used to be close to that (like the Caddie in Hyundai Genesis' 3rd pic)... lately though due to aerodynamics, pedestrian regulations, and probably simple decisions by stylists have made car noses taller without changing the width so the aspect ratio suffers. Add to that squarish main shapes (like the concept's grill) and the result is something that I'll never buy. Body sides are also getting taller - more slab sided, making the vehicle look portly/heavy to me. Huge wheels don't offset this.

Remember when Dodge re-styled their big pickups to look more like big-rigs or whatever - that big prominent nose? Their sales jumped a lot - maybe due to the styling or perhaps due to all the other improvements introduced at the same time... no way to know for sure. I always thought that styling was too in-your-face on the full-size trucks. Yet when scaled to fit the mid-sized Dakota I thought it looked quite good. Same basic design but with a better aspect ratio and more overall horizontal look forced by the smaller height of the Dakota.

My first reaction when I saw this Hyundai concept was "that looks like a Hyundai copy of the ride of one of the recent movie superheroes." I didn't see the movie, just the TV ads. Green Lantern or Dark/Black-something? A big, blunt lead sled.

The new pedestrian regulations, from what I've read/think I understand, basically require:
1: no "concentrated" load points like a protruding bumper. Instead, spread the impact over as much vertical area of the pedestrian as possible... ergo the blunt noses in use today.

2: there has to be 4 inches of "crush" space between the hood and any hard points underneath it, except along the edges by the fenders. That way, the pedestrian you've just nailed can get thrown onto the hood which will bend a bit, reducing the additional forces applied to the pedestrian. The hood has to have a big gap to the engine, to the top of the suspension supports, etc. Ergo car noses have lifted quite a bit so the blunt nose has to be even taller.

My concerns with these requirements (besides the ugly cars these regs lead to) is that with a higher front end visibility suffers. The tall front end will make it harder to spot small kids running in front of the vehicle.

subjective... but I know what I don't like. And the Hyundai concept of this thread I wouldn't drive if it was given to me for free. Of course there are just as many folks that wouldn't be caught dead in something I liked; that's why we have choices! I wish the auto designers though didn't seem to be minnows, swimming in a single pack copying each other (copying Audi mostly). I get a LOT of complements on my Genesis sedan so, even if it is "plain" or "derivative" according to the "experts" and magazines, it looks good to many folks, not just myself. The original Lexus SC400 coupe I really liked... the re-design is a disaster to my eyes even if the magazines and some other designers liked the originality of it. The Edsel was pretty original too... that didn't mean it was good!

mike c.

edit: the Rolls-Royce and Bentley in Hyundai Genesis' pics are not particularly good looking to me either. Some of their older designs are quite nice; some are not so nice either. There are a few "big name" auto stylists that have more hits than misses to my preferences: Pinin Farina (the founder of today's pininfarina design house), Giorgetto Giugiaro, and most recently Ian Callum. Most of their more widely known works though are sports cars, not sedans. Sedans are typically harder to make look sleek/nice.

 

[dcuccia]

Great post mikec. BTW, there seems to me quite a lot of Ian Callum in the fastback roofline of the concept.

 

[CC4.6]

From AOL Auto re the HCD-14:

But this concept? We aren't sure what the benchmark was. While we think the raked look of the car is drawn from cars like the Mercedes CLS, it looks more like an attempt by a Chinese automaker than by the far more established and respected Hyundai design studio.

The front end is massive and reminds us of baroque front ends from Chrysler in the 1990s or from Chinese automakers now. The Beijing Auto Show is full of such out-of-proportion, bad-taste sedans.

 

[Ruissimo]

From AOL Auto re the HCD-14:

But this concept? We aren't sure what the benchmark was. While we think the raked look of the car is drawn from cars like the Mercedes CLS, it looks more like an attempt by a Chinese automaker than by the far more established and respected Hyundai design studio.

The front end is massive and reminds us of baroque front ends from Chrysler in the 1990s or from Chinese automakers now. The Beijing Auto Show is full of such out-of-proportion, bad-taste sedans.

I agree with this statement.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Yeah, that's hideous.

I'm with you on this one. That thing is just BUTT FUGLY in my opnion. To me it looks like a moderenized front end of a Chrysler 300 which seem to be a dime a dozen now days.

But I do like the side profile. If theyd just make a more slopey sweepy nose ala jag it would look a lot better.

 

[xiaphin]

Front end needs some work, not a steep sudden drop from hood to grill more of a smoother transition. I will say the suicide doors and lack of door handles got my attention. The cabin/cockpit looks really good.

 

[Curtyrut]

I will be the first to say that I would switch my Rspec in a heartbeat for this off the chart like concept car as is. Change nothing and send me the black/black today! This concept is sick and I believe would turn any heads especially against the current Genny!

 

[PMCErnie]

After you read this, you'll be scratching your head. What the hell does it all mean?

"The South Korean automaker created a luxury sedan concept that we thought might become its next Genesis, its successful luxury model. With Hyundai execs having batted down that talk, we're not sure what to make of this prototype."

http://usat.ly/V3MGYe

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[Crusty Old Shellback]

I showed the two pictures to the Wife. First the teaser photo that was out of the side view. She loved it. Then I showed her the picture in this thread and she agreed with me, the front end looks like an over done Chrysler 300 and is BUTT UGLY. But she loves the side view and the idea of the suicide doors as do I.

Let's just say unless they do a major rework of that front end, we'll be keeping our R Spec.

 

[PMCErnie]

I doubt that Hyundai will be giving up B pillars anytime soon for a four-door coupe look.

 

[waveman]

I doubt that Hyundai will be giving up B pillars anytime soon for a four-door coupe look.

I agree. Major design changes, such as omitting B pillars, are a risk for any car manufacturer. The more radical the change, the greater the risk.

 

[BrazGenesis]

I like everything but the front view. It is ugly and defies aerodynamics.
As a whole: the car seems to follow the track of gaining identity as a premium brand.
Luxury and premium design everywhere. (but then... it is a concept)

 

[akuma]

well, John Krafcik has stated more than once that the new concept is NOT the next Genesis. it just some spiritual guideline or something...okay. anyway, now that Peter Schreyer is in charge of Hyundai's design, i hope i never have to see catfish fronts and bug eyed elongated headlights and bulging wrap-around tailights again. oops, too late, the new tiger nose and headlight and tailight treatments of the new Kias is a step in that direction. i hope the man who had the golden touch doesn't start turning everything to lead.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Keep in mind that front crash standards are causing front fascia's to become more square up front where they stand up straight. So it's a little more difficult to be sleek with the rest of the car with this new rule in place...

Are you sure about that? Take a look at the new Lincoln MKZ, no big square pants stand up grill on it. The wife and I saw the comerical for one the other day and like the looks of it. I was on my way to look at one when I stopped by the Hyundai dealer and saw the Genney. Never made it to the Lincoln dealer.

 

[GJEMD]

HCD-14 Genesis WOW

http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1081830_hyundai-hcd-14-genesis-concept-video-preview

Amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[gameday22]

Re: HCD-14 Genesis WOW

Great concept car from a technology standpoint but the front of it is ugly as can be.

 

[Mark_888]

Re: HCD-14 Genesis WOW

Not only is it a "concept" car, it is a Genesis 4-door Coupe concept car (according to the link/video).

 

[marty5marty]

Re: HCD-14 Genesis WOW

not my cup of tea