Lamborghini Designer Heading To Hyundai

[Sal Collaziano]

Interesting. I wonder if this means we'll eventually get a Genesis "exotic" car that's semi-affordable instead of these cars that cost $350,000. I don't see why an exotic design made in-house with "very, very good" performance attributes can't cost under $150,000...

Former Lamborghini designer reportedly headed to Hyundai

Luc Donckerwolke (pictured above) only left his position as the Director of Design for Bentley in early June, but he might have already had a new gig lined up as he was walking out the door. Donckerwolke is reportedly teaming up with former Volkswagen Group styling bigwig Peter Schreyer at Hyundai Motor, in a position to eventually take over the look of all of the Korean brands' vehicles.

At the moment, this major hire for Hyundai and Kia is still just a rumor, though, and the Korean automaker is playing it close to the vest. Company spokesperson Jim Trainor tells Autoblog, "We do not comment on speculation concerning potential appointments." Read more...

 

[Koolhaas]

Hyundai needs a racing division. Then make a mid-engine car and sell it for 70k

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Hyundai needs a racing division. Then make a mid-engine car and sell it for 70k

I hope they're at least considering something special for the N-Performance division. Something to go against the M5 would be nice but I think they also need something like you're suggesting - or something exotic or semi-exotic.

 

[zielritter]

Just stopping in to post an obligatory "Who's going to pay $150,000 for a Hyundai?!?".

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Just stopping in to post an obligatory "Who's going to pay $150,000 for a Hyundai?!?".

I know, I know. But if a car looks amazing, nobody is going to care which brand made it. Even an Isuzu exotic car would sell like pancakes to starving people.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Just something I found on the web. It's a nice idea of what a Genesis exotic could look like...

 

[OneFunGenesis]

And here is what I could look like...lol

 

[Sal Collaziano]

And here is what I could look like...lol

Yeah, yeah, yeah - we don't want to see what YOU could look like.

 

[StarPower]

Just stopping in to post an obligatory "Who's going to pay $150,000 for a Hyundai?!?".

I know, I know. But if a car looks amazing, nobody is going to care which brand made it. Even an Isuzu exotic car would sell like pancakes to starving people.

I agree with zielritter. People paying that much for a high end/exotic car are looking for brand recognition status. Even the high end models from mainstream luxury brands like Mercedes don't have the cachet of the exotic brands.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Maybe I shouldn't have said under $150,000.00... I bet Hyundai could build an exotic car with good performance for $110,000.00...

Yes, many people spending that kind of money would still avoid Hyundai (or even Genesis). But some would not. I'm thinking enough would sell to make the endeavor worthwhile.

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[Huddleston]

Anything more performance geared would get my attention. I would definitely be on the list as long as the performance numbers were in line with competitors. I would probably feel like I was getting a bargain with the Hyundai as I did with the Genesis. Hyundai has been making great cars for years, the stigma with the name still follows them with uneducated buyers but it is greatly improving with those in the car scene.

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Anything more performance geared would get my attention. I would definitely be on the list as long as the performance numbers were in line with competitors. I would probably feel like I was getting a bargain with the Hyundai as I did with the Genesis. Hyundai has been making great cars for years, the stigma with the name still follows them with uneducated buyers but it is greatly improving with those in the car scene.

I think if Hyundai were to build an exotic car - it would probably fall short of being "in line" with competitors like Lamborghini and Ferrari. I'd expect something that looked like an exotic but performed "well" but not in-line. And something that would be much more affordable than a typical exotic car.

 

[YEH]

Interesting. I wonder if this means we'll eventually get a Genesis "exotic" car that's semi-affordable instead of these cars that cost $350,000. I don't see why an exotic design made in-house with "very, very good" performance attributes can't cost under $150,000...

An exotic is probably not a wise business decision for the near term, but something to slot above Genesis coupe replacement (which will probably start around $30k) at around the $50-60k mark would make better sense.

But before that, one if not 2 luxury CUVs.

Apparently, Schreyer will be retiring in a couple of years, so Donckerwolke is the heir apparent.

 

[RN2X]

I see them creating a prototype to enhance brand recognition

 

[Sal Collaziano]

An exotic is probably not a wise business decision for the near term, but something to slot above Genesis coupe replacement (which will probably start around $30k) at around the $50-60k mark would make better sense.

But before that, one if not 2 luxury CUVs.

Apparently, Schreyer will be retiring in a couple of years, so Donckerwolke is the heir apparent.

I definitely don't expect an exotic car in any form for at least another generation or two. That would give plenty of time for Hyundai to get their CUV products squared away.

Let's keep in mind that an Exotic car doesn't need to come in the form of a $400k Lamborghini. It could be under $100k like Lotus cars.

http://www.netcarshow.com/lotus/

A car like the Lotus Evora 400 could start at $60k for Hyundai and bring in customers like crazy:
http://www.netcarshow.com/lotus/2016-evora_400/

 

[YEH]

Ok - our definitions of exotic are diff. which is fine (since there is no clear cut answer).

For me - something in the $60-80k range would be just a luxury or performance sports car/coupe.

Something like the Z06 would start getting into the near-exotic level w/ the ZR1 and Nissan GT-R definitely being near exotics.

Exotics would be around $150k to $400k.

Once you start hitting the half mil mark - get into supercar territory and then $1.5 mil (maybe $2 mil+ would be hypercar).

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Ok - our definitions of exotic are diff. which is fine (since there is no clear cut answer).

For me - something in the $60-80k range would be just a luxury or performance sports car/coupe.

Something like the Z06 would start getting into the near-exotic level w/ the ZR1 and Nissan GT-R definitely being near exotics.

Exotics would be around $150k to $400k.

Once you start hitting the half mil mark - get into supercar territory and then $1.5 mil (maybe $2 mil+ would be hypercar).

Okay. So perhaps "exotic car" isn't what I'm thinking of here. But exotic in appearance. Like the first generation Acura NSX. Or to a MUCH lesser extent - Pontiac Fiero - which had a little bit of that Ferrari look to it...

 

[guybo]

Hyundai needs a racing division. Then make a mid-engine car and sell it for 70k

They are starting out in WRC. http://motorsport.hyundai.com/en/i20/main There is a factory i20 rally car that is currently in the WRC championship. There are privateer Gencoupes in some touring car series in the US and Canada, but no factory involvement. I'd love to see a Hyundai GT car- esp. since they are entering that sort of market with the 3.3TT Genesis Coupe in a couple years.

There's a test mule in Korea for a mid-engined 2.0T Veloster. http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1097594_hyundai-unveils-second-veloster-based-mid-engine-concept No one knows if it'll ever come to market. It's a 2 seater and if it does come to market, IMHO that will be the ultimate hot hatch. That may be the car to replace my 13 2.0T Genesis Coupe one day!

Things are changing at Hyundai and they are going toward performance and luxury cars. This is a very different company than it was when they first tried to make a WRC car and in the past 5 years Hyundai has really improved its line up of cars. At work I see huge differences between Hyundais of 5+ years ago and today

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Guybo, have you heard of the Hyundai's N-Performance division? "Namyang Research and Development". I'm sure we're going to see lots of nice stuff coming from it. Hyundai has the luxury part figured out and now they're working on the performance end. So we'll see some nice luxury sports cars very soon.