Hyundai says that its 45 EV Concept pays tribute to both the past and future as the electric vehicle concept makes its debut at the International Motor Show (IAA) 2019 in Frankfurt.
“45 foreshadows a new era of Hyundai’s automotive design, focused on electrification, autonomous technologies and intelligent design. The dramatic exterior of 45 excites the imagination, also drawing inspiration from the vehicle that first established Hyundai’s design DNA, the 1974 Pony Coupe Concept. The car’s name also owes itself in part to the 45-degree angles at the front and rear, forming a diamond-shaped silhouette that further foreshadows the design direction of future EV models,” said the company.
“The concept strips away complexity, celebrating the clean lines and minimalistic structure of the original coupe concept. Combining heritage with vision, 45 incorporates the evolution of Hyundai’s ‘Sensuous Sportiness’ design language.”
The batteries in the fully electric vehicles are set throughout the car’s ‘skateboard floor’ helping to create a spacious interior. At the bottom of the door, active LED lights show drivers how much longer they have before needing to recharge, even before they get in the car
Front-seat passengers can interact with the infotainment system via a projection-beam interface, replacing a single central touchscreen with a series of displays and functions integrated into the dashboard itself.
The 45 also features a lattice radiator grille on the outside that utilises a ‘kinetic cube lamp’ design, while a fastback profile epitomizes stability and dynamism, characteristics accentuated by the vehicle’s significant width and forward-oriented posture. The daylight opening (DLO) terminates in the fast angle of the C-pillar, which generates a feeling of dynamic forward motion even when standing still.
“As an icon of Hyundai, the 45 clearly reveals how Hyundai heads towards the future through heritage,” said SangYup Lee, head of Hyundai Design Center. “Through the 45 built upon our design language ‘Sensuous Sportiness’, Hyundai wants to present our vision on how we want to reshape people’s in-car lifestyle in the era of electrification and autonomous driving.”
