Hyundai Elantra – new design
Since Hyundai relocated its design studies to Europe, Korean cars are no longer associated with Asian exoticism. Even 10 years ago, no one would have called South Korean vehicles pretty or even stylistically attractive, but the bold move of the company’s bosses and the employment of the Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke opened up completely new perspectives for the concern. The new styling language is clearly visible in the newest Hyundai Elantra available from PANEK Rent a Car.
Luc Donckerwolke joined Hyundai’s design studio in 2016 as Chef Designer Officer and immediately started the Korean company’s stylistic revolution. Previously, he worked for brands such as Bentley, Lamborghini, Skoda, and Audi and designed the first generation Skoda Fabia and Octavia, Audi A4 Avant, and Lamborghini Diablo, Gallardo, and Murcielago models, among others. Working for Hyundai, he completely changed the image of individual models, which became immediately recognizable on the streets.
The latest incarnation of the Hyundai Elantra is a continuation of the design language we learned last year at the launch of the Tucson model. Its main elements are sharp, geometric lines intersecting in the center of the car body, giving each of its parts an individual character. The sharp cuts at the same time release the dynamics of the slender sidewall and slightly inflated wheel arches.
The second stylistic element that is the hallmark of Hyundai is the huge front cascade grille, which in the Elantra model does not penetrate the headlights like in the Tucson (characteristic daytime running lights are hidden under the mirrored lampshades), but is also a dominant element. According to the designers’ assumptions, it is supposed to resemble pouring molten metal and bring to mind the shapes of elegant Korean ceramics. The whole thing is to influence the user’s feelings, bringing them into a state of emotional peace and geometric harmony.
Hyundai’s new styling language is called “Sensuous Sportiness” and its mission is to “maximize human emotional values with a rigorous sense of proportion, structure, style, and technology.” The body lines of the Hyundai Elantra run low and smooth from the A-pillar to the tailgate end. Interestingly, at first glance, there is no indication that the car is a sedan. The three lines connecting on the front door further enhance the sense of dynamics, and the light falling from different angles gives the impression of movement, effectively deceiving the human eye. Rear lights connected by a horizontal strip complement the body line. The manufacturer allowed customers to choose the lighting technology (classic and LED) and proposes 3 different variations on the architecture of the rear lights. The geometric body panels are perfectly correlated with effective rims, also drawn with the use of sharp lines.
And what are the secrets of the interior of the newest Hyundai Elantra? We invite you to book cars at PANEK Rent a Car. You will certainly not be disappointed in the design, comfort, and performance characteristics of the new Korean sedan.