With the Genesis sedan and coupe models first, and then the larger Equus saloon, Hyundai moved up a couple of notches in the industry and began flirting with buyers looking at more premium offerings, even from the likes of BMW and Lexus.
Now, while the Koreans haven’t reached the point yet to look at luxury European and Japanese models directly in the eyes, there’s no doubt that’s their long term goal. The upcoming second generations of the Genesis Sedan (see our ‘Future Car’ render here) and Coupe models previewed by the HCD-14 Sedan Concept and the HND-9 Coupe Concept respectively are a clear indication of that.
Some analysts claim that in order for Hyundai to achieve that goal, it should consider creating a new brand (much in the same way that Toyota gave birth to Lexus and Honda to Acura), while other say it should put the move on hold and continue improving its range and presenting more upscale models for the time being.
Automotive designer A.J. Merk from Cleveland, Ohio, is a proponent of the latter as he came out with a new concept for a “Halo” sports car named the Hyundai i80 Coupe, borrowing Hyundai’s European nomenclature. The i80 is a luxury GT that looks like it would sit on top of the Genesis Coupe in Hyundai’s range, possibly offering a V8 engine option. See the drawings below and share your thoughts in the comments.
Designer: A.J. Merk
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