Get ready to travel back in time to the groovy ’70s with a little car story. Hyundai just hosted the Hyundai Reunion in beautiful Lake Como, Italy, where they unveiled the restored 1974 Pony Coupe Concept car, the Pony Coupe Concept-inspired N Vision 74 concept. This iconic Pony Coupe kickstarted Korea’s first-ever independently developed mass-production models, known as the Pony line-up. Truly a blast from the past.
Hyundai teamed up with the legendary Italian design firm GFG Style to do it, led by the father-son duo of Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro. Giorgetto, as a young visionary, actually created the original Pony Coupe Concept for Hyundai’s debut at the 1974 Turin Motor Show. Fifty years later, he’s back.
The Pony Coupe Concept made its debut at the 1974 Turin Motor Show, stealing the spotlight with its sleek roofline, dynamic proportions, and a daring B pillar shape. Also, its 1.3-liter inline-four that produced just 82 hp. Yea, I said it. And they even restored that.
The interior was equally iconic, featuring the Giugiaro monocoque design and a driver-centered floating architecture. This car was a true game-changer, setting the stage for Hyundai’s innovative design principles.
Its influence on Hyundai’s design direction remains strong. According to Hyundai, it awakened an appreciation for innovation within the company and continues to shape their current and future endeavors. Also, nostalgia never leaves us. That’s why they did the N Vision 74 concept.
Back when Hyundai wasn’t as well-regarded as now, the 1974 Pony Coupe Concept symbolized Hyundai’s ambition. Now, almost fifty years later, the Hyundai Reunion paid homage to its early days with this concept car.