What is it?
Hyundai HCD-7
What's special about it?
When most people think of Hyundai, they likely think of affordable economy sedans and big warranties. The HCD-7 concept vehicle might change those opinions.
Based on the company's Equus full-size luxury car (it's not sold in the United States), the HCD-7 is a styling exercise of what might be the next step up from the company's current top-of-the-line U.S. model, the XG350.
Inspiration for the car's styling came from an aircraft fuselage. The windshield wraps around to hide the front pillars, and the front fascia has vertically stacked projector headlights and a prominent Hyundai-style grille. At the rear, muscular fenders give way to vertical taillights and a tapered rear deck.
Inside the cabin, the aircraft theme continues. Appointments are like those found on executive jets, with simple and elegant materials and shapes. There is no center stack for the climate and audio controls. Instead, a 7-inch LCD screen pops out of the dashboard when an ignition "card" is inserted into a slot on the right side of the steering wheel.
Why should you care?
At the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai showed an attractive roadster concept called the HCD-6. No production model of this car has appeared, and we don't expect to see a production version of the HCD-7, either. It is too much of a concept vehicle, and Hyundai execs indicate that there are no short-term plans for a sedan larger than the XG350. But the HCD-6 and HCD-7 concepts do indicate Hyundai's desire to expand its product range. If the company's fortunes continue to rise in North America, a rear-drive V8-powered luxury sedan that takes on BMW and Mercedes-Benz is certainly a possibility. — Brent Romans
Hyundai HCD-7
What's special about it?
When most people think of Hyundai, they likely think of affordable economy sedans and big warranties. The HCD-7 concept vehicle might change those opinions.
Based on the company's Equus full-size luxury car (it's not sold in the United States), the HCD-7 is a styling exercise of what might be the next step up from the company's current top-of-the-line U.S. model, the XG350.
Inspiration for the car's styling came from an aircraft fuselage. The windshield wraps around to hide the front pillars, and the front fascia has vertically stacked projector headlights and a prominent Hyundai-style grille. At the rear, muscular fenders give way to vertical taillights and a tapered rear deck.
Inside the cabin, the aircraft theme continues. Appointments are like those found on executive jets, with simple and elegant materials and shapes. There is no center stack for the climate and audio controls. Instead, a 7-inch LCD screen pops out of the dashboard when an ignition "card" is inserted into a slot on the right side of the steering wheel.
Why should you care?
At the 2001 Chicago Auto Show, Hyundai showed an attractive roadster concept called the HCD-6. No production model of this car has appeared, and we don't expect to see a production version of the HCD-7, either. It is too much of a concept vehicle, and Hyundai execs indicate that there are no short-term plans for a sedan larger than the XG350. But the HCD-6 and HCD-7 concepts do indicate Hyundai's desire to expand its product range. If the company's fortunes continue to rise in North America, a rear-drive V8-powered luxury sedan that takes on BMW and Mercedes-Benz is certainly a possibility. — Brent Romans
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