Frank Stephenson, former McLaren and Ferrari designer, is back with his new season Youtube series in which he discusses the design of new products from the automotive industry. For the September 2022 first video, Stephenson has a bit of a surprise for his loyal fans as he is now shooting in a new virtual studio where he sits next to a car and talks about his styling features. The first model the Moroccan-born designer talks about in this new arrangement is the Hyundai N Vision 74.
The Vision 74 is a concept vehicle that debuted in July this year featuring new technology from the South Korean automaker combined with a retro design. Beneath its edgy body, the concept is battery powered by a hydrogen fuel cell, which powers two electric motors on the rear axle. Their combined output is over 671 horsepower (500 kilowatts) and 664 pound-feet (900 Newton-meters) of torque, which is quite impressive for such a compact vehicle.
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Fascinated by the ideas found in Vision 74, Stephenson decided to dive into research design and see what was so special about it. He said the car had a rich heritage mixed with “some controversial influences,” which resulted in a rather unique looking engine. As a reminder, the Vision 74 is heavily inspired by the 1974 Pony in terms of its exterior styling.
Stephenson begins his analysis by saying the Hyundai concept vehicle looks like something born in the 1970s and it appears the automaker has achieved its main goal in terms of design. Stephenson emphasized the very narrow hood, which might give it a great front view when sitting behind the wheel. He also found a few more signs that this is indeed a typical retro-inspired design, although the design is very aggressive and very suitable for a sports car.
Stephenson was also impressed by how the concept seemed to feature two generally different design languages, which in no way seemed disconnected from the overall design concept. He also found the Vision 74 quite desirable and very distinctive.
