Hyundai will show off this, the 45 Concept, at the upcoming Frankfurt motor show. An all-electric vehicle, distantly related to the previous Genesis Mint concept, the 45 seems to have very seventies-esque styling.
Retro-seventies styling
Don't go assuming that it's all-retro, though. In fact, Hyundai says that the 45's styling will be a big influence on the future design direction of the Korean firm. The company's styling director - former Lamborghini designer Luc Donkerwolke - reckons that the styling of Hyundais, Kias, and Genesis has become too homogenous, and the three brands need greater differentiation.
Italdesign influence
So far, all Hyundai is saying officially about the 45 is that it: "Accentuates the forward-driven design direction while exploring the evolution of Hyundai's 'Sensuous Sportiness' design language. 'Sensuous' stands for enhanced emotional values that customers can experience through design, and 'Sportiness' is determined to implement those values through innovative mobility solutions."
There's actually a strong hint of the 1974 Hyundai Pony Concept Coupe in the styling of the 45, or at least the bit of the styling that we can see for now. That car was made for Hyundai by Giugiaro's Italdesign, so the callback could be a signal that Hyundai wants to pursue a much more style-led direction in the future.
Mind you there are also hints of the original Pony hatchback, a car based on the unloved Morris Marina, so maybe we shouldn't read too much into it.
Full-width LED bar
One thing that's very un-seventies is the animated light bar, which lights up fully red when the car is activated, before settling down into a Hyundai badge and four semi-circular rear lights. It's a rather cool feature, and one which might well, eventually, make it through to production.