Hyundai Prophecy Concept does Future and Retro Right

The Geneva Motor Show has been canceled. All the automakers have had to take their toys and go home. But thanks to the Internet, there is still plenty to see. Hyundai, for example, just rolled out an excellent peek at its electrified future, and it wears the appropriate name of Prophecy.

Somehow, Hyundai has managed to create a car that looks both futuristic and delightfully retro at the same time. The Prophecy concept is a new design direction that the automaker will use to pull its lineup into the new world. Hyundai Motor Group ays it will have a family of vehicles that includes 44 electrified machines and a research and development pool flush with around 55 billion bucks. The timeline for this has a ticking clock with the year 2025 flashing in red numbers.

By that time, Hyundai believes it will be selling 670,000 BEV and fuel-cell electric vehicles on an annual basis. Hyundai wants to become a global leader in the electric vehicle game.

Back to the Prophecy though, as this thing is pretty killer. The design language grabs ahold of the long wheelbase-short overhang gang and does it well. Though I do believe the profile reminds me of a Tesla Model 3 smashing into a Ford Probe. There’s definitely something retro in the lines. Add in those super cool pixelated headlights and pixels-meets-Tartan interior, and you have my full attention.

According to CNET’S Roadshow, the unique headlight design is one element that will work its way to future production cars. That’s great news, as the coolest parts of concept cars typically wind up staying more fantastical than something rooted in reality. Regardless, this is still just a concept car. But here’s to hoping that Hyundai manages to fulfill this Prophecy…

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17 responses to “Hyundai Prophecy Concept does Future and Retro Right”

  1. Fuhrman16 Avatar
    Fuhrman16

    I can’t say I see this retro-ness in the design you speak about. Maybe a little bit of Citroen DS if you squint hard enough in a dark room. Otherwise it’s just a modern car to my eyes.
    I will say though, I do quite like the sea of blues they used for the interior.

    1. Maymar Avatar
      Maymar

      The Aero Uber Alles shape and relative smoothness to the design gives it a very circa 1990 vibe, which counts at least as a little retro. Demerit points for not painting it real though.

    2. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      1. salguod Avatar

        Yes, and that’s a good thing.

  2. Mister Sterling Avatar

    It’s so beautiful. I get Blade Runner spinner vibes.

  3. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    “Yeah, I got a Hyundai Prophecy. It’s not what I really wanted, I was happy with my Sonata; this just sort of fell into my lap unexpectedly. The salesman (man, he had the craziest eyes!) he convinced me this was the car for me, or almost like I was the only one for this car. When he waved his eyeglasses around and called up a thunderstorm I thought maybe I should do what he says.

    “We went on a test drive and met this really cool chick; she really wanted to drive the Prophecy but we wouldn’t let her. She hella wanted to fight about it, too! Then this scruffy lookin’ guy intervened and chased her off, so we let him ride along with us.

    “Then we went into this wicked dark tunnel under a huge mountain. Man, it seemed like it went on forever; like I started to get hungry, and kinda cold like. So dark I couldn’t see my pals in the Prophecy with me, and I had to drive that thing out of the tunnel all by myself. Fuckin’ great car to have in that kind of situation; really got me through and boosted my confidence.

    ” I think about my old Sonata now and again; that I’d really like to have it back. After driving this thing, though, I can’t see myself in a Sonata ever again…”

    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      Jeez, tough room for Cultural Anthropology gags.

      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero%27s_journey

  4. Tiller188 Avatar
    Tiller188

    I love the way the body lines come inboard and give it a barchetta-y tapered tail; from the back this thing looks great. From the side, though, it just looks droopy towards the back. I sorta have the same problem with the character line on the Sonata (although the greenhouse and the actual decklid don’t droop) and with the GV80.

    Otherwise, though, this is quite pretty. I was a little confused at first by the announcement that the Prophecy was a preview of their new design direction, since Hyundai also just revealed the i20 and i30, both of which appear to have gone all-in on the catfish face that just debuted on the Sonata. I’m guessing the Prophecy is meant to be a preview of a new design direction specific to Hyundai’s electric line, then? Pity, because while I think the i20 and i30 wear the catfish grille better than the Sonata, I prefer the clean look of the Prophecy.

    1. outback_ute Avatar
      outback_ute

      I agree but think it is overdone since it needs the tacked on spoiler – would be so much better without it

      1. Zentropy Avatar
        Zentropy

        As you point out, it doesn’t “need” the spoiler. Now that I see it, I can’t unsee it, and I agree that it would be much prettier without it.

        1. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          It probably does need the spoiler. Remember all the first spoilerless Audi TTs crashing because of unstable wake seperation causing variable, uncontrollable lift at the rear. After those crashes all Mk1 TTs got a spoiler.

          1. Zentropy Avatar
            Zentropy

            Being what appears to be a design concept, I’m guessing it doesn’t even have a motor or transmission. It’s not going to see speeds over a few mph, and any production cars it inspires will only inherit hints of this styling anyway. A pure design study like this could do without the wing, or have active aero like the Bugatti Veyron that doesn’t compromise the car’s lines.

        2. outback_ute Avatar
          outback_ute

          Might produce a lot of lift otherwise, and if you try to corner fast on the autobahn aka early Audi TT…

          For production they might like to increase the trunk size too

  5. Zentropy Avatar
    Zentropy

    Beautiful from every angle except the front. The rear half of the car is gorgeous, the front is… pleasantly innocuous? Regardless, this is IMO more what the Panamera should be.

  6. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Looks like something from Batman the Animated Series / Batman Beyond.

  7. William Byrd Avatar

    This thing is amazing. Want, want, want.