Hyundai has revealed the radical Venus and Earth concepts as a showcase of its plans for a new range of bespoke electric cars for the Chinese market.
The rakish Venus saloon and rugged Earth SUV preview a new China-specific EV line-up that is "tailored to local customers", Hyundai said - and distinct from the Ioniq EVs the Korean company sells in other global markets.
To emphasise this distinction, Hyundai's EV models in China will be named after planets – like the two concepts – rather than taking numerical designations according to their size, like the Ioniq 3, 5, 6 and 9.
This new naming strategy, Hyundai said, "symbolises how each vehicle orbits around the customer - the central focus of this new Ioniq universe".
The show cars also preview a dramatic new design language for Hyundai in China, departing from the monolithic, retro and pixel-heavy motifs of its existing Ioniq models.
Defined by their simple 'single-curve' silhouettes, the Venus and Earth are said to be "instantly recognisable and emotionally distinctive".
The Venus, for example, is wholly distinct from the similarly sized and positioned Ioniq 6 that Hyundai launched in 2022. Finished in a "radiant gold" that references the colour of its namesake planet, it has an unusual cab-forward profile with a "lightweight, frame-structured roof" and a transparent spoiler - and is much sharper and straighter-edged than the curvy electric saloon that Hyundai sells in the UK.
It's a complete departure inside the "driver-focused, wrap-around cockpit", too, where physical switchgear is entirely absent in favour of a huge digital display that spans almost the width of the car - hinting at the advanced digital functionality of Hyundai's upcoming Chinese cars. Suede upholstery and gold trim elements emphasise the "premium feel", Hyundai said.
The Earth meanwhile takes a more rugged approach, with chinky body cladding, skid plates and swollen bodywork hinting at its outdoorsy aspirations - a growing trend in China, where Defender-style family SUVs are incredibly popular.
The Earth's cabin is designed more obviously with space and comfort in mind, featuring 'air-hug' seats made up of several air-filled pockets, dynamic mood lighting and a number of 'shy-tech' elements designed to promote a "calm and breathable" ambience.
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"chinky body cladding" has to be the mother of all typos...
Concept or Photoshop?
Not sure why you focus your attention on the Korean brand for such comments but as per the previous time you alleged against the Korean brand and were wrong, you're doing the same again and you're wrong again.