Hyundai has unveiled an interesting concept at the Seoul Auto Show. It’s called the HND-9 and it just might stand as a glimpse of a future generation Genesis.
Hyundai is being fairly sparing on details, as we suspect the concept is essentially just an example of where the Korean automaker is hoping to head with its design language.
Under the hood, Hyundai has placed a 3.3-liter turbocharged GDi (gasoline direct injected) engine, which has been mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Sending power to the rear-wheels, the HND-9 produces 364 horsepower.
Here’s how Hyundai describes the HND-9: “Fluidic yet sleek character lines that stretch from headlamp to trunk, voluminous, powerful car body and a striking, wide hexagonal-shaped radiator grille underscore the high performance image of the concept.”
While we agree the concept is rather striking, we can’t help but see influences from Toyota and Lexus. The front end looks like a big Toyota GT-86 (Scion FR-S here in the States) and the back looks a bit like the now-defunct Lexus LFA.
Until this point, we were impressed with Hyundai’s ability to go its own way in exterior design aesthetics. This concept, on the other hand, is a bit worrying. It appears the Koreans simply looked across the Sea of Japan for design inspiration.
