The Hyundai HCD-14 unveiled at the 2013 Detroit auto show was designed at the Korean carmaker’s North American design center in Irvine, CA. Though possibly informing the next generation Genesis sedan, it’s more direct intent is to gauge reaction to a luxurious sedan that could sit within a new brand placed above the company’s current line-up and include the Equus.
Akin to Toyota’s Lexus nameplate and Nissan’s Infiniti brand, the new Hyundai luxury brand would be called Genesis and reinforce the automaker’s premium segment offerings. Many tuners in southern California currently remove the Hyundai logo from their cars and retain the Genesis nameplate. The large HCD-14 concept was designed with these customers in mind.
While it’s exterior design features a host of elements that aim to communicate the premium nature of the car — a bold grille, beveled head and tail-lamps and a chrome trim piece that underlined the entire body — its interior has also been fitted with a host of luxurious appointments, from its advanced HMI unit that can attenuate functions over the passenger side display with the flick of the wrist to the leather-wrapped carbon fiber center console armrest and the laminated wood on the center console that spans the entire length of the car.
We caught up with Hyundai North America’s Design Director, Chris Chapman, and interior designer Mike Barbush to have them explain the design of the HCD-14 concept.
