NextFin news, Simon Loasby, head of Hyundai's design center in Korea, said on Friday at the Munich Motor Show in Germany that the automotive design trend of light bars is "almost at the end of their journey." Loasby expressed his fatigue with the widespread use of light bars on Hyundai vehicles and suggested the company is ready to move on from this design element.
Loasby told the UK's Car Magazine, "When is the time you need to let go [of light bars]? It’s almost like the end of that. We’ve done it with the Grandeur, Kona, and Sonata, but now I’m like ‘guys, I’ve seen enough.’"
Hyundai has been a pioneer in popularizing light bars, which are horizontal LED lighting strips that span the front or rear of vehicles. Models such as the Elantra, Ioniq 6, Kona, and Sonata currently feature light bars. However, the recently unveiled Hyundai Three Concept, shown at the same motor show, does not include a traditional light bar, signaling a potential shift in design philosophy.
Loasby further explained that the light bar trend has become so common that it has lost its uniqueness and emotional appeal. He compared the trend to chrome, which was once popular but eventually faded. He emphasized the need to balance logical and emotional design elements that make sense for customers.
Despite this, Hyundai has not officially announced a complete departure from light bars. The company continues to innovate with lighting technologies, such as its "8-bit" pixel headlights introduced on the Ioniq 5 and used on other models including the Ioniq 6, Ioniq 9, and the latest Palisade SUV.
Loasby also noted the economic considerations of producing light bars, which can be costly and may not be necessary for all markets. For example, demand for light bars is higher in China but lower in Europe.
Hyundai aims to maintain consistency across its vehicle lineup while ensuring significant differentiation between models. Loasby said, "We are looking for consistency but huge differentiation. On a European context, that’s probably wrong what we are doing. But it’s right for us, and we have such a broad portfolio, it gives us a very big creative challenge per car."
The comments by Loasby on Friday reflect Hyundai's evolving approach to automotive lighting design as it seeks to move beyond current trends and explore new creative directions.
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