Hyundai and Kia Will Get New, More Different Looks in 2 to 3 Years

HyundaiHyundaiRepublic of Korea, 1967 > present79 models
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and KiaKiaRepublic of Korea, 1944 > present52 models
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have gone from jokes of the auto industry 15 years ago to legitimate worldwide players with sophisticated design and technology. Former AudiAudiGermany, 1909 > present83 models
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designer Peter Schreyer has been on a rocket ship within Kia from head of design to vice president and now he is the head of overall design for Hyundai and Kia. His first step in his new role is to further differentiate their designs to hide their similar traits.

“We also need a difference in content. Kia has got a strong direction, so why should we change?

“[For Hyundai,] we’ll pick out the good things and make a stronger family feel. Like Kia, we’ll create a typical design, and it will look like it everywhere in the world. It’s a complex product range but we have to make a hierarchy,” said Schreyer.

He says that new designs will hit the market in two to three years, and there will be a wider separation between the two brands despite their shared platforms, powertrains and technology. It will be somewhat similar to the way Volkswagen Group uses the same platform on multiple models.

Source: Autocar