The Hyundai Heritage Series Grandeur is the future we want
PetrolBlog comes out of hibernation to say thank you to Hyundai for building the magnificent Heritage Series Grandeur.
In an alternative universe, all cars look like the Hyundai Heritage Series Grandeur. The first-generation Grandeur might seem like an odd basis for a restomod, but by god it works. Just when you think the world is a broken mess, up pops Hyundai with a ray of light.
It'll never make production. This is little more than Hyundai rummaging through its back catalogue to inspire its future. As we've seen with the Ioniq 5 and its subtle nods to the Hyundai Pony, the present looks better when it borrows stuff from the past. Hyundai's vision of the future looks more appealing than BMW's and more interesting than Audi's.
We can forgive Hyundai's use of the word ‘newtro’ (that's newness and retro, apparently) because everything about the Heritage Series Grandeur is magnificent. If the image at the top of the page doesn't make the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention, you're on the wrong website.
Not wrong, burgundy
It gets better, because the bronze interior lighting is inspired by audio equipment of the 1980s, while the burgundy velvet is a homage to the seats in the original Grandeur. There isn't a car in the world that wouldn't be enhanced by swathes of burgundy velvet. Apologies for using the word ‘swathes’, which belongs in the Room 101 of motoring clichés.
Check out the dashboard, which looks straight out of a cyberpunk future. Replacing conventional buttons with an ultra-wide touchscreen display is perfectly acceptable when the interior features a single-spoke steering wheel and aircraft-style gear selector. Bronze lighting and burgundy velvet make everything better, even frustrating touchscreens.
You could imagine the Hyundai Heritage Series Grandeur appearing in a Human League video from the 1980s. And, yes, we want it, baby.
A Stellar effort
Hyundai hasn't supplied any details of the powertrain other than to say it's all-electric. That's fine, because it could be powered by a hamster on a wheel and it would still be marvellous. There are more Heritage Series vehicles to come, says Hyundai. Could we have a Stellar or first-generation Accent, please?
Thanks, Hyundai, for waking PetrolBlog from its three-month slumber. If you could do the right thing by shipping the ‘newtro’ Grandeur to the UK, we'd be eternally grateful. Ta.
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