Is S.Korea now the styling leader for mass-produced cars?
Discussion
I recall years ago when the frightful Hyundai Pony showed up and seemingly rusted in hours.
Yet, today it seems a very different picture ( BTW I have never owned a Korean car).
Yet, I see very nicely styled and high quality cars right across the model ranges apart from high performance sports cars. They have done a great job on lighting design for example.
At there same time, BMW and Mercedes for example seem to have lost the plot with powerful but lumpen designs such as their EVs.
Additionally, the Koreans are develppiing credible EVs of their own.
I will be interested in how they develop their model ranges in the next few years.
Yet, today it seems a very different picture ( BTW I have never owned a Korean car).
Yet, I see very nicely styled and high quality cars right across the model ranges apart from high performance sports cars. They have done a great job on lighting design for example.
At there same time, BMW and Mercedes for example seem to have lost the plot with powerful but lumpen designs such as their EVs.
Additionally, the Koreans are develppiing credible EVs of their own.
I will be interested in how they develop their model ranges in the next few years.
Fair play to them. I enjoy visiting Korea and I like the people. On a wider scale, spend any amount of time in Asia and the continent as a whole feels optimistic, ambitious and on upward trend - the complete opposite to the West.
It’s no surprise that their cars are catching up and even taking the lead.
It’s no surprise that their cars are catching up and even taking the lead.
Yeah I'd say so.
I met many South Koreans in the mid-2000s and they oozed optimism and ambition. I found out they were miles ahead of us on so many things - they had 100Mb broadband widely available when ours was in single figures or dial-up, for example. They make some excellent films too these days, which I think is often the sign of a confident country.
But even so, I'm not sure I'd have bet that couple of decades later Hyundai and Kia would be leading in design, while BMW had become a disaster.
Toyota have upper their game recently too. Who'd have thought the Prius of all things would become such a looker!?
I met many South Koreans in the mid-2000s and they oozed optimism and ambition. I found out they were miles ahead of us on so many things - they had 100Mb broadband widely available when ours was in single figures or dial-up, for example. They make some excellent films too these days, which I think is often the sign of a confident country.
But even so, I'm not sure I'd have bet that couple of decades later Hyundai and Kia would be leading in design, while BMW had become a disaster.
Toyota have upper their game recently too. Who'd have thought the Prius of all things would become such a looker!?
vikingaero said:
DaveyBoyWonder said:
Errr, the Ioniq 6?
[looooooooooooooooooooooong puff on joint]Yay! Let's make an ugy 4 door 911!
I would agree with the OP. Volvo make some handsome cars too. As mentioned above the new Prius looks good as well, especially after the last one!
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/prius-plugin
https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/prius-plugin
My wife's Korean and we're there a month each year. Car designs vary in the eye of the beholder but the quality is and has been on par with euro premium makes for a while now.
The other thing that is in stark contrast is the work ethic and productivity. Their society makes UK and Germany (we live there atm) look like they're in slow motion and decrepit.
The other thing that is in stark contrast is the work ethic and productivity. Their society makes UK and Germany (we live there atm) look like they're in slow motion and decrepit.
Catatafish said:
The other thing that is in stark contrast is the work ethic and productivity. Their society makes UK and Germany (we live there atm) look like they're in slow motion and decrepit.
From what I've seen, that is starting to change. Japan went through the same thing a while ago - I don't think that sort of work culture is either sustainable or healthy for the economy in the long-term. Companies (at least in the IT sector) are starting to reduce contract hours, increase holiday allowance, etc. to try to get and then hang on to the best staff.ETA: Actually I guess the pressure is from both sides. At companies become more short-term profit driven, jobs get less secure and the idea of a "job for life" with a company starts to erode, which reduces employee loyalty. I'm not sure if that bit is happening in Korea yet, but it certainly did in Japan.
Edited by kambites on Thursday 24th October 09:44
They’ve nailed almost everything, particularly the transition from ICE to EV. Whereas nearly everyone else has dithered or fallen over themselves, they’ve made it almost unnoticeable: one minute it’s Picantos and diesel Ceeds, blink and then it’s EV3/6/9s, Ioniq 5/6, Kona/Niros. No sudden jumps, no false starts.
And the Ioniq6 is a fantastic piece of design IMO. They even dubbed it (or at least the concept which launched it) the “Electrified Streamliner”, which for me at least conjures up all kinds of wacky, optimistic and sometimes stunning 30s, 40s and 50s designs for planes, trains and cars. Brilliant. I want one.
And the Ioniq6 is a fantastic piece of design IMO. They even dubbed it (or at least the concept which launched it) the “Electrified Streamliner”, which for me at least conjures up all kinds of wacky, optimistic and sometimes stunning 30s, 40s and 50s designs for planes, trains and cars. Brilliant. I want one.
Jimbo. said:
They’ve nailed almost everything, particularly the transition from ICE to EV. Whereas nearly everyone else has dithered or fallen over themselves, they’ve made it almost unnoticeable: one minute it’s Picantos and diesel Ceeds, blink and then it’s EV3/6/9s, Ioniq 5/6, Kona/Niros. No sudden jumps, no false starts.
And the Ioniq6 is a fantastic piece of design IMO. They even dubbed it (or at least the concept which launched it) the “Electrified Streamliner”, which for me at least conjures up all kinds of wacky, optimistic and sometimes stunning 30s, 40s and 50s designs for planes, trains and cars. Brilliant. I want one.
Now you have pointed out the “Streamliner” styling language I may now have to reconsider my dog with worms description from earlier today. I now understand. As I said though it shows a certain confidence being built.And the Ioniq6 is a fantastic piece of design IMO. They even dubbed it (or at least the concept which launched it) the “Electrified Streamliner”, which for me at least conjures up all kinds of wacky, optimistic and sometimes stunning 30s, 40s and 50s designs for planes, trains and cars. Brilliant. I want one.
They can come up with new stuff just like AI can, but none of their designs are timeless. I don't think they've ever had a design language that they stuck to.
However their long warranties are a scam. I can stick a 20-year warranty on a car and but never repair it. Eventually the customer caves and trades it in against another one. That's how the 7+ year warranty works with Kia Hyundai.
However their long warranties are a scam. I can stick a 20-year warranty on a car and but never repair it. Eventually the customer caves and trades it in against another one. That's how the 7+ year warranty works with Kia Hyundai.
Edited by Gericho on Thursday 24th October 11:05
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