Interesting Hyundai Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

5 Interesting Hyundai Facts You Probably Didn’t Know

From their humble U.S. debut with the subcompact Hyundai Excel, to producing the hydrogen fuel cell powered N Vision 74, Hyundai’s evolution from an unknown economy brand to a widely praised automotive manufacturer is highly inspirational. One could say their story embodies the American Dream. However, despite their popularity, there are still many things US customers don’t know about the brand. In this post, we’ll go over five interesting facts about the Hyundai brand you probably didn’t know.

Fact 1: The Hyundai Pony Coupe Inspired the DMC Delorean 12

In 1974, Hyundai brought in renowned car designer Giorgetto Giugiaro to create the brand’s very first mass-produced vehicle. After countless prototypes and blueprints, Hyundai and Giorgetto ultimately drafted five different models. The Pony Coupe Concept, one of the designs, debuted at the Turin Motor Show and went on to achieve impressive sales figures as the Hyundai Pony. This financial success not only brought in much-needed brand recognition but also paved the way for the future of Hyundai.

After his time at Hyundai, Giugiaro was also commissioned to design a vehicle for the Delorean Motor Company. Using his inspiration from the Hyundai Pony Coupe, Giorgetto created the iconic Delorean 12. Yes, the same Delorean that appeared in the Back to the Future movies! Today, the legacy of both the Pony and Delorean lives on through Hyundai’s Nvision 74 concept, which draws direct inspiration from the Hyundai Pony Coupe.

Fact 2: Hyundai Is Serious About The Environment

As the world is slowly shifting towards green and electric energy, Hyundai has made a commitment to use eco-friendly construction materials and methods for their latest electric cars. For example, the IONIQ 5 utilizes paints comprised of bio-oil extracted from seeds and corn, and silk made from PET bottles for the floor mats, carpets, and fabrics. Kia and Genesis, both under Hyundai Motor Group, follow this eco-friendly philosophy in their interior as well. You’d be surprised to know that Hyundai’s commitment to nature goes back to the mid-1990s when Hyundai implemented Kenaf composite material in the 5th generation Granger.

Fact 3: Hyundai Produces Some Real Fun Cars

In the early years, Hyundai used to have a reputation for producing affordable cars, with slow driving characteristics, and budget quality. The narrative has changed, however. Now, Hyundai has come out with serious performance-oriented cars, without the typical ludicrous price. Just look at the Hyundai N Division, Hyundai’s Performance brand spearheaded by none other than  Albert Biermann, a former top executive at BMW’s M Division. Creating exciting new vehicles such as the 275 horsepower Veloster N and Elantra N. Just so you know, the N  stands for two things; Namyang, South Korea, the birthplace of the N division, and Nürburgring race track, Germany, headquarters of Hyundai’s Technical Center.

Fact 4: The Hidden Meaning Of The Hyundai Logo

The iconic “H” for the Hyundai logo is not simply an italic H. The stylized H is actually a representation of two people, the customer, and the company rep,  shaking hands, emphasizing Hyundai’s dedication to customer service and care. This dedication is also shown through Hyundai’s legendary warranty, the best warranty any auto manufacturer currently offers: a 5 year/ 60,000 mile basic and a 10-year/100,000-mile warranty.

Fact 5: Hyundai Uses Their Own Steel

Many automotive manufacturers buy their materials from different sources for their vehicles. Hyundai does things a little bit differently. You see, Hyundai is not only an automotive company, as they also specialize in Construction, Industrial Investments, Insurance, Petroleum, Heavy Industry, Shipbuilding, and much more. Instead of going to other sources, Hyundai produces their own materials, allowing to reduce production and MSRP cost.

Did our list surprise you? Or did we miss something? Let us know in the comments below!

In the meantime, check out our 2023 Hyundai inventory for Safford Hyundai of Springfield, Virginia.