Hyundai Concept Genesis

"Concept Genesis is a hint into the future of Hyundai," Hyundai North America chief designer Joel Piaskowski told CDN. "It's a very global design, created in collaboration with the design studios in Korea."

Though the concept was penned in Hyundai's design studios in Irvine, California, the final production of the car will take place in Korea, where the interior will also be finalized, Piaskowski said.

"The taillight and headlight shapes will change before production starts and the grille execution will be different, but what's between the wheels is what you'll see on the road," he added. "The whole front clip is different, but you'll just have to wait and see."

For the concept, Piaskowski's goal was to create some simple volumes in the surfacing with a strong shoulder line. The wheel arches have been pulled out to accent the track and give the car a more muscular stance, supported by the concept's large 20-inch wheels.

"What we've been doing at Hyundai is creating three-dimensional design, we use line of surface on the vehicle to let your eye track around the vehicle from front to side, top to rear, all around the vehicle so you can't discern where the corners of the vehicle are."

It does look promising. A taut crease line which starts at the top of the taillight and swings down and around the bumper fascia continues through the side and over the roof. The roof line then joins the front wing and follows down the head lamp, finally embracing the grille. It is a very homogenous design.

Hyundai's new rear-wheel-drive V8-powered architecture underpinning the Genesis concept car will be the replacement for the Korean automaker's Dynasty model and is expected to be launched in the US market by mid to late 2008 before becoming available in other markets around the world.

 
 

Infiniti G37 Coupe

Nissan's luxury division garnered a lot of attention at this year's New York show, not least of which because of the dashing new G37 coupe. The G37 is an evolutionary design of the G35 coupe which has seen considerable success since its US launch in 2004. The new car is longer, lower and wider and features a more fluid form language that was previewed by the Infiniti Coupe Concept at the 2006 Detroit Auto Show.

Like its concept predecessor, Infiniti chose to show the car in a silver paint hue which gave onlookers the impression it was draped in aluminium body panels; reflecting light from its character lines running the length of its flanks. This accentuated the crease along the coupe's beltline and tight panel gaps which exude a well-devised product that has been precisely assembled and is indicative of the material and quality craftsmanship for which Infiniti is renowned.

Exterior design cues include curvaceous front fenders and wide rear haunches; fitting with the rear drive coupe's sporting pretensions. The front fascia features Infiniti's signature double-arch grille and L-shaped bi-xenon head lamps with integrated fog lamps, and a wave-style aluminium hood. Large LED tail lamps adorn the rear, above a revised bumper and incorporated chromed dual exhaust outlets.

The cockpit for the new G37 coupe is all new, with an instrument panel design featuring white and violet electroluminescent instrumentation and aluminium-alloy trim, inspired by handmade Japanese Washi paper. Infiniti's signature analogue clock is prominently displayed at the front of a full-length centre console, below a large screen for the navigation system and rear view monitor.

This characterful coupe will likely be a big success for Infiniti when the automaker begins selling its vehicles in the European market in 2008.

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Infiniti Concept Coupe - Detroit 2006

Subaru Impreza and WRX

Subaru has been building the Impreza on the same architecture since its initial launch in 2001 and until now the design has only received minor styling revisions. The Japanese automaker finally unveiled an all-new version of the car at the New York show and announced a new hatchback which will replace the estate variant.

Exterior design changes for the next generation Impreza include a new front end, featuring a more contemporary grille with revised head lamps and integrated fog lamps recessed into the lower front fascia. The new grille design replaces the airplane wing motif of its predecessor while a new front spoiler accentuates the sporting character. The doors gain a frame around the window - unseen in the earlier examples - and revised tail lamps, a departure from the previous generation.

Hatchback variations are shorter than their saloon counterparts by 6.5 inches and feature a single-curve roofline that flows into an aerodynamic rear spoiler. A taut A-line running the length of the car breaks up the monotonous slab-like body panels and sweeps upward at the rear toward new tail lamps incorporating LED lights within clear housings.

Saloon and WRX models feature a wider front design blending into an enhanced side body crease. Red tail lamp lenses adorn the rear of the four-door Impreza and a chrome strip below the trunk lid line visually widens the tail.

The range-topping WRX continues to sport the characteristic hood scoop and gold painted wheels and is available with an aero kit to denote its rally car heritage. In hatchback form, the WRX features a rear underbody diffuser and single chromed exhaust outlet while the saloon is fitted with dual chrome exhaust tips and a rear decklid spoiler.