Hyundai 45 EV Concept seats

Electric cars offer so much more to designers, feels Hyundai’s design manager

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Going forward, customers can expect Hyundai models to feature exciting colours and materials and EVs including those which aren’t Hyundai, will ring in a new era of car interiors.

The auto industry is gradually shifting from ‘playing it safe’ and as the limitations of the interior design of ICE cars are not present on electric cars. Without an engine, transmission and related components, electric cars offer designers more room (literally and figuratively) to come up with layouts that weren’t possible earlier. Talking to CNET, Elizabeth Curran, Hyundai’s Senior Design Manager for colour and materials, has said that design teams have a different mindset when working on EVs and hybrids. Ms Curran says that as everything is moving toward electric, there will be new things to look forward to although it will be a little awkward in the beginning. She believes that as the auto industry is changing significantly, Hyundai needs to figure out how to make itself distinct.

EVW talked to Minchul Koo, VP Design, Hyundai Motor Company at the Auto Expo 2020. He said that they always pursue new challenges and that when the Kona Electric was launched, people found it very unique and Hyundai wants to continue the streak of ‘surprising’ customers in future launches.

We are trying to be very different from our competitors. In the future, even if the technical package is similar, we designers make it special and different. We have to adapt to customer needs and perspective.

Minchul Koo, VP Design, Hyundai Motor Company, talking to EVW at the Auto Expo 2020.
Tata Altroz EV interior unique
The Altroz EV has a unique ‘walk-through’ effect (as opposed to a conventional dashboard and centre console of the Altroz petrol) as there are fewer parts on an electric car.

EVs certainly offer a new canvas for automobile designers to be bolder. Similar thoughts were expressed by Pratap Bose, Vice President – Global Design, Tata Motors who cited the example of the Tata Altroz EV, which has a different centre console than the petrol-powered Altroz. Since there is no transmission tunnel, the floor is completely flat and gives the customers a walk-through feeling.

[Source: cnet.com]

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