Hyundai Sparked the Light Bar Trend, Now It Aims to Diminish It | Carscoops

      Design leader expresses dissatisfaction with transverse light bars, which have been imitated by numerous brands

      6 hours ago

      by Chris Chilton

      Hyundai's design chief believes it’s time to move away from LED light bars.

      “I’ve seen enough,” stated Simon Loasby to UK’s Car Magazine.

      The recently unveiled Concept Three does not feature a front LED bar.

      When one manufacturer introduces a notable design element that makes its vehicles distinct, it doesn’t take long for other brands to adopt the concept. This often leads to a homogenization of car appearances. Consequently, Hyundai's design head believes it’s necessary to put an end to the widespread use of LED light bars.

      Hyundai was among the pioneers of the recent light bar trend and has effectively utilized it. Adding a slim LED strip across the front of vehicles such as the Grandeur luxury sedan, Staria minivan, and Kona crossover provided a recognizable and unique family look, something Korean brands have struggled to achieve until lately.

      However, with virtually every new car now featuring an LED light bar at either or both ends, Loasby feels that the feature has become overly common.

      Time to Move On?

      “When should we let go of light bars? It’s almost like we’re at the end of that,” Loasby remarked to Car Magazine during this week’s Munich Motor Show. “We’ve done it with the Grandeur, Kona, and Sonata, but now I’m thinking ‘guys, I’ve seen enough.’”

      “It was effective at the time, and it truly fit, the Grandeur was the first car with a one-piece structure,” continued the British-born former Rolls-Royce and VW designer. “The most significant issue is the cost; it’s not feasible, and not all customers require it. In China, it’s a must-have, but in Europe, it’s less essential.”

      Pursuing Variety, Not Uniformity

      Loasby mentioned that Hyundai’s designers are striving for uniformity without succumbing to repetition. “We are seeking consistency, but with significant differentiation,” he explained. “In a European context, our approach might be incorrect. However, it suits us, and our extensive portfolio presents a major creative challenge for each vehicle. We desire 80 percent difference and only 20 percent recognizable features, rather than the reverse. But this makes sense for Hyundai.”

      Hyundai

      Loasby has also noticed that light bars are not the only design element that competing brands have adopted. The company’s pixel illumination, or something quite similar, has appeared on Fiat’s Grande Panda, although Hyundai has since advanced the design.

      More: Veloster’s Rebirth Might Debut as an Ioniq 3 N Hot Hatch

      The Concept Three, showcased at Munich and generally recognized as a preview of next year’s Ioniq 3 hatch, featured a graduated version of the pixel illumination technology. It also did not include a front transverse light bar.