Future Hyundais to be sexier than Alfa Romeos

Hyundai's VP for design SangYup Lee has declared that from next year all new Hyundai models will be "sexier than Alfa Romeos".

In a revealing new interview that declares the Korean car-maker is on the verge of revolutionising its car design, Lee -- who was responsible for penning the fifth-generation Chevrolet Camaro concept and the C6 Corvette Stingray while working for GM and the EXP 10 Speed 6 concept during his time at Bentley -- told

"We want to maximise emotional value to it. The Alfa Romeo and Maserati, those are really sexy cars, even the Germans got a lot of influence from the [Italian] cars. That emotional, sensuous beauty, you don't find that in the volume brands. For Hyundai to be sexier than Alfa Romeo, this is the mission we want to achieve," Lee told the newswire.

Confirming Hyundai would next year introduce its first car inspired by the 2018 Geneva motor show Le Fil Rouge's "sensuous sportiness" design language, the senior exec confirmed Hyundai had ditched its Russian Doll approach to styling but said the car-maker's trademark 'cascading' grille won't be going anywhere.

Instead, Lee claims every model it produces will have a "unique take" on its new design language and that, in most cases, will see Hyundai overtake Italian car-maker Alfa for emotional appeal.

Responding to a question that asked what people would think of Hyundai in 10 years from now, the Korean car-maker's design boss said he'd like people to say: "Hyundai has some sexy cars -- sexier than Alfa Romeo. That is the message I'd like to give to the world".