Hyundai revealed a design exercise concept it wants to reflect and influence how its cars look going forward. Called “Prophecy” it marks the company’s “Sensuous Sportiness” direction. Especially, with using black as its color maybe it should be called “Sinister Sportiness” instead. The fluid, organic body surfaces give a slipperier aero look that is very Porsche-like. If it looks like a Porsche to most observers is that good? Hard to say at this point. Better a Porsche than an Aztek.

Part of the Prophecy’s role is to double down on Hyundai’s electrification strategy. Hyundai plans on greatly expanding its EV portfolio between now and 2025. By the end of this year 75% of the cars it sells in Europe will be EVs. It also says it wants to be in the battery business in a big way. Its goal is to sell almost 700,000 batteries a year. Hey, you’ve got to have goals and some targets to shoot for.

Prophecy concept has no grille or shut lines either

Lacking a front grille is the first clue the Prophecy is an EV. There are also no shut lines so it appears there was no effort to have the Prophecy be much more than a form study with some headlights and windows cut into it. That’s not a criticism so much as it defines what it is; a tool to guide Hyundai designers going forward. If you look close there actually is a very small opening in the front which is for battery cooling. 

At the rear, a brake activated spoiler is prominent. It is illuminated, too. It is honed from clear acrylic to “call attention to the functional beauty of the components” inside. OK, then. Most prominent is the grillework that also incorporates the vertical taillights. The body abruptly stops to reveal the grille. If you can imagine the back end continuing the design rather than being chopped off the Porsche look is very apparent.

The windows blend into the bodywork and rear doors are “suicide”

The dark-tinted windows with no edging practically blend into the body. The rear doors open backward or “suicide” style while the fronts are conventional. Suicide doors rarely if ever make it into production; not that this is a production piece. The current Lincoln Continental is an exception to this rule.

Inside you’re met with a widescreen going from side-to-side. But what really catches the eye are the two control handles on either side of the driver’s seat, and that there’s no steering wheel. The console with the right-side handle is high and prominent. These handle controls or “joysticks” are the steering mechanism. No, we haven’t traveled back to the 1950s. With the whole autonomous car thing it hints at what a woke EV will look like with full autonomous capabilities.

Eco-friendly materials and Clean Air Technology inside

Eco-friendly materials are used throughout. Especially prescient with the coronavirus floating around is the “Clean Air Technology” feature means purified air circulates inside. Outside then gets treated and is released outside as clean air. Could this in itself abate global warming? Probably not. Mood lighting and camera monitoring equipment are also incorporated into the spartan interior.

Porsche looking or not we like the overall look. The back falls off a bit much for our tastes but would be worked out better if it were to go into production. We know it won’t but at least it gives us another piece of the Hyundai puzzle. It is great to look at and consider the possibilities Hyundai is advancing.