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To Celebrate the 35th Anniversary of the Sedan Launched in 1986, Hyundai Reconstructed a First-Generation Grandeur as an Electric Concept, Preserving Its Signature Steering Wheel and Square Shapes, but Adding Parametric Pixel, Digital Screens, Burgundy Velvet, Napa Leather, an Audio System with 18 Speakers, and a Virtual Piano on the Center Console.
Hyundai decided to revisit its past to envision how one of its most significant cars could exist in the future. In 2021, the automaker utilized an authentic first-generation Grandeur originally launched in 1986 and redesigned it as a fully electric concept, maintaining much of the square lines from the 1980s while replacing mechanical elements, lighting, and the cabin with contemporary solutions.
The project was unveiled by Hyundai on December 6, 2021, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the Grandeur. Named the Heritage Series Grandeur, the vehicle was created by the design team as a historical reinterpretation exercise rather than a prototype intended for dealerships. Even with the appearance of a vehicle ready for the road, the manufacturer itself stated that the concept would not go into production.
Hyundai Returned to an Authentic 1986 Grandeur to Begin the Project
Instead of merely designing a new car inspired by the past, Hyundai started with a true first-generation Grandeur. The sedan debuted in 1986 as the brand’s top-of-the-line model and later evolved through several generations, becoming known in other markets as well for its lineage associated with the Azera.
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The goal was to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the model by recovering recognizable elements from the original while incorporating technologies that simply did not exist when it was born. The straight body shape, the formal sedan posture, and various typical details from the 1980s were preserved, preventing the result from becoming just a modern vehicle with an old name.
Sedan Maintained 80s Aesthetics but Received Electric Propulsion
The most profound transformation took place under the familiar exterior. According to the manufacturer, the first-generation Grandeur was completely restructured and redesigned as a fully electric vehicle, replacing the mechanical configuration of its time with an architecture compatible with the technological concept.
This combination created the very contrast sought by Hyundai. At first glance, the vehicle still appears to be a large executive sedan that emerged four decades ago. However, details related to lighting, the cabin, and propulsion reveal that the Grandeur Heritage Series is not a simple restoration, but rather a contemporary interpretation built upon a historical vehicle.
Pixel headlights transformed the front without erasing the classic design
Among the most visible elements are the so-called Parametric Pixels, a luminous language that Hyundai has also adopted in its more recent vehicles. Headlights and taillights have abandoned a conventional appearance in favor of small geometric light elements, creating a futuristic visual signature within the squared bodywork.
The manufacturer also updated the mirrors, wheels, hubcaps, and exterior finishes. The final effect places two eras in the same vehicle: the proportions and silhouette remain clearly associated with 1986, while the lighting seems to belong to a contemporary electric vehicle. It is this tension between past and future that underpins the project.
Interior traded analog simplicity for huge screens
While the exterior still retains a strong connection to the original, the cabin has undergone radical changes. The upper part of the dashboard now features an ultra-wide digital screen, while a second vertical screen occupies the central region, concentrating multimedia functions and driving mode selections.
Another display installed lower down offers controls related to the climate system and entertainment. Hyundai has termed this combination “Newtro,” a blend of new and retro. The aim was not to eliminate all signs of the 80s but to ensure that old and digital elements could coexist within the same environment.
Single-spoke steering wheel survived the futuristic reconstruction
Even surrounded by screens, the Heritage Series Grandeur has preserved details directly linked to the first model. One of the most striking is the single-spoke steering wheel, an uncommon feature in today’s cars that immediately evokes the interior of the original sedan.
The gear selector inspired by aircraft controls has also been retained as a historical reference. These elements help prevent Hyundai’s transformation from completely erasing the vehicle’s identity. Instead, the project places objects designed decades ago alongside digital interfaces that would have been unimaginable at the car’s 1986 launch.
Burgundy Velvet and Napa Leather Recreate the Luxury of Another Era
The choice of materials was also intended to connect the two generations. The original Grandeur featured velvet, a fabric associated with automotive luxury of that time. Thus, the front seats of the concept are upholstered in burgundy velvet, maintaining a direct reference to the sophisticated environment of the 80s sedan.
On the rear of the seats, Hyundai added brownish-red Napa leather with stitched and braided finishes. Leather also appears on the consoles and door panels. The intention was to create a sophisticated cabin without directly copying the old vehicle, blending traditional textures with contemporary surfaces and technologies.
Even the Storage Compartments Were Inspired by Luxury Bags and Furniture
The level of detailing extends beyond the seats. According to the manufacturer, the door compartments were designed with inspiration from sophisticated bags, while parts of the console and dashboard draw references from classic furniture and audio equipment.
There’s also a hidden compartment for watches and small valuables in the center console. The attention given to these elements shows that the Grandeur Heritage Series was treated as a complete design exercise rather than merely an electric conversion of a vintage vehicle.
Sound System Features 18 Speakers and Four Channels
The sound project also received unusual attention. Hyundai installed a four-channel audio system with 18 speakers, including units dedicated to different sound ranges to enhance clarity and bass reproduction within the cabin.
Even the positioning of the speakers was calculated. Speakers installed in the corners were angled approximately 45 degrees towards the center of the interior to better distribute sound. The shape of the dashboard and console also utilized acoustic principles applied in music-oriented environments.
Dashboard Conceals a Fully Functional Virtual Piano
Among the many features, one of the most unusual appears on the digital screen installed at the bottom of the console. Hyundai has placed a virtual piano there, developed in collaboration with musical instrument manufacturer Samick.
The idea arose from observing musicians who create compositions in their own cars. Instead of limiting the screen to vehicle controls, the company decided to also transform it into a digital instrument. This feature reinforces the experimental nature of the concept, as it would be unexpected in a conventional sedan.
Lighting creates the sensation of a larger cabin using infinite mirrors
The internal atmosphere also relies on a bronze-toned lighting system that runs along the dashboard and reaches the vehicle’s central pillars. The light highlights surfaces, materials, and even the silhouette of the speakers, creating a cabin that is vastly different from the Grandeur produced in 1986.
On the ceiling, Hyundai utilized the principle of so-called infinite mirrors, where parallel reflective surfaces visually multiply light points. The result creates a sense of depth and helps the interior space appear larger, emphasizing the contrast between the retro body and the futuristic environment.
Concept seems ready to hit the streets, but Hyundai has ruled out production
Despite its detailed finish and functional appearance, the Heritage Series Grandeur has never been presented as a potential production car. Hyundai itself has made it clear that the sedan would not be mass-produced, as the goal of the Heritage program is to explore the company’s past for references in future projects.
This means that the car should not be interpreted as an electric generation of the Grandeur intended for the market. It serves as a design laboratory on wheels. Specific solutions may inspire other vehicles, but the reconstructed 1986 concept remains a unique piece of experimentation and brand memory.
Grandeur is part of a series that recovers historical cars from Hyundai
The sedan was not the first vintage car to receive this treatment. Previously, Hyundai had reinterpreted the 1975 Pony under the same Heritage program, also incorporating historical features with electrification technologies.
After the Grandeur, the company indicated plans to continue revisiting its catalog and mentioned a reimagining of the first generation Galloper from 1991. This strategy reveals how vintage cars have become a source of inspiration for the future, especially during this accelerated transformation driven by electric vehicles.
A 1986 Sedan Became an Electric Laboratory 35 Years Later
The Heritage Series Grandeur encapsulates an unconventional transformation: Hyundai took one of the luxury symbols of its own history and retained its boxy appearance, but replaced the original experience with electric propulsion, bright pixels, digital screens, burgundy velvet, Napa leather, 18 speakers, and even a virtual piano.
The result will not hit dealerships, yet it shows how far a manufacturer can go when it decides to blend historical heritage with contemporary technology. Would you prefer that Hyundai produced a retro electric Grandeur like this, or do you believe classic cars should keep their mechanics and interiors close to the originals? Share your thoughts in the comments.
