Say it ain't so! Hyundai N Vision 74 production rumours denied, but there's still a new Pony Coupe sports car coming

Hyundai has quashed rumours of a full production version of its stunning Pony Coupe concept coming back 50 years after it was first revealed, breaking the hearts of retro automotive design fans everywhere.

Last week, Korean News outlet Money Today reported that Hyundai insiders had confirmed a production version of the 1974 Pony Coupe, which inspired last year’s hydrogen-powered Hyundai N Vision 74, was on the cards and set to be revealed at the end of the month.

Since that news broke, not one but two Hyundai representatives have publicly denied the rumours to Korean and American outlets.

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Korean news site Wikitree.co (not to be confused with the genealogy website wikitree.com) claims a spokesperson told the outlet "there is no plan to mass-produce the Pony Coupe, and there is no Pony Day event planned”.

This is backed up by word from Hyundai America’s Product PR Manager, Derek Joyce, who told Carscoops the claimed insider information was merely speculation.

“We are aware of media speculations on the potential commercial production of the N Vision 74 rolling lab development model,” Joyce told the site.

“However, we currently have no plan to put the model into commercial production.”

While the words ‘mass-produce’ and ‘commercial production’ don’t rule out any kind of limited run, there is at least one reimagined interpretation of the Pony Coupe coming - though how similar it will be to the N Vision 74 is yet to be seen.

Giorgetto Giugiaro designed dozens of highly influential production models including the original 1974 Pony Coupe concept.

Late last year, after the N Vision 74 was revealed, Hyundai confirmed a plan to recreate the Pony Coupe Concept 50 years after the original was shown.

Hyundai’s Executive Vice President of Design, SangYup Lee, said the Pony Coupe’s influence is worth celebrating, saying the new concept car would be rebuilt and redesigned by GFG Style, a firm founded by Giorgetto and Fabrizio Giugiaro.

“The original Pony and Pony Coupe Concept were one of those rare creations that influenced the designs of not just one but multiple production and concept vehicles,” said SangYup Lee upon the announcement. 

“Since the original concept car no longer exists, we've commissioned Giorgetto Giugiaro to rebuild it based on our design philosophy, ‘Shaping the future with legacy.'”

The ‘Giugiaro’ father and son team of Giorgetto and Fabrizio should be familiar to anyone with an interest in car design - Giorgetto Giugiaro designed dozens of highly influential production models and concepts, including the original Volkswagen Golf in 1974, the BMW M1 in 1977, the second-gen Audi 80 in 1978.

Hyundai confirmed a plan to recreate the Pony Coupe Concept 50 years after the original was shown.

Giugiaro also designed the 1974 Hyundai Pony Coupe concept - and the various body styles for the production Hyundai Pony - years before his design for the DMC DeLorean.

The Pony Coupe concept also directly inspired the ‘45’ concept car from 2019, which previewed the Hyundai Ioniq 5 electric car.

“I designed the Hyundai Pony when I was still a young designer at the start of my career,” Giugiaro said.

“I felt very proud that I was in charge of creating a vehicle for a company and country that was about to take on a fiercely competitive global market. 

“Now, I’m deeply honoured that Hyundai has asked me to rebuild it for posterity and as a celebration of the brand’s heritage.”

While it doesn’t seem that the result of Giugiaro’s new design will reach proper production, stay tuned to see what does come of the Hyundai Pony Coupe’s rebirth.