Tag: Hyundai

Hyundai Verna 6th Gen 2023 – Most Disrupting Sedan of the Year

Overview: 

Technology has been transforming our existing era in once unimaginable ways. With the advent of smartphones, the internet, and social media, we are now more connected than ever before. Similarly, the automobile is moving towards a disruption full of AI integration. Hyundai has been transforming their generations of cars just like how we had seen the newly launched SUV Tucson and many others, they have yet another blockbuster and you really will take some time to blink your eye if its passes through your sight. YES, it’s the 6th Gen Hyundai Verna. Speaking opulence with its fleshy LED DRL band running all through from one end to another or be it its Tech, the all-new Verna has been making headlines in the mid-large size sedan segment. One of the key highlights of the 2023 model is the ADAS – level 2 {advanced driver assistance system} that offers an enhanced driving experience and gives tons of tech and safety features. Its polarising design can either make you love it or hate, but I am sure cannot simply ignore it. 

Driving Experience: 

The all-new Hyundai Verna is surely going to make a loud appearance, we drove the non-turbo variant and its notable smoot with its 1.5 litter 6 Speed MPI petrol Variant, churning out 115 bhp of power and 143.8 nm of torque. On a contrary, the turbo variant is definitely peppier for any turbo enthusiast. The Turbo GDi Petrol 6 speed which produces 160 bhp of power and 253 nm of torque can make you go gaga over all the way long till your adrenaline stops flowing in your blood. Also Clocking 0-100 in just 8.1 seconds, well that’s 1st in its segment. Verna is surely a game-changer, offering unparalleled luxury and comfort, making it an attractive choice for those looking for a sophisticated vehicle that ticks all the boxes of tech and peppiness. Much airy and giving you good visibility while driving the car will win your heart since its gone 70mm bigger in the wheel space to make it precise 2670mm (wheelbase) and even gone wider by 36mm offering more legroom from its passenger sitting behind and enjoying the luxury that it speaks. 

While we were handed over the keys of the Verna to drive on the newly constructed Delhi to Bombay expressway, a plane smooth tarmac to experience the luxury of it. This express way is humongous, and offers you more than 6 lanes to take that pep out of you inside while you drive at a minimum of 120 km/ph, now that’s new since we get to only experience the car with a cap speed of 100 at max. while we got to experience the non turbo variant, we did enjoy the drive on this beautifully sculpted expressway, the car was just sailing like a navy ship, which looks slow while its on the move but its actually quite fast if you are sitting inside it. The driver seats which are electronically operated is a bonus while the co-passenger does not get one. Well that’s ok since there’s plenty of tech inside to play with. The 6th Gen Hyundai Verna surely gave a smooth drive with its non-turbo variant is still a decent ride in this segment.  

Exterior Design: 

One will take time to absorb its polarizing design, since completely played with when it comes to its entire look. It is a bold, avant-garde design that you will either make you love or hate it, will grab your attention. The new Verna is a departure from the conservative design language that Hyundai has followed in the past making sure that it changes your sight to fall in love with, and it is sure to turn heads wherever it goes. The front parametric grill which will remind you of its brother sibling – Tucson and dominating large Hyundai badge on the bonnet will quickly grab your attention. A well spotted ADAS sensor which is connected to the front camera is quite evident in the middle of its bumper. There are 4 sensors evidently visible.  Its sleek LED DRL band that goes from one edge to another makes it an aggressive look. The sloping roofline, sharp character lines, and sculpted rear end complete the car’s bold look that commands attention. It’s not just the front, the rear of the car also speaks of opulence with the connected LED band and sporty bumper. The Verna written badging is quite impressive in the middle of its trunk. It gets 16-inch diamond cut alloys and even comes with red calliper in its turbo variant looks quite bold. Moving out of your house gets easy, since the boot offers 528 l and 44mm wider opening. I could literally fit myself and tons of luggage. Verna Turbo1.5 GDi Variant gets more sportier with, its all black design and red stitching on the seats and steering wheel. From the inside it also its an electric parking break and from the outside the rear disk brake, makes an enthusiast revving it through its fun turbo side. 

Interior and its Tech: 

Level 2 ADAS:

The Hyundai Verna comes with a suite of advanced driver assistance technologies that make driving safer and more comfortable. The level 2 ADAS includes features such as adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and automatic emergency braking, Collision warning assistance, blind spot warning & assistance and even comes in with ISOFIX for your child passenger as standard so you need not to worry about your littles safety. We had miles to drive this car and the 8 Premium Boss sound system is a cherry on the pie. Now if that isn’t sweet enough, the heated & cooling seats comes as a premium feature for extreme weather conditions, so now you don’t really need to get bonked by the fact that achy feeling in the extreme summers or winters to keep your seats calmed down.  Let’s dig a bit into the aspects of what Level 2 ADAS features help you with while drivng in crazy circumstances. 

Adaptive cruise control is a technology that maintains a safe distance between the vehicle and the car in front of it. This system uses radar and sensors to detect the speed and distance of the vehicle in front and adjusts the speed accordingly. This feature makes long-distance driving less tiring and reduces the risk of accidents.

Lane departure warning is another key feature of the level 2 ADAS. This technology uses cameras to detect when the vehicle is drifting out of its lane and alerts the driver with a visual and audible warning. This feature is especially useful for tired or distracted drivers who may unintentionally drift out of their lane.

Automatic emergency braking is a technology that can help prevent collisions by applying the brakes when a potential collision is detected. This feature can detect both vehicles and pedestrians and can help reduce the severity of accidents by slowing down or stopping the vehicle.

Premium Luxury Features: In addition to its advanced technology features, the Hyundai Verna also offers a range of premium luxury features that make it stand out in its segment and claim to be 1st in it. One of the most popular features is the heated and cooled seats.

The Verna seats can be heated or cooled depending on the driver’s preference or its co-passenger. This is particularly useful in extreme weather conditions where the temperature inside the car can be uncomfortable. The seats are also adjustable, allowing the driver to find the perfect seating position for maximum comfort. Another premium feature of the Verna is the advanced 10.25-inch infotainment system, which includes a touchscreen display, voice commands, and smartphone integration. This system allows the driver to control the car’s features and entertainment options without taking their hands off the steering wheel. Even the drive cluster is quiet on your face with all the warnings popping out and gives you a sense of comfort. 

Finally, the Verna also comes with a range of safety features such as 6 standard airbags, anti-lock brakes, and a rear-view camera which allows you to the rear collision warning as well. These features help to make the car safer and reduce the risk of accidents. Also help you assist with the blind spot assist and pops out a warning, so now you aren’t really worried about the fact that if someone surprises you passing by from your non-visible angle, the blind spot assist will now give the warning to keep you in the loop of all the surprise.

Verdict: 

2023 Headline, the newborn of the all-new 6th Gen Hyundai Verna that offers a range of advanced technology and premium luxury features that make it a standout choice in its class and segment. With its level 2 ADAS, heated and cooled seats, ISOFIX, Electric Drivers Seats and advanced 10.25-inch infotainment dual display system, the Verna provides a comfortable and safe driving experience that is hard to beat in its segment. It does raise the bar for its competitors to lie Skoda Slavia, Volkswagen Virtus & Honda City. Design-wise, it’s taken a completely new look which is polarising and loaded with possibly anything that you would want in a car for safety that comes as standard. We drove it and we loved it, but we would urge you to take a test drive to suit yourself and then make the decision. 

Specs & Prices: 

Powertrain & Engine: 1.5 l MPi Petrol 

Power:118 BHP 

Torque: 143 NM Torque  

Price: 10.90 lakhs to 16.90 lakhs

Engine: 1.5 Turbo GDi Petrol  

Power: 160 BHP   

Torque: 256 NM Torque

Price: 14.84 lakhs to 17.38 lakhs

Hyundai Venue N-Line | What the N?

What the “N” !

Human senses are triggered with the varied audio and visual experiences we go through. Catering to the perception of enthusiasts in all the best visually appealing aspects, Hyundai has introduced the N-Line to one of their most successful products, the Venue. Hyundai has appealed to performance lovers’ auditory and optical senses before with the i20 N-line and now with tweaks on the Venue, the Venue N-Line is here to make it pop, bang and feel like a complete enthusiastic performance update. 

Visual fantasy & an aural experience ?

Powered by the same engine as the regular 2022 Venue, the N-line produces 172 Nm torque and 120 bhp power from its 1L 3-cylinder turbo petrol engine which is mated to a 7-speed DCT with similar drive modes – Normal, Eco and Sport. There are noticeably minor updates on the Venue N-Line on the exterior. N-Line badging all across the car, along with red highlight lines in the form of stickers, add a visual flair to the overall N-line appearance. While the straight lines on the Venue 2022 make it look sophisticated, the redesigned bumpers on the Venue N-Line bring curves on the edges. Complimenting the overall design are the new skid plates at both front and rear. 

The Venue N-Line also gets N-badged redesigned 16-inch diamond cut alloy wheels which are distinctively prominent. Adding safety and better control is the inclusion of rear wheel disk brakes. Visual updates include a tailgate spoiler, red highlight strips across the car’s length and breadth, and a sharply redesigned front grille with X-shaped elements and generous use of dark chrome. A relatively stiffer suspension setup makes the car’s maneuverability a lot crispier than before. The Venue N-Line retains the best aspects of the Venue 2022 like the projector headlights with built-in cornering lamps. What stands apart are definitely the new dual-pipe exhaust mufflers which offer a grunty note; this is the audio sensory that will tickle most enthusiasts.

The interiors are equally sporty ! 

Hop in the Venue N-Line, and you are greeted with an all-black interior scheme with red N-Line highlights all around the car’s interiors. The red and black theme suits the performance appeal of the vehicle and adds a sense of visual drama. There are red accents on the AC vents, knobs,  and switches. The seats now get N-Line imprints with red stitching and piping. The Venue N-Line looks similar yet different from the standard Venue line-up with an all black and red theme. Though the dark interiors do make the cabin feel small, plenty of room inside along with the sunroof doesn’t make it claustrophobic. Every feature is identical to the Venue 2022, all the way from an 8-inch touch infotainment system with BlueLink, Voice Assistant support, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, 4-way adjustable electric adjustments for the driver’s seat, coloured driver’s MID, wireless charger, USB A and C ports, electric sunroof and all the goodies of the Venue top-spec line-up.  

Adding flair to the overall interior sportiness is the new N-Line gear knob with matching black leatherette and red elements. The foot pedals are also metal to add to the appeal. A significant change is perceived with a sportier N-Line three-spoke steering wheel which feels comparatively chunky to hold. It is functional with media controls on it and is finished in gloss black with sizable black paddle shifters tucked behind nicely. Hyundai has now added red ambient lighting which seems like a cherry on a well-baked cake. What is surprising is the absence of ventilated seats, but as performance demands weight reduction, maybe it was a calculated move. Compared to a regular Venue with ventilated seats, the power-to-weight ratio must be the reason for it. Another standard feature for the N-Line is the inclusion of a 1080p 30fps dash camera with front and rear cameras mounted beside the auto-dimming IRVM. 

Does it handle well or just pops and crackles? 

The Venue N-Line is a practical compact SUV making it a daily driver. The aural experience of the nicely tuned dual-pipe exhausts stuns, which sounds way sportier than the actual drive experience. Despite the city’s legal speed limits, each rev built-up sounds exciting and exhilarating. The exhaust note alone feels like they’ve added a sportier engine beneath the hood, although that’s not the case here. 

Adding to the overall experience is a lightweight steering wheel coupled with a stiffer suspension setup and four disc brakes on all four tyres. The Venue N-Line has the exact power figures as the standard Venue with 7-Speed DCT, but the weight reduction in the form of regular seats compared to the ventilated seats on the Venue 2022 make the N-Line feel a tad bit snappier in the real world. The stiffer suspension setup keeps the car well planted on high-speed cornering while still being able to soak road undulations like any other mid-size SUV. This duality makes it feel more confidence inspiring than its formal-suited sibling..  

 

The improved power-to-weight ratio is prominently evident while driving the Venue N-Line. The N-Line steering makes it a joyful experience to maneuver this car in the city traffic and equally fun out on the highways. Despite it being on any driving mode, this car sounds maddening fun when revved. The DCT performs excellently with the Turbo GDi configuration being smooth, but a slight lag in the initial power output can get a little frustrating as it wouldn’t perform as much as it sounds to be. In Sport mode, the 7-Speed DCT keeps the gears engaged right up to an invisible redline, but the most fun can be exploited from using the large paddle shifters while  driving this car in sports mode. Thanks to the entire N-Line driving dynamics, it feels relatively light on its wheel yet surefooted. We dearly missed the rev counter on this car, and being digital; we hope Hyundai updates the MID in the future, at least on the N-line for that analog revving drama. 

Should you consider this “N” ?

Starting at Rs. 12.16L ex-showroom, the Venue N-Line is a competitive vibe which is bound to be enjoyed by enthusiasts only. The relatively low body-to-weight ratio paired with N-Line light steering feedback, stiffer suspensions, N-Line design elements, and a nasty exhaust note makes the Venue N-Line feel sportier and sounds more invigorating than most cars of this segment on the block. If you’re out there looking for exclusivity while compromising on a few liters of petrol, the Venue N-line might just hit the right N-spot for you..  

How Hyundai is using the latest VR technology to transform car design

Hyundai Motor has invested in a series of cutting-edge technological solutions to overhaul its design process. By embracing the latest innovations, such as virtual reality (VR) and 3D gravity sketching, the company has consolidated its position at the forefront of car design.

Beyond sheer aesthetics, the benefits of this approach are three-fold. Firstly, Hyundai’s designers are equipped with state-of-the-art tools that enable them to develop models with boundary-pushing features. Secondly, a streamlined digital process speeds up vehicle development. Finally, a lower carbon footprint supports the company’s environmental commitments.

  • Hyundai has made significant investments in state-of-the-art virtual reality (VR) technology and infrastructure to transform its design process
  • Company stakeholders can now collaborate across continents in a virtual space to speed up vehicle development and support the planet
  • Hyundai’s latest concept SEVEN is the company’s first model to be designed completely digitally

Stepping away from a traditional design approach

Much like today, Hyundai’s designers commenced the initial creative phase by creating pencil sketches on paper in the past. These images would reflect the kind of car they wanted to convey: perhaps one that is dynamic and sporty, or one that is brimming with new technology. Typically, these drawings would feature exaggerated proportions of the car, such as emphasized wheels and curves.

Once designers completed their initial sketches, they would compete with one another to have their proposals selected. After a winning design was selected, the chosen model would be developed as a scale model from clay, based on two-dimensional paper sketches.

Developing a scale model would take anywhere between four weeks and two months, depending on the schedule. Afterwards, the scale model would then be scanned and milled in a full-size. However, this approach was not without its drawbacks. After all, when shifting from a scale model to full-size, no line stays the same.

Previously, Hyundai’s designers were required to work together with clay modelers to refine the final design of an upcoming model. However, lines and surfaces had to be marked out using tape. On top of this, the company’s engineers were unable to work simultaneously with the designers, as they could only receive data after scanning the model with a photogrammetry system. Both of these factors made the process very time-consuming and cost-intensive.

VR: the revolution

Modern design technology is now very fast and much more stable. Today, Hyundai no longer produces scale clay models; instead it utilizes technologically advanced tools that are more intuitive, such as 3D digital design software. These enable the company’s engineers to mill full scale models using 3D data, which significantly speeds up the design process. Today, 80 per cent of Hyundai’s design development is fully-digital.

Hyundai’s designers work with industry-standard software that has been reprogrammed so that they can work in collaboration across multi-user and multi-location environments. This state-of-the-art technology includes laptops designed for high-performance gaming, in order to handle 3D graphics, motion technology from the film industry, as well as innovations derived from sport. Using this software, the designers can create models and immersive environments in VR that look extremely close to the real thing. The difference between modern design and the traditional approach is stark, and can be compared to the revolution cars undertook before and after anti-lock braking systems were introduced.

VR technology also opens up a host of new opportunities for Hyundai’s designers. For example, the gravity sketching tool enables designers to create more human-centric vehicle designs by working in 3D from the start. Designers swap their paper and pencils for a headset and controllers to become immersed in VR, imitating gestural interactions through motion tracking. By working in 3D, Hyundai’s designers can experiment with different proportions and build variations based on their ideas. Meanwhile, a 360-degree view of the vehicle allows them to sketch from any angle – in contrast to the traditional 2D process.

3D gravity sketching also enhances the collaboration between Hyundai’s exterior and interior designers. Through this technology, the two teams are able to work together simultaneously. While the exterior design team refine the digital model, the company’s interior designers can work in parallel by virtually stepping inside the car to develop features or make quick adjustments.

Another advantage of this technology is Hyundai’s designers’ ability to test unlimited colour options and material applications, including fabrics and leather, ambient lighting and other types of materials. As well as saving time, this also reduces shipping and traveling costs. In addition, this approach is much more sustainable as significantly less waste is produced, resulting in a dramatic reduction of CO2 emissions.

Hyundai’s VR design evaluation system

Hyundai’s design journey in multi-user wireless VR spaces started in 2017. Then, in December 2019, Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Motors Corporation announced an ambitious new virtual reality (VR) design evaluation system. Two years on, this has now been fully implemented. The system demonstrates a heightened focus on enhancing vehicle development processes through the implementation of VR technology. It simulates many aspects relating to a model under development, including interior and exterior design elements, as well as lighting, colours and materials.

These cutting-edge facilities in Namyang, Rüsselsheim, and Irvine, California, allow the designers to review a multitude of design concepts earlier in the developmental process, and in ways that were previously physically impossible. VR headsets allow colleagues from Hyundai’s Design and Engineering departments to enter into a virtual conference in real-time and simultaneously undertake vehicle design quality assessments and development verification processes, no matter where they are in the world.

Hyundai has also established remote VR design assessment capabilities to enable real-time virtual collaboration between its design centers in Europe, Korea, China, India, Japan and the U.S.. The benefits for the company are clear: it has facilitated greater cross-team – and intercontinental – collaboration than ever before.

These changes were already underway before COVID-19 emerged and sent the world into lockdown in early 2020. According to Simon Loasby, the pandemic served as a catalyst for Hyundai’s global design workforce, accelerating the transition to digitalization and agile working.

VR technology promises a sustainable future

VR technology is continuing to evolve. In the future, it will offer much higher levels of detail and operate at far quicker speeds. It is therefore set to play an increasingly prominent role for Hyundai’s designers and engineers. In addition, advances in AR and mixed reality will enable the company’s colleagues to interact with one another even more immersively.

However, one fundamental benefit that should not be overlooked is its positive environmental impact. A digital design process produces are much lower carbon footprint, as far fewer clay, paper and waste materials are used in the process. For the development of SEVEN, Hyundai produced one clay model for verification at the end, rather than a multitude of scale clay models. By meeting in a virtual conference space, Hyundai’s designers are no longer required to frequently travel around the globe, expending thousands of air miles in the process. Going forward, this will contribute towards Hyundai achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2045.

Things You Should Know About All-New Hyundai i20 N Line

Premium hatchback offerings have reduced drastically in recent years, but the segment maintains its popularity among Indian consumers, and that’s why Hyundai Motors has come up with the i20 N Line. The original i20 was and still is one of the most popular hatchbacks in our country, but having a sportier and premium version of the i20 is a dream come true situation for many Indians looking for a small car with a premium design and features.

Hyundai has been enjoying success in the Indian car market for over two decades, and now the company is prepared to bring N Line products here, which it sells abroad. The N Line cars are equipped with styling and high-performance upgrades that set them apart from conventional vehicles. The company recently launched the much-anticipated i20 N Line car, the first hatchback from the N Line segment to be launched in India.

What does ‘N’ stand for?

The company will launch more full-blown N performance cars in the future, but what does ‘N’ in the N Line stand for? The N represents Namyang, an R&D Center in South Korea, where Hyundai and Kia test many of their new vehicles. Hyundai Motors established the N segment in 2019 by resembling BMW’s M and Mercedes’ AMG segment. The sportier i20 N Line stands apart from the regular i20 with some light performance upgrades to areas like the brakes and suspension.

Engine

The all-new i20 N Line is going to be one of the most fun-to-drive cars in India with its 120hp, 172Nm, 1.0-litre Turbo GDi Petrol engine. The engine arrives with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) or a 6-Speed intelligent manual transmission (iMT). It may sound normal as the i20 N Line has the same engine we have heeded on the regular i20, but according to Hyundai, the i20 N Line can deliver 0–100 Kmph acceleration in just 9.9 seconds. Well, that sounds like a premium.

Variants

The company is offering a new i20 N Line in two variants, N6 and N8. Both the N Line trims come with a stiffer suspension, paddle shifters, rear disc brakes and has been claimed to have a fuel efficiency of 20 kmpl. The sportier car is available for sale in four monotone paint options, Thunder Blue, Fiery Red, Titan Grey, and Polar White and two dual-tone paint options, Thunder blue with Phantom black roof and Fiery red with Phantom black roof.

Exterior

Hyundai has worked really hard on the new segment and that’s why they are advertising it boldly as a performance-oriented car. The new i20 N Line is all about styling and showing sportiness along with ample enhancements. The car has a sportier dual-tone bumper with red inserts. The front bumper of the i20 N Line features a revised all-black grille with a Chequered Flag inspired design that displays the N Line logo. 

In profile, the car gets 16-inch diamond-cut alloy wheels with an N Logo that sets the car apart from the regular i20. The sportier car also features a side sill garnish with red front brake callipers. On the rear side, the car gets a newly designed bumper along with a roof spoiler with side wings finished in black. It gets a triangular rear fog lamp and the N Line emblem on the tailgate.

Interior

On the inside, the i20 N Line gets black interiors with athletic red inserts and Chequered Flag design leatherette seats with N Logo, sporty metal pedals, red interior highlights embedded with the ‘N Line’ branding on the air vents, door handles and gear lever, red ambient lights, a bespoke 3-spoke steering wheel and an N-branded iMT/DCT gear knob. The overall dashboard layout is very identical to the standard car, but all these things make the i20 N Line a little different from the regular i20.

Features

The original i20 already comes loaded with a lot of features and apart from those, the new i20 N Line gets an extra Sports Mode button and a sportier instrument cluster. The car also gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, wireless charging, digital instrument cluster, automatic climate control, a single-pane sunroof, air purifier, connected car technology and a 7-speaker Bose sound system. The car additionally gets new voice recognition functions along with an updated Bluelink app, and for safety, it offers 6 airbags. Overall, the N Line gets only cosmetic changes and doesn’t get engineering alterations of the proper N series, which might piss some of the buyers.

Final Verdict

The hot hatch starts at a price of ₹9.84 lakh (ex-showroom) and stretches all the way to ₹11.75 lakh (ex-showroom). If you’re looking for a sportier-looking car with a few mechanical upgrades to the suspension and steering, better-appointed interiors and better safety, then, of course, go for i20 N Line; it is one of the best premium hatchbacks available in the market.

Explore The Future Of Cities With Hyundai!

Nature has always inspired technology, and there is no denying that all our advancements are shameless mimics of Natural aspects. Nevertheless, “imitation is the best form of flattery,” and copying Nature is all too beneficial for humanity. To achieve a balance between technological advancements and our innate connection to nature, many automobile manufacturers worldwide are researching ways to blend natural processes with technology. Among them is Hyundai Motor Group, which recently announced a research collaboration Rhode Island School of Design (RISD). It explores new relationships between advanced technologies, public environments and personal experiences. 

These interactions are defined as “adaptive ecologies”: the technological interfaces that exist between beings (such as living organisms and machines) and their surroundings (the vast spatial and material structures of nature). The joint study examines how artists and designers can use technology to build connections and shared experiences, covering topics ranging from community design and biomimicry, cellular life and biosensing to natural resource systems and infrastructures. Through RISD’s Research & Strategic Partnerships program, the partnership with Hyundai elevates the expertise of faculty and the experimental creativity of students to conceive of future realities.

“This collaboration aligns with Hyundai Motor Group’s vision of becoming a future-shaping innovator via open innovation. Last year, we collaborated with RISD to apply the school’s biomimicry solutions to the question of future mobility, and this year, we expanded our scope to the future city and pursued Group-wide collaboration with the participation of both Hyundai Motor and Kia’s global design centers. Our plan is to explore solutions developed from the outcomes of this partnership and apply them to tangible opportunities such as innovative vehicle design and smart city development,” said Dr Youngcho Chi, President and Chief Innovation Officer of Hyundai Motor Group.

This joint research project builds upon the new collaborative research platform created by RISD solely for Hyundai in 2020. In this second year of partnership, five faculty members at the world-renowned design school leveraged their expertise to explore study areas supported by 32 students. Students were selected through a highly competitive process involving 16 departments at RISD. The ten departments ultimately represented in the cohort include Architecture, Global Arts and Cultures, Graphic Design, Illustration, Industrial Design, Interior Architecture, Jewelry + Metalsmithing, Liberal Arts, Painting and Textiles. This year, a Hyundai task force created to support the students’ research included Hyundai Motor and Kia’s global design centres.

“Studying sustainability and taking responsibility for future generations is now a universal task. To keep a fundamentally new approach from the ground up through the Collaborative Research with RISD, the process of studying nature adapting and surviving changes allows us to draw a new optimal blueprint for our future,” said Mr Sangyup Lee, Senior Vice President and Head of Hyundai & Genesis Global Design Center.

“Cooperating and working with the brilliant staff and students at RISD is not only a mutual inspiration. We hope it can be the beginning of a new way of looking at design in general and integrating the lessons learned from nature in our industrial processes,” said Mr Karim A. Habib, Senior Vice President and Head of Kia Global Design Center.

Offering different perspectives and technological tools, four distinct areas of “adaptive ecologies” were examined: surfaces, societies, futures and textile research.

Adaptive Ecologies: Bio-Interactive Surfaces

Faculty lead: Katia Zolotovsky, Digital + Media 

This group examined the applications of programmable living cell technology and biosensing. Designs include interactive surfaces to facilitate communication between humans and their surroundings for a healthier and sustainable future. Researchers experimented with various material systems to host biochemical interactions, such as microfluidics, biomaterials and fabrics—interactive surfaces range from responsive textiles to urban displays.  

Adaptive Ecologies: Technologies, Natures, Societies 

Faculty leads Soojung Ham, Industrial Design and Ryan McCaffery, Architecture.

In studying the reciprocal relationships between natural ecosystems and the infrastructures of our built environments, this group worked with models and scenario-based planning, examining how designs can transform these technologically mediated environments into new experiences and forms of social value.

Adaptive Ecologies: Envisioning Futures

Faculty lead: Rafael Attias, Illustration

This group explored how to visualise complex information by developing multidimensional concepts, exploring new modes for narrative through simulation, crossover experimentation, collaborative processes and connective environments. Student researchers used the visual expression, interactive media, sound, animation and spatial concepts.

Adaptive Ecologies: Fabric Connections

Faculty lead: Joy Ko, Textiles

This study is a personal, critical exploration of the interactions between information technology and aspects of everyday life: our bodies, the textiles in which we envelop ourselves, communities in physical and networked mediated space. This group looked at analysing and understanding human behaviour through tracking, sensing and mapping tools to guide the generation of “fabric” in its broadest sense ranging from textiles that empower personal data to community design in virtual reality.

At RISD’s Edna W. Lawrence Nature Lab, staff worked with Hyundai and RISD faculty and students on design topics, including biomimicry, biomaterials, and biosystems applications. Additional support in research activities came from Co-Works, RISD’s interdisciplinary research lab focused on emerging technologies.

This summer, 18 researchers who have previously participated in the Hyundai Research Collaborative will spend eight weeks of intensive, continued activity on expanding Future of Cities research from spring 2021 through collaboration with the design team at Hyundai Motor and Kia. An exhibition is tentatively planned for fall 2021 to share the results of these collaborations.

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